Phuket

brit · #1 20-12-2006, 04:41

There's a feature on Newsnight tonight about how money raised for the tsunami has been badly managed or not even spent at all, should make interesting viewing. It's on at 10:30 pm UK time BBC2 but will be available on the site for viewing after it has aired.

Link:
BBC NEWS | Programmes | Newsnight Home | Tuesday

steve@thaib · #2 20-12-2006, 05:46

I felt a bit sorry for the guy who Paxman savaged. The point that the guy was making was a fair one, proving land ownership in Sri Lanka must be tricky, but handing over 4 from 2000 houses in 2 years is not a great strike rate.

Nanook · #3 20-12-2006, 14:45

Last night it was announced on the TV news that the Dutch population had raised € 211Mio for Tsunami Relieve work. Of this amount of money, about € 120Mio has been used for different projects, which have been completed during this year and the rest of the money will be used for projects to be completed in 2007.

Most money went to Indonesia, followed by Sri Lanka, Thailand and India. It was used to rebuilding infra structure, housing and also some small scale aid directly to people.

Not bad, I would say.

ElectrO · #4 20-12-2006, 15:15

But nanook, wouldnt it piss you all off if they told you the truth that most of the money just got stolen?

Easier to lie and not piss people off

E

Nanook · #5 20-12-2006, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectrO

But nanook, wouldnt it piss you all off if they told you the truth that most of the money just got stolen?

Easier to lie and not piss people off

E

Piss me off is probably too strong an expression, but sure you have a point and I agree with you as well.

We all know here that a lot of money being raised for any kind of charity is being put down the drain because of "costs" and "nice trips to other countries to watch progress" etc, etc. Not even to mention the "operational costs" by the charity organisation.

I just tried to pitch in this thread as it was a coincidence that also some announcements were made on the Dutch TV.

LivinLOS · #6 20-12-2006, 17:34

The sudden influx of huge brand new toyota landcruisers with charity decals was obvious..

ElectrO · #7 20-12-2006, 17:55

If i remember correctly, before the Tsunami there were 120k registered vehicles in Phuket. 1 year after it, it was 250k, registered vehicles.

E

information was in Phuket Post

brit · #8 21-12-2006, 04:28

Have been doing some googling and it seems the Red Cross have "form" for this - Katrina, 9/11, Kashmir earthquake you name it. It would be interesting to know which banks are holding the cash and whether they're paying out market rates of interest. Also to which companies and countries they're handing out the house building contracts to.

Big shame on Spain, France & China for not giving the money they pledged, then again if it's not being used properly can you blame them.

senor123 · #9 21-12-2006, 08:09

I sent money directly to my g/f in Kamala after the Tsunami as a lot of her friends got wiped out.
Phoned up a couple of days later to see what she was doing and she said shopping. WTF!!!!! But, knowing that, in a relationship where English is not the 1st language of one of the people, it is best not to jump to conclusions, I asked her what she was shopping for.
She was shopping for a new bed for one of her friends and clothes for the others who had lost everything.
I don't trust International Aid agencies as far as I can throw them. However, I believe most of the people on the frontline of these agencies have their hearts in the right place.
The Red Cross blotted their copy book in Australia after the Bali bombings but that didn't surprise me.
What a windfall it must be to a corrupt government to have all this aid flowing in and having to pass through them.
Sorry for the rant, but, the downside of getting older is, that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Steve

Dodger · #10 21-12-2006, 12:29

Can't remember why, but a few years ago I was shown a chart illustrating the different large charities and how much ever got to the end user, how big a percentage went on wages and swanky offices, cars etc, actually made me stop giving to charities and not feeling guilty about it at all. Rather give direct or personally give my time to help out first hand.

landofsmiles · #11 21-12-2006, 13:24

Exactly what I did Dodger, for 6 months after the tsunami. It was amazing how many could still smile even with all the suffering they were going through.

I read somewhere that the head of one of the high profile charities is on some obscene salary like 100,000 Euros a year

LivinLOS · #12 21-12-2006, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

I read somewhere that the head of one of the high profile charities is on some obscene salary like 100,000 Euros a year

Sorry but is that obscene ??? What is it 60k GBP ??

Large charities are global organizations that require world leading CEO type organisers for top management.. People with real global management skills and CV's.. That costs money.

100k would be looked at as an insulting christmas bonus at merrill or goldman..

No point having a willing amateur make expensive mistakes.. I agree with your point (waste in charity and how much is overhead v its purpose) just tend to think that 100k for the head of some of these like food aid or the red cross is a pittance..

landofsmiles · #13 21-12-2006, 14:24

I understand the big organisations have to have paid staff but for me "charity" means giving up your time and expertise for free to help disadvantaged people.

brit · #14 22-12-2006, 00:48

Landofsmiles I think you may be thinking of the CEO of the American Red Cross who's said to be $650k and even that figure was from a few years ago. She resigned after Katrina.

An even bigger waste of money though is that they have 50 directors on the board

landofsmiles · #15 22-12-2006, 08:45

Ah, that was the one. Was a while ago and couldn't remember the details but I remember thinking "f@ck me, that's obscene", or something like that!

American National Red Cross
emergency relief
Washington, DC
American Red Cross - Preparing Communities for an Emergency and Keeping People Safe - Preparedness

Top Person: Marsha Evans
Top Salary: $651,957

Maverick351 · #16 23-12-2006, 00:15

Sorry just off topic a bit...

Story about my x-boss, which has no family, and wanted to help out a charity for christmas. He didn't have large amounts of money, but wanted to give his spare time in helping any charity that needed help.

Every charity only wanted money, and didn't either want his help or assistance in labouring terms. The Salvation Army were the only ones who were more than pleased with his offer, that now he helps them when ever they call. Every christmas for the past 10 years, he has helped pack and distribute donated goods and christmas hampers to the needy families.

When he told me his story, I now only give to this charity, as I know they do good work and appreciate any assistance and generosity.

brit · #17 23-12-2006, 02:24

It's like those charity guys in the high street trying to get signups - they flat out refuse to accept one-off bank payments, they're only interested in getting you on direct debit. They don't even work for the charities involved rather they're from an agency and on commissions

Crustasian · #18 23-12-2006, 02:36

More than ten years ago several British newspapers investigated the big British charities including the Sally Army with their hypocritical collections in pubs.

It turns out that only about 10 per cent of money donated gets to the people who they are collecting for.I refuse to give to any of them.Look at where they have their office complexes,company cars and apartments.They feather their own nests first.

I have also worked with UN organizations in deprived areas and the first things off the ships are their air con units and Land Cruisers.

The BBC yesterday showed the UN report on the Tsunami and more than half the money pledged was never sent.Top culprits were Spain,France and Italy.