Giving Back

[bitspike]

I've been a student for many, many years.  Though I've been entitled to concessions from the government, and managed to score myself a well paying one-day-per-week job, I've learned to live simply and not spend my money on crap.  Early on I had a lot of trouble not going over budget on food even though I was buying the cheapest vegan food available

Comments

[liadlaith]

Beth highly recommends Australian Ethical Investment, but I don't know how much experience she has with them. I am really interested in investing with you. Who needs to get married when you can just tie up your money?

Apparently Oxfam only spends 5% on admin - according to the pie chart that was flashed at me when the signed me up for donations (I always get seduced by pie) - but they do the whole goat-for-a-village thing.

[bitspike]

I think 5% is a good amount. I had a look at the 'donations' section on their website and it looks as though they have a few different options, which is good. If I want to I can just make a one-off donation to a cause I think is important, though this means returning to the site often to check, or regularly support one specific area rather than just give to the organisation as a whole and let them decide where it's most needed.

Or I could support Oxfam by buying lots and lots of their Columbian instant coffee or drinking chocolate!

[liadlaith]

Chocolate bought for charity has no calories. Tru fax.

[socraticomatic]

There's a vegan/FT chocolate at Oxfam that's FABULOUS!

(I don't remember the name, but it's in both bar and family-block form.)

[tanukisuit]

I always tell people to donate money to Meow Cat Rescue (local to where I live) or the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (international).

[bitspike]

I'm definitely interested in giving to Sea Shepherd. I keep seeing (paid) Greenpeace people in the street asking for donations and I just can't forget all the frustration I got from an article about their non-vegan dietary stance. It may have been an isolated incident, but still.

And Sea Shepherd are just awesome!

While I respect your choice to donate to a cat rescue, I think I'd feel too conflicted to do it myself. I'd feel uncomfortable supporting non-vegan animals. But hopefully other people will hear about it now that you've linked to it!

That reminds me . . . *goes to tag this entry*

[tanukisuit]

The Sea Shepherds are awesome!

I like that particular cat rescue organization because they started giving potential owners a "personality test" and see what cat personality would make a best match for them. It results in more cats being permanently adopted. I personally don't care if the kitties are non-vegan, I just want them to have a good home.

[socraticomatic]

I detect an edit has taken place at the end of the first paragraph! Whassa matter, can't stand by your position?! XD

[liadlaith]

I detect an edit has taken place at the end of the first paragraph! Whassa matter, can't stand by your position?! XD

Not when he's being pummelled ; )

I didn't know AEI did super as well! That's awesome, I totally want to do that.

[socraticomatic]

This chart is great: Choice: Ethical investing comparison table.

(Though it's now over a year old, so it'd be best do double check what they do & don't invest in.)

[bitspike]

The edit was demanded =)

I found the article on the Choice site. *bookmarks it* I'll take a closer look when Cassie and I invest somewhere soon.

I really like the idea behind Kiva and will seriously consider it. I heard about it or something similar a while ago, but completely forgot. My only concern is having to actually choose who to lend to. How do I decide?!

Voiceless and Animals Australia (loved their recent radio campaign!) are a few local organisations I've thought of already. I think they're great options, too.

Also, using my co-op connections to buy cheap food is a good idea. I'll have to look into what I can do with it though. I was going to donate left over vegetables at the end of each week to the local Food Not Bombs, but I then stopped working the late shift and couldn't do the transport =/

So many ideas. I wonder how many places I can support at once!

Really, thanks for the suggestions.

[matt_nothing]

How about Sea Shepherd? They sail out of Australia at least.

http://www.seashepherd.org/donate.html

:)

[tanukisuit]

I suggested them too! Man, they're awesome.

[matt_nothing]

Indeed they are.

(I wasn't copying you - I just didn't read the existing comments before posting my own.) :P

[leah_loves]

For the record, it's "organization"

[bitspike]

For the record, the 'z' is replaced with an 's' in the UK and Australia - and probably a few other places, too =)

[styxdrowned]

In Canada too :)

[matt_nothing]

Perhaps you could manoeuvre your comments in a less abrasive direction, creating a friendlier dialogue.

But, big lols of fail to you for not realising that the UK and Australia spell some words differently. Glad I could come to bitspike's defence.

Trying to correct someone's (correct) spelling: lol
Trying to snark a mod: LOL!