DEC Gaza Appeal

[andygates]

With the BBC refusing to show the DEC Gaza appeal ad (spineless feckers), here's the gen: it's a rubble pile and the civilians aren't exactly having a great time.  DEC don't fire off appeals willy-nilly, only when it's really grim for lots of people, and DEC are not political.  They can get the aid to the people on the ground, because they already are.  Here's the donation form.

Comments

[ravenbait.livejournal.com]

Why are they refusing to show it?

I want to know why Gaza gets a TV ad and the Congo warrants nothing. Everyone knows about Darfur because Angelina went there, but it's much worse in the Congo. Everyone knows about Gaza because it has been all over the news but the institutionalised rape and murder in the Congo are being largely ignored.

It's not that I have any great desire to save everyone in the Congo, nor any issue with people choosing to donate to the Gaza appeal, I just find it difficult to understand why some things become a cause celebre when far worse situations are somehow unremarkable (in that no one remarks upon them). Why do we, as a people, choose to put our efforts into one disaster rather than another? From where is the consideration of value coming?

[andygates.livejournal.com]

They say it would run counter to BBC neutrality, which is odd considering that the Beeb is partisan compared to the fanatically-maintained neutrality of the Red Cross.

Why one and not the other? Memes, man, nothing but memes. Stick some dying babies on the telly and the Congo will get more support.

[andygates.livejournal.com]

The main difference, of course, is that this is Israel versus Arabs and is politically radioactive.

[simoneck.livejournal.com]

Too many people in need, too few funds (and I know that is all relative), so you have to put in some level of prioritisation into your charitable giving, at least at a personal level.

Long term suffering v short term disaster recovery
Cute animals v starving children
Local v Global

So many causes, how to choose?