All New Years feelings were tempered a little this year with news of the ever-increasing Tsunami death toll in Asia. The figures were shocking when they were first put out at over 10,000. Now the estimates are in the region of 150,000 it's quite overwhelming. The Dutch press is a little less timid than the Press in other countries about printing pictures of dead people. It's not (usually) done gratuitously, more when it is a representative picture. The one of a pool of muddy water chock full of floating wood and bodies really summed it all up for me.
In the wake of such a disaster, there are always terrible after effects. Disease, food shortage, and, further afield, Dutch B-list music stars have already set a date to get together to record a charity song. Not to sound flippant - it is very little to endure compared to hunger and disease - but it is unnecessary. Especially as charity is already flooding in and it is not a forgotten or under-publicised tragedy. So rather than buying a record where all PROFITS go to charity, isn't it better to NOT have another weak and aggravating song to be overplayed on the radio and to give the money direct so that all of the MONEY goes to charity.
And before you ask, no I did not like Feed The World. In fact the first moment I heard it, I though, here is a song that will haunt my generation. Having said that, as charity records go, it was one of the better ones. But that ain't saying much.
In summary: help charities you believe in to the amount of your choosing, but by no means ever buy a charity record, it only encourages them.
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