Tag: Blog Action Day

Blog Action Day 2008

Blog Action Day October 15th, 2008 - Focus on ...

I just heard about Blog Action Day and I’m just going to make it with a post before the end of the 15th. This year’s topic is poverty, though I don’t know why we need a whole blog thing to draw attention to it.

No, let me rephrase that. I don’t know why we should need a whole blog thing to draw attention to it. It’s everywhere. From beggars on the streets in London to the poor being fed by the better off in Bangladesh I’ve seen a lot of it.

The thing with poverty is that in some cases we don’t seem to want to do anything about it. We don’t trust those who need it. To a large extent it’s not their fault as so many people use a pretense of poverty to wangle cash out of decent people, thus tainting the truly needy.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t help. It simply means you have to be careful how you do. Choose a charity or a cause where you know the maximum money will filter down in a useful way to those who both need and deserve it. Don’t go doling it out in the street, especially somewhere like India where you’ll just get mobbed by “you gave to her, you have to give to me” hordes.

The best way to cure poverty is to get the people in need in a position where they can do something about it. The old “give a man a fish and he’ll have enough to eat for a week; give him a rod and teach him to fish and he’ll have enough to eat for a lifetime” solution. Throwing money at poverty is a great way to make people rely on handouts. There are a gazillion charities which will help people break the poverty cycle. Dig around, find one you like and give them some support.

My personal recommendation? The Blue Dragons Children’s Foundation in Vietnam. Don’t forget that poverty is a worldwide issue. Although there’s likely to be enough on your doorstep to open your eyes.

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