Currently... Giving The Aid. Christian Aid on Sudan.
As I've read various reports on repressive governments towards religion and small groups from reporters such as ICC and other international orgs. It always struck me as dreamy but possible to just send a blunt notice to a nearby charity and say "hey look this is what other organisations are saying about this so what are you doing about it?" This tempts me as an activity because if a cause is as dire as one charity mentions then I suppose other charities if they are working in the same spirit of relief cant help but notice. Especially when its to do with some civil-injustice in the same region or country. Or maybe because there is only so much behind the scenes one can take. For example charities such as Christian Aid where their who we work with quotes can be seen on the site state that they work with over thirty or so churches. So what are they doing about say the Montagnards in the Central highlands of Vietnam or the Christians and Japanese refugees in the Gulags repression camp of N. Korea? Or the evil treatments towards the villagers and natives in Darfur Sudan.
The first two I haven't yet a clue as far as Christian Aids focus on them are concerned, but as for the third I have had the benefit of a little hint as to what is being done.
Christian Aid are known over in the United Kingdom for their Special Awareness Project Weeks and focus goals in which they seem to have a new activity each year to raise the causes they work to relief. I believe that in the year of 2003 Christian Aid week special activity was to raise money through the holding of wrestling matches with the public. When an emergency such as that of Darfur in the Sudan comes about and the term - ethnic cleansing - rears its deformed head not that the mechanics which brought this hasn't been mentioned before, but we may find that this is when charities and Non-Government-Organisations such as Christian Aid take within themselves the liberty to break whatever rule or general method they would have otherwise used to make known the headlining situation of the week, and instead dedicate themselves with the main issue of the time, this time in the Sudan North East of Africa. I think this year in May the awareness must have actually been on the Sudan, but they didn't stop raising the cause at the end of the month and that is why some reporters have been quoted saying that they are the only charity "out there" in the disaster-prone region helping out. Not too late either as it is only ten years since the world has heard this saying "genocide" on a mass proportions in Africa, and that there must not be another one. There was a debate in tune with this national crisis on an AOL Christian message board recently. A topic was initially speaking about happiness, when a poster described the happiness in giving and laid there a link to DEC Disaster Emergency Committee working with Christian Aid for the Sudan. I believe the poster on the board was trying to relate "giving" for this issue to the saying in the Gospels on Jesus where he said that "there is more happiness or fulfilment in giving someone what you possess of yourself." And I suppose like Christian Aid now along with other charities and individuals are asking that what better time is there to give than now?
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Giving what you own or posses is not as easy as it sounds at least when its to do with donations. This I can as of today boldly say though I wouldn't out loud, and this is why. It is good that the thinkers for and within various charities have devised methods which to enable people to give plenty in several ways, but it still seems that the more methods that can be found the more the complexities in giving can now be reflected. For instance if I wanted to give for the Sudan Crisis but not willing to give vital details over the net-line, as simple but mistrusting as that sounds, I would be left with other credit card options, postal orders, and other post office slips to the voluntary organisations. But what I have discovered or observed is that these means may leave the giver myself in the emotional and mental state of feeling somewhat powerless or institutionalised as to where their money is really going. That is why there is still this urge in me when I hear of a crisis afar where I havent lived or been to just give to the person affected or see how the little I do give stretches rather than work through a mediator or the middle man that portions. Yes order must be restored, just has residential councils must meet but that doesn't stop a resident of his or her street from wanting to use what powers they do have as an individual when they can, if they can to do what meetings are held for, does it? The urge to just see the immediate problem go away at whim or at will is still there. And that is how it must be like for anyone who wants to give something for a far crisis, but don't know if their voice which is their wishes like a vote really count. Though for many this can turn into an excuse. But come now, the more we seek the more we will find, which could mean that unless we are willing to work more not just with a Charity but on what the charity is working towards which is the cause itself, we may not see if we really care just how effective our alms giving can be. But for the time being and with what I have done so far I would still appreciate clearer means at this stage towards simply giving as I haven't received any notice from Disaster Emergency Committee Sudan Emergency to say that they have got my donations or any signal to state what comes after.
I wouldn't advise alms giving for the sake of it in itself. I say this because happiness is what we find we must will for, and not what we need someone to tell us to, but for now it is wise not just to grieve. I admire those who already have all reason and fondness to give as there isn't a much better time to give and give more than at present.
Currently... Giving The Aid. Christian Aid on Sudan
ID: Resolution1948
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