The whole question of charity does need looking at, but probably not on a racial basis. “Unattractive” charities get very little funding while the RNLI and the cancer charities are flush. Last year a charity supporting street workers had 30 places for the Bristol marathon they couldn’t even give away.
Also, much of all the cycling and skydiving barely covers the cost of the event. It’s largely just a way of funding a nice day out for the participants.
Much charity to the 3rd world isn’t even intended to end poverty. The best thing that’s happened to Haiti is the cancellation of their huge debt. No charity was raising money to put that off.

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True, Charity begins at home; Mind you, only those who deliberately chose to misread it omit to notice that charity shouldn’t end there too.
“We’re here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it is.”

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This is a difficult subject since , whilst many charities are worthwhile [ such as donkey sanctuaries etc ], it is impossible, unless one is extremely wealthy, to support them all or even most of them ,a government effort is clearly being made to clamp down on sham charities by introducing a “public benefit” clause although at the moment this only applies to new applicants for charitable status.
My suggestion to anyone in doubt would be to chose the chaity [ or charities ] that you know to be doing a good job and , generally , stick to them,my own favourite is Water Aid since every human being on earth deserves at the very least a drink of clean water.

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I had a debate with a family member last week – he thinks we shouldn’t give any money to Haiti (re the 6 million I think it is our government has pledged) due to the recession, I think we should give what we can. Yes the UK and it’s inhabitants are going through tough times at the moment but can you imagine a world where we abandoned hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children to a fate no one could prevent or forsee and was not of their making? I couldn’t live with myself sitting at home, having a cuppa knowing people where buried alive and left to die and no one prepared to help – this is what makes us Great Britain after all, our compassion towards other nations even when our chips are down.

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Whilst i agree with some anti comments, i sipport most peoples view on giving, no you will not end poverty but you will make a differance, think about that when you are having a cuppa in your warm house with runing water waiting for the doctor to call, watching the t.v.on your day off work.
There is a gap in this world between the fortunate and unfortunate, the level of the needy in their hour of need, and the levels in which you as an individual can give.
select as you will what you want to support and remmember, that is what other people are doing, just making a differance.

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