Comments on: Donating to Sidr Relief

By: Heather

Heather — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 22:50:39 +0000

Thanks, Greg! I thought (due to the symbolism of the cross and crescent) that RC/C was at least founded in religion, and that the UN acted primarily through Red Cross in situations like this. The last several disasters I donated through Red Cross, as they seem to be the ones able to actually get something done. As long as they aren’t taking advantage of the situation to do some missionary work on the side (which I saw a lot of in a brief visit to New Orleans, but not from Red Cross).

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 14:36:31 +0000

Son: This statement is correct. It is also well known. Do you have evidence to the contrary?

By: Son of Priam

Son of Priam — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:16:03 +0000

Greg said: “…The vast majority of aid in most circumstances where aid is distributed goes through secular sources…”Does that statement just “seem right” to you, or do you have the numbers to back it up?

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 19:42:01 +0000

Heather,Is it ever the case that there is not a non-sectarian group out there when needed? I doubt it very much. CARE was the first group on the ground in Bangladesh. The UN is always very well positioned as well.By the way, the Red Cross is not a religious group any more than our money (“in god we trust”) is religious. The American Red Cross, for instance, is a federally chartered corporation. Each country’s red cross/crescent is semi- or quasi-governmental, and the International RC/C is a little like the UN in that it is everywhere yet no where.I find the “cross” bit very annoying, of course.Personally, I was not sure until I checked on it. Chris Mooney was saying to me he thinks they are not a religious group, and at first I was not sure. I told him that I always thought the Red Cross was the Political Wing of the Salvation Army (but I might have said it too seriously, I’m not sure if he knew that I was joking).

By: Heather

Heather — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 17:39:22 +0000

Fair enough – I also prefer to not donate through religious organizations, but if Red Cross/Red Crescent is the organization that is already in the area, and has the infrastructure in place to do some real good, wouldn’t it make more sense to send your money to them?

By: Greg Laden

Greg Laden — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 16:03:34 +0000

Son of Priam:You are joking, of course.The vast majority of aid in most circumstances where aid is distributed goes through secular sources.But many people like giving money via an agency that also reflects their creed. Christians tend to not give money through Jewish relief agencies, and Jews tend to not give money through Christian relief agencies.Atheists may fee very uncomfortable giving money through religious organizations.

By: Badrul Haque

Badrul Haque — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 08:22:38 +0000

Dear FriendsWe are a religiously and politically neutral US-based tax-exempt organization in the US. In the past, we sent funds through BRAC, Bangladesh based largest NGO in the world, to provide immediate relief and long-term help to the survivors. We are in touch with them again to make similar arrangement. Depending on the amounts we raise, our focus will be to support further construction of cyclone shelters — Bangladesh gets hit by one cyclone on average every 1.5 years.Alhough I have never visited the cyclone prone areas of Bangladesh, I am glad that a three-story cyclone shelter-cum-school we built from a fundraising effort in New Orleans after the 1991 cyclone by the Louisiana Bangladesh Society. This structure is at Laldiar Char in Patenga, Bangladesh, and it has been a safe place for thousands of people over the past decade and half during cyclones and flood.Collectively, we can help both those in immediate needs and for future generations by wisely using the funds we collect. Will you consider making a donation through us? You can do it through the BAFI Online store at wwww.bafi.org or directly at http://bafi.org/cgi-bin/online/storepro.phpAlternatively, write your check to BAFI and write “Cyclone Sidr Relief Fund” on the memo line and mail it to:C/o Mr. Wahed HossainiChair, BAFI Bangladesh Development Fund7008 Bethnal CtSpringfield, VA 22150USANo amount is too small in collective efforts.Wishing everyone wellDr. Badrul HaqueChair, Board of Trusteeswww.bafi.orgTel. 301 216 9656

By: Son of Priam

Son of Priam — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:24:14 +0000

Yes! Let people suffer if there are only religious organizations offering aid!

By: Chris C. Mooney

Chris C. Mooney — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:32:14 +0000

greg, fair enough, does red cross/red crescent count or not count as secular? i know they are working on the ground already. i don’t know if they have a particular page up, though, that ensures your dollars go specifically to sidr