Make Poverty History: Some Thoughts
This is the new add of a campaign launched by an organisation called Make Poverty History. I brought this add up to say that I honestly sometimes have mixed feelings for these camping that attack the problems through this side of the coin.
Because if for one side I believe that they shoot at a solid target (behavior from the Western World towards the Developing Countries), on the other side I also think as "very solid" what R. Barro from Harvard says:
«Because I hold Bono in high esteem, I wish I could believe that debt relief and assistance for AIDS would encourage economic development and save lives in Africa. But my understanding of economics and my research on economic growth keep me from believing these things. I wonder what would happen if Bono instead directed his persuasive ideas that actually matter a lot for economic performance.
I have in mind property rights, the rule of law, free markets, and small government. And I would be happy to include efficient investments in human capital in the form of education and health. But of course, this is just a dream. And the concert in Boston really was great». Read the Complete article .
The point that he makes and that I call the other side of the coin. Because if it's true that a lot needs to be done on the "Western World" side, the truth is that there is probably even more to be done on the side of the "developing world". How many times have you heard the news that less than 10% of the food aid sent to these countries are delivered to the people that really need it? How many times have you heard of a coup d'etat happening in one of these countries?
The point that R. Barro makes and that I consider as valuable as the one made by the campaign Make Poverty History, is that you need to focus at least the same (if not more) of the efforts and attention in this second side of the coin. And this is partial the reason of my "mixed feelings". Because it's like in the old saying...You can give a fishing rod to someone but if you don't teach him how to fish he will continue to be hungry. And no matter how one may feel (and I do) to participate in these type of campaigns, I don't think (and feel) that we're tackling all the problem.
I have never seen a campaign (maybe there are. I just don't remember any...Don't take me wrongly) sponsored by artist and people such as George Clooney that targets the problems raised by R. Barro. And I would love too cause in my opinion that would be a valuable contribution for the solution of the problem cause it's about time that everyone realizes that this problem will never be solved only through one side of the coin.
I wish the best of luck for this campaign because this is a problem that needs to be solved and this is a good campaign.
You can see some more videos in their website: http://www.makepovertyhistory.org
Because if for one side I believe that they shoot at a solid target (behavior from the Western World towards the Developing Countries), on the other side I also think as "very solid" what R. Barro from Harvard says:
«Because I hold Bono in high esteem, I wish I could believe that debt relief and assistance for AIDS would encourage economic development and save lives in Africa. But my understanding of economics and my research on economic growth keep me from believing these things. I wonder what would happen if Bono instead directed his persuasive ideas that actually matter a lot for economic performance.
I have in mind property rights, the rule of law, free markets, and small government. And I would be happy to include efficient investments in human capital in the form of education and health. But of course, this is just a dream. And the concert in Boston really was great». Read the Complete article .
The point that he makes and that I call the other side of the coin. Because if it's true that a lot needs to be done on the "Western World" side, the truth is that there is probably even more to be done on the side of the "developing world". How many times have you heard the news that less than 10% of the food aid sent to these countries are delivered to the people that really need it? How many times have you heard of a coup d'etat happening in one of these countries?
The point that R. Barro makes and that I consider as valuable as the one made by the campaign Make Poverty History, is that you need to focus at least the same (if not more) of the efforts and attention in this second side of the coin. And this is partial the reason of my "mixed feelings". Because it's like in the old saying...You can give a fishing rod to someone but if you don't teach him how to fish he will continue to be hungry. And no matter how one may feel (and I do) to participate in these type of campaigns, I don't think (and feel) that we're tackling all the problem.
I have never seen a campaign (maybe there are. I just don't remember any...Don't take me wrongly) sponsored by artist and people such as George Clooney that targets the problems raised by R. Barro. And I would love too cause in my opinion that would be a valuable contribution for the solution of the problem cause it's about time that everyone realizes that this problem will never be solved only through one side of the coin.
I wish the best of luck for this campaign because this is a problem that needs to be solved and this is a good campaign.
You can see some more videos in their website: http://www.makepovertyhistory.org
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