Tsunami Relief via NGOs

Let's face it, it takes a certain socioeconomic and ethnic standing to be blessed with the lives we all lead. OK, damn it, what I am trying to say is, we are predominantly a bunch of white folks who are lucky and will most likely never have to face the type of widespread destruction, death, famine and disease as those impacted by the recent tsunami.dig deep and give what you can. i think this email below from a friend of mine is the best route to take: donate directly to NGOs established in that particular country that can do the most good in the shortest amount of time.


Hi ya'll,As some of you know, I worked in development in Indonesia years ago. Istill have strongties to S.E. Asia and S. Asia, and as you may guess, the tsunamis havebeen devastating formany friends and former colleagues.If you'd like to help and have been wondering how or whether yourdollars would make adifference, I'd like to offer a direct route for your gifts and alsomake an appeal forsending them to Sri Lanka because:1) if you look at death rate as a percentage of population, Sri Lankahas been hardest hitand2) in the wake of years of civil war, the country is leastwell-equipped to recover and3) due to the civil war, the politicization of aid is a real issue and4) $1 = about 3 meals of rice.So, the direct route involves donating locally: to local NGOs (non-governmentalorganizations/non-profits) as opposed to (or in addition to)international relief agencies.The world of international development is highly bureaucratic andwhile international aidorganizations will do lots of good work, it will take time. Donatinglocally will put much-needed funds directly in hands that can put them to good use more readily.Two options for local donations to Sri Lanka (tax deductible options exist):1) AFLAC: http://www.aflacinternational.com/index.html2) Sarvodaya is distinguished by its ability to distribute aid intoTamil areas controlled bythe Tamil Tigers. http://www.sarvodaya.orgFor more information, please read the letter that follows from myfriend, Paul Khoo, whogrew up in Thailand and now lives in Singapore, and from his friendand former colleague,Rashid Moosajee, of Sri Lanka. You can always give me a shout, too.Many thanks,Ashley