Author: Brian Ashworth

Meet Disaster Aid Australia

by Brian Ashworth, posted in News

As Australia starts to open up Rotary, and other service clubs, are moving back to face to face meetings.

If your club is looking for a Guest Speaker or a ‘Vocational Visit’ why not contact Disaster Aid Australia?

Guest Speakers

Ted Burton in Tasmania

Over the past few weeks our ‘Champions’ have delivered presentations in Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania.

Our speakers can:

  • Explain how Disaster Aid Australia delivers safe water for less than $1/person/year.
  • Keep you informed about how we have continued to deliver aid through the COVID pandemic.
  • Let you know about new opportunities to sponsor Safe Water for Every Child installations.
  • Tell you how we keep our costs low, so each donation delivers more aid.

Vocational Visits

Demonstrating a Working SkyHydrant

By the end of November we will again be open for ‘Vocational Visits’ at our office, near Dandenong.

This will give you the opportunity to see a working SkyHydrant and find out much more about how DAA delivers aid.

We provide an informative tour and a 2 course meal for $20.

ZOOM Remains An Option

For those who are too far from our Office or Champions homes we will be continuing to Offer ZOOM presentations.

These can be either:

  • A slide show based presentation with a short video.
  • A hosted virtual tour of the Office.

In either case there will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

Contact us at admin@disasteraidaustralia.org.au for more information.

SAFE WATER, AND AIMING FOR NET ZERO

by Brian Ashworth, posted in DAA Stories, Safe Water for Every Child

This week Nations are meeting in Glasgow to discuss action on ‘Climate Change’.

Thats fine for first world countries, with technology changes they can preserve their current living standards while reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.

It’s Different for Developing Countries

Simply restricting their use of fossil fuels could mean their living conditions will never improve.

With 80% of illness in the developing world being related to contaminated water, safe drinking water is a key issue in improving living standards.

DAA’s Help

Our Safe Water for Every Child project is a solution that improves health in developing countries without increasing the use of fossil fuels.

The SkyHydrants we use have been able to deliver safe drinking water to well over 100,000 in the last few years without the use of electrical power.

This has been recognised by the Energy Globe Foundation, who recognise the worlds major sustainability champions.

If you would like to help Disaster Aid Australia continue to provide sustainable safe water in developing countries with zero emission; click on the link below;

DONATE

Charity donations of $2 or more to Disaster Aid Australia are tax-deductible in Australia.

International Recognition for Bhutan 2020

by Brian Ashworth, posted in Bhutan, News, Safe Water for Every Child, WASH

Disaster Aid Australia (DAA) has just been notified that Bhutan 2020 has been selected for a National Award by the Energy Globe Awards.

The awards, organised by the Energy Globe Foundation, are the most prominent worldwide environmental project recognition.

It’s a great that we have been chosen, from 2,500 entries worldwide, to receive one of the 180 National Awards.

This recognises that this project delivers safe water in a sustainable way across the whole of Bhutan.

Key Aspects of the Project

The project, which will shortly be completed, is much more that a DAA project, and could have not have been achieved without:

  • The Rotary Club of Thimphu who first approached DAA in 2017 and have since been working continously on in-country liasion.
  • The Bhutan Government that have have provided ongoing support through their Education Department.
  • The Installation Team from the School Planning and Building Division.
  • The SkyHydrants, from the SkyJuice Foundation, that provide safe drinking water without the use of electrical power.
  • The generous support of Australian Rotary Clubs and individual supporters.

If you would like to help Disaster Aid Australia continue to provide sustainable safe water in developing countries click on the link below;

DONATE

Charity donations of $2 or more to Disaster Aid Australia are tax-deductible in Australia.

WASH MYTHS 3 – FOREIGN AID MEANS CASH

by Brian Ashworth, posted in DAA Stories, WASH

Australia is budgeting to provide $4.335 billion in Foreign Aid in 2020-21.

Judging by some of the comments we see on facebook there are lots of people who think that the Australian Goverment provides this aid in the form of cash.

They also belive that foreign government can choose to spend aid money how they like.

Below is some real information about Australia’s foreign aid.

Some Facts

Here is some information that busts the cash Myth and some other foreign aid myths

The Australian Gov’t decides how the most aid is spent.

The Australian Government provides aid through defined programs.

It also provides grants to chosen in-country organisations and Australian organisations.

The expenditure is monitored by Embassy Staff.

A large amount of aid money never leaves Australia

A considerable amount of the aid budget involves providing Australian good and services to foreign governments.

Examples include;

  • COVID Vaccines, such as doses of Astra Zenica manufactured in Australia, but not taken up in Australia;
  • Naval Patrol boats, manufactured in Australia, but used by foreign goerments to control people smuggling;
  • Consultancy services, such as engineering and financial management, by Australian companies.
There are many countries which are far more generous than Australia

The standard way of measuring aid generosity is as a percentage of Gross National Income (GNI)

The 2020-2021 aid budget is 0.21% of the GNI; with an average of developed countries being 0.31%.

Here are a few of the countries that are ahead of us, with their aid as a proportion of GNI; Austria (0.29), Britain (0.7) Germany (0.73), Japan (0.31) (New Zealand (0.27)

Disaster Aid Australia has never received any Development Aid Funds

Although DAA’s Supporters receive tax relief on their donations Disaster Aid AUstralia has never received and financial support from the Australian Aid Budget.

We are only able to deliver aid through the generosity of our supporters.

If you would like to help Disaster Aid Australia continue to deliver Aid in developing countries then click on the link below;

DONATE

Charity donations of $2 or more to Disaster Aid Australia are tax-deductible in Australia.