Brad Pitt Interview on Poverty
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The ONE campaign seems rather appropriate for people here, doesn't it? D
Thanks for the link, zenje. They'll be on my donation list from here on out.
For heifer.org, the thing I like about them is that they have programs where individuals can travel to places where training programs are taking place and see for themselves how funds are being used. They've also been featured in stories by 60 Minutes, Oprah and on some of the network nightly newscasts, as well as local newscasts. Speaking of Oprah, she has an Angel Network that highlights charities that her staff has researched and found reliable. I believe the Angel Network donates 100% of contributions received, with Oprah paying the administrative costs.
One thing you said is worth highlighting--about how the needy and starving people aren't in a position to overthrow anyone. If nobody's watching or paying attention, then it's very easy for corruption and brutality to continue. It's also easy to sit in a comfortable home, with a full belly, and wonder why people don't do something to help themselves. I think your call to action here is a good reminder that we all can benefit from sharing more of our blessings and fewer of our judgments.
While there are definitely people in the US who beg instead of work, there are also people who are trying as hard as they can and still living in poverty. Or who have medical or mental problems and end up homeless as a result. There are also victims of domestic violence, who have fled their homes with their children and the clothes on their back.
So for those who don't want to contribute money to some overseas charitable organization, how about donating money or some time in your own neighborhood? Maybe just one day a month or even every six months working a soup line? Or donating clothes? Or helping with a local food drive? Then you could easily check out how resources are being used.
Oh, one note about ABC's promotion of the show. I don't see it as pathetic, because if it got people to tune in and hear Brad Pitt's message, then that's pretty good. Personally, I wouldn't have watched, since I don't care what Brad and Angelina are doing. But I already contribute to charities, so maybe someone who doesn't will be made aware of the need through the broadcast and make an effort to help, when otherwise they wouldn't have thought to do so.
As for Sawyer's question, often interviewers will ask such questions in order to give someone a chance to explain their views. If the audience members are likely to be thinking, "Hey, we have problems here," then the question and the answer address what's already on their minds. It's a way to keep the interview subject from sounding like he or she is making a speech, while still revealing the important points or pieces of information.
Peace.
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peace be upon you zenje,
The problem is, the people concerned, atleast the needy ones, are starving and can barely help themselves. The middle class and other workers are 'barely making ends meet' so they're not caring to the poor. The rich, well... I don't think I need to say anything about the rich. So over-throwing the government is almost impossible. I lived through one very short revolution attempt in 1988, it wasn't pretty, the working class people just got up and looted small stores of other working class people. Women were raped and killed (what had that got to do with the revolution?). But the attempt was thwarted because of self interests of many others.
indeed, I do not think violent uprisings are the solution such as the one you described, they tend to differ from full scale revolutions constructed by one rebel army with one common objective, I suggest reading a Che Guevara biography, the one written by John Anderson preferably, it'll clarify the idea of an initial small revolutionary guerilla force gaining popularity among the peasant population until the numbers grow large enough to overthrow the government, also revolution doesn't always have to be through violence but can be through democracy like the one in Venezuela at the moment with Hugo Chavez, its basically any overturning of a government/economic system
Plus there's the issue of tribalism... this is something that I can only slightly compare to racism in western countries, for others to understand. In Kenya, there are over 40 endegenous tribes, each thinks they are superior to the other for some reason. This automatically removes unity which is so important in any nation building or revolution for that matter.
this didn't seem to be a problem in some Latin American countries, the tribes usually overlooked their disagreements to focus on the one common enemy, western globalization, i guess its different everywhere, if the tribal differences are that bad then we should try to get them to organize a temporary unity treaty together for the purpose of ousting the current system, Kenya has very bad problems
Now I agree, the governments HAVE the power to eradicate poverty. But totally lack the willingness to do so. Just like individuals, governments look into their self serving interests. That's why they would spend billions in fighting an insane war, than feeding and caring for the needy. Sure the U.S. spends a lot of money on aid... but if they put 10% of the effort they put in war... they would have ensured the people get what they needed, not only that, help further in educating children, give the tools and manpower to help the people help themselves and their future generations. Instead, we're good at plundering and wastage. Just the fact that someone is throwing good food in the trash, while another is starving in this small planet that we live in, is shameful. boo
I better get back to work. Lets get something done... let's do what we can. Whether we donate $5, or push the governments, or simply encourage others (and ourselves) in doing something... )
here is my problem with using other means than a worldwide revolution to wipe out poverty, we can keep giving charity and more charity but it never ever makes a large difference, sure it could help some small towns and individuals but rarely does it help whole cities and countries, the entire world spent 1 TRILLION on military spending this year, including over 200 billion in Iraq, imagine if we were to overthrow the U.S. government and were able to direct even a fraction of that amount for the poor, starving, uneducated, diseased, etc., we could spend less than half of that and eliminate most of those problems, instead we are spending on a war that was based on lies and false justifications which has killed over 100,000 POOR Iraqis, that alone is enough to call for revolution, even disregarding the thousands of other crimes the government has committed, anyways im kinda just repeating what your saying, but I'm all for helping people in the method of charity just we should not lose focus on the whole, just like that one quote you always say with Jet Li pointing to the stars sayin "if you focus on the finger you'll miss all the heavenly glory" we should work towards helping the people as a whole which involves replacing unjust governments with governments that work to fulfill the needs of all (a system truly based on God Alone)
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Peace Idolfree,
I agree with you totally on the concern about whether the money reaches the right people in the amount that was intended to got to them.
I think that we should set up a system of some sort to get money to these people rather than paying government companies. This is a very important issue, it's a shame that it's hard to help the people at this moment in time but God Willing if we set up a plan and an efficient way to deliver to these people then these people can gain something.
I don't trust most of the companies because I don't know who they are and why exactly I should trust them.
Nural
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Dear All
Poverty and education in Africa is a major issue and as Bro N.Amin said
I think that we should set up a system of some sort to get money to these people rather than paying government companies.
even i dont believe where the money goes, if given to a group as charity. Many maybe eaten up by them or top level executives as per my tiny brain.
I dont trust them at all.
One thing we can do is, if any bro here resides nearby ie. Africa, we can generate funds and provide it to him to carry out the charity on our own instead of relying on a group of charity based company
We should create a fund A/c for charity and maintain records/accounting for the same.
For me, I believe it better to give charity myself than to rely on groups/charity organisation and I do so when i go to India or give it to my parents/relatives to forward it to the needy ones.
Peace
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Peace be upon you Zephyr,
Yes, it would be great if we could set up our own foundation, is there anyone here is in Africa? But then , at the same time, Africa is a BIG PLACE D But I guess we can start with seeing who is actually there. Hopefully it is someone who has been a regular participant so we can all feel comfortable with thier "righteousness".
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Peace all.
As Wakas said, there are ways of checking out various charities...they don't have to be "government" programs. There are many other options. And there is also God's guidance.
While I think contributions of any kind can be beneficial if they reach their intended targets, one thing that might be worth considering is the old "teach a man to fish" saying. There are charitable organizations that help people become more self-sufficient, as opposed to simply giving them money--opportunities instead of handouts. This kind of organization requires a staff of knowledgable people who can provide training or education...whatever is most needed.
It takes a while to set up a foundation and lots of work to administrate it and make decisions about how to best spend the money. There are also business papers to be filed for a non-profit organization that is licensed to accept donations. It's a huge undertaking, unless it's only for a one-time giving of money type of donation.
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peace be upon you all,
perhaps some of you remember my program/community for betterment, growth, and development i was planning to start not too long ago http//www.free-minds.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2374 and i know some of you remember my failed attempts at making workable forums for the program http//www.free-minds.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2968&highlight=program
well I finally got a great site going together for it, its more of an idealistic plan then just giving direct charity to people in "third world" countries but that is definitely included as part of the program, once i got most of the site together I will show it you except if The God wills, let me know your thoughts
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Update
Rock star Bono urges EU to open wallets for Africa
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Irish rock star Bono challenged EU leaders on Thursday to forget national politics and open their wallets to boost development aid for Africa and stop thousands dying every day in "stupid poverty."
"The message to EU leaders is don't blow it. This kind of momentum doesn't come every year," the U2 frontman, a leading campaigner for debt relief, told a news conference at European Union headquarters in Brussels.
"Put down your national flags, look up from the numbers and look to the future," he said, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.
He drew a rare round of applause from a packed press room, which Barroso and his commissioners often struggle to fill.
EU ministers recently agreed to hike aid spending to implement a U.N. global poverty plan, in the hope of shaming other rich donors like Japan and the United States into giving more. The plan aims to halve the world's worst poverty by 2015.
The new targets are part of a package aimed at raising EU aid to developing countries, particularly in Africa, and EU leaders should endorse them at a summit next week.
"People are dying for the most stupid reasons," Bono said. "These are avoidable catastrophes. It's not wide-eyed, misty-eyed Irish nonsense these are achievable goals."
The EU's target is to spend 0.7 percent of gross national income on official development aid in 10 years' time. This would boost aid by 20 billion euros a year from 2010, at a cost to taxpayers in the EU's old members of an extra 49 euros per head.
Scandinavia, particularly Denmark, was a shining example when it came to giving aid, whereas his own homeland -- Ireland -- appeared to be lagging despite its new wealth, he said.
And Germany, Europe's largest economy, needed to make good on its aid pledge and come up with hard cash, Bono said.
"Chancellor Schroeder has told me personally that he wants Germany to commit to 0.7 percent by 2015. I believe him when he tells me that," the singer said.
"But the man who holds the wallet, (Finance Minister Hans) Eichel ... needs to look up from the numbers and see that this is a moment in history for Germany to come out into the world.
"They have to break some rules at home in the budgetary process in order to be part of history," he said.
If EU leaders back the aid plan, they will still need to work out how to fund the ambitious targets. But agreement would strengthen Barroso's position when he speaks for the EU at the Group of Eight summit in Scotland in July.
As current chairman of the G8 industrialized powers, Britain has declared 2005 a make-or-break year for Africa and wants to drum up support from rich nations to increase aid to the world's poorest continent.
Barroso quoted a Bono song to explain why the EU should rise to the development aid challenge despite its political crisis after the rejection of the European constitution by French and Dutch voters.
"Don't worry baby. It's gonna be alright. Uncertainty can be a guiding light," the Commission chief said.
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Salaam,
On another forum, I'm also having this discussion with some other guys, and I thought I'd share previous post here also...
Is this really the best plan for ending poverty and hunger? I most honestly don't know. Both sides of the argument seem valid to me. I am having a hard time finding an unbiased look at how the group wants to achieve their goals. If somebody can show me that this is the best way to go about things, I will be more than happy to wear the white bracelet and hop on board with the movement.
Hey Mark,
I don't think there is such a thing as a 'best way'. I was thinking about the ways also, and came up with a blank. For years now, there have been charity organizations, private and government sponsored... yet poverty, hunger and disease is still rampant. Mainly, I attribute this to red-tape and corruption. The teach a man to fish concept is the way to go, especially if we're talking long-term. You'll also find that even government run charity organizations claim to do just that. A friend of mine told me about one organization - http//www.heifer.org - that does the kind of thing you're talking about. Again, this is not the best way because if you're
dealing with people who are almost on the brink of death with malnutrition, or AIDS, they don't need lessons on how to fish/farm... they need food and medicine.Since THE ONE campaign is simply asking for your "voice", I don't think it's a big deal to commit to that. On the other hand you can choose out of the many options available to give, either money or commodities or even services. Ofcourse, only after checking whether they're legit. wink BTW, some organizations provide detailed breakdowns on charity expenditure, including salaries. Not that it provides 100% assurance or anything...
Anyway, whatever you choose... there's a big element of trust involved... does the person in need, actually get what they need? Well, we could sit here and contemplate on that and have an excuse... or we could actually do something. idea
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peace to all,
I think its time for FM to organize entrepreneurs and come up with such business models that people can work, enjoy and be happy.
Just talk wont do anything......Lot of research has been done already. Lot of knowledge gained....Now its time to get in action. We have managed to let loose the heavy burdens of hadith/corrupted traditions. Now its time to roll the ball in the court.
FM should arrange some gathering place where new business plans will be developed and execute them for best result.
What do you guys think? What better place than internet can it be?
Peace
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The latest on the G8
http//news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4083676.stmI understand that it is frustrating that nothing seems to change even though aid continues to be given. And we rarely get to see where the money ends up. One possible way of seeing your personal contribution in action is to sponsor a child in a developing country. Regular feedback is given, with info & photos, even from the specific child benefiting from your contribution. One such example. Or give your time&money and volunteer for a project.
I dont believe it is essential to have a co-ordinated group effort, but I can see its benefits. If it can be done, all the better, but we must start with ourselves
"Be the change you want to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi
Wakas
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Just to echo Wakas,
Do you order the people to do good, but forget yourselves, while you are reciting the Scripture? Do you not understand?
I dont believe it is essential to have a co-ordinated group effort, but I can see its benefits.
As I said before, it doesn't make to much of a difference, unles we have a specific individual/family target, then it will make a significant impact.Peace.
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And another echo to wakas and zenje...waiting until the "right time" and for the "right charity" and the "right way," can all be ways of avoiding making small contributions "right now."
Plus, I strongly feel that we have no real control over the outcome. We do our best, try to be reasonable and logical about giving to a program or organization that has a good reputation, then leave the rest to God.
There is logical research, but there are no guarantees about anything. By that I mean, I could carry a hundred dollars directly to a needy family, put the cash in their hands, and then find out later the money was stolen when the family was on their way to the grocery store. Or that a strong wind came and blew it out into a field, where wild birds flew in and snatched up every bit of it.
God could easily provide for every person on earth out of His Bounty. Instead, he enlarges or restricts individual provisions, and He tests our willingness to part with what He's given us. Maybe we can wipe out poverty altogether and maybe we can't...but I think our duty lies in the striving to do so not in trying to control the outcome.
If someone is blessed with the ability to be a charitable fund organizer or fundraiser or with the means to start a foundation, wonderful. In the meantime, there are reputable organizations that do their best every day to help people in need. And they know that, with patience and persistence, tiny drops of water add up to whole buckets of water...or enough grains of rice to make a meal, enough books to start a class, enough materials to build a house or a hospital. Then once they've finished feeding, educating and building in one area, there's another waiting. Five dollars may not seem like much, but it works quite well when put together with the five-dollar donations from a hundred, a thousand or a hundred-thousand people.
Peace.
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Peace all,
I agree with sytalls excellent post...
Plus, I strongly feel that we have no real control over the outcome. We do our best, try to be reasonable and logical about giving to a program or organization that has a good reputation, then leave the rest to God.
God could easily provide for every person on earth out of His Bounty. Instead, he enlarges or restricts individual provisions, and He tests our willingness to part with what He's given us. Maybe we can wipe out poverty altogether and maybe we can't...but I think our duty lies in the striving to do so not in trying to control the outcome.That is the same approach i use...imo save the children is a good site, it gives a good breakdown and you can check up on what their activities have been during the past year, it used to have a better interface a couple years ago when you could donate to specific areas but that has changed a bit in the last year...as Zein noted in his post...
Anyway, whatever you choose... there's a big element of trust involved... does the person in need, actually get what they need? Well, we could sit here and contemplate on that and have an excuse... or we could actually do something.
Well said...i completely agree.
