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Gaia-Movement Living Earth Green World Action USA, Gaia Movement USA, or simply Gaia,〔("Gaia-Movement Living Earth Green World Action USA" ). ''Charity Watch''. Retrieved May 2015.〕 is a charitable organization based in Chicago, Illinois which collects used clothing for resale ("recycling") in developing countries. Gaia describes their mission as educational and environmentally-focused; however, charity watchdog groups have challenged the organization's charitable claims, citing a lack of spending on environmental or other programs. Gaia Movement USA has especially come under scrutiny for apparent ties to the Teachers Group/Tvind, a Danish organization linked to a number of clothing-collection charities; investigators say that Tvind misuses charity funds for the personal benefit of its top members, especially founder Mogens Amdi Petersen, who has been in hiding since the late 1970s. Petersen and four other members of the Teachers Group are wanted by Interpol for trial concerning suspected tax evasion and embezzlement. ==Overview and history== Gaia movement USA collects donated clothes and shoes in large bins placed along public streets. Part of the donations are sold in local stores while the majority is exported in bulk, primarily to developing countries.〔 The authors of a 2004 ''Chicago Tribune'' investigation observed that "The Gaia bins offer what people seem to want: painless altruism, cleaner closets, and utter convenience".〔 Gaia states that their mission is "to educate the general public about the plight of the environment while taking action to protect it".〔("Mission Statement" ). ''The Gaia Movement USA''. Retrieved November 2015.〕 According to the ''Chicago Reader'', the group was established in 1999 and incorporated in the state of Delaware by Danish-born activist Helle Lund.〔 Memos obtained by the Danish police detailed a grant of $60,000 from Tvind, also known as the Teachers Group (TG), to procure metal collection bins and start Gaia Movement USA's operations in Chicago in 2000. Tvind, which critics liken to a cult organization, reportedly operates a number of similar aid agencies, as well as boarding schools and various commercial enterprises. The ultimate purpose of Tvind's charitable ventures, say investigators, is to enrich its top leaders under the guise of humanitarianism.〔Henley, Paul (21 March 21 2002). ("Denmark's Tvind". ) ''BBC News''.〕〔Smith, Matt (8 June 2011). ("Your Rags to Their Riches: Donated Clothes May Fund International Fugitive". ) ''San Francisco Weekly''.〕 Journalists have investigated several related clothes-collection organizations linked to Tvind/TG besides Gaia Movement USA. They include Planet Aid, USAgain, IICD and Humana People to People. Most have received failing ratings from philanthropy watchdog groups, yet have managed to place thousands of collection bins on streets in the United States.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Gaia Movement USA」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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