New year – same post!
Well, I got a raise and hence I donated more.
The fifth year when I donated a one-month salary! Just like 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
I am quite proud. Just like saving money, smaller sums on a regular basis add up.
While I’d love to live in a world where donations aren’t necessary because everybody is cared for, it’s something I can do right now and it feels right. Moreover, the world where we do not need monetary donations any more will be the world where we lean into and thrive through solidarity. So this is already a good practice among many.
Give it a thought. A pledge of a one month’s salary per year, which provides you with emotional rewards throughout the year far greater than having that a bigger TV or expensive trainers (or whatever advertising tells you you need to feel good about yourself). It‘s bigger donations as well as always having money in my pocket in the metro as my goal is to donate it anyway.
Please note that I am looking at people earning as much or more than I do.
The fifth year when I donated a one-month salary!
Just like 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Here are some of the donations and solidarity payments I made
- Ärzte ohne Grenzen 200€
- Sea-Watch (supporting member) 400€
- Amadeu-Antonio-Stiftung (supporting member) 120€
- BUND Hamburg (supporting member) 72€
- UN World food program to Gaza 150€
- Amnesty International 250€
- Hinz&Kunzt 250€
- Kältebus 200€
- Hate Aid 150€
- Hanseatic Help 250€
- Hand in Hand für Norddeutschland 150€
- Several smaller donations to a wide range of initiatives
- Cash I gave to people in the streets
Some things I still calculate in but technically aren’t donations, for example are
- Ver.di membership
- Patreon for example, Sonya Renee Taylor, Mastodon, No White Saviours, Future Histories or Working Class History
Something I want to highlight again this year is that it’s hard to choose. So much suffering and so much need for support, and just because I donate to one thing, it doesn’t mean that I find that more important than something else. I can’t make a list of what’s a more worthy cause than something else and yet with my donations in a way I have to.
Well, what’s most essential, is to not let this thought turn into an excuse to donate less. I won’t heal the world, but I can do a bit here and there. We all can in many different ways.
What are your thoughts? Do you have a “donation strategy” or goal? Share your ideas directly with me!