The Dirty side of Charity?

While it's good to contribute to charitable causes in terms of donations or social good deeds, I find some events are going too far to promote themselves. In the name of creating awareness or education, they implement creative marketing strategies to win more attendance at their events. Many of these do not yield effective results to the actual cause, instead they generate other damages. Sounds familiar? Sounds like the previous NKF saga, and also the recent Korean Missionary group that was kidnapped in Afghanistan?
Close to home in Singapore, we are not short of examples. The Yellow Ribbon Walk held yesterday was one that I witnessed with much regrets and ANGER!!!
* The organizers did not cordon off the walking path from the newly paved cycling path, the huge crowd was walking at snail pace, blocking the entire Pasir Ris Drive 3 (both sides of the road!) while they do their 3.5km walk. I could imagine their thoughts : Sorry lor... this is for Charity leh, so all other pavement users please do not come this way ok!!! ??? (errr.. what CHARITY had been done through walking huh?)
* The Organizers gave out mineral water sealed plastic cups (disposable ones of course.. we are a "developed" nation mah) without setting up proper disposal points One of the ushers explained that they reminded people to dispose of cups into dustbins at bus stops...(err.. thank you for being so THOUGHTFUL hor.. those few miserable dustbins at those few bus stops can hold SOOOOOOO many cups meh? Your organizers don't know how to do simple CALCULATIONS hor? ) We therefore had the OPPORTUNITY to see piles of plastic cups thrown along the entire drive 3!!! Horrendous heaps of rubbish in our beautiful town.. what a sight to greet the residents on a Sunday morning! What happens to all those talk about being environmental friendly? We have campaigns to EDUCATE/ENCOURAGE people to use fewer plastic shopping bags, but don't care about using KILOS of plastic cups which eventually get blown into the canal that's along the path and get sweep into our sea? Wow liao.. really TEKONG man..
* The worst thing is, the majority of those participants are students from various schools..soooo ORGANIZED... which makes me wonder.. if these obviously EDUCATED people still throw plastic cups anywhere they like when they have been taught since kindergarten it's wrong to do so, why bother to ENTICE them to the ending point of the walk --- "Prison Link Centre Changi" to view an EDUCATIONAL exhibition??????Too difficult lah.. they sure cannot UNDERSTAND!
Plus I am sure a bulk of the participants have no idea/interest whatsoever about this Project. They joined the walk because of the FREE yellow caps given at registration, plus the chance to win LUCKY DRAW, plus GOODIE BAGS at the ending point lor... (how many people agree with me on this???)
* Wanna do REAL charity? My suggestions -> Spend those budget, sponsor's money on the actual cause (do whatever you need to do).... don't always look to create publicity (education?) and create more mess. Want the public to work out & sweat out? Get them to volunteer to clean up the trash in Pasir Ris beach and East Coast Beach lah! Throw in lucky draws.. .I am sure there will be quite a lot of sign ups.. maybe queue to register somemore! Hey, why not get some celebrity to grace the event lah... lagi more people will show up for FREE!
Ok.. enough of gripes... but one last thing... my husband just drove past Pasir Ris Drive 3 this afternoon and saw half the rubbish (plastic cups.. remembers?) still lying around!!! Congratulations to the Yellow Ribbon Walk organizers..you have created 2 days (or more) worth of trash lor!! SHAME ON YOU!