I think it is really great that Ben Affleck is bringing attention to global poverty and that everyone now knows that the world poverty line is $1.50 a day. Ben says he is going to live on that meager sum for a week. I admire that but it is so much crap and he knows it. Is he going to live in his house? The multi-million dollar one? How is that living on $1.50 a day? Is he going to take his kids to school in a car? The gas? The car? How is he getting to work or is he going to take the whole week off? How many people who make $1.50 day or live off that sum can afford to take a week off or even a day off? I suppose to get around not taking his kids to school, Jennifer could do it. Let me know when someone making $1.50 a day has that option. If Ben wants to make it real, I want him to go live in the Congo where he is really focused. Go in there with nothing and everyday someone will hand him $1.50. Do that for a week and then you can get on Twitter and brag about how you lived on $1.50 for a week. At least I think Ben might actually try to do what I am suggesting. Nick Lachey and Sophia Bush? Not so much.
Hey, I know him!
ReplyDeleteThat's a bit disingenuous. If I buy enough groceries the day before I started, I could like on $1.50 a day for a week too. Actually, no I couldn't. Who am I kidding? I like shopping too much!
ReplyDeleteGood for you Benny.
ReplyDeleteTom Hiddleston (aka Loki) did this as well, about a week or so ago.
I admire anyone who survives on that a day and I'm not talking celebs. Its sad that kids go hungry in this country.
I'm confused, did Nick Lachey and Sophia Bush say they were going to do this too?
ReplyDeleteThis is a food budget per day for five days. He is raising money for charity. Many others are doing it too including Debbie Mazar and her family.
ReplyDeleteIt is not about living expenses for housing etc, just food.
Ben started working on these projects when nobody was paying attention, a personal rehab from the JLo years.
ReplyDeleteNo possible in this country
ReplyDeleteStop being a bitter bitch, Enty. Affleck, et al, are bringing attention to the plight of poverty. Which is a GOOD thing.
ReplyDeleteBut who will tip his strippers?
ReplyDeletelol
DeleteI'm doing a lot of lol-ing today. Forgive me for being so happy.
+ *sparkly hearts*
DeleteGood for him to use his platform for something important.
ReplyDeleteYeah I'm not going to complain about him doing something to bring attention to this. Good for him and all those participating.
ReplyDeleteRamen noodles. I know too many sr.citizens that live this way.
ReplyDeleteThat is his FOOD budget. Pay attention, Captain Snarky Pants. Yes, he will still be living in his big house and driving his fancy car that he EARNED. Living on $1.50 of food per day while raising money and awareness for whom this is a daily thing is GOOD.
ReplyDelete@ethorne i wonder that too!!
ReplyDeleteA little OT but does anyone know of a good, reputable charity that's helping the people in West, Texas besides the Red Cross? I'd like to donate but I've never cared for the Red Cross. You folks from Texas, know of anything?
ReplyDeleteSusanB, I have been researching. I found a firefighters fund but the tax returns showed 200k spent on payroll and I am like you on that subject.Want my hard earned pennies to go direct.
DeleteWest Texas, any links for us?
Yes I know it's OT and and a hearty and loud f u to those that don't like it.
It may be bet to contact their chamber if commerce. Ty would know the best way to donate the funds.
DeleteThey are asking for donations to Salvation Army, which has lower admin costs. Truly I think everyone is still in shock. Folks lost their homes and don't have anywhere to live right now. They said clothing donations are no longer needed yesterday in Austin online news at YNN. It's such a small community. I think after professionals sort out housing donations will be needed again but West will be forgotten by that time.
DeleteThank you for thinking about West. I live within a couple of hours of West & wish I knew where to donate...
DeleteAgent**it - I've been looking in some of the local Texas papers (on-line) which often have links of charities for these purposes but haven't seen anything which surprised me. These aren't wealthy or even high middle class people - not only 14 dead, but many wounded and MANY homes and jobs lost. Seems they'd need help badly.
ReplyDeleteI can finally afford to be his sugar mama! Yesssss!
ReplyDeleteI like Ben. I think this is great! I also find it really funny that his former GF is known for spending thousands on everything. I'm looking at you Goop!
ReplyDeleteI thought you were talking about jlo!
DeleteDon't be fooled by the rock that I've got, I'm just MV from the block
DeleteKudos to Ben for bringing attention to the plight of millions (if not billions) of people in this world who go hungry every day.
ReplyDeleteHopefully it will also shine a light on the shameful situation in our own country where 1 of every 5 kids goes to bed hungry every night and 1 in 4 children live in poverty. This, in a country that has (and wastes) so much. These are CHILDREN I'm speaking of, not adults. We can, and should do better.
@Lola, +1!!
DeleteBen might be cad, but he's always supported good causes. I think this is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteSusanB, Salvation Army is assisting as well.
ReplyDeleteSusanB, I am contacting somebody who will let us know.
ReplyDelete@SusanB
ReplyDeleteThere are several charitable organizations taking donations. Nights of Columbus, Texas is giving 100% of all donations to the West disaster to those affected by the disaster.
http://www.kofc.org/en/news/releases/detail/texas_fund.html
While KoC is a Catholic organization, I would note that many Catholic charities are wonderful organizations and tend to put their money into helping people rather than proselytizing. (Says the agnostic...) But, YMMV.
That's the only mainstream charity I can find outside of the Red Cross and the Firefighters.
There is a person on Facebook that is handling a lot of the info being released, including charities and fundraising....you could probably contact that page and ask....https://www.facebook.com/#!/PrayersforWest?hc_location=stream...
ReplyDelete^^^everyone locally is following this page for the most up to date info, it's a reliable source.
ReplyDeleteThanks rinovodka!
ReplyDelete@Lola - I'm Catholic and I've heard that West has a large Catholic population but wasn't sure if the local church even exists at this point (because of the explosions.) My dad was in the KOC - they do good work and I didn't even think of them. Thanks for the link.
@missoutiger76 - thanks for the link! And I'd like to mention, evidently there's a move for everyone to wear red today in support of the people of West.
ReplyDeleteAfter reviewing the KOC site, they say that 100% of the donations they receive will go directly to the people of West. I'm going to wait a bit in case anyone else comes up with a good link, but I think I'll give to the KOC.
@SusanB, thanks for letting us know about wearing red, I had no idea, I will go put my red sweater on then.
DeleteAt least hes trying something.
ReplyDeleteI am living on the 8.63 in my bank account till I get oaid wens morning. At least I have a almost full tank of gas and groceries and pet supplies
ReplyDeleteas others have said, the allotted amount is for food only (it's based on what food stamp recipients receive). the san francisco food bank does the same thing every year (the hunger challenge), and they encourage participants to post to social media about their experiences to raise awareness. i did it the year before having a baby (i can't even fathom eating on that little while pregnant or nursing, though i know scores do it every day).
ReplyDeletethe food bank doesn't have any hard-and-fast rules, but they do encourage you to calculate a serving cost and add it to the total if you use items from an existing pantry. that's what my family did, but i soon realized even that is "cheating" in a way. who living below the poverty level has $200 squirreled away for a trip to costco? in any event, i think even setting the intention and trying to do this for a week is a very eye-opening experience. i went to bed every night hungry, woke up cranky and was counting the SECONDS until the challenge was over. i think every person with any power to affect public policy should be required by law to do this every year.
SusanB, Plano Chamber of Commerce just called me back and their 1st recommendation was KOC. Same link that Lola just provided. You all just gave a few moments of your time and you will all get so much in return for that.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was also KOC. I still have his medal.
Just read some of the Facebook page missoutiger76 recommended - very moving - gave out different charities, helped unite pets with owners, gave information. Evidently those Westboro Baptist bastards are planning on showing up at a memorial service and the sheriff said anyone disrupting the service will be arrested. These poor people don't have enough to worry about.....
ReplyDeleteF ben affleck.
ReplyDeleteit shocks me that none of the entertainers from boston - ben, matt damon, mark wahlberg, etc. are planning a fundraiser for the boston victims, alot of whom need prosthetic limbs and who have no health insurance and who can't work again.
they wave the boston flag when it gets something for them, but have remained silent since the bombing.
I think its despicable. even brad cooper, who is not from boston, visited some of the victims. I guess wahlberg is too busy enjoying his vaca I think in the cayman islands to care.
I've seen Affleck,Damon and Wahlberg all comment on the tragedy since mBostom is their stomping grounds.
DeleteI'm sure there's a celeb filled fundraiser in the pipeline coming within the next 6 weeks.
MW is open to a benefit concert for people in Boston. Read that online.
DeleteThose Westboro idiots are so hateful! I hope they don't show their faces at the funerals!
ReplyDeleteI never cared for celebs who put on stunts like these in the name of charity. It's really insulting to poor folks. Who really believes a rich celeb is gonna live off a $1.50????
ReplyDeleteIt's less about the poor and more about the celebs.
I'd like something done about Global Hunger, as much as the next person, but I've seen this in action. Such utter BS. You are very correct, it is about the celeb. Also, dont get the Affleck love here. He's such He's such a freaking user. Ugh, and double ugh. Of course, I may like him better than "holier than thou, but really an a hole" Matt. These two, really disappointed me.
DeleteDamon and Affleck (Affleck not born in Boston) will have to consult with their pc people before determining what they should say and do. Wahlberg brothers don't give a shit and have already personally donated and will fund raise through their restaurants. There's a big difference between those raised in Dorchester and those that "attend" Harvard:)
ReplyDeleteI hope we don't have to endure a celebrity fundraiser for Boston. I think that they will be well funded. West, TX will need assistance with fund raising, imo.
Willie Nelson, miranda lambert, eva longoria, & several others have already given generiously. Along with several members of the Texas Rangers baseball team and Dallas Stars. Not everyone courts publicity and calls the paps and people magazine when they do something good for others
DeleteKimberly, yes. Wahlberg contribution is not public but I audit. Damon, etc are known to wait until told what is PC (historically). But yes, they are generous. Love Willie and all baseball teams.
DeleteWillie doesn't give a phuck about being pc. But we have to love Willie in Texas. It is required. Did you know that between West and Abbott lies Willie Nelson Road.
DeleteThe $1.50 is for food only (unlimited water doesn't count) and it is actually for only 5 days. It says "I give a shit, but I don't give a shit."
ReplyDeleteMy god you're a tool. It's $1.50 a day for FOOD per person in the household. It's an awareness campaign started by Ben STILLER that has a lot of celebrities on board urging people to live on $1.50 per person for food for one week.
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to write about it at least do the research and properly report and not be a total asshat about the whole thing.
whocaresnow12, I am convinced it is written that way to get a larger response from readers. Ching ching.
DeleteIn the vein of helping those hurt in tragedies last week (or anytime), I heard on the radio today that the company, Life is Good (who donates 10% of its net profits to help kids in need everyday) has come out with a special tee that says "BOSTON" on the front and "NOTHING IS STRONGER THAN LOVE" on the back. 100% of profits from these tees will go to The One Fund Boston. Lovely shirt and a great place to spend your money.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lifeisgood.com/Boston-Love/seasonal-boston-love,default,sc.html
https://secure.onefundboston.org/page/-/donate2.html
Thanks, Lola. I guess I'll have to stop with my dislike of Goop:) My relatives sent me a T shirt from the Red Sox game with 'Boston Strong'on them. Made me so homesick.
DeleteOne Fund Boston is interesting, we (volunteer group)are watching how that develops for financial transparency and as a possible model.I think they will do a terrific job.
@Agent...
ReplyDeleteDamn straight! ;)
(I think you and I share a kindred volunteer spirit)
Lola, we will share a martini or 2 one day:)
DeleteDropkick Murphys are selling a cool shirt with 100% of the proceeds going to Boston:
ReplyDeletehttp://kingsroadmerch.com/dropkick-murphys/view/?id=4272&cid=1079
I prefer to give to West just because their tragedy was so overlooked after what happened in Boston (which I understand perfectly). Maybe I'm wrong, but when I heard that Major League Baseball donated over $500,000.00 to the oneBoston fund, I figured others are going to follow them, and I wanted to make sure West manages ok.
ReplyDeleteSeconding @rejectedcarebear--I've somehow ended up on some kind of Tom Hiddleston photo feed (not that I'm complaining, mind you...), and he posted photos of some of his meals while he was doing this. (From the looks of it, he was approaching it from a very British angle taste-wise; lots of eggs and/or baked beans on toast, and not just for breakfast. At least he was getting enough protein, eh?)
ReplyDeleteSure, it could be seen as a self-serving publicity stunt, but I suspect most of the people doing it are hoping that they can put their fame to good use, and direct it toward situations such as this that need the attention. (Remember, kids, celebrities are still human beings; if they were kind and generous before they became famous, they'll still be, but on a grander scale, and if they're selfish bastards, they'll just be even bigger SOBs.)
I'm going to give Ben the benefit of the doubt here: he's got the spotlight right now, what with being a recent Oscar winner, so why not put it to good use and raise some awareness?
Personally, I'm okay with celebrities (and anyone) publicizing stuff like this. Who is it ultimately going to benefit (and how much) if you keep it to yourself? When more people become aware of the plight of those living poverty, more people ultimately (at least that is the hope) become motivated to take action (and taking action doesn't necessarily mean giving money...for any of these charities we are talking about). Knowledge is power...and knowledge leads to action. Not to sound trite, but if every single one of us became involved in causes that move us, the world would truly be a better place.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.globalpovertyproject.com
and, one of my daughter's (and my) very favorite charities fighting poverty worldwide:
http://www.one.org
(Not affiliated with The One Fund Boston)
It would be nice if there was a war on poverty instead of a war on drugs. I think we'd (N.America)be a lot better off if that were the case.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@Sue Ellen...
ReplyDelete+1
And when amplified to the larger worldwide war on drugs; if we eradicated poverty in countries like Mexico, we would go a LONG way in eradicating the drug trade and the violence that surrounds it.
This is like Corey Booker living on food stamps--good publicity.
ReplyDeleteI want to know the details of what he eats, and what he does for that week.
@miss x - please check the above suggestions for places to donate for the people in West. Also check out the facebook page suggested above, it also has some good places to donate.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Enty on this one too. I don't need that kind of awareness. I already know people are poor. I know that people live on that daily amount worldwide (even in the US). Anyone who has ever viewed media or went to school knows this. I would rather he spent time showing us what he and the organizations that he is a part of have done for the poor. Things he can point to.
ReplyDeletePS--there is a HUGE movement in Boston to support the victims of the bombing --the One Fund. Many of the Boston celebs are doing things to support that and tons of businesses are doing things --my company took cash donations immediately and starting yesterday we brought in some Boston Strong product that the 3 largest sportswear manufacturers have produced--and 100% of the profits will go to the One Fund that will help the victims. I think they will be well taken care of--there have been some huge corporate donations already.
ReplyDeleteLola! I sent you an e-mail!
ReplyDelete"Sue Ellen Mishkey" ..the original?
ReplyDeleteIf so, I have popcorn, readers...
Sue Ellen Mishkey-I like your statement.
ReplyDeleteI need to do more research on what Ben is proposing but if it brings good awareness then I am all for it. I know others want him to help Boston, or help West TX and they deserve it obviously. But let's not poo poo him trying to do something, even if it isn't the something you would choose.
The intent of this organization is good. Because the money to support it flows througb multi channels globally, it's not so easy to clear all the red flags associated with the banking.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if anyone will come back to this, but Lola-absolutely agree with you on that front. The link between poverty and the drug trade is so obvious it almost offensive that something isn't done to rectify that.
ReplyDeleteAnd Agent: It is. And I just won't have it. Honestly. Not here, not there, not anywhere. But it's nice to see you're still around. Enjoy your comments.
Sue Ellen, thanks for always questioning the cdan money trail. I am about to become one of The Cdan Departed:) Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThe $1.50 is a food budget Enty, don't be such a grouchy gus!
ReplyDeleteYes they care about poverty so much that the US cant spend 1/100th of one years defense budget to completely eradicate hunger from the US. God when are people going to quit being so stupid...
ReplyDelete