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January 20, 2010

Disaster Relief Donating

The headline says Don't Give money to Haiti, but it's really about how you should give unrestricted donations.

"The last time there was a disaster on this scale was the Asian tsunami, five years ago. And for all its best efforts, the Red Cross has still only spent 83% of its $3.21 billion tsunami budget — which means that it has over half a billion dollars left to spend. Not to put too fine a point on it, but that’s money which could be spent in Haiti, if it weren’t for the fact that it was earmarked."

So do give. But make sure the organization is free to use the money in the most effective way or all this wonderful outpouring will be for naught. We need to think critically in times of crises as well.

Oh, and I saw this at someecards: "Let's figure out a way for Wall Street to text their record-breaking bonuses to Haiti."