(no subject)

[sebastienne]

I'm hiding in my room right now because the cleaner came. That's right. Since I went to university my parents have now got two shiny silver cars on the drive outside my window, and have employed a cleaner. Why this should freak me out so much, when I've been used to having a scout, I don't know... I guess it's 'cause all scouts really do is empty your bins and report back to college about who or what you have in your room every morning... this woman is something else. *Shudders*

Are You Bored?

Then please, Wouldn't normally ask this, but figure it's the summer holidays so some of you are just sitting around killing time.. the following is a list of the organisations that I might be interested in volunteering with over the next year or doing an internship with / working for when I graduate.. I'd love someone (or, indeed, several someones) savvier than me to look over their websites and tell me if they're not as good as they first appear, eg, funded by or working for arms companies or pharmaceutical giants, or completely inneffectual and run for vanity, or actually do more harm than good, etc.

Oxford Research Group
"Oxford Research Group (ORG) is an independent non-governmental organisation established in 1982 which seeks to develop effective methods whereby people can bring about positive change on issues of national and international security by non-violent means."

SIRC
"The Social Issues Research Centre is an independent, non-profit organisation founded to conduct research on social and lifestyle issues, monitor and assess global sociocultural trends and provide new insights on human behaviour and social relations."

Oportunity International
"Opportunity International UK offers poor entrepreneurs in developing countries the tools they need to break out of poverty and support themselves."

People & Planet
"People & Planet - UK Students campaigning on world poverty, human rights and the environment."

INTRAC
"INTRAC is a non-profit organisation working in the international development and relief sector."

And, of course, there's always

Oxfam...

looking over any or all of these websites and commenting on the ethics, efficacy, and general nice/nastiness of these organisations would be rewarded with at least three minutes of my eternal gratitude, and possibly a cookie.

Yes, I know they're all charities / not-for-profit organisations.. I'm just idealistic like that, mmkay?

Comments

[gatty.livejournal.com]

I know SIRC is a pretty small outfit. I read a book written by one of the co-founders over the holiday, on Englishness which was quite good. It was called 'Watching the English' if you wanted to have a look. I'll try to look over the rest of thses if I get the chance.