It ain't no Band Aid but it's better than I thought it would be... Helping Haiti (incorporating Bloggers for Haiti)

I'm sorry - that has to be the longest blog title in 2010 but it's necessary.


Today was the media release of Helping Haiti - the charity single organised by Simon Cowell to raise money for the plight of the people in Haiti after the recent earthquake.  I need say no more because, unless you've been living under a stone for the last four weeks, you'll have heard about it.  If indeed you have been living under a stone then clicking this link will enlighten you further.


I struggled to understand why the song "Everybody Hurts" (originally sung by R.E.M.) was chosen until I re-ead the lyrics and saw this line:
Sometimes everything is wrong.  Now it's time to sing along.
Pardon me for being cynical, but isn't this a bit... um... patronising?


Anyway... the positives...  100% of the proceeds of this charity single are going to be split 50/50 between DEC (The Disasters Emergency Committee) and The Sun's Helping Haiti appeal - so it's all going in the right direction.
(And kudos to R.E.M. for forgoing the collection of royalties for this release but why are they not singing on it?)


You can hear the single at the Sun Online's website, it is released for download next Sunday (7th February) and is on general sale in the shops the day after (8th February).  The singers that have taken part include Leona Lewis, Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Cheryl Cole, Jon Bon Jovi, Susan Boyle, JLS, Westlife, Michael Buble, Joe McElderry and Kylie Minogue.


And so for the second part of this blog.  

EnglishMum (@EnglishMum) wrote a blog post on 16th January about a JustGiving page that she had set up for Haiti appeal.  She included information about the donations going towards ShelterBox who provide "rescue kits" like in the picture.  Each box costs around £500 and, because of the amazing generosity of her readers, her fellow bloggers and their readers, the current total of donations stands at £3994.50 and is rising - that's almost 8 boxes!!!!  You can donate too by clicking on the link on the widget below: