Agree 100% - the only charities I give to now are Guidedogs for the Blind, the RSPCA, and the odd cancer charity (because several members of my family have died because of cancer). Foreign charities can take a very back seat as far as I'm concerned.
[rant]I refuse to give to foreign charities, as the British Government is more than happy to spunk vast amounts of taxpayer's money on our behalf. They have just declared that over the next three years foreign aid will rise from £6 billion to £9 billion, and that the aid budget should be equal to 0.7% of GDP (Tories agree with this.)
Yesterday, they declared that the Fairtrade organisation will receive an extra £12 million in grants, this is despite the fact that British farmers get little in way of help and are slowly being pushed out of business.
Tbh, I think they are so out of touch with public opinion that they think 3rd world debt and climate change our genuine concerns to the man in the street when, in fact, we would rather the money be spent on improving this country. I would rather see the government using the money to rebuild home grown industry and helping our own vulnerable people, like the elderly couple that were found dead this week due to neglect by local social services.[/rant]