[SWAPlist] hurricane relief

[ajm5007 at garnet.acns.fsu.edu]

I would like to direct you all to Oxfam America's website. Oxfam usually
concentrates their efforts on providing aid to those whose governments
are unable or unwilling to help them. This is not the case with the
victims of hurricane Katrina. However, Oxfam America, in recognition of
the magnitude of this tragedy, is sending humantarian aid to the rural
and poverty-stricken areas most affected by this disaster. 

If what has been preventing some of your from giving your money to
organizations like the American Red Cross is the concern that those most
in need of aid will not receive it, then please give to Oxfam instead -
they make it their explicit goal to help those who are NOT receiving aid
from their governments or from other relief organizations. A $25 donation 
to Oxfam will do more good than you could personally do in an entire
weekend in a disaster-stricken area, and will actually cost you LESS than 
the trip there and back. 

If we lived 30 minutes from those in need and had skills that would be of 
use, I would be fully in support of traveling to the afflicted areas and
working directly with the victims. But we are not in such a situation. We 
are, however, in a situation to provide much-needed funding to
organizations that can and will provide a great deal of aid to those in
need. Please follow this link to Oxfam America's donation page and give
whatever you can. If you cannot provide the minimum gift of $15, buddy up 
with someone and send in a gift. If you do not have a vaild credit card,
check the bottom of the page for the address to which you can mail donations. 

You may not derive as much personal pleasure from "throwing money at the
problem" as you would from personally handing out bottles of water to
thirsty people, but I promise you that you will be providing more aid to
more people. If you're motivation is to help people, then donate money.
If your motivation is to feel good about yourself because you helped
people, then you're not really performing a very morally praiseworthy
act, are you? 

Aaron J Mobley
Department of Philosophy
Florida State University
151E Dodd Hall
850 645-1531
ajm5007 at fsu.edu