April 24, 2007

Curious George: Save Darfur? Hi monkey's, long time no see. I am considering making a donation to the group "Save Darfur," but I'm not sure if I should. I have heard mixed messages of this group and I'm not sure what is true and what is hype.

At face value, it seems to be a very diverse group of responsible organiations working toward a cause I strongly support. However, I have come across complaints that it's a feel-good group that doesn't really do much and doesn't know what it should do anyways. Since I know many of you to be socially aware, and up on world politics, I thought I would ask you your opinion on said group. Do they deserve my money?

posted by ladyknight 17 years ago
  • I've donated through Mercy Corps, to Darfur and others. The say they have people working in the areas where they ask for donations so there may not be a lot of middle men, and I think I trust them. but, yeah, the research results on all the charities are confusing. You might have to just go with your intruition.
  • Minor aside -- I heard the great Stephen Lewis speak last week, and he was quite optimistic, saying that the new UN chief was this close to a deal on Darfur, succeeding where Kofi couldn't. FWIW.
  • The criticism (more from a quick Google trawl some random blog; this seems a bit more measured at a skim) I've seen of Save Darfur seem to come from elements of the left that see it as an attempt to add to Islamophobia, detract attention from Israel/Palestine and so on. I can't say I've followed the argument closely enough to have a fair opinion, but some of the critics are the kind of people who I usually disagree with, and seem to include some out-and-out anti-Semites. I offer this as an angle to do a bit of researching from.
  • I have seen the Islamophobia arguments, but as there are several different Islamic groups (and Xtian, and Jewish, and Buddhist) I don't really think its a valid point.
  • (*Meant that all those religious groups are members of Save Darfur)
  • If you're not sure about this particular group, then consider a donation to Médecine Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders in the US). They're in Darfur as I type...