| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 1:09:06 PM | Was heading to see Mr. and Mrs Smith starring "Brangelina" when I remembered that Angelina Jolie donates 1/3 of what she earns to charity...and I must say I respect her for this. But here I am about to spend a total of $30 or so for entertainment when that could be spent in Africa feeding I don't know how many people....and I don't feel guilty. Mind you, if I had the $$$ I like to think I'd do my share. But almost anyone can afford $1 a day....and i think many can afford to donate much more without it having any real effect on their daily lives. Look, I am as guilty as anyone else....I mean I make the occasional donation...but nothing consistent. Any thoughts.
Also, doesn't it make you sick when rich stars that have it all seem to get everything for free. Case in point..Oprah's recent party honouring black women where she handed out very expensive parting gifts. Couldn't she have built a school in the name of each of her guests or something. Of course I know she donates alot of $$$....but it still does not excuse it for me. And I don't mean to pick on Oprah...but she is one example of such behaviour.
P.S. For those that donate big $$ in secret...good on them. But sometimes its nice for some to set an example for others publicly. | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 4:26:27 PM |
Also, doesn't it make you sick when rich stars that have it all seem to get everything for free.
I care less about rich stars and more about the obscenely rich CEO's and billionaires. How much do you think they're contributing to the fight against poverty..
They could start by paying their fair share of taxes... | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 5:24:26 PM | They do. But many people pervert the figures to suit their own twisted agendas and then cry foul when there is none.
As for charity the US population in general gives more per year than any other country. And there are plenty of other wealthy countries in the world.
As for the poor. A very wise person said " You will always have the poor..."
Do what you can and go to bed with a clear conscience. As for anyone else they will have to answer for themselves when the time comes. | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 5:46:32 PM | coati
I think there should be an upper limit on how much wealth an individual can amass. I used Oprah as an example because she is one that supposedly does so much for African children, etc...but seems to have no qualms throwing lavish parties costing tens of thousands if not millions of dollars. I don't get that....has she run out of poor people to help.
She and others must justify it in their minds somehow. I think they think they are entitled to their massive wealth.
enoonmai
"you will always have the poor..." so that means what exactly...do nothing? But then you say "Do what you can"...but who does? Do I? Do You? I know I don't. Why? Selfish perhaps...out of sight out of mind...
In one year it is estimated that the world spent 1 trillion on defense/military stuff...so while there will always be the poor...that will not be due to a lack of resources but rather in how they are distributed. | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 5:51:29 PM | | I think over all we do care about poverty in the world. I cannot speak for the Canadians here, but as an American, I do care that many in third world nations are dying at an alarming rate, lately due to poverty and starvation. While I think the efforts of the Hollywood elite are philanthropic, but would we as a society even know that many of these people are so poor if people like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Bono, and others did not bring attention to it? While some may have their own agendas, I have to believe that as Americans we have compassion and that we keep on assisting where we can to help the poor. Although, I do believe that before we start shelving billions over to other countries, we look at the starving children in our own country first. | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 7:08:52 PM | The quote enooonmai was thinking of is from the New Testament. It's amazing how verses learned in one's youth stick around.
Mark Chapter 14
" For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. " . According to the King James version of the bible, Jesus said ths when his disciples protested after a woman used expensive oil to annoint him.
So if I were interpreting this, I'd notice the - whensover ye will - and take that to mean that when you can, you should. | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 7:11:03 PM |
While I think the efforts of the Hollywood elite are philanthropic, but would we as a society even know that many of these people are so poor if people like Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Bono, and others did not bring attention to it? While some may have their own agendas,
Is something missing here?
Is there something WRONG with being "philanthropic" and trying to help others?
This is the problem in the US. We used to believe in faith, hope and charity in this nation. Now, all we believe in is ownership and private wealth.
Acts of charity being one's "agenda"?
Isn't that an oxymoronic statement?
Just goes to show how much the right/republican/greed factor has sunken into our national psyche.
It's estimated that 24,000 people die of starvation in the world every day. Is this front page news?
SHOULDN'T IT BE? | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 7:31:16 PM |
It's estimated that 24,000 people die of starvation in the world every day. Is this front page news?
SHOULDN'T IT BE?
Yes it should be on the front page news.
It even happens here. Look at the statistics per million people:
Deaths from malnutrition
(PER MILLION):
United States - Men: 7 Women: 13
France - Men: 4 Women: 9
Canada - Men: 5 Women: 7
Japan - Men: 2 Women: 1
United Kingdom - Men: 1 Women: 2
Norway - Men: 0 Women: 1
Poverty level
United States 17.1%
Canada 12.6
United Kingdom 9.7
Switzerland 8.5
Germany 5.6
Sweden 5.3
Norway 5.2
Children under the poverty level:
United States 22.4%
Canada 15.5
United Kingdom 9.3
Switzerland 7.8
Sweden 5.0
Germany 4.9
Norway 4.8 | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 7:36:03 PM | | I think people care just up to the point of ending poverty. they feel compassison for the poor but do not give them wealth or opportunity. Economic slavery as it exists today keeps prices down for the middle class. That is what people care most about. | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 9:14:32 PM | I'm so concerned about poverty, that I post about it on a singles site forum.
My work here is done.
Still using that cherry, eh BM? How is it then that I leave for roughly 4 months, then come back to revisit the forums and you're still here posting away?... Hmmm? | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 10:57:33 PM | Bulldogmedic,
Had to laugh....with 3000 odd posts...you KNOW people post about EVERYTHING it seems but oh no, god forbid...not poverty! By the way...not everybody on POF is single...or looking. | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 11:04:09 PM | i dont make much. i struggle to get by, and i donate. i always donate to the aspca, and when i see a homless person, i dont give em money, but i buy them a meal, and a little convo. thats all they want, is to be accepted. they are people like you and me.
so, i may not give much, but even a buck is something to someone who has nothing. i encourage anyone to do so. | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/11/2005 11:42:19 PM | | The homeless people out in Detroit are raving, nutbags. I would no sooner buy them a meal, and have a conversation with them, than I would eat my own feces. God help them, but they need medication, not an Egg McMuffin. | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/12/2005 4:43:49 AM |
Do You?
Yes as a matter of fact I do. As for anyone else I can only speak for me. As for you or anyone else I can't possibly say. Nor is it for me to enforce my practices on anyone else. | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/12/2005 7:31:22 AM |
Is something missing here?
Is there something WRONG with being "philanthropic" and trying to help others?
This is the problem in the US. We used to believe in faith, hope and charity in this nation. Now, all we believe in is ownership and private wealth.
Acts of charity being one's "agenda"?
Isn't that an oxymoronic statement?
Just goes to show how much the right/republican/greed factor has sunken into our national psyche.
It's estimated that 24,000 people die of starvation in the world every day. Is this front page news?
SHOULDN'T IT BE?
Once again you are taking what I said out of context....and two get it through your thick skull I am not a Republican.  I was commenting on another post that said that many in America have agendas about donating money to the starving. I am not sure what those agendas may be, but I was just saying that yeah may be they do. Could be for the tax breaks corporations get that the Republicans so love to give them.
The starvation factor is front page news actually. I have seen at least four or five articles on front page news focusing on the growing problem in Africa. While I think helping these nations is something the U.S. needs to contribute to, we also need to focus on our country's poor first. There are way too many children right here in the U.S. that go to bed hungry, (if they even have a bed) everyday. If big business and Hollywood are going to donate so much of their millions to feed the starving, they need to do it at home before they give it to another country. | |
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yna6
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Joined: 5/2/2004
Msg: 19 | |
| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/12/2005 8:02:02 AM | I see crops that rot in the fields because the money isn't there to make it worth harvesting them. Grain and milk limits to produce an artificially high price for them. A farmer can't go over quota, even IF he has a ready market for what he can produce extra.
By keeping the farmer poor enough to NOT be able to suspend operations for just ONE season, insures a continuous operation of farming. Corporations that have thousands of acres of land can cease farming that land for one year and force higher prices for their crops. Gov't subsidies to NOT grow crops (soil banking) is one way in which YOUR gov't controls the food source.
We have a habit of paving over some of the best farmlands and using it for urban life, rather than using the poor soil areas for urban growth. Totally nuts! Look at the Niagra area....huge tracts of great farmalnd turned over to housing developments and gold courses, forcing the farms which feed these people into poor soil areas! No wonder crop managment is such big business!
As far as putting a cap on how much wealth a perosn can accumulate...does that include CORPORATE entities also???
Perhaps just 10% of the gross of ALL corporations should go to food and health care issues....and in this way, all will be fed. | |
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| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/12/2005 8:10:39 AM | | Not all republicans are scum bags I am republican I didn't vote for Bushy never really liked him but I really am starting to dislike democrats more and our countries homelessness is a good example just what I have seen on a local level is very corrupt almost every homeless actitivst as well as liberal politicans are in each others pockets grants seldom make it to help the homeless what is done is that some are sheltered usually those who can pay a third of their check and food is donated, this corruption has been on going for years here.. I used to donate locally but no longer if a person asks me for money if I have it I give it to them I don't care if they spend it on booze or drugs life is hard enough without it..If they want food and I don't have much money I cook them a meal...There's a pregant woman out there I feed when I can..I have helped others like that because others helped me not because I'm a great guy.. I'm not a great guy I'm an assh*le...But I'd rather feed someone an Egg Mc Muffin than eat my feces...I think it was last week Our current presidential adminstration sent out some guy can't remember his name to talk about solving homelessness will that's never gonna happen but the guy had some good ideas on the problem, more solutions then I've heard from the liberals who just want more money, I would personally like to jam my size 13 boot up each and everyone of their liberal ass*s....I care that people are starving to death but I'm not going to send some organazation a check when I know my donation will never actually help the people that are starving but more than likley go to somebodies car payment... | |
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yna6
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Joined: 5/2/2004
Msg: 25 | |
| World hunger/poverty...do we really care?
Posted: 6/12/2005 9:37:18 AM | | mental illness cured???...how about limiting the rights of the mentally infirm first, in order to force them to get the help they need in order to function in a "normal society"? I think this step would go far to reducing homelessness. | |
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