Australia burns. For too many days we have seen in the news how the bushfires continue in Australia. More than ten million hectares have already been burned since September last year. An atrocity.
The International Red Cross is doing the impossible to help put out dozens of huge fires that continue to burn out of control. Apple has joined the cause, and has activated a donation system through iTunes and the App Store. The money contributed goes entirely to the Red Cross. Bravo for Apple.
Apple is making it easy for customers to donate to the International Red Cross. The aim is to increase efforts to fight the terrible forest fires that are occurring in Australia.
Users can make donations to the Red Cross between $ 5 and $ 200 through iTunes and the App Store. Apple is not charging commissions or processing fees for contributions, which will go entirely to the charity.
Currently the donation system appears to be working only in the United States and Australia. In both places the contributions will go to the national version of the Red Cross although they contribute specifically to the Australian bushfires. Ads appear on local Apple.com web pages along with the App Store for these two countries.
More than 10 million hectares have been burned, and the fires are still alive.
The mission is to fight forest fires in Australia
This is not the first time Apple partners with the Red Cross to make efforts in times of need. The company has previously accepted donations on behalf of the Red Cross during a wide variety of humanitarian incidents. These include Hurricane Sandy, the Japanese tsunami, or Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, for example.
While it is possible to donate in other ways, Apple's page simplifies the donation process for anyone with an iTunes account. It also helps to raise awareness of the subject for people who would not otherwise have it so easy to make their small contribution. One click is enough.
Australian wildfires are the result of record temperatures and a severe drought. Thousands of firefighters and volunteers have been called to service, more than 10 million hectares of shrubs, forests and parks have burned. 24 people have already died.
It is appreciated that large companies that have very direct access to their customers facilitate the possibility of making this type of small contributions individuals in the face of major catastrophes and disasters. Bravo for Apple.
