STOP HUNGER! Please copy and send!

[Ned Kelly]

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An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Office of the Taoiseach
Government Buildings, Upper Merrion Street
Dublin 2
Ireland
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We respectfully ask our government to help stop the tens of thousands of preventable deaths that occur every day from hunger and poverty-related diseases.

Specifically, we ask our country to honour the agreement it made and signed at the 2002 Monterrey Conference and again at the 2002 Johannesburg Summit to make concrete efforts towards giving 0.7% of our national income in aid to poor countries.
The United Nations estimates that when all 22 countries that signed the agreement meet the 0.7% goal, the resulting $195 billion each year will be enough to effectively end hunger and extreme poverty in the world.
We commend the countries that have already reached the 0.7% goal: Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
We also commend the countries that have set up a schedule to meet the 0.7% goal and encourage them in their efforts to reach it as soon as possible: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
We respectfully ask the six remaining countries to honour their agreement and set up a schedule to reach the 0.7% goal: Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United States.
Thank you.

2006 International Aid Donated COUNTRY Aid as % of income How close to the
0.7% goal Sweden 1.03 Already reached goal Luxembourg 0.89 Already reached goal Norway 0.89 Already reached goal Netherlands 0.81 Already reached goal Denmark 0.80 Already reached goal Ireland 0.53 Scheduled for 2012 United Kingdom 0.52 Scheduled for 2013 Belgium 0.50 Scheduled for 2010 Austria 0.48 Scheduled for 2015 France 0.47 Scheduled for 2012 Switzerland 0.39 No schedule yet Finland 0.39 Scheduled for 2010 Germany 0.36 Scheduled for 2014 Spain 0.32 Scheduled for 2012 Canada 0.30 No schedule yet Australia 0.30 No schedule yet New Zealand 0.27 No schedule yet Japan 0.25 No schedule yet Portugal 0.21 Scheduled for 2015 Italy 0.20 Scheduled for 2015 United States 0.17 No schedule yet Greece 0.16 Scheduled for 2015

Source: OECD

[Ned Kelly]

Not one reply to this post???
I'm surprised and a little ashamed!

[Ned Kelly]

Anybody Give A Shit?????

[Katy]

Hi Ned I have just seen your post today!!.....have you by chance seen the news regarding Bertie today......check it out cheers Katy

[Katy]

Unable to print copy of letter, so emailed it to family they will run off copies for me......Katy

[Ned Kelly]

Thanx Katy at least u give a shit! as for the rest of them???
Yeah I saw that on rte news online about Bertie biting the bullet, I can't really comment on it cos I ain't there, but judging from what I saw on the news it seems He has accepted dodgy payments so I think the only thing for him to do was resign, History will judge him and whatever comes out of the mahon investigation? I have yet to meet an honest politician! He's probably no worse than the rest!

[fullastern]

Ned I first campaigned on the issue of Ireland's Overseas Development Aid budget as long ago as 1989. Personally I think that ODA while necessary is only a stop-gap measure and what is really needed is a change in international economics and politics. For all the talk of ODA the only countries that have really done anything tangible about the developing world are Cuba and Venezuela who have helped with practical assistance and advice. Cuba in particular has been of huge help to the developing countries, providing doctors, engineers and logistics, despite being under an economic embargo from the US and its greedy allies for nearly 50 years. Hasta siempre la Revolucion!

[Ned Kelly]

Funny tho, I posted that thread on the 25 of the first of this year but nobody noticed until yesterday???
Personally I could'nt give one iota where the help comes from, Ireland, Cuba, Australia, Timbuktoo, One life saved is one life saved, Just think about it in the same way if it was one of your family. Imagine your son, daughter, Father, Mother were dying because of a lack of food, water, whatever? How would you feel even tho you had the capacity to save them and You did'nt?

[Katy]

Hi Ned, unknown to you but one wedding I was at asked all guests instead of wedding gifts, they asked everyone to give money for Overseas Water Aid Fund, this we all did gladly.....it seems a better way of giving a gift that can save a life of many, than some item that is of no use ......

Same with local charities....ie Cancer, Heart, etc.....instead of a gift or flowers for a special occasion we give the money to the charity of the persons choice.........at least this is a positive move in the right direction. As my Nan would say, every little bit helps.....I just wish that leaders of countries around the world would do the same.....all they do is talk and no ****** action. So dont get angry with your friends etc....we are all in the same frame of mind as you are........sending you a Katy (((((Hug)))))

[Ned Kelly]

I'm not angry Katy,thats a wasted emotion in these circumstances and why leave it up to governments they are just a waste of space. If everybody in the so called first world would say give even a dollar a week to third world countries I reckon that would make a massive difference, probably a billion bucks a week, how many lives would that save with just a buck a week from every one of us, even if the distribution of this money cost 100 million thats 900 million that could go directly to aid those starving people, How hard can it be with the structures that are in place today lets make globalisation work for a change and all it would take is a lousy buck a week from each and every one of us!:confused:

[Katy]

Many others, myself included agree with everything you mention in your post Ned, I also find it hard to understand how the leaders of countries cant see what we see.......:(

[Kieran]

I detected a wee bit of anger in your tone also Ned. It doesnt have to be a wasted emotion if its directed in a positive way. For what my opinion is worth, I agree entirely with Fullastern!

[Ned Kelly]

Lets set up a bank account for a start named *We care* or whatever?
We will all pledge to put at least 1$ each a week into this account, I don't care who sets it up! Its Mikes site so maybe he is the garsun to do it!
If Mike does'nt want to do it, lets have a vote on it!
Little beginings like this can start an avalanche of belief that *ordinary* people like us can and will make a difference!
Theres nothing to lose except a few bucks on our part if it does'nt work!
The upside is we could actually make a difference, Think about it please!

[Kieran]

I can go along with that Ned. By the way, the child in the picture didnt die of hunger but an Isreali bomb in Lebanon last year!

[Katy]

Hi Guys, truly its a great idea that Ned has posted, but very complicated to set up a bank account. ask anyone who is linked with any fundraising group and they will tell you. Plus the legal paperwork is immense.

Many folk already have a list of charitable causes that they donate to on a regulas basis. Thats not to say they dont give, to other needy causes.

A lot more thought needs to be done as to what will be involved in setting up a system that will help those who need it most. Katy

[Ned Kelly]

I realise K that was not a child that died of hunger. But it is a child who died because of our neglect> shock factors are needed!

[Ned Kelly]

Mike your input is needed a chara!
There has got to be a way that we can set up some kind of charity to help those less fortunate than ourselves without the hassles of having to pay for our donations to be distributed . We need our donations to be put straight into the areas that are most needed, Healthcare, food, clean water,education!
I will research this myself But 10 heads are better than one! Cmon folks we can make a difference. let this not be just another thread that has died due to lack of interest!

[Ned Kelly]

I have spent half the day researching about setting up a new charity. What I have found out is maybe that is not the best way to go. It seems it might be best to donate to an existing charity! I have sent emails to a number of charities, From research *Concern* seems to be one of the best around!
I'll wait on replies from the charities and give a report on what they are offering as in how much of our hard earned cash will actually reach the unfortunate who we are trying to help!

[Ned Kelly]

Thank you for your query. Our accounts are externally audited by KPMG and are available to the public on request. These show that in 2006; 85% of all our income went directly to the projects Overseas, an increase of 6% since 2002. 1% to management and administration (including salaries), 3% to Development Education and 11% to advertising, marketing, promotion/trading and mailings.

We are grateful for your interest and support of our work.





Yours sincerely,

Kevin Byrne
Donor Care Administrator
Concern

Phone: (Direct Line) +353 1 417 7709
Fax: +353 1 475 7362
Email: kevin.byrne@concern.net (kevin.byrne@concern.net)

Have you ever thought about leaving a gift to Concern? To find out how to make a lasting difference clickhere (http://www.concern.net/getinvolved/legacy/leavegift.php)

PPlease consider the Environment before printing this e-mail.

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international, humanitarian organisation dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries

[Kieran]

I have watched quiet a few documentaries on the third world of late, even the BBC recognise that Concern are the big players in this field. I think we should go with them.

[Ned Kelly]

Do we do this as a group or as individuals is the question?
Personally I think if we can somehow arrange our contributions as a group it would be more effective.
How about all readers of Inside Cobh *subscribers*Pay an extra 50 cents per issue? Obviously no pressure would be put upon readers to pay this. Why not put it out there K&A in an article in the mag and see what reaction you get?
I know this would put a heap more workload on you 2 but i would help in any way possible!
You both have probably too much on ur plate already and heres this eejit trying to pile it high. Sorry folks just tell me to feckoff!

[Katy]

Hi Ned and all, after twenty years of working with charitable groups, I look forward to more info coming forward.
Just as a matter of interest has any of you read 'The Irish World' paper issue number 1100 covering the 12th April......front page is a story regarding Bertie Ahern, is set for World Aid Role, the story was covered by reporter Pat Holland....not sure if you can read it on their website ( www.theirishworld.com (http://www.theirishworld.com) ) I gather Bertie is having talks with Americans and others who wish to help 3rd world poverty.


not sure if this link will work from Cobh site but you can try....

http://www.theirishworld.com

cheers Katy

[Kieran]

What about Worldvision -adopt a child?

[Ned Kelly]

That seems like a great idea K, over here in Oz you can support a child overseas for about 40 bucks a month, mebbe its the way to go but i still think we should do it as a group and we can all contribute and not leave it by the wayside as happens when maybe one of us loses interest, the others can give us a good kick in da bum and then we realise how fortunate we are!
Lets start with one child and then build from there. We still need an account to set this up so we all can send some money !
Anybody have a spare account with bsb numbers etc that we can send cash to online?

[Mike]

We already sponsor a little Girl in Africa and it's taken from our account on a monthly basis.

Online donations are easily enough to set up. Just use PayPal. I have a couple of PayPal accounts set up whereby I get paid for work etc etc and paymenst are made using your CC, however, even though PayPal is totally transparent in terms of accounting, I wouldn't be too keen to mix my business revenue with donations, but if it helps then I have no major issue with it other than the accounting side of things.

I could wait for a few years then until the funds build up and do a Charlie. Always fancied a Yacht somewhere warm :D

[Ned Kelly]

I have tried Paypal Mike with payments to Inside Cobh and the exchange rates were absolutely crap at least 15% below what the daily rates were!
So now i send cash, reminds me must send some funny money soon as the kitty must be gettin a bit low. By the way K&A received the latest mags today, Gur a mile maith agat a charas!

[Mike]

Why not just pay in Euros then or am I missing something?

[Ned Kelly]

paypal decides the exchange rate mike no matter what currency you pay with!

[Kieran]

I was going to suggest that we contact Bertie for the use of one of his spare accounts, but it seems like Caman Island-Mike was his mentor and might already have a few spare!