Alternatives to "Black Friday"
Nov. 26th, 2004 10:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sun_set_bravelyI've seen a few people on my friends' list post about alternative gift-giving this year, and it's inspired me. Most of the people on my list this year are going to get a card saying that I've honored them by giving to someone who needs more crucial things than another CD or necktie.
Upset about the war in Iraq? Don't bitch about it; make a donation to support UNICEF's work for the children in Iraq.
Pissed at the Global Gag Rule? Planned Parenthood could use your help to fight restrictive U.S. policies and cutbacks for global reproductive health.
Think twice this season before you do your shopping. As U.S. citizens, your consumer dollars have a huge impact on our nation and the globe -- especially if you're a woman.
Why should you give your money to big businesses that don't support the things that are important to you?
For the price of that gift Aunt Betty might not even like, you can buy geese for a family in China through
Heifer International (one of Susan Sarandon's favored aid organizations). Voila! Two gifts in one! And if Aunt Betty hassles you about it, at least the family in China will have a brighter future because of your thoughtfulness. Aunt Betty is so hard to please.
Here's a list of sixteen national and global organizations that are working to bring an end to hunger, poverty, violence against women, deforestation, and more.
And this is just a beginning, based on things that are important to me. There are thousands upon thousands of important causes that need your support. Can't support them financially? Volunteer your time. Let this list inspire you to research causes that are meaningful to you and yours.
And pass the idea on to your friends, colleagues, neighbors, family, grocer, dog walker -- everyone!
There is much work to be done!
"If many little people, in many little places, do many little deeds, they can change the face of the earth."
-African proverb.
1) http://www.heifer.org
"Heifer works to end hunger and poverty, and care for the earth by providing appropriate livestock, training and related services to small-scale farmers and communities worldwide... Our cornerstone of "passing on the gift," assures that each participant in the program becomes a donor and gives the animal's offspring to another family in need. This concepts helps build community and enhances dignity and
participation in each project."
2) http://www.roomtoread.org
"Room to Read’s mission is to provide under-privileged children with an opportunity to gain the lifelong gift of education. It was founded on the belief that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and taking control of one’s own life. We currently focus our efforts on Cambodia, India, Nepal and Vietnam, countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children."
3) http://www.about-face.org/su/donations.shtml
"About-Face promotes positive self-esteem in girls and women of all ages, sizes, races and backgrounds through a spirited approach to media education, outreach and activism."
4) http://www.livingcompassion.org/
"Living Compassion is creating a more conscious, compassionate world, moment by moment, one person at a time. Ours is a vision of global community, connecting like-hearted people from around the world, each
working toward a caring, peaceful planet. Our projects— CompassionWorks, African Vulnerable Children Project, The Peace Project: Assisi, and Open Air Talk Radio—express our desire to serve. Living Compassion
is a nonprofit organization."
5) http://www.afghansforafghans.org/
"afghans for Afghans is a humanitarian and educational people-to-people project that sends hand-knit and
crocheted blankets and garments to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan."
6) http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/
"The Global Fund for Women is a grantmaking foundation supporting women's human rights organizations around
the world to address critical issues such as gaining economic independence, increasing girls' access to education and stopping violence against women."
7) http://www.altgifts.org
"Alternative Gifts International: Send gifts of compassion to empower the poor and renew the planet. Choose from 33 different life-sustaining, worldwide projects to honor a friend or family."
8) http://www.gwob.org/
"Geeks Without Borders is committed to providing computers and related equipment to schools, clinics, and nonprofits in developing countries."
9) http://www.treesforlife.org/gift/memorial/
"Trees for life is a non-profit, people-to-people movement that helps plant fruit trees in developing countries. These trees provide a low-cost, self-renewing source of food for many people and protect the environment. In this way, Trees for Life demonstrates that in helping each other we can unleash extraordinary power that impacts our lives. Our programs include three elements: education, health, and environment."
10) https://www.habitat.org/donation/gfth/default.aspx
"By honoring family or friends with a donation to Habitat for Humanity, you’ll know that it will be a perfect fit every time. Your gift will be used to help families in need out of poverty housing and give them an opportunity for a better future. Honor up to four people with your donation. We will send a beautiful personalized card by U.S. postal mail or e-mail in recognition of your gift."
11) http://founding-fathers.org/
"The Family Violence Prevention Fund works to prevent violence within the home, and in the community, to
help those whose lives are devastated by violence because everyone has the right to live free of violence.
Founding Fathers started on Father's Day 2003, when 350 men, from all walks of life, united to make history; to change the world by creating a new society – one where decency and respect require no special day on the calendar, where boys are taught that violence does not equal strength and where men stand with courage and lead with conviction to stop violence against women and children."
12) http://www.catwinternational.org/donate/
"The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) is a non-governmental organization that promotes women's
human rights. It works internationally to combat sexual exploitation in all its forms, especially prostitution and trafficking in women and children, in particularly girls."
13) http://www.globalhealthaction.org/alternativegift.html
"From Global Health Action's diverse programmatic initiatives, we've selected four exceptional programs to feature in this year's Alternative Giving Program that we hope you and your loved ones will be excited to learn more about: Haitian Goat Project; Safe Motherhood Project; Empowerment of Rural Chinese Women;
Reducing HIV/AIDS' Devastation in Africa"
14) http://rawa.org/donation.htm
"Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan is the oldest political/social organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan."
15) http://www.unicef.org/emerg/iraq/
http://www.supportunicef.org/site/pp.asp?c=iuI1LdP0G&b=45818
"UNICEF has been working to improve the situation of children and women in Iraq since 1952 and has had a permanent presence in the country since 1983. It plays a leading role in helping to fulfill the fundamental rights of children and women, working in the areas of education, health, nutrition, water and environmental sanitation, child protection and women’s rights."
16) https://member.plannedparenthood.org/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=1047
"Planned Parenthood: Your gift to our International Programs reaches across the world to bring women, men, and young people the information and services they need to stay healthy. Your donation also fights restrictive U.S. policies and harsh cutbacks in funding for global reproductive health."
Upset about the war in Iraq? Don't bitch about it; make a donation to support UNICEF's work for the children in Iraq.
Pissed at the Global Gag Rule? Planned Parenthood could use your help to fight restrictive U.S. policies and cutbacks for global reproductive health.
Think twice this season before you do your shopping. As U.S. citizens, your consumer dollars have a huge impact on our nation and the globe -- especially if you're a woman.
Why should you give your money to big businesses that don't support the things that are important to you?
For the price of that gift Aunt Betty might not even like, you can buy geese for a family in China through
Heifer International (one of Susan Sarandon's favored aid organizations). Voila! Two gifts in one! And if Aunt Betty hassles you about it, at least the family in China will have a brighter future because of your thoughtfulness. Aunt Betty is so hard to please.
Here's a list of sixteen national and global organizations that are working to bring an end to hunger, poverty, violence against women, deforestation, and more.
And this is just a beginning, based on things that are important to me. There are thousands upon thousands of important causes that need your support. Can't support them financially? Volunteer your time. Let this list inspire you to research causes that are meaningful to you and yours.
And pass the idea on to your friends, colleagues, neighbors, family, grocer, dog walker -- everyone!
There is much work to be done!
"If many little people, in many little places, do many little deeds, they can change the face of the earth."
-African proverb.
1) http://www.heifer.org
"Heifer works to end hunger and poverty, and care for the earth by providing appropriate livestock, training and related services to small-scale farmers and communities worldwide... Our cornerstone of "passing on the gift," assures that each participant in the program becomes a donor and gives the animal's offspring to another family in need. This concepts helps build community and enhances dignity and
participation in each project."
2) http://www.roomtoread.org
"Room to Read’s mission is to provide under-privileged children with an opportunity to gain the lifelong gift of education. It was founded on the belief that education is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty and taking control of one’s own life. We currently focus our efforts on Cambodia, India, Nepal and Vietnam, countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children."
3) http://www.about-face.org/su/donations.shtml
"About-Face promotes positive self-esteem in girls and women of all ages, sizes, races and backgrounds through a spirited approach to media education, outreach and activism."
4) http://www.livingcompassion.org/
"Living Compassion is creating a more conscious, compassionate world, moment by moment, one person at a time. Ours is a vision of global community, connecting like-hearted people from around the world, each
working toward a caring, peaceful planet. Our projects— CompassionWorks, African Vulnerable Children Project, The Peace Project: Assisi, and Open Air Talk Radio—express our desire to serve. Living Compassion
is a nonprofit organization."
5) http://www.afghansforafghans.org/
"afghans for Afghans is a humanitarian and educational people-to-people project that sends hand-knit and
crocheted blankets and garments to the beleaguered people of Afghanistan."
6) http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/
"The Global Fund for Women is a grantmaking foundation supporting women's human rights organizations around
the world to address critical issues such as gaining economic independence, increasing girls' access to education and stopping violence against women."
7) http://www.altgifts.org
"Alternative Gifts International: Send gifts of compassion to empower the poor and renew the planet. Choose from 33 different life-sustaining, worldwide projects to honor a friend or family."
8) http://www.gwob.org/
"Geeks Without Borders is committed to providing computers and related equipment to schools, clinics, and nonprofits in developing countries."
9) http://www.treesforlife.org/gift/memorial/
"Trees for life is a non-profit, people-to-people movement that helps plant fruit trees in developing countries. These trees provide a low-cost, self-renewing source of food for many people and protect the environment. In this way, Trees for Life demonstrates that in helping each other we can unleash extraordinary power that impacts our lives. Our programs include three elements: education, health, and environment."
10) https://www.habitat.org/donation/gfth/default.aspx
"By honoring family or friends with a donation to Habitat for Humanity, you’ll know that it will be a perfect fit every time. Your gift will be used to help families in need out of poverty housing and give them an opportunity for a better future. Honor up to four people with your donation. We will send a beautiful personalized card by U.S. postal mail or e-mail in recognition of your gift."
11) http://founding-fathers.org/
"The Family Violence Prevention Fund works to prevent violence within the home, and in the community, to
help those whose lives are devastated by violence because everyone has the right to live free of violence.
Founding Fathers started on Father's Day 2003, when 350 men, from all walks of life, united to make history; to change the world by creating a new society – one where decency and respect require no special day on the calendar, where boys are taught that violence does not equal strength and where men stand with courage and lead with conviction to stop violence against women and children."
12) http://www.catwinternational.org/donate/
"The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) is a non-governmental organization that promotes women's
human rights. It works internationally to combat sexual exploitation in all its forms, especially prostitution and trafficking in women and children, in particularly girls."
13) http://www.globalhealthaction.org/alternativegift.html
"From Global Health Action's diverse programmatic initiatives, we've selected four exceptional programs to feature in this year's Alternative Giving Program that we hope you and your loved ones will be excited to learn more about: Haitian Goat Project; Safe Motherhood Project; Empowerment of Rural Chinese Women;
Reducing HIV/AIDS' Devastation in Africa"
14) http://rawa.org/donation.htm
"Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan is the oldest political/social organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan."
15) http://www.unicef.org/emerg/iraq/
http://www.supportunicef.org/site/pp.asp?c=iuI1LdP0G&b=45818
"UNICEF has been working to improve the situation of children and women in Iraq since 1952 and has had a permanent presence in the country since 1983. It plays a leading role in helping to fulfill the fundamental rights of children and women, working in the areas of education, health, nutrition, water and environmental sanitation, child protection and women’s rights."
16) https://member.plannedparenthood.org/site/Donation?ACTION=SHOW_DONATION_OPTIONS&CAMPAIGN_ID=1047
"Planned Parenthood: Your gift to our International Programs reaches across the world to bring women, men, and young people the information and services they need to stay healthy. Your donation also fights restrictive U.S. policies and harsh cutbacks in funding for global reproductive health."
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Date: 2004-11-26 05:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-11-26 06:53 pm (UTC)Heifer International
Date: 2004-11-26 08:00 pm (UTC)