New NGO links include
Global Exchange, The
RICS Foundation +
OpenSecrets.Org (thanks to
Kevin at
Reach M).
Global Exchange is a very practical NGO from the US which campaigns for
fair trade,
greater democracy in international decision making +
improved understanding within and between rich and poor countries.
The
RICS Foundation conducts
research into land, property, construction + development and applies it's knowledge in ways that help to encourage more sustainable development by acting as a "
catalyst between the private, academic and government sectors".
Finally,
OpenSecrets.Org provides a fascinating breakdown of how the US
Republican +
Democratic parties are funded. This site offers details on how much money each candidate has received in hard + soft funds from different business sectors, individual donors and by geographical area.
I was amazed to see that the
Democratic Party raised $466,095,255 + the
Republican Party raised $652,098,012 during the
2001-2002 Election Cycle! By comparison the total for
political funding in the UK is tiny (less than
$30,000,00 per annum) and provided to a considerable extent by the state - as you can see at the
CleanPolitix website.