In response to the disastrous earthquake and ongoing suffering of people in Haiti, a new disaster relief fund called ‘Non-Believers Giving Aid‘ has been created, inviting “Non-believers, rationalists, humanists” to make humanitarian donations.
All the money being donated through the fund will go to disaster relief and the new mechanism will remain open for future relief work.
Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association Andrew Copson said, ‘There is no god or any other outside help for us as human beings but we are not alone, because as human beings we have each other. The incredible response of the general public not just in reaction to the earthquake in Haiti but whenever natural disasters on this scale are brought to their attention, shows that we can rely on each other and that we want to help each other when we are in need.
‘Most humanists prefer to work for good causes with others of different beliefs rather than set up their own organisations and they prefer to give through mainstream secular organisations without drawing specific attention to their giving as humanists. But with the frequent implication from many religious sources that to be non-religious is to be uncaring, many people want to demonstrate their concern for others in a way that draws attention to their non-religious ethical motives in doing so.
‘What this fund achieves is to allow humanists and other non-religious people to express that their motivations for giving come from a place of human empathy, rather than divine command, while at the same time avoiding the trap of “branding” that gift. Instead all the money donated is being passed on to existing and highly reputable secular charities.’
Notes
Within hours of launching the fund, over $40,000 was raised and the amount continues to climb.
You can donate through Non-Believers Giving Aid <http://givingaid.richarddawkins.net>
Read more about Humanism and charitable giving <https://humanists.uk/humanism/humanism-today/humanists-doing/charities>
The two chosen beneficiary organisations for the Haiti appeal are Doctors Without Borders <http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/> (Médecins sans Frontières) and International Red Cross <http://www.icrc.org/> .
For information or comment from the British Humanist Association contact Andrew Copson, email: andrew@humanists.uk 020 7079 3584, or 020 3675 0959.
The British Humanist Association represents and supports the non-religious. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.