Sting’s Rain Forest Foundation Under Attack by Watchdog Group
One thing that bothers me is holier than thou rock stars and actors who feel that they need to tell us how to live our lives, who to vote for, and what charities we should donate to. When I go to a concert, I go to get away from every day life. It is an escape from politics for a couple of hours. When I go to a movie I want to be entertained, I don’t want to think about any actor’s political or charitable opinions. To me it sounds like these people are trying to justify the wealth and fame that they have received. It isn’t good enough to them to perform acts of charity, they need everone to KNOW that they performed these acts.
On top of the fact that U2’s songs suck to no end, there is the fact that Jesus, I mean Bono, feels the need to preach in between every song about how America doesn’t do enough to stop world hunger, it doesn’t matter that we spend billions a year on poverty and hunger around the world on. It isn’t enough.
These same stars tell us that we need to cut back on our oil and gas consumption even as they fly private jets all across the world.
Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with someone who wants to donate to charities, who wants to work toward the goals of ending world poverty or world hunger. They are good and noble causes. What I am saying is that when I go to a concert I don’t want to be preached to about it, if I want to I will donate to these causes. I am there for a good time. I donate to charities, but I don’t want to be hit over the head with it. I just have a problem when real life meets entertainment.
So many of these people are hypocrites, especially the global warming activists who live one life while telling us how to live another.
So it is with some pleasure, I must admit, that I read this. Sting had started a charity to save the rain forests. The only problem is, most of the money doesn’t go to actually saving those rain forests he cares so much about.
“less than half the riches actually funded tree-saving programs, according to charity watchdogs and a Post review of tax records.
It’s one of the prime reasons the local arm of Sting’s Rainforest Foundation is rated one of New York City’s worst charities, according to Charity Navigator.”
According to Charity Navigator, a charity watchdog group, a well run charity donate 75% of revenues to the causes. Sting’s foundation donates about 41%. Sting could not be reached for comment. Surprising, huh? So where did the money go? That is a good question.
“What are they doing with the money?” said Bennett Weiner, the director of the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, after examining the fund’s tax forms. “They have more than five times what they would normally spend in a year in reserves.”
But that may not be the end of Sting’s problems.
“The charity sold the tickets for between $100 and $600 but estimated the fair market value at a mere $45 per ticket. This allowed buyers to write off most of the ticket price as a donation.
“If the receipts are wrong, donors could face IRS audits,” said James Dellinger, an analyst for Capital Research, a watchdog group based in Washington.”
At worst, Sting’s foundation is nothing more that a scam, at best, a very poorly run and inefficient charity. Either way, I don’t care. I just want them to leave me alone. I will donate to the charities that I want to, I don’t need celebrities telling me where I should donate my money. Just entertain me, that is what you are paid to do. Paid very well in fact.
America's Watchtower 
As a fundraiser with the Rainforest Foundation UK for 6 years, I was privy to the workings of Stings fundraising machine and totally agree with your article about Sting hoarding money raised to protect the rainforest. A critical point to make is that the money from the concert is put into the Rainforest Fund, not directly to the Rainforest Foundation UK or Norway, which are independent charities. The Rainforest Fund acts as a private play fund for Sting and close family friends to direct to whatever charity takes their whim. The similarity between the organisations is only in the name and that is where it stops. The Rainforest Foundation UK and Norway are independent from the Rainforest Fund and have been campaigning successfully on behalf of forest peoples around the world for over 15 years. Their funding comes from many sources, including government, foundations, individuals, and as grant recipients from the Rainforest Foundation Fund. The fact that the Rainforest Foundation UK and Norway receive grants from their respective governments is testament to their genuine success at protecting the rights of forest peoples and their land, as well as recognising their transparency and adherence to strict governance controls that, for example, avoid the hoarding of vast amounts of money as practiced by the Rainforest Fund. Over the 6 years I was with the Rainforest Foundation UK, I was proud to be associated with the passionate people who worked there, and our partners who risked their lives in conflict prone areas such as Democratic Republic of Congo. During that time I was shocked at the way Sting and the Rainforest Fund would raise US$ millions in our name and sit on the money while our partners in rainforest countries struggled day by day to makes ends meet.
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Wow. Yeah, shut up and sing is right. But forget about even going to the movies anymore. Most of them have extreme left-wing themes, we know this. It sounds to me as if Sting is just making tax write-offs for his friends. Obviously with no consideration whatsoever for anything real which has been explained above^.
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I really don’t even want to hear him sing either to tell you the truth.
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Sting or is he Bing the crooner? Anyway the first he knew of the rain forests was when he had a gig nearby and not too many fans came. His manager suggested he find a way to compensate so he found chief Ranio in the forest and brought him to the UK. The poor man was subjected to the television media and ingratiating platitudes from Sting and Terry Wogan. The chief was then sent back to the Amazon and he said he had never been paid anything for his trouble.
I read a book once, I can read, written in 1930 about these forests and their tribes. The writer lived with them for years he knew the problems of our greedy interference. We should leave these handsome people alone. They don’t want beads and their photos in the newspapers with blinkered rock stars.
You are quite right all Bonehead and his mates want is money. Geldolf lives in a nice mansion as well and he is saving Africa.
I just love these boys they are saving the world which is more than I am. Send me some money then I too can help!
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