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From: plunkett@rlgvax.UUCP (S. Plunkett)
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Valentine Day -- a unique gift
Message-ID: <479@rlgvax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Feb-85 12:08:23 EST
Article-I.D.: rlgvax.479
Posted: Wed Feb 13 12:08:23 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 15-Feb-85 04:03:42 EST
References: <2189@cornell.UUCP>
Organization: CCI Office Systems Group, Reston, VA
Lines: 24

A plea to forgoe the traditional Valentine gift and to place the
money in one of the many relief agencies is well taken.

However, there have been reports of these funds being used to
political ends.  The Ethiopian regime springs to mind on this
point.  While many Ethiopians die of starvation we learn (a)
that the regime in well-stocked Addis Abbaba uses the crisis
to further it's aims of eradicating rebels and quelling political
threats, and thus aggravating the tragedy; (b) that the regime's
ally, the U.S.S.R., in helpful assistance, sends arms and ammunition,
and just recently some gymnastic instructors.

In addition to appealing to the hearts of the USENET crowd--an
easy thing to do as we are all so chummy--it might also be wise to
assure the cantankerous skeptics amoung us (no names please) that
the agencies receiving the donations are (a) operating at a
respectable efficiency--i.e., show what proportion of receipts
are disbursed; (b) disbursing the receipts in a useful manner--
cash transfers to Addis Abbaba are not welcomed for instance;
(c) indicate who or what authorities determine where and how
the relief is to be distributed.

Scott Plunkett,
..{ihnp4,seismo}!rlgvax!plunkett