Wednesday, April 11, 2007
We have all seen movies, infomercials or Bono talking about sending aid to some God-forsaken country where children live in the streets; most people don’t have access to clean water, let alone medical care; and the number one cause of death for children under the age of five is dehydration, often due to diarrhea. Normally we feel bad for about 20 seconds and then move on when we think about how privileged we are and how many people have it so rough.
How is it that we are able to move on when we are reminded on a weekly basis about the suffering that goes on in other countries? We either convince ourselves that we cannot do anything, or on some level we convince ourselves that it isn’t real. How else would we be able to spend $20 at the Hawk when we know that same $20 would feed a family of four for a month in several other countries?
The simple answer is that we couldn’t. The reality of the suffering of other human beings in this world is something we’ve become comfortable with ignoring. The reality is 20,000 people die every day due to extreme poverty. It doesn’t have to be that way, but while the world has the resources to help its poorest citizens it lacks the will. Part of this is because the problem seems so large that we all end up asking ourselves “What can I do?”
There are several great organizations to get involved with to help. Everything from joining the Peace Corps, to micro financing entrepreneurs with loans in third world countries at www.kiva.org. It is worth noting that in countries where many people subsist on a few dollars a day, giving only $20, $50 or $100 can really make an impact in a community.
Next time you see someone raising awareness about problems in the Third World remember that they are very real and you can do something about it, but only if you choose to.
Conor McCartney, Madison, Wisc. junior
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