Erroneous figures in appeal advertisements
 

I do think asking for donations for the needy is truly a good thing. But to flat out lie! Shouldn’t it be agents the law to make up stuff, or inflate the numbers?

Today I saw an appeal for drinking water in the poorest areas of Africa. The appeal stated that:

“Five-thousand children die a day from bad water!”


So let us see: 5000 x 7 days a week = 35,000 deaths or 182,000 per year.

Could it be that bad? I know Africa is a huge landmass of poverty stricken persons, but for children alone it seems a bit exaggerated.

The last time a ‘statistic’ upset me, was when I discovered anti-gun groups were telling schools that millions of children were killed by guns in the US every year (I forgot the exact figure).

For the water…maybe I could let that slide, people do need help. But the gun hate groups, couldn’t legal action be taken as sort of a ‘slander’ type thing?

Somehow, I am not too stricken by that number. I just did a google search on Africa's population and it turns out that they have 680,000,000 people living on the continent. That is 680 million people, which is close to 2 1/2 times the US population. Roughly, that would be 2.5% of the population dying from lack of water or bad water. Who knows the actual answer?

Well I guess my real question is; should they be forced to provide proof before making the commercial or billboard? And could or should they be given fines or restrictions?

Intentional lies or misinformation should be punished. I do remember years ago there was a sign along a highway: “Become a vegetarian, Jesus was!” Which totally is bupkis, being of Jewish origins, he as did the apostles ate lamb at Passover. But they were just told to take it down.


Africa is a mess; Asia is not too far behind in some regions. But before I donate, I would like to know the facts. And when tree huggers try to bastardize religion to twist the minds of the ignorant, or not quite developed young minds, I think something should be done.

I guess I am asking to have our kindness and compassion protected.

"Intentional lies or misinformation should be punished."
Jon, we can't do that- we have an election coming up.;)
What would those poor politicians and interest groups do with the tons of money they've raised if they couldn't buy advertising?

Jack, that was hilarious.

Jon, your issues with advertising are some of the reasons I hate giving money to these organizations, the NRA and DU included. I have had issues with both of those organizations at one time or another, but I still continue to donate. With these other African and Asian charities, you have to worry about what is being done with the money you give them. At least I get reports from the NRA and DU about what they are doing, and I can see some of the results (e.g., litigation that the NRA is involved in, increased wetlands).