While I agree wholeheartedly with former World Vision head Tim Costello here:
"Celebrated humanitarian Tim Costello says middle Australia feels it is 'doing it hard' and some consider their annual trip to Bali a 'fundamental human right', while remaining oblivious to real suffering overseas. Mr Costello, who has stepped down as chief advocate of World Vision Australia, says political rhetoric over cost-of-living pressures has helped foster a misguided mindset among voters that they are struggling. He also called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to reverse his government's 'mean' foreign aid strategy, calling it embarrassing and foolish." ('Australians don't know how blessed they are', Nicole Hasham, Sydney Morning Herald, 11/6/19)
And here:
"World Vision says the Coalition has cut Australia's foreign aid budget each year since it came to power in 2014, to just 21c in every $100 of gross national income. It says the United Kingdom spends 70c in every $100 - a commitment enshrined in law - while Switzerland spends $1.10. Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne has been contacted for comment. She has said the government was targeting its aid at the Indo-Pacific region. Mr Costello said foreign aid was at historic lows and urged the government to show 'moral leadership'." (ibid)
I'm wondering if Tim Costello, in his retirement, intends to focus on the plight of World Vision Australia employee Mohammed El Halabi, arrested by the Israelis in 2016, and put on trial accused of channelling millions of dollars of Australian government aid funding to Hamas. Halabi has languished in an Israeli prison ever since, and has alleged torture by his captors. And this despite DFAT and World Vision's own forensic audit finding no evidence of the misuse of of World Vision funds by El Halabi, and Israel's own failure to produce any evidence to back up its claims.
Tim?
(See my 23/3/17 post The Halabi Affair and others if you will.)
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I imagine World Vision has an obligation to do everything possible to protect their staff doing their legitimate work from interference and harassment, from anyone or any 'government,'
It is well known Zionist practice to starve the Palestinians into total submission in order to steal more of their land. Trump is only too happy to comply as evidenced by his cuts to the UNRWA. At least the New Zealand government stepped up and donated millions to fill the breach. Surely it is past time for Tim to stand up and be vocal. Otherwise World Vision loses credibility every time they put their hand out for donations.
I have a strict policy of only making donations to charities who openly help the Palestinians, and I tell every charity this when I am invited to give, I give to the Red Cross and I told them why when I signed up to monthly payments.
Occasionally I have been approached by apparent backpackers to 'help refugees' the clueless collectors have no idea that Palestinian refugees, who have the distinction to be the greatest number per country in the world, have their own separate UN body, which has failed them miserably for decades supposedly care for them. It could be argued that the UN created the problem by allowing the Bandit State to establish a beach head in someone else country.
Where is Tim?
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