I think it's absolutely great that Amazon, and eBay/PayPal, and Google, and Yahoo are making such efforts to either collect directly for (in Amazon's and eBay's cases) or direct people to various NGOs which are trying to help the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami. It's proof positive that people can come together and make a difference. When I checked a few minutes ago, Amazon had collected over four million dollars for the effort from its users.
The challenge I put forth is this: This country, here has its share of problems. We have homeless people, jobless people, poor people, you name it, all of whom could stand to benefit from exactly the same kinds of help you're offering people on the other side of the planet -- they need food, they need shelter, they need clothing, you name it.
I challenge these sites to put as much effort into collecting "relief" for their neighbors as they have for those people on the other side of the planet. It's not nearly so sexy from a PR standpoint, but just as needed.
For the record, I'm not holding my breath.
Amazon has, in the past, supported Seattle Children's Hospital (and other children's hospitals), the Toys for Tots Campaign, and allows various individuals and corporations to "donate" a percentage of profits from sales made through Amazon to their efforts.
I do understand the frustration you have - I work in a section of the city where the homeless are a vivid, ever-present contrast to urban life - but it's always been psychologically easier for people to take up remote causes than to see (and deal with) the problems at home.
Sure they do, but when was the last time they dedicated half of their very valuable front-page real estate to those various charities?
They'll dedicate 1/2 their front page to helping people thousands of miles away, but I've yet to see a column-inch of space there dedicated to helping their neighbors.
I wonder how difficult it would be to convince these companies to offer space on their home pages for local causes on non-commercial holidays (memorial day, veterans day, etc...)?
"when was the last time they dedicated half of their very valuable front-page real estate to those various charities?"
September 11th, I think.
Charles,
I was responding to Ali's mention of specific charities. Besides, the whole point is that the ONLY time any of these companies offers up screen real estate is for disasters, and never to handle the very real recurring problem here at home.
Derek...I'm glad someone said this. It seems that lately people love to provide money and aid to pretty much everyone except for the people in their own hometown.
Granted, there are many here who need this help but at the same time only need it because they are unwilling to go and help themselves. Living in NYC I see this frequently.
However, it would be nice for folks here to turn their gazes inward instead of attempting to police the world and fix the problems of everyone else.
All of this said, it is good that help is being provided to those needing it.