UPDATEDThanks to those who sent these to me...
There is a new site that can help play an important role in affecting world opinion called Giyus.org. Click on the link and check it out - they are already up to 12,000+ of their desire for 100,000, which is how many people they think they need.
There's also an important fund, the Katif Fund, to help support those who were not taken care of properly in the wake of disengagement. Please check it out and see how you can help. People don't realize just how many people still do not have a place to live or a job, a year later.
UPDATE: This post, and GIYUS, got a bit of criticism - mostly because of the screenshot above. People are under the impression (as I was at first) that it was solely to vote in surveys and the like, and felt that this was a waste of time. Such surveys tend to be stupid to begin with, etc. But that's not what GIYUS really does, and I think that they should have chosen a better screenshot for that reason. They are finding some really great articles, exposes, etc. that you might otherwise not see, and pointing them out. It's like a great blog, without having to actually check it. Today, for example, it was pointing out the EUReferendum posts that I talked about last night - for most people, these are details, pictures, and analysis you won't see otherwise. Now, just about anybody can find this stuff, and maybe even pass it along to someone who they were having a discussion with about it who didn't believe them or know what they were talking about.
It's also not annoying in any way - I think I've had about 1 of those every 2 hours or so, and they're similar to AIM or Outlook notifications.
I think this is one of those little things that can make little differences in a lot of places.
Sorry I haven't written about last night's rally yet - I'm having computer trouble, and can't seem to upload pictures. When I can do so I'll write the post.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThe Giyus widget reminded me of one of my peeves and inspired this post.
http://commentthisout.blogspot.com/2006/08/vey-to-survey.html
Same here.
ReplyDeleteI was in middle of writing a comment when I realized it would be better as a post
Okay, I need to update this post to be more clear - GIYUS is not only about dumb polls.
ReplyDeleteAfter I read about Giyus in detail, I realized that is not the only thing it does.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if I were them, I'd leave out the "Let's vote in a poll" parts.
Avrom - I agree.
ReplyDeletePeople don't realize just how many people still do not have a place to live or a job, a year later.
ReplyDeleteAt what point do we stop blaming the government and begin blaming those without the job or place to live? Its been a year. Even given a couple of months waiting for the government to get its act together, that still leaves ten months of finding a job or a place to rent.
I'm sorry if you want to live next to your old neighbors. Or you don't want to plow a different section of land. I'm sorry if you need to get new greenhouses, or take out a loan. But eventually you have to pick yourself up and do something.
Will we be hearing, in 50 years, about the "Gaza Displaced Refugee Camps," where Jews who had to leave their homes were sent and promptly forgotten by the rest of Israel? I hope not, and not because funds like the Katif Fund exist.
Romach - normally I'd agree, but these families were supposed to receive government assistance, and never have. The government was supposed to have houses ready for some, but that never happened.
ReplyDeleteBut eventually you need to cut your losses and move on. Even if the government promised you money. At some point, the amount of assistance these people receive will surpass what they were promised from the government. At that point, does the government's messup matter?
ReplyDeleteYou'd have to factor in more things, such as time value/money, worse health, etc., but say you're right - do you think they're near the support they were promised? Let's get them there first.
ReplyDeleteSure, other things need to be factored in. Some would increase the value, others would decrease it. And I doubt they're near the support level the government promised them, but if they haven't taken steps to help themselves, the argument that I should help them becomes much weaker.
ReplyDeleteI don't know the steps the evacuees have taken. I'm sure many have helped themselves and been succesful, others less so. Still others probably sit back and do nothing. I haven't come across any study that's looked into how the evacuees are doing (its probably too soon for such a study). But it does seem to me that we should be asking questions, especially if our monies could be better spent on other cuases.
Romach - granted. Speaking to people there I know, the impression I get is that these people are working hard but (quite simply) got incredibly screwed.
ReplyDeleteA number of the greenhouse owners, I recently read, did actually get their businesses started again completely from scratch; they are still struggling, but they are getting there. But most people weren't greenhouse owners - if you were (say) the only plumber in your area, and now you're in Efrat or Jerusalem or wherever... you don't have work.