The crisis in Niger is caused by human greed, not act of gods. There is food, abundant food, but a large portion of the population can't afford to buy it, and so are starving to death.
World Vision, Oxfam, and Red Cross are gathering money. For what? I mean, why aren't the people of Niger helping the people of Niger? If they can let their brethen die within 10 minutes walk of a bustling food market, perhaps the aid is likely to be stolen and diverted before it can help the needy.
At some point, the world has to decide whether it is going to babysit Africa or help their own selves. Personally I'd rather see money going to NZ families too poor to eat well, or afford books for their kids, or have electricity connected.
There is need for your money in NZ. Invest in your children's future and ACT LOCALLY to make the world a better place.
Don't salve your conscience sending money to be made into kickbacks to well-fed officials in Niger. It's bullshit and you know it is. Why not take that $20 and give it to the local primary school? Seriously. Let's all donate to the primary school geographically closest to us. That would make a difference that would be on the TV news in short order, a few hundred people doing that.
Not to mention lining the pockets of executives at various "charities"... I know of someone high up at Red Cross whose company car is a Merc.
Posted by: Pearce at August 3, 2005 05:03 PMYour fucked man, have you ever been to Niger>>> Theres nothing there man, I spent 6 months this year in Wellington NZ and the poverty of blue collar nz is nothing compared to the 3rd world. Though i commend you act locally, theses people do not have the luxury of political structures we have in the first world to enable themselves to adequetly "act locally", so dont downplay the support of theses orgs, find a better way to be synical, maybe you should go check out niger yourselve boss