Every day people ask me to support what, on-the-face-of-it appear to be really worthwhile causes: Children in need, Greenpeace, The Homeless, etc, all of which, assuming they’re genuine, are worthwhile and worthy of everyone’s support. I’m willing to add my voice to the causes, and I so wish that it wasn’t needed. But I do not wish to foist my specific recommendations on my friends and relations, so I don’t want to be asked to share anything or put stickers in my front window. And I don’t want to be ‘morally blackmailed’ into ‘chipping in’ to use the current, comfortable-sounding request for money.

Ida and I have standing orders to three charities that we think are worthwhile. Perhaps we could afford to give more but we also have and have had unexpected and unforecastable expenses for which we deem it wise to maintain some reserves.

So what’s all that about then?

Well, I believe that easily accessible havens and medical support should exist for all abused, sick, drug and alcohol addicted people and homeless, adults and children, and animals, worldwide.

So why are elected governments not eliminating the need for human and animal needs charities?