Ditto Thommo. I guess you can't really imagine the degree of devastation until the figures keep going up, and only then you realise that it matters little who you donate to.Thommo said:I'm going to make a new year's resolution to think more carefully before I post in future.
As the scale of the tsunami disaster unfolds it is obvious that ALL relief organizations are needed and that they must all be funded. If one is less efficient than some others, so be it!
Thommo
I am pleased to tell you all that Intrepid Travel have agreed to donate a dollar for every dollar donated (up to $50,000). I have copied and pasted their email below. Given the circumstances, I am sure this would be fine.
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Intrepid Travel is launching an appeal in the wake of the destructive earthquake and tsunami in Asia. Our appeal will support the work of our long time partners in the affected areas, Medecins Sans Frontiers and PLAN. Funds will be split equally between the extremely valuable projects of these two organisations, as their ability to provide hands-on support at grass roots level is exceptional.
Intrepid will match all donations dollar for dollar (for the first AU$50,000 received) to The Intrepid Foundation, and we will pay all Foundation administration costs.
Medecins Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders), has mobilised assessment teams in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and India as well as other affected countries, to determine immediate medical and relief needs. Funds raised will help Medicins Sans Frontiers assess areas where populations are most vulnerable and in greatest need of immediate medical help. The teams will then establish a base of operation to support local health structures or set up clinics from which to provide medical care. The teams will also establish water sanitation facilities and nutritional clinics where necessary.
Medecins Sans Frontiers' biggest challenge is to provide clean drinking water and contain the disease and epidemics, which inevitably result from a catastrophe of these proportions. More information on their work can be found on the Medecins Sans Frontiers website
PLAN is part of a major disaster-response program in Sri Lanka, the worst affected country. Thousands of people are dead - many of them children. More than one million people have also been left homeless. Funds raised will be used to support both short and long-term emergency relief and rehabilitation, including much needed food, clothing, housing and fresh water. Once the more immediate needs are met, PLAN's focus will move to restoration of family livelihood.
PLAN is an international child centred community development organisation that has no religious or political affiliations and operates in over 60 countries. Please visit the PLAN website for more details fo their programmes.
Donations can be made through the Intrepid Foundation by downloading a donation form and writing 'Asian Tsunami Appeal' on the form.
Unfortunately we did not have the opportunity to announce the appeal in Express this week, so we hope an additional email is not an inconvenience under the circumstances, as many Express readers have expressed a desire to be able to help provide much needed financial assistance.
It's desperately hard to comprehend the images and stories being relayed across the world, of the destruction and personal tragedy resulting from the tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. Our hearts go out to the hundreds of thousands of people affected and we appreciate your support in delivering aid to those in need.
Thank-you
Darrell Wade,
CEO Intrepid Travel
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This seems like the way to go for me now. They are not a huge company but they certainly hold up their end in respect to social responsibility and giving back to the countries that they run trips in.
On that note, it is disappointing to see how little some of Australia's biggest companies have chipped in. Sorry to chime in on what everyone else is saying, but I find it sad.
Ali
PS. I just noticed that the links in the Intrepid email did not show up. They are:
Medecins Sans Frontiers'
http://www.msf.org.au/
PLAN
http://www.plan.org.au/Default.asp?
Download a donation form (write 'Asian Tsunami Appeal' on the form.)
http://www.intrepidtravel.com/rtfoundation