2/2 There are many links to donation campaigns on social media going around to financially support starving people in Palestine. Links to Chuffed, links to GoFundMe. You do have the opportunity to send some money towards Palestine, so that some starving family can buy some bread, or the ingredients to make bread.
I know that many Western people are mistrusting of such campaigns, often rightfully so, sad as it is. There have always been humans with no sense of shame who steal, cheat, trick and exploit others. Sadly, this type of human doesn't even shy away from taking advantage of an ongoing genocide.
I want you to think through the downsides of all possible scenarios:
- You donate and it turns out to be a scam
- You suspected a scam and didn't donate
To be clear: I don't judge anyone for how much or little they donate. Everybody gives as much as they can, even 5 bucks are helping.
Now think: You sent some money, maybe even 100 bucks, and it was a scam. Sure, it sucks to be scammed, to lose a not-so-insignificant amount of money. But will it kill you? I say: Don't buy that gadget from Amazon that you won't use or need anyway—Go to the cinema one less time and you have the money back.
Now what if you were too mistrusting? The 50 bucks you could have spared but didn't send, could have bought a family a kilogram of flour. Your money could have allowed some starving person in Gaza to survive for a few more days until someone comes along who can spare more money than you. But now the person is dead, starved, because they couldn't afford to eat.
Which downside weighs heavier?
There are a lot of scams out there, and GenAI videos don't make it easier. But the genuine real people in Palestine often provide their WhatsApp number or some other means to have a video call with them, to verify their identity and that they're really in Gaza and who they pretend to be. Just give them a call if you want to make a difference, or follow outspoken people you trust.
Watch the movie "Schindler's list" and ask yourself "Could I have done more?" Similar to Schindler's car and button, you do have at least some means to make it possible if you truly want to help.
"Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire."
#genocide #gaza #palestine