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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Rural politicians marred fundraiser

Leaders of more than 30 small communities around Norway followed through in sabotaging the country’s annual fundraiser last weekend, when they refused to take part on behalf of their residents. They didn’t like how wildlife preservation organization WWF had been tapped to manage the money raised for this year’s good cause: ridding the seas of plastics.

The small town’s boycott against WWF contributed to a decline in the money raised this year, which amounted to around NOK 228 million (USD 25.3 million). That was down from the NOK 240.5 million raised last year, a decline also attributed to extra challenges collecting donations this year because of the Corona crisis. It prevented volunteers from going door-to-door.

The local politicians objected to how WWF has tried to save Norway’s wolf population, halt the annual whale hunt and preserve forests. They would rather kill both wolves and whales, and chop down trees, and thus wouldn’t help WWF raise any funds.

Several commentators have called the local politicians’ boycott both “un-Norwegian and embarrassing.” One equated the mentality to “boycotting the Salvation Army’s humanitarian work because you don’t believe in God.” Many  residents of the local communities tried to make up for their leaders’ actions by donating more money themselves, while some of the leaders ended up donating money to other organizations that work to clear the seas of plastic.

newsinenglish.no staff

 

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