That Sure Was Horrible, but It Doesn’t Rise to the Level of Genocide November 25, 2007
Posted by Phineas in : Economics, End Of The World, Giving, Lies, Political/Editorial , add a commentWhat a phrase: “rise to the level of genocide“.
I know there’s a definition or many definitions, and because of this, some things are and other things are not genocide. But still, it strikes me as weasly, bureaucratic, dismissive. It’s almost always used in the negative. You hardly ever hear anyone say: “Well, how about that? This one *does* rise to the level of genocide. Yep. Sure does. It was just under that level, there’s the level, then it rose above that level.”
No — it’s usually, “that thing is horrible, but does it rise to the level of genocide?” (posed as a question but is really being answered in the negative). Or: “One thing is clear: it doesn’t rise to the level of genocide.” And then the argument hinges on a technicality or selective choosing of an operative definition of genocide. It’s like saying, “I’m indignant, but according to Webster’s dictionary, my indignation does not rise to the level of outrage. I’ll write one letter to my congressman, but I won’t write two, because this atrocity does not meet the two-letter criteria. I’ll send $100 to the relief of the victims, but I won’t send $200, because their suffering just does not quite rise to that level.” One’s suffering must rise to a certain level, after all.
“Ooo, so close! But it just doesn’t rise to the level of genocide. Try again next time!”
Give List 2007 November 3, 2007
Posted by Phineas in : End Of The World, Environment, Giving, Info, Wild Animals , add a commentStill working on this, but here’s my list for 2008.
African Wildlife Foundation
Washington, DC Animals: Wildlife Conservation |
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
New York, NY Public Benefit: Advocacy and Civil Rights |
American Red Cross
Washington, DC Human Services: Multipurpose Human Service Organizations |
Amnesty International USA
New York, NY International: International Peace, Security, and Affairs |
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International
Atlanta, GA Animals: Wildlife Conservation |
Doctors Without Borders, USA
New York, NY International: Development and Relief Services |
DonorsChoose
New York, NY Education: Other Education Programs and Services |
Jane Goodall Institute
Arlington, VA Animals: Wildlife Conservation |
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
White Plains, NY Health: Diseases, Disorders, and Disciplines |
Marijuana Policy Project Foundation
Washington, DC Public Benefit: Research and Public Policy Institutions |
The Sierra Club Foundation
San Francisco, CA Environment: Environmental Protection and Conservation |
Southern Poverty Law Center
Montgomery, AL Public Benefit: Advocacy and Civil Rights |
United States Fund for UNICEF
New York, NY International: International Peace, Security, and Affairs |
USA for UNHCR
Washington, DC International: International Peace, Security, and Affairs |
Yosemite Fund
San Francisco, CA Environment: Botanical Gardens, Parks, and Nature Centers |
How Much To Give? December 20, 2006
Posted by Phineas in : Giving, Irrelevant, Political/Editorial , 2 comments10%, according to Peter Singer, and we can eliminate poverty worldwide.
Give List December 19, 2006
Posted by Phineas in : Giving, Irrelevant , add a commentA friend started a thread re: favorite charities. Thought I’d keep the list here as it grows.
UNICEF in Iraq — Think of the children!
http://www.unicefusa.org/site/c.duLRI8O0H/b.45279/k.8221/By_Program__Donate__US_Fund_for_UNICEF.htm
World Wildlife Foundation — Animals!
http://panda.org/how_you_can_help/gifts/index.cfm?decgiftspp
United Nations High Commission for Refugees — Nobody deserves to be a refugee.
http://www.unhcr.org/donate/
Vital Ground — Grizzlies are our friend!
http://www.vitalground.org/
Jane Goodall Institute — 3000 bonobos left in the world!
http://www.janegoodall.org/
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund — I’m a sucker for baby gorilla photos
http://www.gorillafund.org/
