Hi. Allow me to try to address each concern:
1. Bag = So far I've only gone to the pick-up center twice. Both times were immediately after some calamity. The first one was after the earthquake. This last one was after the super typhoon. In both cases, there was NO STOCK at the pick-up center of the bags.
The only reason for the bag to be there is if someone wants to take it home, for personal consumption, or for your own personal feeding project. Therefore, I could not even take a picture of even a sample bag. All the bags are at the main warehouse or something, going off to where they are needed.
Nu Skin as a business, operates on a very high level with un-salaried (unpaid) distributors, who make their income 100% from commissions. The employees of the corporate office do all the grunt work. The distributors, like me, are just sales people. (A good example analogy is that we're like real-estate agents; we don't own the house or land, we just sell it.)
2. The address I gave for donations, the 1food address, is ONLY used for this project. It is separate from all other addresses, and I prefer that when I do trade or sell it, I do it all at once every time.
It is not in a separate wallet per se, but the bitcoin client I use has Coin Control, so I can pick just that address to use if I want to. Also notice that all outgoing transactions do not have change.
The proof so far has been the receipts I have posted. They show how many bags worth.
On my next trip, maybe you want me to take a picture of me at the counter doing the transaction? I'm not likely to get an actual bag (and probably not until after December too), but the person at the counter will process everything.
3. 50 bags (30 meals per bag) = PHP 82,000.00 so that is about USD 1900.00 and currently approximately 5.3 BTC. I use up almost everything up to the last bag. The change is eventually given away to some kid on the street in the form of either actual money or some bread / bisquit / candy / unfinished burger / whatever that I have handy on me as I go drive home. Or to pay for the parking where I gave the donation.
I do not give to kids that are sniffing rubber cement (locally known as rugby, it's a brand name). Sniffing rubber cement makes you high, like you are on illegal drugs.
4. Local traders take a little bit of time, but its basically if someone wants to buy the balance in the 1food address, then I have them give me the fiat first. Can't take chances of sending it to the wrong person. As with all other trades, I agree with a price on the trader, and since he knows where it is coming from, he gets it close to the current market price. (preev/bitstamp/bitcoinaverage, BTC converted to USD converted to PHP +/- a few percent).
There is a new crypto-currency exchange that just opened in Makati with support for Bitcoins and Tagcoins, and 9 fiat currencies. But, trading activity has been low since it just opened.
5. A relief organization is doing this all. My intention in the original post was just to collect, give to the org, and they do the rest.
6. If you guys want me to do something else more involved, someone suggested that I get donations for my military unit. There was another thread and video about that, let me look it up quick.
For reference, here is an old youtube video of something we did in 2011. It's in a slide show format.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEGAZamHeWMYou can see me at 1:25, I'm the one with the faded uniform with a bag and a camera taking pictures. I am not in formation with the rest of the guys because, RHIP. (look it up, hehe.)
You can see me again at 2:20, I'm the guy 2nd from the right wearing sunglasses.
If, for whatever reason, I get 3K coins, my boss is going to allow me to go back and be active in my unit (weekend warrior), and I use those donations to support in whatever way I deem fit, with proper accounting of where everything is going to. And this should keep me busy for an entire year.
Possible uses for donated funds would be logistics, transport (the bus is free, gas is not), food (the labor is free, but you need to feed the volunteers), medicines (the doctor is doing pro-bono work, but the drugs are paid for), toys (given away to kids), bulk relief goods (repacked and given individually), medical equipment (the old ones have to be discarded or replaced), maybe an ambulance (if you want, I can plaster a bitcoin logo on the ambulance!).
The unit, while a part of the AFP (Armed Force of the Philippines) DOES NOT GET FUNDING. All the people you see in that video above? They ARE NOT PAID, including me.
Why do I do it then? Aside from the altruistic and ideals, and actually helping out the people, there are fringe benefits to wearing a military uniform. I don't get speeding or
parking minor traffic violation tickets anymore, for one.
And I have a discount on firearms and the legal paperwork needed to carry one. The Philippines does not have the equivalent of the US 2nd Amendment, so there's all sorts of hoops you have to jump through to buy and carry a legally recognized firearm.
I sometimes get a free pass when riding the bus or train (when I don't drive my car.)
Oh, and the security guard in our village salutes me. (okay, fine, they salute the rank, not the person, blah blah insert "Band of Brothers" blah blah)
That would be another project and another thread, but so far no one has seemed to want me to do that just yet.
This thread, is, "high level", meaning, you donate and trust that I send it where I said I would. I do that, and ... my responsibility at that point is done. We just realize later through the organization and reports and other news about what happened.
It's like donating to the Red Cross or some other Foundation.
I hope that addresses most of your concerns.
You seem credible. And that you could win over Phinnaeus Gage seems a feat in itself. However, I still have a question or two. But do want to help the poor/needy affected by the hurricane/typhoon.
A photo of you WITH the bag would be even better. Preferably at the pick-up center. Don't delay. I'm probably not the only one that wants to give, especially now.
Also, is the address you gave for donations ONLY used for this project of yours? Is it located in a separate wallet than a personal wallet? Can you prove each contribution was used for meals?
How much does it cost for one 50 meals (or is that bags) measured in US dollars or Philippine pesos? It would be best to donate in increments of 50 meals to maximize Nu Skin's matching program.
You mentioned using local traders. How quickly can you exchange and how close can you trade to market prices?
Last question. How targeted are you giving these meals or is a relief organization doing this for you? I've so far read the people of Tacloban were hit severely. I know the storm was wide, but I'm not sure how much of the Phillipines received such a degree of devastation. Those hit hardest by the storm are most in need. [Just read in your post above: "Most of the fatalities were from Eastern Visayas, from the central part of the Philippines."]. Please, don't take offense, I'm sure you're competent. But I'd like a bit more reason to know any donation is helping where most needed.
"Survivors at city airport said they have not eaten in more than a day"
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2501471/Philippines-Typhoon-Haiyan-Soldiers-hold-desperate-Filipinos-trying-escape-typhoon-ravaged-region.html*edit* Sorry, I do pay for parking. Mistyped it when I posted.
