Human Rights

[Lauxa]

My question about tithing was not exactly theoretical. My husband just got a nice bonus from work and I really want to contribute 10% to charity. After some soul-searching, I've decided to give bonuses to the people who work for me -- my nanny, yard guy, lawyer/mechanic, and masseuse. Many of these people are really struggling financially, none of them have as much income as I do.

I think it's similar to "be the change you want to see". If I see a problem with employers not distributing the profits of the company fairly to workers, then my solution should be to give more to the people who work for me.

By the way, Dan and Dave, I do try to be conscientious with my purchases also. But to me a fair exchange of value does not really constitute charity/tithing.

[Dave Kaminski]

Originally Posted by Lauxa

By the way, Dan and Dave, I do try to be conscientious with my purchases also. But to me a fair exchange of value does not really constitute charity/tithing.

All the more power to you! If you want to make 100% conscious purchases AND donate on top of it - go for it.

I think my point is that we wouldn't necessarily need donations if these were all legitimate and benevolent corporations (NOT AN OXYMORON!)

Try not to rationalize by substituting one(charity) for the other(supporting the right companies) though.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Here's a cause people can donate to if so moved. The donations go to

a couple women in Basra who took it upon themselves to start an NGO promoting women's rights...you can help those women and their husbands, along with six other women who work for the NGO, by emailing my PayPal account with funds so they can get the hell out of Basra and into Jordan.

Ichat From Baghdad: "Love Has To Be Calculated In Iraq Today... They Think Women Are Machines"

[Peek]

Who can name all the Human rights by heart?

Don't get me wrong, but WHAT are these Human Rights exactly? How many are there? I got confused by looking them up.
And who is protecting them? (besides us, I mean). I get the idea that there is no real Human Rights police or something like that.

Shouldn't every polititian sign that he will respect these rights? Not that that matters, but at least it is an commitment for starters.

[Brutha]

Don't get me wrong, but WHAT are these Human Rights exactly?

Universal Declaration of Human Rights
is the offical definition at the time.

Shouldn't every polititian sign that he will respect these rights? Not that that matters, but at least it is an commitment for starters.

Politicans in the west take an oath on the constitution of their country which usually includes a passage that guaratees human rights.
As a cosmopolitan, I do also think that signing the universal declaration of human rights would be a good thing for every politican.
On the other hand there are certain people who value national sovereinty.

Some American proabably also have problems with human rights like

(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

[Peek]

Thanks Brutha.

[newmark]

Knowing where your money goes is not so straightforward if whatever you buy, or part of it, comes from across the world. I certainly think buying organic food is useful and will encourage more farmers switch over to producing this.
But, more useful than paying large amounts for some products where the producer is paid more, why not choose politicians who will lower trade barriers which make it difficult for farmers and other producers in many poorer parts of the world to make money. This would encourage them to help themselves more, rather than relying on charity.
The situation with sweatshops is not so clear. A great many sweatshops existed and still do exist in China. However, they were popular with local workers as they paid better than the original work that existed in the area. The more sweatshops that appeared also lead to an increase in wages and an improvement in the standard of living. So, was buying popular sports shoes from these factories really bad, or did it in fact actually help? As their competition, who would be there anyway, were paying even less.
I agree that a greater awareness of what we do with our money is very important and it can lead to changes in the world. Tithing intelligently is a good thing, but done without thought and for sentimental reasons (as I've seen done) can actually cause harm.