More than 2,000 people have died or are missing since the first earthquake struck. Countless people have been forced away from their homes. Even more people do not have things that we take for granted. Many are also at risk of exposure to radiation. Governments, companies and individuals from all over the world have been joining together in a massive relief effort- also globally recognized corporations in Japan itself such as Sony, Toyota and Ajinomoto have been hugely generous- but more is needed.

Here at Charities Blog, we challenge everyone to go one step further and help out in any way you can. There are many ways by which you can extend a helping hand to those who have been affected by the Japan earthquakes and tsunamis, and we would like to do our part as well. Below is a widget, courtesy of Chipin.com, which you can use to send your donations to those in need.

Chipin is a reputable widget provider that offers its services for free. Rest assured that whatever you give will go to the people who can use your help the most. Let’s not forget those who are still suffering and share whatever we can.

One of these medical problems deals with hearing. The number of people who suffer from deafness is apparent and while there are medical solutions to it, they do not come cheap. Some have to console themselves with the fact that money talks and unless some good soul or program is raised, the inevitable task of enjoying the sense of hearing will only remain a goal for them.

In a move not to really help cure deafness immediately, worthy causes such as the ones being undertaken by the charity Deafness Research UK can do their small part by distributing pamphlets and guiding people suffering from deafness. In the pamphlets, guides and practical advice will be given to help concerned people, something that can really count a lot if people would read on it.

Vivienne Michael, chief executive of Deafness Research UK, commented: “Through the ‘Trouble With your Ears?’ leaflet, we aim to raise awareness of ear problems and give them more prominence on the public health agenda.”

She suggested that the provision of good-quality information could both improve people’s health while at the same time lower the burden placed on doctors by reducing the number of avoidable ear problems.

Source

Theres not much worse than door-to-door solicitors who you actually have to deal with in your own home. When it comes to people asking for donations, by far the easiest ones to refuse (if desired) are the letters (chuck it in the bin if you’re not interested), second comes the telephone solicitations (sorry, I’m not interested, or some other lame excuse which the person on the recieving end does not see, thankfully).

But door-to-door solicitations are the most difficult to deal with, rather like the kindly-faced vacum cleaner salesman or friendly Mormon at your door. I remember some years ago when a “Norwegian Wooden Floor” salesman knocked on our door one day, with a neckbrace. Needless to say, a week later, our living room floor was covered in some very expensive flooring.

But back to the topic. Dealing with solicitors can get hairy, so here are some things you should be ASKING should you get a phone call, or worse, the door-to-door solicitor.

And most importantly, if you are feeling pressured, getting repeated visits or feeling harassed, ring your Better Business Bureau IMMEDIATELY and report them.

1. WHAT? is charity’s name and details such as address, contact numbers, license, website.
2. WILL your donation be tax deductible? Ask if they have the necessary licences etc.
3. ASK about registration and licensing. This is required in most areas.
4. ASK about the percentage of the money that will go to the cause – especially of it is for a benefit event.

** WATCH out for those that pressure you to give money right then and there. A good charity will welcome your donation at any time.

Technorati Tags: Charity tips, investigating charities, questions to ask charities, donation tips

In the UK, a new way to give to charity has been buzzing in the headlines, giving dangerously, that is.

We’re talking about “The Charity Challenge“, which is like a travel/tour operator with a unique twist – it gives people the chance to have a large-scale adventure holiday and at the same time, organizes it so that your holiday raises money for charity. Think of climbing Mount Everest or following an Inca trail in deepest Peru – terribly exciting and death-defying stuff, and you get to help others too along the way.

Actually, the unusual concept has been around for the past 15 years, established in 1991 by Erich Reich, who used to be a Director at Thomas Cook. He first got the idea when he was asked by a friend to help raise funds for a Children‘s Home in London. Reich rode for 400 kilometers in the Middle Easters desert and was inspired ever since.

His company, Classic Tours, has been booming ever since and leads as the world’s largest “Challenge Operator”. Just this year, the company will be taking over 3,000 participants on high-adrenalin challenges all over the world – from Brazil to Mongolia.

“Since 1991 we have helped approximately 120 charities raise something in the order of Ł32m, and that’s net, not gross.” Reich explains.

So how does it work?

Reich explains further:

“We then organise everything, from flights and accommodation to logistical support on the ground. On charity bike rides, for example, we have our own teams of mechanics. In the developing world, we even supply our own medics.

The nature of the challenge is very individual, some people have never camped before so for them it can be a challenge just to go to the loo behind a rock.”

Even though we’re a tour operator, no money comes directly to us from clients. We give the charity a cost per individual for the services on the ground and they pay us in turn,” says Reich.

Technorati Tags: charity challenge, charity event, charity tour, charity travel, charity trek

It is not the first time that we have encountered this problem. In fact, we have seen this happen centuries before. While many have been gallant as far as helping out charities, money is certainly the least to be expected as far as help is concerned. Alternative help comes in the form of clothing, food or even company. These are factors that are equally helpful and people just have to stick to the fact that the occurrences that has hit the whole world is something beyond their hands.

As far as charitable efforts in trying to raise funds, it can still help. But don’t expect it to impact in the forecasted revenue it can generate. People are buying less and regardless if it is of superior or heartfelt quality, people are certainly going to pick up things that they really need and pass on what they don’t really have use for.

Charities may brace for the worst. But the good thing is they can expect this to improve as the economic storm can only prove better tomorrows for people of today.

As mentioned in the last post, fighting for children being abused by online pornogaphers is a vital cause we should all be part of. Today, child exploitation on the internet is a sickening MULTI-BILLION dollar industry. Here are some of the grueling facts to be aware of according to data from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC):

19% of identified offenders had images of children younger than 3

39% had images of children younger than 6

82% had images of children younger than 12.

There is also strong evidence of increasing involvement by organized crime and extremist groups.

Children have become a commodity in this insidious crime. While there is no empirical research on the scope of the problem, but there are estimates.

A 2002 report by ECPAT International and the Bangkok Post estimated that 100,000 child-pornography web sites existed on the Internet in 2001.

According to the Internet Watch Foundation in the United Kingdom, there has been a 1500% increase in the number of child-pornography images since 1997.
In 2003, the National Criminal Intelligence Service in the United Kingdom estimated that child-pornography web sites had doubled worldwide; that half of the sites are hosted in the United States; and that the number of sites in Russia had doubled.

NCMEC reports that most child pornography consumers and child victims are Americans; however, the financial transactions are increasingly moving offshore.

The International Centre For Missing and Exploited Children, or the IMEC, is a global agency which promotes the well-being and safety of children all over the world though its various programs.

Visit the orginazation’s site to get the latest facts, legislation on the issues as well as ways on how YOU can help end this terrible crimes today.

Technorati Tags: Children, Child exploitation, child crimes, pornography