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Apple CEO Tim Cook today announced that Apple plans to donate to organizations in Western Europe to support flood relief efforts.

western-europe-flooding-2021.jpg
Image via The Guardian


More than 125 people have died in unprecedented flooding in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with high waters damaging roads, homes, bridges, and other infrastructure. Another 1,300 people are missing, with multiple small villages devastated by flood waters.


Apple often donates money during natural disasters and has donated several times to fund wildfire relief efforts in California. Most recently, Apple donated to organizations in Texas amid harsh winter temperatures in February.

Article Link: Apple Donating to Flood Relief Efforts Across Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands
 
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Of course Apple's philanthropic work and aid relief is ultimately self-serving; it has to be because Apple is a publicly traded company. But just because it benefits shareholders, that doesn't mean it isn't also being done for the right reasons; the two don't have to be mutually exclusive.

However, at the end of the day, does that really matter? $1 is $1 when you've just lost your home, regardless of the motivation of the donor.
 
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How generous. $1 mil from a 2.5 trillion dollar company. Smh

That is not little at all. At least in Germany, you will find comparatively few uninsured losses, with the exception of loss of life and emotional suffering, which can't really be compensated for with money anyway.

My first thought was, what for?

There is even a "tradition" that the state sets up aid programs from taxpayers' money in cases of catastrophe.

In the end, it should not be the concern of a corporation, but of society.
 
The picture to this article is from Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, roughly 60 km south of Cologne. This city is located in the Ahr valley. In general, this is a deeply cut river valley, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler located at an unusual broad plateau.
The level of the Ahr river is usually not more than one meter. The maximum until now had been 3,70 meters. During the flooding, the measuring device showed 5,75 meters but only because that was its maximum range - in reality, people estimated about 7 meters.
As there is no space for such a giant flood to evade at the upstream, the results were catastrophic as to be clearly seen in the picture.
Given that colleagues and friends of mine live in the affected area, I do not care at the moment about any ulterior motives of Apple and other donators but am happy for all help (of course it is deductible, so is my individual donation also).
 
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And by the way: I think it’s a good move by Apple, companies do need to donate:
and this while acknowledging that the corporate responsibility game (tax deductions, reputation…) is getting harder and companies did reduce their engagement in the last years…
 
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