It’s Blog Action Day and the topic is poverty. As an privledged American this is a difficult topic to address. The only contact I have with poverty is very, very remote. Heck, I’m creating this post from an Internet Cafe in La Manga, Spain. It is vacation time for me.
However, one of the blessings of my world status is that I can take, at least a small, action to address the dire straights of so many. If you too are among those lucky enough to be born into a comfortable life in the industrialized world I encourage you to shave off a portion of your wealth and share it with those who did not share your accident of birth.
Where? How?
If you are a Liberatarian I suggest lending money to a third world entrepaneur through Kiva. You will receive your money back after the individual puts it to use in growing their business, and the economy, in their area.
If you want to address the issue directly and without strings Oxfam is a highly respected collection of orgnizations that provide direct relief to the hungry, homeless, displaced and others.
A personal favorite is Mercy Corps. My favorite programs are disaster relief services and agricultural development programs; helping people get out of immediate danger and bootstrping small farmers and livestock keepers.
Do I participate in the programs I´ve just listed? Of course! Monthly gifts automatically deducted from my checking account fund services. My wife and I also have a growing portfolio of Kiva loans.
The small lowering of my standard of living is strongly offset by the knowledge that we have made a material difference in the life of someone struggling to do the best they can with the circumstances they were born into.
By the way, my basis for taking these actions is rooted in part in the philosophy described by Peter Singer in Practical Ethics and further explored in Writings on an Ethical Life. Before you write me off as a bleeding heart, guilt ridden liberal either read one of those books or engage in a discussion on the matter. The comment section is open.
Thanks for sharing… I really enjoyed reading it as always. Keep up the good post.