the peace olympiad?

July 29, 2005 12:13 AM

Every year this incredibly strange woman wanders up to my front door to solicit money for something she cryptically refers to as "the peace olympiad." Whenever I attempt to find out what this is and why I should give it money she simply explains that it's like the Olympics only it strives to promote peace and unity. I then ask what this means. And she repeats her original answer. I confess that I really have no idea what this group is or does and I don't feel comfortable giving it money. She then abruptly turns and walks to the next house. My question: What the meep is the "peace olympiad"? I have found that it's run by some organization called EduServe...but I can't seem to find out much more than that. What exactly is this group? Is it some sort of cult or scam or is it some legitimate charity that just happens to have a very strange representative in my area? Has anyone else encountered solicitors for the peace olympiad? Is this an actual event? Are the peace olympiad competitors?
posted by jaanpehechaanho to society & culture (11 comments total)

I don't know how much of a help this is to you, but that EduServe company has a NY P.O. Box and a Philadelphia-area telephone code (610).

It also raises a few flags in my mind that you can't find a human's name anywhere on the website. The only contact point is a 'forum' e-mail address, or some such.

I would stay away from them.

Plus, I thought the purpose of the regular Olympics was to promote peace.
posted by tozturk at 12:27 AM on July 29, 2005

Here is their website. It looks like the "olympiad" page is under construction. Other than that, I have nothing to offer.
posted by coolsara at 12:27 AM on July 29, 2005

" EduServe/Peace Olympiad Programs are popular, nonpartisan, public service initiatives that foster the advancement of peace and better human and community conditions. Eduserve's Peace Olympiad Programs have achieved a breakthrough, justice-enhancing, peace-building, health-sustaining, life-supporting, knowledge-developing, and friendship-growing accord among and between peoples and nations. Rewards to participants and communities are extensive."

Well that's a lot clearer *cough*.

The DNS: info gives a person's name with a netatlantic email address (netatlantic gives verizon startpage and also brings up a lot of comments about email spamming or the like on a google search). The eduserve site has been around since '97 which is I suppose the best thing going for them perhaps.

Sounds a bit dodgy. I guess you could ring or email just to see what they say.
posted by peacay at 3:14 AM on July 29, 2005

I'm pretty sure that there hasn't been a significant increase in the amount of peace in the world since '97. Either they need more money, their methods aren't effective, or it's all a big scam. I wonder which one of those is most likely.
posted by box at 6:34 AM on July 29, 2005

box, if you need a reason to be cheerful on a Friday, look at this thread - peace is on the increase. I'm not yet sure we have enough data to attribute it directly to the peace olympiad, however.
posted by penguin pie at 8:26 AM on July 29, 2005

i knew lots of homeless dudes in oakland who would claim to be soliciting money for student after-school programs or the like, and when you refused to give them cash, would get all irate and be all "WELL DON'T YOU WANT TO HELP STUDENTS? WHAT THE FUCK?", even after I told them I'd look it up online and consider making a donation (it was totally fake, and we both knew it. The "literature" he carried on his clipboard was well-aged and stained -- it had been there for quite awhile).

my guess would be scam, but that's because i don't trust solicitors of any sort (especially door to door ones) after living in the bay.
posted by fishfucker at 10:20 AM on July 29, 2005

Even if it were legitimate, people shouldn't be encouraged to come to your door with these things.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 2:07 PM on July 29, 2005

Even if it were legitimate, people shouldn't be encouraged to come to your door with these things.

why?
posted by andrew cooke at 4:24 PM on July 29, 2005

Because, people will think they are scams, and will then go on the internets and tell other people they think they are scams.
posted by Count Ziggurat at 4:28 PM on July 29, 2005

I work for a nonprofit that solicits donations door to door. Its very successful for us.

All real nonprofits will be licensed by the state in which you live. Anyone canvassing door to door should have a copy of their nonprofits "Charitable Solicitation license" with them (a photocopy, usually, which is legally fine). Ask to see the license of anyone who comes to your door to solicit money. If they can't produce one, they're probably not legit.
posted by anastasiav at 4:37 PM on July 29, 2005

why?

Because door to door solicitation is completely obnoxious.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 7:44 PM on July 29, 2005