...and this is good news. Jim Hake notes:
"We raised more funds than were needed for the first phase of the Marines’ request for equipment for Iraqi TV stations. So we asked our donors to tell us what to do with the surplus donations. They could even ask for a refund."
End result? Out of 3,057 donors responding, 3,044 (99.6%) have reallocated their donations. Which are going to new projects, like this one designed to make Iraqi women more independent and help them support their families:
"The first 50 sewing machines Spirit of America donated to the “Organization of Creative Women in New Iraq" in Ramadi, Iraq are in use and producing clothing. The Marines suggested we support the project as a way to help women in Ramadi improve their standard of living and help support their families. We’re now working on providing the next 50 machines."
Sounds like a fine idea to me. Get involved!
Oh, and for the guys, what do we want? All together now from Tool Time: "More Power!" So Spirit of America also donated $60,000 worth of tools in support of the program called ICAP – Iraqi Construction Apprenticeship Program. Want to help?
With these programs in place, plus an in-kind donation by INMED of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies worth over $1.7 million, Spirit of America is well on its way. Please get involved and help them help others.
I was very impressed by that. Good move. I will be donating more.
One point about the local TV program.
Perhaps this has already been thought of and expresssed prospectively, but I think that one of the problems with Arab satellite TV is that it inverts the "concept of concentric circles of empathy." All of a sudden the sufferings of the Palestinians, Chechens, and Iraqis become more important than the local sewage problem, or the endemic corruption of the mayor, etc.
That is, the further out one gets from oneself, the less one is inclined to care about another human. Since the political sphere in the Arab world is so constrained, the satellite channels accentuate the focus on distant conflicts and causes, while subverting local and more mundane concerns.
So I think this is a great idea and very important -- to foster a climate of localism and hopefully accountability that will do something to make local leadership more responsive and competent.
Good work, guys.
That's a very perceptive point.
Couple relevant quotes here:
Hierocles, expounding on the Stoic doctrine of oikeiosis: "it is the task of a well tempered man, in his proper treatment of each group, to draw circles together somehow towards the centre, and to keep zealously transferring those from the enclosing circles into the enclosed ones."
David Hume in A Treatise on Human Nature: "it is not contrary to reason to prefer the destruciton of the whole world to the scratching of my finger ... sympathy with persons remote from us is much fainter than with persons near and contiguous."
Thanks alot for your support to the well being of human society for your good work done.
Victor-Kenya
This came as a strong point to our support as we fight for the well being of our rural community,so we are trying as illustrated under.
Dear Sir/Madam,
My names are Victor M.Mulinge from Nairobi,Kenya. I am a co-founder
of a not-for-profit Community Based Organization,Talent Tap(Kyeleni) Development
Programme based in Kangundo Constituecy of Machakos District,Kenya.
This CBO was set up by volunteers commited to respond to the clarion
call for the effective participation of all humanitarian groups or
organization in all spheres of assistance to affected person(s) in the area
covered.
We are in the process of setting up a textiles community center
targeting the common poor of this rural area.
The main objective of this center is to train the less fortunate Textlies related skills like Dressmaking,Weaving,Dyeing,Knitting etc more focus being the GIRL child,Young Widows and especially the ones who never had an opportunity to further their education due to lack of school fees as a result of poverty and the demise of their sole breadwinners.
If this happens it will equip them with skills that will enable them
face the competitive job market and probably set up micro-enterprrises
for self employment.
We look forward to your response appertaining to this issue where we
seek for assistance of any form from your organization.
Thankyou.
Yours sincerely,
Victor M.Mulinge
CONTACT PERSON
TALENT_TAP –(KYELENI) Development Programme
P.O BOX 73,
Te: +254 722 890 860
DONYO SABUK.
KENYA
email:talenttapkenya@yahoo.com
Thanks alot for your support to the well being of human society for your good work done.
Victor-Kenya
This came as a strong point to our support as we fight for the well being of our rural community,so we are trying as illustrated under.
Dear Sir/Madam,
My names are Victor M.Mulinge from Nairobi,Kenya. I am a co-founder
of a not-for-profit Community Based Organization,Talent Tap(Kyeleni) Development
Programme based in Kangundo Constituecy of Machakos District,Kenya.
This CBO was set up by volunteers commited to respond to the clarion
call for the effective participation of all humanitarian groups or
organization in all spheres of assistance to affected person(s) in the area
covered.
We are in the process of setting up a textiles community center
targeting the common poor of this rural area.
The main objective of this center is to train the less fortunate Textlies related skills like Dressmaking,Weaving,Dyeing,Knitting etc more focus being the GIRL child,Young Widows and especially the ones who never had an opportunity to further their education due to lack of school fees as a result of poverty and the demise of their sole breadwinners.
If this happens it will equip them with skills that will enable them
face the competitive job market and probably set up micro-enterprrises
for self employment.
We look forward to your response appertaining to this issue where we
seek for assistance of any form from your organization.
Thankyou.
Yours sincerely,
Victor M.Mulinge
CONTACT PERSON
TALENT_TAP –(KYELENI) Development Programme
P.O BOX 73,
Te: +254 722 890 860
DONYO SABUK.
KENYA
email:talenttapkenya@yahoo.com