El Mundo

 

From El Mundo - Dinero, Spain, 3rd September 2004

 

 

 

A long article written by Jos Antonio Navas, which appeared in the Spanish paper El Mundo Dinero on 3^rd September 2004, describes the situation of Humana in Spain. We can read both the existing accusations against Humana and how the organisation justifies herself. Rafael Mas, Communications Director of Humana Spain, states that it is indeed a non-lucrative association which works as a firm. Nonetheless, the journalist asserts immediately after that Humana is under investigation by the Spanish Ombudsman and by the Spanish Prosecution Service after a complaint filed by OSI, a Spanish NGO, due to the relation between Humana and Tvind. It is also mentioned the trial against Petersen in Denmark and the existence of the web site Tvindalert informing that part of the profits obtained by selling second-hand clothes are allocated to support and enrich this sectarian organization and no to fund projects in order to help the poorest.

 

On the other hand, the representative of Humana Spain states that there is no relation between them and Tvind or Petersen and that two auditings are carried out yearly so as to prove that the money raised goes to charity projects in developing countries, mainly, in Africa. Mr Mas also states that the accusations regarding the training and how the volunteers are treated are without foundation. He admits, though, that some volunteers didnt like their collaboration programmes. He attributes these denunciation to the fact that there is an important market of second-hand clothes and these accusations are a good way to move them out of this business.

 

The Spanish association AIS (Alert and Research of Social addictions) finds that the way of attracting new recruits, how they work and the level of involvement detected in the members of Humana match with those of the so-called groups of psychological manipulation or coercive sects and affirms to be in contact with former members of the association who can prove this. Miguel Perlado, psychologist of AIS, explains that Humana would be the most external and known branch of the organization and that they have been working in Spain since 1987 without any problems because they have a double agenda, searching the protection of public institutions so as to establish their title at the official level and hiding their real aims. Furthermore, Humana Spain has not denied the fact that she was included in the report of sects made by the French National Assembly in 1995.

 

This organization, who does not receive any public subsidies since 1997, has 200 employees and makes and annual profit of between 800.000 and 900.000 euro (their annual turnover is of 5 million with the collection of 15.000 tons of clothes in their 4.000 containers.) However, Humana Spain has collaboration agreements with nearly 700 city councils in Spain. The journalist also explains how the collected clothes are distributed.

 

The International Federation of Textile Workers calculate at thousands the number of jobs lost in the third world due to this practice (selling the clothes at low prices) and they defend that the clothes should be distributed free. A representative of Caritas Spain also criticizes this practice.

 

Summary translation by Mario lvarez

 

 

 

 

TRANSLATION OF ARTICLE EL MUNDO

 

by  JOSE A. NAVAS

 

 

Charity, Business, or Cult?

 

Maria has in her wardrobe so many clothes, Some of them have not being used for so many years. As she moves out to another place, she is sorting out the items.  Maria has decided to throw away two big bags of clothes, but she remembered that not far away from home, there is a clothes container; in which second hand clothes are sent to development countries.

 

Most probably, Maria does not know that monopoly, or  the second hand clothes business in Spain belongs to the non charitable organization named Humana and works in the business field. This definition was given by its Director of Communication Rafael Ms.

 

Neither Maria Knows that Humana has been followed up by El defensor del pueblo and  the General Prosecutor, through a report presented by OSI small NGO in Len. In this report, Humana is related with TVind, a organization accused of sectarism. His founder Amdi Peterson has to face the trials for tax evasion and embezzlement funds in Denmark.

 

Also Petersen has been accused by the Danish Authorities for using the money in his own benefit and enrichment and not to the schools in development countries. Some ex members form Tvind and foreign journalists have a website called Tvindalert. (there is something wrong in this paragraph, because is mixed up Tvind with Tvindalert as the same organization and the readers can be confused).

 

Humana Espaa defends itself

 

Humana Espaa belongs to the International Federation called Humana People to People. According to Rafael Ms: Humana does not have anything to do with Tvind and Petersen, they report twice a year that the money collected goes to the different charitable projects in development countries, mainly in Africa

 

The Spanish Association AIS (Counselling and Information about Cults), they do not think the same as the above mentioned paragraph and say: The methods of attracting people, the system of functioning and the level of involvement by its members, goes with the psychological manipulation groups, or coercive sects also they keep in touch with ex members of Humana, who can prove anything through their experiences.

 

According to experts in cults, Tvinds ideology is clearly maoist, or communist. It started in the late 60s  in Denmark, teaching young people about the different problems in development countries. The teachers group is well known and they live in community, giving their salary to a common fund and devoting their time to the organization.

 

 

Double Agenda

 

Miguel Perlado Therapeutic Psycologist at AIS says: Human will be the most known and external face of the organization. Since 1987 Humana has been in Spain and is difficult to understand that nothing has been suspected about its sectarism methos. He thinks is due to a double agenda in which is seeking coverage under the umbrella of the public administration, in order to legitimized itself and hiding the main objectives.

 

OSI and AIS know that Humana Tvind had been included in a cults report by the French National Assembly in 1995. This year there was a tax evasion scandal and Humana ceased all activities in France and Humana does not deny it in Spain.

 

Another of the main charges against Humana is the way to attract young people through their voluntary programmes in development countries. This programmes are formed by 6 months a training course in schools in Denmark and Norway and 6 months working on volunteer basis in development countries, mainly in Africa.

 

Voluntary Programmes

 

It has been reported that Humana Schools in Europe are the same as Tvind. The people there get involved and trained about Tvinds ideologist.

 

Besides, the volunteers who enrol Humana have to pay in advance high fees for the training course and it is criticized the long period of time for the training course.

 

Once the volunteers are in Africa, they lack the essential means such as: security in transportation and medical insurance, so their lives are at risk.

 

Humana in Spain says that all the above said is not true. But Rafael Ms recognised that some people did not like Humana Programmes.

 

Rafael Ms thinks that all the accusations about Humana is because of the important second hand clothes big market and is in this point, where people try to throw away Humanas second hand clothes.