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Original poster

Humanitarian Crisis in Niger - what can we do to help?

51 replies

spub · 25/07/2005 09:03

Watching the news at the weekend and seeing the reports of mass starvation in Niger was heartbreaking.
During the course of the BBC news crew's filming 3 babies died of malnutrition. I was looking at my own big, healthy dd and trying to imagine how it would feel to watch your child die for want of food and water. I got very sad. Then I got very angry.
There must be something we can do. I have taken part in the Make Poverty History campaign and the march in Edinburgh and I have hopes that the campaign will succeed long term - however.....

I am not a seasoned campaigner, though and don't really know how best Mumsnet(tters) could get involved and try to do something practical but I think we should have a go.

Anyone?

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 27/07/2005 10:08

Ummm - I don't know. Maybe I should post a slightly provocative thread "What are YOU doing for Niger?" (not as provocative as my previous suggested thread title, but perhaps still attention grabbing). If you don't mind I'll do just that and will include a link back to this thread....

bea · 27/07/2005 10:09

good on you all for picking up on this... i can't bear to watch the news as dh so rightly said i would only blub... (i did!) so got onto the oxfam donation page straight away and did what i can... also it's my bday coming up so all pressies are to be donations... although i did say to dh, ds and dd could still buy me a little something!!!! (i'm not a total saint!!! [grin}] - hope i'm not being flippant!!!

(making sure that this is bumped up!)

handlemecarefully · 27/07/2005 10:31

Nope - no joy with the other 'attention grabbing title' thread either - sigh.

handlemecarefully · 27/07/2005 10:34

Anyone fancy posting a thread title:

"Look at me with my baps out", and then just typing a link to this thread?

Original poster
spub · 27/07/2005 10:56

Still hoping that MN team will come back to us re putting a link on the MN Home page.

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 27/07/2005 10:57

They should do - that is an excellent idea.

QueenOfQuotes · 27/07/2005 10:59

Dare I say - I'm not doing anything for Niger but I am helping other countries who aren't hitting the headlines as much (well not for the starving - but sadly for other reasons)

runs and cowers in the corner waiting for the attack

handlemecarefully · 27/07/2005 11:09

primes gun at aims it at QoQ,

Well, it's not like you are doing nothing then. You are helping other countries....and I know you are not exactly flush at the mo.

Original poster
spub · 27/07/2005 11:11

QoQ,
That's totally fair enough.

We are not trying to be the "cause police" - just to round up like-minded mums who feel that we'd like to see if there's anything we can do.

Think some of us on this thread are just a wee bit surprised that a whole community of mums hasn't got behind this a bit more (maybe 'cos they are genuinely already stretched as far as they can supporting various other equally needy causes?)

This isn't supposed to be any kind of pissing contest - it's just about seeing if and how there's anything we can do beyond making individual donations that harnesses a collective sense of impotence...

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 27/07/2005 11:13

That was put rather well Spub!

I'm signing off for a couple of hours now. Not done a stroke of work all morning.

QueenOfQuotes · 27/07/2005 11:24

"primes gun at aims it at QoQ"

*ducks and the bullet hits the wall**

Original poster
spub · 27/07/2005 11:27

LOL

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 27/07/2005 22:25

Ah well - inundated with posts I see.

My 'Niger famine appeal' car boot sale is doing quite well. I've got lots ready to sell (on Sunday), and I've also posted on Romsey NCT e-group (my local branch) to see if any of the other mums want to donate items for sale on the 'stall'. I've already had a couple of responses.

A work colleague prepared some A4 posters for me to display saying "All proceeds to West African famine appeal", and I have been in contact with Oxfam (I will be sending proceeds to them) who are sending me an official letter to verify that I am raising money for them.

Will let you know how much has been raised (don't expect tonnes because people are hard bargainers at car boot sales) on Monday.

SenoraPostrophe · 28/07/2005 14:56

good for you hmc.

if i lived near you I'd send some stuff, or better still, my sister (because she's great at getting good rpices at car boots - she managed to sell my flea bitten old jacket for 15 quid).

tips are - smile, don't drop your prices till an hour before the end, and with clothing charge double if it really suuits someone (that's what my sis does anyway).

motherpeculiar · 28/07/2005 19:38

good for you hmc - hope it goes well

think I 'll just sort out a local mums coffee morning here for next week and send the cash.

there was a good article in either today's guardian or the LRB (mush for brains can't remember) about how we need to do more to ensure that response to such crises are ready to go before they actually happen (if that makes sense). Author likened the current situation to a fire breaking out and the emergency services immediately broadcasting an appeal for money for a fire engine.

It's so awful.

handlemecarefully · 29/07/2005 00:00

Good luck with your coffee morning next week motherpeculiar.

Thanks for those tips SenoraP - I think I'll be able to hold my nerve and not drop my prices (until an hour before the end) because I will have at the back of my mind that I am trying to generate cash for a good cause.

I am hoping that because all proceeds are going to charity that people may be a bit less likely to try and get 'something for nothing' - but my friend told me I was naive when I voiced that opinion!

Re fundraising generally, on the Oxfam site that Bramshott posted a link to on this very thread, they do a fundraising pack which you can either send for or download on line. One of the ideas is really quite good - a charity pub quiz. Apparently many pubs will cooperate because it gets punters in supping beer, and it's good PR for them. I quite fancy organising something like that - could be fun.

handlemecarefully · 08/08/2005 13:55

This thread has only smouldering embers of life, but just to update - had the charity car boot sale on Sunday and raised £214 for Niger. Whilst not a King's Ransome it wasn't bad for a few hours of my time.

Original poster
spub · 08/08/2005 14:08

Hoorah for HMC!
Many congrats on doing so well.
I have a meeting with our university chaplain later this week re setting up a staff charities committee to deduct a monthly donation at source from payroll.
Hopefully this will help a number of good causes in future.

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 08/08/2005 14:20

spub - that is a really good idea and should potentially raise quite a lot. I hope it works out.

Original poster
spub · 08/08/2005 14:29

Thanks, HMC.
Not getting any easier to watch, is it?

OP posts:
handlemecarefully · 08/08/2005 14:43

No it hasn't

suedonim · 09/08/2005 14:39

Apparently, we're all wasting our money as there is no famine in Niger.

suzywong · 09/08/2005 14:59

that really is the top and bottom of what those people are up against

It's absolutely sick-making and vile isn't it?

madmarchhare · 09/08/2005 15:00

FFS.

monkeytrousers · 10/08/2005 19:00

We sent #25 off this morning. That?s all we could manage this month.