To be a charity or not to be??

Merry Chrismas, Happy Hanukkah, Joyful Kwanzaa to all…..

‘Tis the season of giving and charity. However, it’s always worth knowing exacting what cause you are supporting.

With this in mind, it is very interesting to examine the Irish anti-GM food group GMFree Ireland, who were recently offering PRINCIPAL SPONSORS the chance to sponsor an anti-GM food conference for the sum of €25,000 each.

An important tenet of the study of biology is the relationship between structure and function. Exploring GMFree Ireland from this perspective leads to many worrisome questions left unanswered by Michael O'Callaghan (the spokesperson and main organizer of GM Free Ireland).

For example is GMFree Ireland a charity???
Michael O'Callaghan claims GM Free Ireland is to “soon” have charitable status (even reported in the Eurotoques newsletter HERE)
But there has been no update since February 16, 2005 when the following was claimed

"The GM-free Ireland Network will soon be registered as a non-profit company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital.
The company, or a subsidiary thereof, will then apply for charitable status for those of its activities designed to serve the public interest by promoting awareness of GM issues.
see http://www.gmfreeireland.org/network/status.php.

When the Irish tax authorities were contacted earlier this month it seems GMFree Ireland is NOT a charity in Ireland nor does it have “charitable status”.

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: "O'Flynn, Gerry"
To: shane.morris@rogers.com
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 4:44:18 AM
Subject: RE: charitable status and question

Shane
As a Revenue Authority we grant charitable tax exemption to those bodies established for a charitable purpose. All charities granted tax exemption are listed on our website at www.revenue.ie under publications/lists/charities. The body named below (GMFree Ireland –added by SM) is not on our published list of tax exempt charities or indeed on the eligible charity list. Thank you for bringing the donation matter to our notice.
regards
Gerry

See http://www.revenue.ie/pdf/charit_a.pdf or http://www.revenue.ie/pdf/sn45.pdf

Currently GM Free Ireland has entered an arrangement where An Taisce will accept donations on its behalf. However, this is very questionable considering GMFree Ireland could simply register as a charity themselves. However there is no mention of GMFree Ireland on the An Tasice website and their section on genetically modified organisms gives no information on anti-GM food organizations, see HERE. Do An Taisce’s members know that it’s funneling money to an organization that is accountable to no one!! I’m looking forward to soon seeing An Taisce’s annual report and accounts……

Noteworthy is that the “soon to become a charity” claim is a very frequent concept over the past 7 years for Michael O'Callaghan.

A quick count comes to four the organizations set up by Michael O'Callaghan that were “to become charities” but according to their websites, never have to date? These four “soon to be charities” are:

1. International Institute of Astroarcheology
2. Sustainable Dublin Trust
3. Global Vision Trust
4. GMFreeIreland

1. International Institute of Astroarcheology
An interesting little organization that never made it to be a charity even though it was claimed that:
“Funds to set up the Institute are being raised by Global Vision Corporation (a company set up by Michael O'Callaghan), a non-profit, Non Governmental Organisation…………. The whole amount you give will go towards the Institute.”

“THE FUNDING WILL BE USED FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
Incorporate the Institute as an Irish charity…..etc

However with £4,977 (Irish pounds/punts) spent on travel and £16,983 (Irish pounds/punts) in donations no further financial information was ever posted since May 25, 2001
See: http://www.astroarchaeology.org/help.html

also
http://www.astroarchaeology.org/astroform.html

NO UPDATE ON STATUS AVAILABLE ONLINE AS OF DECEMBER 9, 2006 AND IS NOT ON THE LIST OF REGISTERED CHARITIES IN IRELAND


2. Sustainable Dublin Trust
“It will be co-ordinated by the Sustainable Dublin Trust, currently being formed as an Irish registered charity, and implemented in collaboration with a network of partners and stakeholders.”
http://www.sustainabledublin.com/mission.html

NO UPDATE ON STATUS AND IS NOT ON THE LIST OF REGISTERED CHARITIES IN IRELAND

3. Global Vision Trust
“Its European twin Global Vision Trust was incorporated in the UK in March 1998 as a charitable private limited company no. 3521064. Pending confirmation of the latter's Registered Charity status (expected 1999), financial support and sponsorship from within the EU are also being accepted on our behalf via the J. L. Jopling Charitable Trust - UK Registered Charity no. 1024681.”

Yet another company that Michael O'Callaghan has been involved with never became a registered charity but remained a private company until dissolved 03/12/2002.
See HERE (don't forget to the expand this by clicking on the image)

4: GMFreeIreland
“Corporate status:
The GM-free Ireland Network will soon be registered as a non-profit company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital.

The company, or a subsidiary thereof, will then apply for charitable status for those of its activities designed to serve the public interest by promoting awareness of GM issues.

Company documents and details of its Board of Directors and Board of Advisers will be posted here as soon as they are available.”

None of the above has occurred and the information has not changed since 16 February 2005
http://www.gmfreeireland.org/network/status.php

Here is another group that Michael O'Callaghan is involved with Global Vision Consulting
http://www.global-vision-consulting.com/index2.php

This post simply suggests that before one donates hard earned money they should be wary of the claim "soon to become a charity"!