NationStates Jolt Archive

I haven't got the funds for this at the moment, but I just want some feedback on whether you think it would work, what could be improved, and reasons why you think it couldn't work (please :) )....

International Central Information Helpline (ICIH).

It has an International Head Office. In each country, it has a local branch of ICIH ("Local CIH"). If someone needs help with something (eg. food), they can call this helpline, and they will find the best source of assistance, or will assist directly. The organisation's structure is twofold:

1. It is an international group of people operating a freephone helpline in various countries.

2. It is an international network of churches, mosques, synagogues, and other organisations that (at least partially) aim to help people.

If a jew was being persecuted in a Christian country, they could phone the freephone helpline and find the nearest jewish place to seek assistance (eg. a synagogue). And similar for other religions.

If a person needed legal assistance, they could phone the freephone helpline and this is how things would pan out....

1. Mr. A phones Local CIH and tells them that he is being mistreated in prison and needs urgent legal assistance. Before the phone is took from him, he manages to state his location and his country of origin.
2. Local CIH contacts the Embassy in his country of origin and informs them of the situation.
3. The Embassy deals with the situation.
OR
After 1 and 2 above...
3. The Embassy refuses to assist, despite Local CIH's insistance that it is urgent.
4. Local CIH contacts International Head Office and informs them of the situation.
5. International CIH sends two people to intervene (2 for safety reasons), either from the Local CIH where the prisoner is locked up, or from elsewhere.
6. The two people, both with legal skills, deal with the situation.
7. If anything happens to the two CIH members, International Head Office makes it clear that unless they are allowed to carry out their duties to help Mr. A, there will be an International Crisis.
8. The two CIH members are able to assist Mr. A.

Now I understand that if a person is charged with a crime and there is a lot of evidence against them, CIH may not be able to prevent a suspect from being tried, found guilty, sentenced, and imprisoned for a substantial period of time, but at least they can try to ensure his/her basic human rights are looked after.

I've also thought perhaps there could be an International CIH Building in each country where those who are being mistreated can seek asylum (similar to a film I watched last night where an American Citizen found an American Embassy, announced he was "...an American Citizen seeking asylum", and was allowed inside while the Chinese Authorities (who had been mistreating him) had to wait outside. There could be a room in the building somewhere that has been swept for bugs (the "electronic listening devices" kind) etc.. There would be a clear flag on top of the International CIH Building (an ICIH flag).

Apart from the cost factor (which I realise is a major issue), what problems can you see with this, why do you see those problems, and what suggestions do you have? Thanks!

You seriously think that a call centre and a Yellow Pages is the thing that will bring about World Peace?

People would hate it for irrational reasons related to nationalism and petty sovereignty, and it would soon become corrupt due to a lack of oversight brought on by disinterest.
Just like the UN.

It's a noble idea, but I do believe that most of the people that need this kind of assistance will not have phones.

all it needs is a way to make profit

cookie sales, organ havesting or arms sales it all works

It's not about brining about world peace. What does getting food to stop yourself starving have to do with world peace?

It's just an international organisation, that operates freephone helplines around the world, combined with a network of churches, etc., so that people can phone for free and get the best help. As for not having a phone, don't most countries have payphones?

They have telephones in Somalia???

It's not about brining about world peace. What does getting food to stop yourself starving have to do with world peace?

It's just an international organisation, that operates freephone helplines around the world, combined with a network of churches, etc., so that people can phone for free and get the best help. As for not having a phone, don't most countries have payphones?
They could call Directory Enquires. Or call the people they want direct.

Why would the person in your example call a helpline to call an embassy? Just call the embassy direct, and save the hassle and the cost.

People would hate it for irrational reasons related to nationalism and petty sovereignty, and it would soon become corrupt due to a lack of oversight brought on by disinterest.
Just like the UN.

I would be in charge. :) It wouldn't become corrupt. Any corrupt people would be suspended, investigated, and if found to be corrupt for definite, fired.

I would be in charge. :) It wouldn't become corrupt. Any corrupt people would be suspended, investigated, and if found to be corrupt for definite, fired.
Absolute power corrupts, and all that.

They could call Directory Enquires. Or call the people they want direct.

Why would the person in your example call a helpline to call an embassy? Just call the embassy direct, and save the hassle and the cost.

In some countries (for example the UK), directory enquiries is now very expensive, plus they are not a massive network of organisations / people who want to help others. In some countries, you can phone and ask for help without specifying an organisation (eg. "i need a pizza place"), but directory enquiries can't always help, and in some countries, you have to ask for a spcific organisation. Plus directory enquiries won't put you through for free.

It's not about brining about world peace. What does getting food to stop yourself starving have to do with world peace?

It's just an international organisation, that operates freephone helplines around the world, combined with a network of churches, etc., so that people can phone for free and get the best help. As for not having a phone, don't most countries have payphones?If people don't have enough money to buy food, they will not likely spend it on pay phones. Also, most rural African areas that suffer greatest from droughts and desertification will probably not have pay phones.

Absolute power corrupts, and all that.

Well you may not believe me, but I know I wouldn't become corrupt. I want to help people, not make things worse.

If people don't have enough money to buy food, they will not likely spend it on pay phones. Also, most rural African areas that suffer greatest from droughts and desertification will probably not have pay phones.

can you not phone "freephone" numbers for free from payphones in some countries? you've confused me

In some countries (for example the UK), directory enquiries is now very expensive, plus they are not a massive network of organisations / people who want to help others. In some countries, you can phone and ask for help without specifying an organisation (eg. "i need a pizza place"), but directory enquiries can't always help, and in some countries, you have to ask for a spcific organisation. Plus directory enquiries won't put you through for free.
I was referring to the cost of the organisation. And besides, any country that doesn't allow a prisoner a phone call is going to be beyond the power of a call centre, I think.

I was referring to the cost of the organisation. And besides, any country that doesn't allow a prisoner a phone call is going to be beyond the power of a call centre, I think.

Re: calling the embassy... Depending what country they are from, and how many calls they are allowed, they may be worried the embassy will not help. So if the embassy won't, ICIH will. Working out how to fund the org. will be figured later. But yeh if a country don't allow phone calls, I'm not sure what could be done... any suggestions?

can you not phone "freephone" numbers for free from payphones in some countries? you've confused meStill doesn't help the people without pay phones. It seems incredibly unworkable.

Re: calling the embassy... Depending what country they are from, and how many calls they are allowed, they may be worried the embassy will not help. So if the embassy won't, ICIH will. Working out how to fund the org. will be figured later. But yeh if a country don't allow phone calls, I'm not sure what could be done... any suggestions?
I think your best bet is to not spend much time thinking about this. It's doomed to failure.

Still doesn't help the people without pay phones. It seems incredibly unworkable.

I thought there were payphones in almost every country? Was I wrong? If so, any suggestions?

I need suggestions people, not just criticisms, ta! :)

I think your best bet is to not spend much time thinking about this. It's doomed to failure.

When it comes to thinking of ways of helpling people, I'm not going to stop thinking about an idea just because someone thinks it's doomed to failure. At present, there's not enough posts to decide taht :)

Well you may not believe me, but I know I wouldn't become corrupt. I want to help people, not make things worse.

can you also separate water?

even Santa is corrupt he put on a RED outfit and preached equal share of toys for all boys and girls (so long as there good if there not they get awesome coal) yet he sold his soul to coke for slave elves

can you also separate water?

even Santa is corrupt he put on a RED outfit and preached equal share of toys for all boys and girls (so long as there good if there not they get awesome coal) yet he sold his soul to coke for slave elves

I can only think of one sensible response to that. Have a fluffle. :fluffle:

I thought there were payphones in almost every country? Was I wrong? If so, any suggestions?

I need suggestions people, not just criticisms, ta! :)
The tortured man crawled from his cell in a bleak, unadorned chamber in a non-descript location in the middle fo fucking nowhere in some gulag toward a pay-phone - which seems to be there just to spite those people in jail because it's obvious they don't have money - and fished the two quarters he had been hiding out of his nose so he could dial the International Agency of Good Deeds to come save him just before the apparently inept Storm Trooper guards caught him and beat him to death.

The tortured man crawled from his cell in a bleak, unadorned chamber in a non-descript location in the middle fo fucking nowhere in some gulag toward a pay-phone - which seems to be there just to spite those people in jail because it's obvious they don't have money - and fished the two quarters he had been hiding out of his nose so he could dial the International Agency of Good Deeds to come save him just before the apparently inept Storm Trooper guards caught him and beat him to death.

Good suggestion. :headbang:

P.S. would be a free number.

P.P.S. if they were gonna beat him to death, him deciding not to go to phone after all aint gonna change that

wouldn't it be better to invest in new breeds of crop that will lend world hunger or maybe turning base metals into gold

and with the wealth from your projects countries will develop liberalisation and other neat things like ICBM's and swingers (well most of the time)

wouldn't it be better to invest in new breeds of crop that will lend world hunger or maybe turning base metals into gold

and with the wealth from your projects countries will develop liberalisation and other neat things like ICBM's and swingers (well most of the time)

nah. probably not.