One Day's Stupidity = Millions of Lives improved (Comic Relief)

Member Name: logiluke

Product:	Comic Relief
Date:	17/03/01 (106 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: help millions around the world with relatively minimal effort

Disadvantages: make a fool of yourself... but who really cares ?!?!?!

There are points both for and against Comic Relief, and charities in general. I have heard it said both here on dooyoo and elsewhere that charities are not the way to improve the lives of those in the third world, as in order to give them a decent way of life, we need to do a lot more than just donate (relatively) small amounts to charity - requiring instead, larger scale efforts, such as an increase in tax.

However, the way I see it is this: what we do on Comic Relief day is spend just one day in two years making a fool out of ourselves, donating a nice amount of money, and generally laughing at ourselves and others' *misfortune*. Ok, maybe the money raised might not make too much of a difference in the long term (although Comic Relief's funds do go towards long term projects), but nevertheless, they improve the lives of those on the receiving end of the fundraising, and let them know that there are people out there in the world aware of their situation, and willing to try and help them along a little bit.

Is it really too much to ask to make a donation on ONE day in TWO years (that's 1 day out of 730) to help them? I'm sure you could ask any one of them whether they'd prefer immediate help, or wait a couple of years and have their lives improved for longer.

Besides, what we do on Comic Relief day, most of us enjoy anyway - it is one day when people can make a right fool out of themselves, and may feel very embarrassed, but know at the same time that they are helping others, and that nothing will be held against them as everyone is aware it's all for a good cause.

So come on you people who feel that in the end donating to Comic Relief is of no long-term benefit - is it really worth saving the few pounds you might donate for some longer term plan? Put yourself in the place of those in Africa etc - it means so much to them, and helps them so much in the short term that there can be no doubt that it is a good
thing.

Of course, bigger scale projects are always welcome, but if there is a chance to help in anyway, we should, and why not have a bit of fun in doing it at the same time? I know I did.

Roll on Comic Relief 2003.

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