Anders Jacobsen has pledged to contribute $1 to tsunami relief for every blog linking to his post about tsunami relief -- and to the leading tsunami relief organizations.
I did the same on my blog, but I upped the ante: I'll commit $5 for every link to my site and to tsunami relief.
So, Kairosnews members, now you have the opportunity to generate a free $6 to tsunami relief -- and I recommend you offer your own contributions to up the ante even more.
Cheap Publicity Stunt
Geez. If that's the only way Mr. Jacobsen can get people to link to his blog, that's just sad. Why can't he just donate money without having people generate free publicity for him? What a jerk.
I like it
I think it's a good idea. There are plenty of us who can't afford to do much in the way of donations, and this is an easy way to help out. I've linked your entry as well as Anders' in my personal blog (trackbacks sent) and will also do so on my academic blog. --Sara
re: Cheap Publicity Stunt
Sure, it's a publicity stunt, as are most charitable donations. Do you think Bill Gates would have set up his multi-billion-dollar trust fund if there was no public recognition of what he did?
What I like about this particular "stunt" is the way it encourages others to act as well as generating funds for a good cause.
Personally I think the cheapest publicity stunt of all is the way General Motors gets to pick the MVP for every college football game. They donate a measly $1000 to the college scholarship fund in exchange for a good 30 seconds of national TV coverage. Unlike Jacobsen's (and my) stunt, it doesn't encourage others to donate as well.
--Dave
Ah
Well, that makes sense. I've often thought "Is that all?" when I hear about one of Gates' charitable acts. He throws a few coins at world problems and expects everyone to think it's magnanimous. I'm really disappointed that we don't hold our wealthy people to higher standards; we're content to let people like Gates hoard wealth when that money could be used to combat world problems. I think we should go back to the days when the wealthy were expected to pay for military equipment, public arts, scientific research, libraries, schools, and all such things that aren't necessary profitable but useful.
This could easily get into a "there's no such thing as charity" argument, which is really pointless. I'm one of those guys that would prefer to be a "mystery donor" and help promote charity without recognition. Helping out people in times of a crisis is our duty, and we ought to do it whether or not someone praises us for it.