Members Cobalt Blue Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 This is who I support Cobalt. I have worked with them for several years. About 89% goes to the missions programs based on their 2009 and 2010 financial reports which they make available online.https://www.samaritanspurse.org/inde.../gift_catalog/ Yavin, thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 We used to say the same thing about the poor starving people in China. Now look at what they've accomplished. Sometime this century - sometime soon! - China is going to surpass our economy and they will eventually become the dominant super power. Don't remember China starving in my lifetime. They have always had a ruling class and government going back thousands of years. Very little news got out of china untill a few decade s ago or so but I don't think there were ever huge famins and starving. No more than any other country anyway. You could say the same about ireland, india whatever. Sure I agree you can donate to the World Food Program to help ,just throwing a bunch of money in there will do nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PrawnHeed Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 Www.kiva.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 The fact is that the only reason hunger exists in those areas is because of corrupt governments ,or lack of a suitable government. I only agree to a point. Corrupt governments didn't cause the drought which caused the famine. They may exacerbate the problem by stealing relief stuff, but they ain't powerful enough to control mother nature. I believe in smelling my own ass before saying someone else has a stinky pooper. I help people in my own country. I got barely enough money coming in to keep me from being homeless. But I can still volunteer my time. If you're comfortable and can't find something to give, even if it's only time, you're an asshole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pickinatit Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 I don't know...I was watching the news coming out of Africa last night. Really made me think. While we sit and drool over more guitars, there are a lot of people starving to death. Kinda makes it hard for me to justify any new gear, when I could give that money to someone who needs something as basic as food. Not trying to be a downer...and I love my gear...just thinking out lout... Be careful of the law of unintended consequences. Stop buying guitars to feed the Africans and some poor fellow in Malaysia's family is starving because he earns his family's daily bread cutting the trees that the wood for guitar bodies are made from.How about the workers that mine the ore, that smelt the steel, that draw the wire, that wrap the wire to make the strings that are on your guitar. You're feeding them, right?Consumerism isn't evil. Someone feeds their family making the things that others consume and then they use what they have left over to consume other goods themselves which in turn helps feed someone else and so on and so on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flintc Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 Just one more. Honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Help!I'maRock! Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 nope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grumphh Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 Be careful of the law of unintended consequences. Stop buying guitars to feed the Africans and some poor fellow in Malaysia's family is starving because he earns his family's daily bread cutting the trees that the wood for guitar bodies are made from.How about the workers that mine the ore, that smelt the steel, that draw the wire, that wrap the wire to make the strings that are on your guitar. You're feeding them, right?Consumerism isn't evil. Someone feeds their family making the things that others consume and then they use what they have left over to consume other goods themselves which in turn helps feed someone else and so on and so on. Sounds quite reasonable, that theory - but this is a one off emergency situation and not about global economics. The people in Africa need food right now because they have none, the malaysian worker will maybe miss a months salary but after we resume buying guitars again he will just have to do overtime... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted August 10, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 I just did the same thing. I sold my Avalanche and paid off my wife's van and bought a beater to drive. That allows me an extra $450+ a month to minister with. It is really amazing how little funds it takes to help out. I pastor part time and our church has begun to work through Samaritan's Purse to provide opportunities for our members to help out. Each month we have a new project that is normally under $25 and we all pitch in to meet a goal.Here is a link to some relief programs by Samaritan's Purse where you can give online to help support them. Everything from feeding kids to helping rescue sex slaves. Fantastic opportunities for all budgets for as little as $7.https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/gift_catalog/ Yes, I gave some money this morning through Samaritan's Purse. They already have teams on the ground in Kenya/Somalia feeding and treating these people. Amazing work they (and other aid organizations) are doing over there...they just need more food, and more resources. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members steve_man Posted August 10, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 Be careful of the law of unintended consequences. Stop buying guitars to feed the Africans and some poor fellow in Malaysia's family is starving because he earns his family's daily bread cutting the trees that the wood for guitar bodies are made from. How about the workers that mine the ore, that smelt the steel, that draw the wire, that wrap the wire to make the strings that are on your guitar. You're feeding them, right? Consumerism isn't evil. Someone feeds their family making the things that others consume and then they use what they have left over to consume other goods themselves which in turn helps feed someone else and so on and so on. I'm not saying (or at least it was not my intent) that we should all give up everything just so someone can eat. However, my original thought came when I opened this page to the regular stream of NGD posts. Yes, I've been as big of a consumer of these goods as a lot of people over the years. No, I don't feel guilty for living in a nice place, or owning a nice guitar. The thing is that we have SO much in this country, and these people have so little. It certainly wouldn't kill any of us to either give some money to a relief organization, or even sell gear to help out like this. The purpose of my original post was to just get us to think about something other than what we normally do...feeding our guitar habit. No, you don't have to give up that piece of gear to help someone, but I guess the point is that these are mostly small children that we're talking about here. It's not their fault...they just need some help, which we Americans can clearly afford to give. Sure, my retirement account has taken a massive hit this week...but come on, we're still the richest nation in the world. "With much power comes much responsibility" -- Spider man, part I Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TeleFromHelly Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 Its sad and all... But what can we do about it? Well that's a typical american response...we can actually do a hell of a lot about it. The fortunate should help out the less fortunate. Believe it or not, there are people who spend their whole lives helping other people in adverse situations. The work people put in, we do actually deserve nice things like a guitar, car, house, etc.. It does make me a little squeamish though when I see people with rooms full of guitars, or extreme amounts of other items. People die every day of starvation, but look I have 5 flying V's! The ego on some people is something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TeleFromHelly Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 We used to say the same thing about the poor starving people in China. Now look at what they've accomplished. Sometime this century - sometime soon! - China is going to surpass our economy and they will eventually become the dominant super power. I don't even know where to start Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members grumphh Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 It does make me a little squeamish though when I see people with rooms full of guitars, or extreme amounts of other items. People die every day of starvation, but look I have 5 flying V's! The ego on some people is something else. Sorry, but even being blatantly liberal in the euro socialist way i can't agree with you on that one. We live in countries of immense wealth compared to much of the rest of the world and should consider ourselves fortunate to have been born here/made it here ( That means that we have this lifestyle and should not be ashamed of it. It is the way the world is*. However, having all this wealth we as individuals can also afford to help, and that is what we should think about. Compared to a bunch of starving africans (and actually also compared to non-starving africans) even the poorest of us is immensely wealthy, and that should be food for thought. Can we individually do something to create relief here and now? *Yes, we can work to change the world too - but as history teaches us, doing this peacefully can be a slow process, or in the case of quick changes a bloody mess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 Don't remember China starving in my lifetime. They have always had a ruling class and government going back thousands of years.Very little news got out of china untill a few decade s ago or so but I don't think there were ever huge famins and starving. No more than any other country anyway. You could say the same about ireland, india whatever. Sure I agree you can donate to the World Food Program to help ,just throwing a bunch of money in there will do nothing. In the past 30 years, China's poverty rate has gone from 64% of the population to 16% of the population. That's substantial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 Sounds quite reasonable, that theory - but this is a one off emergency situation and not about global economics. The people in Africa need food right now because they have none, the malaysian worker will maybe miss a months salary but after we resume buying guitars again he will just have to do overtime... but they have knowen this was coming for months. Where were all these add organiations?? Now it has hit critical mass and has the worlds attention = "money coming in" Now they want to feed the people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaleH Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 In the past 30 years, China's poverty rate has gone from 64% of the population to 16% of the population. That's substantial. Sure it is but to compare it to some country in Africa that does not even have a government is kind of pointless. IMO poverty and extreme poverty and hunger are two different things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BoneNut Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 Good thread OP. Keep in mind guys, it's not just people in Africa who need help. There's plenty in the USA that could use a hand as well, almost in every country really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 Most of eastern and west Africa is a loss. Much of it is not lack of funds as much as control through starvation. All the money in the world won't fix it. Doesn't hurt to try though and I do every year.There are many local charities that need support as well. I have my belief system and that system does not involve attending church every Sunday, but I donate money and time to a church that distributes food and clothing to the needy. I donate time almost every month to Habitat for Humanity and donate to The Little Red Door because they helped a family member in need when she needed it.Having said that, this is not a humanitarian forum, it's a forum for music gear and, yes, I will likely buy another guitar in the next two years and probably an amp or two but the point is very well taken. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 Good thread OP.Keep in mind guys, it's not just people in Africa who need help. There's plenty in the USA that could use a hand as well, almost in every country really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 Don't bother. I've said that twice here already and nobody seems to care.You wanna know what really pisses me off? Come Thanksgiving and on thru Xmas, people start thinking about the less fortunate among us. People volunteer at homeless shelters, have toy drives, coat drives, food drives and everything else. Come January, which is the coldest month of the year in many places, people stop caring. WTF? Do people think they went away? They're still there and are still needy. If you wanna help, do it for the right reason, not out of guilt. And do it when they really need it. That's why I volunteer at the Mission. My institutional cooking experience helps them more than the rich assholes donating a bazillion bucks. I also have been in recovery for 6+ years. Who knows, maybe me talking to them and letting them know they can get clean and sober may actually save some poor lost soul. I would've been there without a good family network. With all the history regarding man in terms of starvation, wars, control, greed, selfishness and the like. I wonder if we are ever going to get it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belva Posted August 10, 2011 Members Share Posted August 10, 2011 With all the history regarding man in terms of starvation, wars, control, greed, selfishness and the like. I wonder if we are ever going to get it?The survival instinct is strong. Obesity is one example of this instinct in action. The whole idea of protecting what's yours and not helping the poor is another. Given that, I doubt if mankind will ever learn. I forget who originally said this: A society can be judged by the way in helps it's least fortunate. Ben Franklin? Thomas Jefferson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FineLine Posted August 11, 2011 Members Share Posted August 11, 2011 ...no we don't NEED more than one guitar when it comes right down to it. We only NEED 1 guitar. Probably if it came right down to post-apocalyptic nothingness, I suppose as long as one can SING, we're good. However there is nothing wrong with WANTING things within reason. There is nothing wrong with accumulating guitars (or stuff). That's how it goes here. That's our life. However ...try to help others along the way if you can. Give away an axe to a less fortunate kid if you have lots. Drop some money into a busker's guitar case (even if they might use it for dope, don't judge). Grab that big box for the little old lady who is by herself. Even just smile at someone you walk by. Wish people well. HELP SOMEONE IF YOU CAN. If you feel guilty, go volunteer your time or give some money to help others. If you want to make your life of it, go join an aid group, or move somewhere where you are needed. IMHO at the very very least as long as you are mindful, aware, and kind to people legitimately less fortunate is the minimum ...and whether or not you actually feel bad for people who have it rough for whatever reason shows that you're a good person in your heart. Don't walk past someone lying in blood on the street. Help someone if you can. Don't get me wrong here, I'm no goody two shoes either. FYI we're all in it together, and NO ONE gets out alive. Sorry folks. 100% mortality rate. Death does NOT discriminate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FineLine Posted August 11, 2011 Members Share Posted August 11, 2011 The survival instinct is strong. Obesity is one example of this instinct in action. The whole idea of protecting what's yours and not helping the poor is another. Given that, I doubt if mankind will ever learn. I forget who originally said this: A society can be judged by the way in helps it's least fortunate. Ben Franklin? Thomas Jefferson? ...I agree, yes there are hordes of assholes who don't care ...but remember most people (who aren't comfortable or even wealthy), the silent majority, are just trying to get by & survive ...feed their families. Trying to keep their own heads above water while everything around them goes to {censored}. There are a lot of scared & upset people these days ...and remember, people aren't so smart. IMHO yes humanity WILL learn and we WILL get past this era of greed and unreasonable individualism -- you will see this plain as day when it happens too. It will take just a few more people to become chronically hungry, scared, bored, and hopeless in order for that change to happen though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jjpistols Posted August 11, 2011 Members Share Posted August 11, 2011 If it would keep people alive, I'd give up all my guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members xStonr Posted August 11, 2011 Members Share Posted August 11, 2011 If it would keep people alive, I'd give up all my guitars. I hear that. If I could cure my wife's cancer, I give em all up in a flash! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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