Help Haiti

It is horrible what happened. I did the text for 10 bucks. It takes all of 30 seconds and that 10 dollars will do a lot.

Horrible situation for the people of Haiti. Donating only a few dollars really does make a difference.

I did my part by texting to the Red Cross.

coL RaK contest or something would be cool to raise some money for Haiti

dan_NY,

Although a contest would really help the cause, we feel that this situation needs more of an immediate response.

of course i do agree but something that would last 1-2 days to raise money would not be any longer than what FEMA is doing now.

i Donated 10$ from my phone

donated some to the red cross here

While I find its great that Complexity, Holywood actors/actresses, and all of these organizations are coming together to help Haiti why did it take a natural disaster to get people to help? The GDP for Haiti is $560, and the average person makes $1-2 a day. The United States GDP is $40,000 to put it in comparison, over seventy times more.

I visited Haiti two years ago and it was a pretty difficult situation, I went to Labadee which is basically a small section(maybe 50 acres of land) owned by Royal Caribbean. I never even made it to a city to see how bad things were but people lived in the tiniest shacks along the edge of the water and when the cruise ship arrived they would go to their hand made canoes and paddle to the area where the tourists were coming. They got our beach chairs for us, and were just standing there waiting for a tip.. they really needed the money. We then went to a small market where these people literally took you by the hand and pulled you to their shop trying to get you to buy stuff and bargaining like you wouldn't believe it. They couldn't take no for an answer, they needed the money so badly, they were so poor. As a rich Canadian whose parents just paid thousands of dollars to go on this cruise it really puts a pit in your stomach.

I urge everyone to donate what you can, but also I urge everyone to donate what they can all the time, to any charitable organization. We should be there helping Haitians all of the time, not only after a natural disaster.

I don't mean to sound like a damned soulless jackass by saying this, but we can't donate constantly to this country or other poverty filled areas. They were born into an area of poverty.. and even though so many Americans COULD afford to just randomly give money to these poor countries without having reasons like natural disasters, it just doesn't fit for some people. If you honestly want me to be more specific, PM me.

PrimeTime and Rainman:

I agree with some of your points, but I think special circumstances require special efforts. Many good organizations were already supporting Haiti, but this is an extraordinary time. My own father travels there to install water purification systems as part of his mission work. (He was supposed to be going there again in 2 weeks.) There are people who care and who reach out year round, but when an earthquake kills over 100,000 people larger, more urgent efforts are needed IMO.

yea I think it's great to donate in major times of need like this.. sorry if I didn't state that right

Ya I see both sides to the story. Thanks for the input.

Donated $200 dollars through my church.

I do appreciate that the US is trying to help in this catastrophe, as they do in every major one, but I do think we should try to pull more funds from other countries, maybe in the UN to help, because we are in the middle of a recession, and those middle and lower class jobs are the ones feeling the hurt, and we can't always afford to dish out hundreds of millions at a whim via tax funds to every catastrophe in the world. I am not referencing this particular one, just the whole idea in general. I love that people donate, and I think they should, I'm strictly referring to it from a government pov. It's not like other nations will be coming to help us when another katrina happens, or when massive earthquakes eventually hit the west coast, we'll have to be self-sufficient. Yes I know we are the largest nation and all of that, but my point still remains. I think we should give some, but not soley to these countries. We should divide up what is fair amongst participating nations.

Syrinex generally I agree with you but after 9/11 the world really reached out to us and helped a lot. I am sure other countries helped after some of the other incidents as well but generally speaking the world does try to assist more to those that can't help themselves and we are able to help ourselves.

i donated 10 via cell phone as well.

Anomoly is definitely right. Not only did most of the world reach out to us during 9/11, but also Hurricane Katrina. Even though it is a recession, it is common courtesy for other countries to reach out and help those in need during a horrible natural disaster/terrorist attack.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_response_to_Hurricane_Katrina

Yes, what is happening in Haiti is terrible. Yes, what you guys are doing is great; however, everybody saying what they have done to help, in my eyes, is just plain selfish. "I donated x to y," is really changing what it's all about. It's not a contest to see who can do what, it's a relief effort. People are fighting for their lives day in and day out there, fighting for their posessions, and fighting for their families. What many of you are doing is simply drawing attention to yourself, not the cause. Bottom line, It's amazing that you guys are donating, just stop making it about yourselves. That does NOT go for everyone, the organization, etc, don't read it the wrong way. Had to get that off my chest. Thoughts and prayers are with Haiti, as well as the victims of what has happened in Virginia. Rest in Peace to every soul that lost their lives.

One last note, don't just give to Haiti because you believe it makes you feel better. If that's the case, there's probably people in your own town that are less fortunate that need a hand. Try that out sometime if you can.