Sir, – May I suggest that, as the begging mounts, each donation to a charity is followed, as soon as we get home, by a letter, e-mail or phone call to our local TDs and/or the president of the country concerned.
“Dear Sir. I have just given another €5 euro to xxxxxx charity to provide people with food, clothing, drinking water and medical treatment. As a matter of interest, why are you not doing all that yourselves with all the money you have from our taxes and/or development aid?” – Yours, etc,