Want to buy a Hanlin but...

Laine · 02-08-2009, 08:05 AM

Struggling with my conscience.

I decided to buy a Hanlin while on my trip to Melbourne but ...

I've spent all evening listening to the radio. 84 dead, over 500 homes lost. Can I justify indulging myself further given the suffering?

I will give at least $100 to the relief fund. If I buy the Hanlin I won't have much extra for a month or so to give more.

So, opinions please. Do I get the Hanlin or just give the money to fire victims?

Laine

HarryT · 02-08-2009, 08:12 AM

We're not dealing with a third-world country here. It's unfortunate for those who have lost their homes, but they will, one presumes, have been insured, and the dead are beyond the reach of any help. You pay your taxes to permit the state and federal government to provide the required assistance in this type of situation.

You have no reason to feel "guilty".

lilac_jive · 02-08-2009, 08:14 AM

Fire victims usually need the basics: food, clothes, etc. to replace what they lost. I would get your Hanlin and find out if they are doing any drives. Also donating blood is a wonderful idea.

pilotbob · 02-08-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laine

I've spent all evening listening to the radio. 84 dead, over 500 homes lost. Can I justify indulging myself further given the suffering?

There are always people suffering somewhere in the world. If I had enough money to stop all the suffering I would. But, it's not possible.

Should I not eat because there are others in this world that are starving?

Should I not heat my house because there are others in this world that are cold?

Should I not wear clothes because there are others in this world that are naked?

Should I not walk or run or play because others in this world are sick, or crippled or dying?

Yes, I do consider my self more fortunate than others. But, if you feel guilty about that then that guilt will eat you alive.

Then again only you can make a decision like this. I feel just by you asking the question perhaps making your donation and waiting a few months to get your reader will be the best decision for you.

BOb

desertgrandma · 02-08-2009, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laine

Struggling with my conscience.

I decided to buy a Hanlin while on my trip to Melbourne but ...

I've spent all evening listening to the radio. 84 dead, over 500 homes lost. Can I justify indulging myself further given the suffering?

I will give at least $100 to the relief fund. If I buy the Hanlin I won't have much extra for a month or so to give more.

So, opinions please. Do I get the Hanlin or just give the money to fire victims?

Laine

Give what you feel is right for you.

Right now, donations must be pouring in. In a month or two, there will not be so much being given. Perhaps then there will be a more concrete list of items needed.

Blankets, fans, specific sizes of clothing.......

Your heart is good.

cbell · 02-08-2009, 06:55 PM

Hi Laine, I live near the bushfire area (East of Melbourne). My little town was covered in smoke from the Bunyip fires all day Saturday and it was very frightening. The temperature was 46.4C, the highest on record for Melbourne. The death toll from the fires near Melbourne has risen to over 100 today.

My company has a fundraising team and we're donating through Myer, as they'll match our donation dollar for dollar. (I'm not sure if you have Myer in NSW.)

Press release:
Myer has today launched ‘The Myer Bushfire Appeal’ with the aim of raising $1 million for the communities affected by the bushfires.

Donations to ‘The Myer Bushfire Appeal’ can be made from 9am Monday 9 February at any Victorian Myer store.

All proceeds will go to The Salvation Army who will then distribute money to the hardest hit communities.

Myer will match dollar-for-dollar total customer contributions to the Appeal up to $500,000. The goal – to raise $1 million for the recovery effort. All donations are fully tax deductable.

Laine · 02-08-2009, 08:53 PM

Hi cbell,
Yes, we have Myer. (I still find myself calling them Grace Brothers). Ill give my money to their fund as that will double it.

Thanks to suggestions everyone. I will give $100 today and when I get to Melbourne I'll give what else I can.

I know we're not a third world country but the bush has been doing it tough for several years now.

Laine

PDS · 02-08-2009, 09:56 PM

Sad sad day, I was listening to the news on the radio on the way to work and couldnt beleive it, towns just wiped out, burnt to the ground.

I will also send my donation to Myer.

My sympathies go out to the families of those who have lost their lives, homes and businesses.

Andybaby · 02-08-2009, 11:21 PM

Oh wow, This is actually the first ive heard of it. Ive caught a few bits and pieces of a heat wave down under (while im freezing my butt off in NYC) i didnt know the of the fires.

I hope it gets under control soon and doesnt get close to any large population centers.

cbell · 02-20-2009, 02:32 AM

Hi Laine, It was lovely to meet you today and I think you've made an excellent choice of ebook reader! I hope you'll do a review when you've been using it for a while.

Thank you also for your generous donation to DA Direct's bushfire fund. I'll contact you separately by email with more information.

The past couple of weeks have been a very sad time for Australians. In my state, on that one day, there was over 200 deaths, 1,800 houses burnt down, over a million native animals and uncounted farm animals killed by the fires. Very sad.

sianon · 02-20-2009, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

We're not dealing with a third-world country here. It's unfortunate for those who have lost their homes, but they will, one presumes, have been insured, and the dead are beyond the reach of any help. You pay your taxes to permit the state and federal government to provide the required assistance in this type of situation.

You have no reason to feel "guilty".

Harry, it may not be a third world country, but many who lost there homes are not covered by insurance or are uninsured. While we can debate the morality of not having insurance, the reality for many living in an area that has been ravaged by drought over a very extended period of time is that they simply have not been able to afford what many of us would consider a basic expense. The other issue here is that all of those who were in bushfire areas would have experienced the loss of people they personally knew.

Your comments are totally insensitive and show a total lack of understanding of what has been experienced by so many here in my home state.

Karen

iterati · 02-20-2009, 05:39 AM

First, I extend my sympathy to the relatives and friends of the victims. I believe too that the more fortunate/lucky/privileged/whatever have all the reason to feel guilty; that said, there isn’t any rationale to stop eating or do something radical, but everyone can help by generating less garbage, consuming less energy, recycling everything that is possible and so on and request from the - mostly corrupt - governments to change their policy.

As for not having a lot of money to start helping, what is the wealth limit from which you start to help the “poor”? Earth’s resources are limited, I don’t know if anyone feels “guilty” that 5% of the population consumes 95% of these resources, but sure it appears to me unfair.

Laine · 02-24-2009, 09:44 AM

I'm back home from Melbourne now. With my Hanlin V3 which kept me occupied on the 11 1/2 hour train trip.

So far I've given $110 and my husband's given $20. And I will give more later. I'm sure there will still be a need for a long time to come. All the trip home till 3 hours out from Sydney it was just dry and brown everywhere. No wonder fires can be so bad. Most of the country is a tinder box.

Laine

02-08-2009, 08:05 AM	#1
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	Want to buy a Hanlin but... Struggling with my conscience. I decided to buy a Hanlin while on my trip to Melbourne but ... I've spent all evening listening to the radio. 84 dead, over 500 homes lost. Can I justify indulging myself further given the suffering? I will give at least $100 to the relief fund. If I buy the Hanlin I won't have much extra for a month or so to give more. So, opinions please. Do I get the Hanlin or just give the money to fire victims? Laine

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02-08-2009, 08:12 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	We're not dealing with a third-world country here. It's unfortunate for those who have lost their homes, but they will, one presumes, have been insured, and the dead are beyond the reach of any help. You pay your taxes to permit the state and federal government to provide the required assistance in this type of situation. You have no reason to feel "guilty".

02-08-2009, 08:14 AM	#3
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Fire victims usually need the basics: food, clothes, etc. to replace what they lost. I would get your Hanlin and find out if they are doing any drives. Also donating blood is a wonderful idea.

02-08-2009, 06:55 PM	#6
cbell Frenetic Posts: 590 Karma: 8181 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia Device: iLiad V2	Hi Laine, I live near the bushfire area (East of Melbourne). My little town was covered in smoke from the Bunyip fires all day Saturday and it was very frightening. The temperature was 46.4C, the highest on record for Melbourne. The death toll from the fires near Melbourne has risen to over 100 today. My company has a fundraising team and we're donating through Myer, as they'll match our donation dollar for dollar. (I'm not sure if you have Myer in NSW.) Press release: Myer has today launched ‘The Myer Bushfire Appeal’ with the aim of raising $1 million for the communities affected by the bushfires. Donations to ‘The Myer Bushfire Appeal’ can be made from 9am Monday 9 February at any Victorian Myer store. All proceeds will go to The Salvation Army who will then distribute money to the hardest hit communities. Myer will match dollar-for-dollar total customer contributions to the Appeal up to $500,000. The goal – to raise $1 million for the recovery effort. All donations are fully tax deductable.

02-08-2009, 08:53 PM	#7
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	Hi cbell, Yes, we have Myer. (I still find myself calling them Grace Brothers). Ill give my money to their fund as that will double it. Thanks to suggestions everyone. I will give $100 today and when I get to Melbourne I'll give what else I can. I know we're not a third world country but the bush has been doing it tough for several years now. Laine

02-08-2009, 09:56 PM	#8
PDS Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 46 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Brisbane, QLD, Austalia Device: Sony PRS-505, Dell Mini 9, I-Phone	Sad sad day, I was listening to the news on the radio on the way to work and couldnt beleive it, towns just wiped out, burnt to the ground. I will also send my donation to Myer. My sympathies go out to the families of those who have lost their lives, homes and businesses.

02-08-2009, 11:21 PM	#9
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	Oh wow, This is actually the first ive heard of it. Ive caught a few bits and pieces of a heat wave down under (while im freezing my butt off in NYC) i didnt know the of the fires. I hope it gets under control soon and doesnt get close to any large population centers.

02-20-2009, 02:32 AM	#10
cbell Frenetic Posts: 590 Karma: 8181 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia Device: iLiad V2	Hi Laine, It was lovely to meet you today and I think you've made an excellent choice of ebook reader! I hope you'll do a review when you've been using it for a while. Thank you also for your generous donation to DA Direct's bushfire fund. I'll contact you separately by email with more information. The past couple of weeks have been a very sad time for Australians. In my state, on that one day, there was over 200 deaths, 1,800 houses burnt down, over a million native animals and uncounted farm animals killed by the fires. Very sad.

02-20-2009, 05:39 AM	#12
iterati Zealot Posts: 100 Karma: 170 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Greece Device: Hanlin V3, RCA REB1100, iPaq 214	First, I extend my sympathy to the relatives and friends of the victims. I believe too that the more fortunate/lucky/privileged/whatever have all the reason to feel guilty; that said, there isn’t any rationale to stop eating or do something radical, but everyone can help by generating less garbage, consuming less energy, recycling everything that is possible and so on and request from the - mostly corrupt - governments to change their policy. As for not having a lot of money to start helping, what is the wealth limit from which you start to help the “poor”? Earth’s resources are limited, I don’t know if anyone feels “guilty” that 5% of the population consumes 95% of these resources, but sure it appears to me unfair.

02-24-2009, 09:44 AM	#13
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	I'm back home from Melbourne now. With my Hanlin V3 which kept me occupied on the 11 1/2 hour train trip. So far I've given $110 and my husband's given $20. And I will give more later. I'm sure there will still be a need for a long time to come. All the trip home till 3 hours out from Sydney it was just dry and brown everywhere. No wonder fires can be so bad. Most of the country is a tinder box. Laine

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