I became involved in the 12for12k Challenge with the understanding that there might come a month in which I could not, in good conscience, support the chosen charity. I was hoping it would not happen, but that month has come.
The chosen charity for June is Believe in Zero, a campaign of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Because of my love for 12for12k and my respect for the good people involved, I hesitate to say anything against the chosen charity. However, I cannot remain silent on this important matter.
UNICEF was founded in 1946 to provide emergency aid to the children of Europe after World War II. Over the years its mission has grown beyond child survival and its scope beyond Europe.
Sadly, the organization has a track record of mismanagement and misappropriation of funds, corruption and misinformation. UNICEF also supports eugenics measures which aim to eliminate the very children they claim to help. (Google as many example as you like. They’re too numerous to bother relisting here.)
I will not willingly give money to an organization which spends a large percentage of my donation on inflated overhead costs and looses another large percentage to corruption before a single cent reaches the communities they purport to help.
Supporters of 12for12k must do as they see fit, but my donation for the month of June will go to an alternate charity. I would be happy to do so quietly, but I must not allow the impression I support a politically corrupt and morally bankrupt organization such as UNICEF.
6 responses so far ↓
Danny Brown // June 6, 2009 at 11:16 am |
James,
While I obviously respect your thoughts and decision, I wish you had brought your concerns to me first.
As founder of 12for12k, I take very seriously the concerns of anyone about the chosen charities. I also thoroughly check each charity before supporting it.
UNICEF has had problems in the past, as have (sadly) many charitable organizations. However, new management set in place a while ago has learned from these mistakes as well as implemented measures to counter the issues you have.
Additionally, we are supporting the U.S. Fund for UNICEF which has clear financial records and falls within the 12for12k criteria for selection.
Again, as a blog partner for 12for12k, I wish you had come to me for clarification prior to your post. Then we could have looked at any issues and dealt with them (if that was needed).
Best,
Danny.
Danny Brown // June 6, 2009 at 11:50 am |
Another thing you have to remember about UNICEF is that it’s an inter-governmental organization as opposed to an outright NGO.
Therefore, many of its hands are tied by differing red tape situations in the countries concerned.
Many of the criticisms that UNICEF has had to endure is through political groups looking to make a name for themselves off the back of a large organization.
The Catholic church has criticized UNICEF for their pro-choice regarding abortion and sterilization support. But where does it say that the choice should be taken away from a woman whether they should have an unwanted child? Say that child was conceived from a rape?
Political condemnation always leads to vocal groups coming out in support, if they feel they have a chance to air grievances that may (or may not) have something to do with the organization under attack.
I believe in the “new” UNICEF and I believe in the work they do.
As I said in my earlier comment, I respect anyone’s opinion, but I’d hope that it’s tempered with facts and not statement.
David // June 6, 2009 at 12:30 pm |
Hi James,
Interesting post, I must say. I’m also a supporter of 12for12k so I have a level of interest in what you’ve written.
Your blog is your own, so I’m not in a position to criticize your story, all I can do is tell you my thoughts and what I would do in this situation.
Just like you, I’ve wondered how I’d react if one of the charities chosen was one I didn’t agree with. Bearing in mind that we all all different and we have different priorities and value systems, it’s clearly impossible to make everyone 100% happy over a 12 month period.
Personally I was happy to donate to UNICEF, I’m very aware of the good work the organization is doing, often in pretty dangerous places – as you know it isn’t unknown for UNICEF employees to get themselves targeted and killed while carrying out their work. I have kids and I know how important they are – I appreciated the opportunity to donate to a group that supports children.
I’m certainly not so naive as to pretend there have not been problems with the organization as with the UN as a whole. Not being from the US (although I’ve lived here for many years) I don’t share the anti-UN sentiment that seems to be so common here, I’ve seen firsthand in various parts of the world some good things being done.
So let’s say, the 12for12k guys come up with a charity I really hate? What should I do?
In my case I’d certainly not make my usual monthly contribution – that last I checked actually doing so is voluntary so it’s entirely my choice. I’d also skip making a blog post in support of that particular month – again, no-one is trying to make me show any support for something I don’t want to.
A chat with Danny Brown would be in order. Not to get him to change his mind – like you I know what the charity for the month is when it is made public – but just to let him know that I’d be keeping a low profile that month and I’d be back next time. I can’t imagine he’d have any problem with that.
But the key thing is, I’d still be a supporter of the 12for12k concept. I wouldn’t criticize the group publicly, just because I don’t like a particular cause, everyone else probably loves it – why should I be the spoiler?
So, I hope next months choice better meets with your approval.
adamtree // June 7, 2009 at 3:54 pm |
Danny,
Although I still stick by my post, I must admit that you are absolutely right when you say I should have contacted you with my concerns first. Perhaps I could have drawn from your counsel to make a better response.
I felt like I had to make my regular 12for12k post because I made a previous commitment to do so. This being my personal blog and 12for12k being one of my regular topics, I wrote this second post to discuss my choice to give to an alternate charity — the Pink Cross Foundation — this month. I also don’t want readers to think I support the activities of UNICEF (and by extension the UN itself).
UNICEF & 12for12k | Totally Incorrect // June 14, 2009 at 7:44 am |
[...] one of the 12for12k blog partners decided he didn’t like UNICEF after originally posting in [...]
Timo // July 17, 2009 at 3:53 pm |
having read your points of argument I can relate to both – at the end of the day though – do you really want to give money to a CHARITY who pays in excess of 300000 EURO to their directors, huge amounts of money on consulting fees and extronomical amounts on Marketing …. if you are a charity you should be looking to help people who need it and not fill the pockets of those who already have food on their table! A charity is for those people who want to help by being charitable … you are not being charitable if you use donated money to make your life more luxurious!