Sustainable Good

Global Warming: It's Real, It's Happening--What are We Doing About it?

Sorry it has been a while since I last posted on the blog! I was away on vacation on the New England coast.

As I was reflecting on the trip, I realized that last week I probably admired some beauty on the New England coastline that will soon disappear.  That's right, Global Warming: It's real and if we don't do something about it, oceans will rise and we will lose a lot of our coastal areas. If you think I am crazy and you don't believe that global warming is caused by human activity, you are not alone. According to the chart above from a study by the Pew Research Center, only 49% of the public thinks that the earth is getting warmer because of human activity. However, an overwhelming majority of scientists--84%--agree that the earth is getting warmer because of human activity.

In the Meantime, Children are Dying

There is legislation in both the US House and Senate to revamp and rewrite the way that the US does foeign assitance, something that we talk about a lot on this blog.  Experts know what is required for international aid to be truly effective, and yet the current international aid process is outdated, inefficient, and often ineffective.  Sometimes Western countries' aid even makes problems worse, as Matt reported in an ealier post.  There is hope that the Foreign Aid Reform bills in the House and the Senate will change this situation.  However, there just isn't the political will-power to move this legislation right now.  And in the meantime, 3 million children die every year because they are undernourished.

Investigate the killing of human rights activists in Chechnya

I was deeply shocked and saddened to learn today of the brutal killing of Zarema Sadulayeva and her husband, Alik Dzhabrailov. Ms. Sadulayeva was a tireless campaigner for the welfare of children with disabilities and/or traumatized by war in Chechnya. Though I did not personally know her, we had exchanged a few emails and I was sickened to hear of her death.

“Ms Sadulayeva was a tireless activist who was committed to creating public awareness about the landmine problem in the region and advocating for the rights of landmine survivors and other people with disabilities,” said Ms Kasia Derlicka, Advocacy and Campaign Officer for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, in a press release on their website. “Her death is a huge loss to the mine action community.”

Hillary in Africa

You have probably heard about Sec. of State Hillary Clinton's 11-day trip around Africa. She just completed almost the entire trip, visiting Nigeria today, the 5th of 7 countries scheduled for the trip. Clinton heads home on Sunday. You can follow her trip on this interactive map. Recognizing the importance of this trip, Outreach International joined with other Africa advocacy organizations to send recommendations for issues she should address.

A Spectacular Opportunity to Teach and Learn

A great post about Spectacular from guest blogger, Paige Webberley:

I have never considered myself a proficient teacher—mediocre at best.  Even with my favorite subjects of science and math, I often find it difficult to explain to others something I know very well myself.  Nor am I the best public speaker, which is clearly a strength a teacher should possess.  Nonetheless, as part of my summer internship with Outreach International I found myself teaching the Outreach class at Spectacular (Spec), a youth event sponsored by the Community of Christ that takes place every summer at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.

Teach Humanitarian Law in High School

The American Red Cross is calling on high schools around the country to teach classes on international humanitarian law, the laws that govern the conduct of armed conflict (such as the Geneva Conventions), protect noncombatants and outline the role of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The American Red Cross has produced a “Exploring Humantiarian Law” curriculum made up of five modules that meet the National Social Studies Standards. The lessons explore issues such as students’ understandings of war, possibilities for limiting suffering in conflict, the role of outsiders, child soldier issues, military justice and provision of humanitarian assistance.

International Youth Forum- Finding purpose amoung the masses

In the middle of the stress and strain of preparing for an event at the International Youth Forum (IYF), I suddenly felt a deep sense of appreciation for the opportunity to be a part of the work of Outreach International. I was part of the team of interns and staff of Outreach International that were in charge of the Wednesday activity at IYF in Independence, MO. It was a daunting and stressful task to lead a group of almost 1,000 high school aged youth from around the world in a group activity.

But as I sat listening to Matt Naylor, the President of Outreach International, talk about the difference we are making in the lives of the poor, I was inspired! 

"What If..." A Multimedia Competition on Landmines and Cluster Munitions for Young Adults

Mines Action Canada, a member organization of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, is calling on young people to enter short multimedia presentations on the theme of "What If...", as it relates to landmines and cluster munitions. There are only 12 days left in this competition -- the top three winners will receive a camcorder. The winning presentation will be shown at the international conference marking 10 years of the antipersonnel landmine ban in Cartagena, Colombia in November. The competition is only open to young people, 18 to 30 years old, who live outside Canada.  For more information on the competition, click here.

The Dictionary is Wrong

Looking over the headlines from today, one major thought kept coming into my mind: When did governments quit serving their people and start controlling them?

The Iranian government is still holding protesters arrested after the election dispute. Charles Taylor, the former Liberian president accused of atrocious war crimes denied everything at the International Criminal Court. I talked to a South Carolinian today who said their governor missed some very important meetings recently because he is taking time to reconcile with his wife for his unfaithfulness (while unemployment is soaring in SC). Coal companies benefit more from the climate bill that the House passed than the environment does.

So my question is again when did governments stop serving people? Even better, how did we let this happen?

After thinking about this, I realized maybe I was wrong. Maybe I misunderstood what government means. So I looked up the definition. And it focuses mostly on control, not service: "the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states". I disagree.

Government is about service. It is about taking care of the people one is elected to represent. It is about representing them fairly.

Maybe I am too idealistic, maybe I am just a dreamer, but as John Lennon says: "I'm not the only one." Join us. Let's create a better world.

-Stephen Donahoe

What do words mean?

As an advocate for Native Americans, I was glad to see that Sen. Brownback from Kansas introduced a joint resolution to "acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill-conceived policies by the United States Government regarding Indian tribes and offer an apology to all Native Peoples on behalf of the United States." 

Finally -- SOMEONE representing the U.S. government will simply acknowledge the fact that our European ancestors committed awful crimes against humanity:  genocide against a people who have lived on this land for thousands of years before white settlers stepped foot on it.

SOMEONE will apologize for the forced removal of Native Americans from their homes and their sacred and spiritual spaces.  Someone will apologize for stealing lands and treasures and never returning them. 

SOMEONE will apologize for the forced assimilation techniques white people used to "kill the Indian, save the man."  This included separating children from their families and forcing them into boarding schools where they were punished if they spoke their own language or practiced their tribal customs.  This also included sterilizing many women and some men so that they could not bear children.

Point A to Point B Isn't So Simple

I arrived at the bus stop in NYC’s Chinatown just as our bus was pulling away.  Two hours of waiting in the hot summer sun later, I finally got on the bus to DC.  What I thought was going to be a simple bus ride from point A to point B turned out to be a sweaty, frustrating, complicated ordeal.

It was easy to be angry about the transportation situation that I faced today.  But now that I am on the air conditioned bus it is important for me to realize that most of the world has it much worse.  Transportation is one of the key factors in a country’s development; depending on its quality, it can be a huge hindrance or an immense boon for growth.

Obama's Going to Africa, Tell Him We Need Change!

Obama is planning a trip to Ghana for July 10-11. This trip shows how high a priority Africa is for the Obama administration because no other president has made a trip to Africa so early in his term. This is a  big step forward in realizing how important relations between the US and the nations of Africa really are. It also demonstrates a real desire to make real change in the region.

Join Obama in recognizing that US policy in Africa needs to change. Exploitation, militarization and ineffective aid have been the paradigm for too long.

Add your name to this petition, organized by a coalition of African advocacy groups. The letter suggests four policy changes that could make a world of difference for the millions living in African nations:

Does Aid Work?

At the beginning of this month, four highly articulate and accomplished academics -- Stephen Lewis, Paul Collier, Hernando De Soto and Dambisa Moyo -- gathered in Toronto to debate the resolution "Be it resolved, foreign aid does more harm than good." With two arguing for and two against, the speeches and accompanying materials posted on this site present the foreign aid debate in a compelling and accessible manner.

Recession as a Boost for Gender Equality?

We are currently in the grip of one of the worst recessions in modern history.   The U.S. economy has shed 6 million jobs since the beginning of the recession.  The unemployment rate hit 9.4% in May as 345,000 jobs disappeared, marking the 17th straight month of job loss.  But one interesting feature is how the job losses are spread across gender lines.  Male unemployment rose to 10.5% in May, compared to 8% for women.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 82% of the job losses have fallen on men, as male-dominated economic sectors like construction and manufacturing contract faster than female-dominated ones like health care and education.  This will only get worse, as Princeton economist Alan Blinder estimates that between 28 and 42 million more jobs in the U.S. are at risk of outsourcing, once again disproportionately held by men.  What this implies is that women are poised to surpass men for the first time on the nation’s payrolls, which is a remarkable milestone on the journey that started with WWII, when women came out of their homes and joined the labor force to take the places of men who left to fight. 

What Do Vultures Have To Do with International Development?

Many scholars have claimed that the lifestyles we have gotten used to in the United States perpetuate the ongoing poverty in other countries.  Some say that the U.S. (5% of the world's population) takes up 25% of world's resources, which forces poorer countries to make do with less.  Others disagree -- claiming that the world has limitless resources due to technology and ingenuity.   Economists go back and forth on this debate, each side citing different numbers and various graphs to prove their points. 

An extreme example of exploitation, however is when companies buy international debt, for pennies on the dollar.  If the U.S. cancels the debt, these companies sue the developing countries for the whole debt plus interest.  These funds are called "vulture funds", and rightly so.  They allow companies to sit and wait for the perfect time to attack, when countries are at their most vulnerable state.

Many countries whose debt is just canceled are now made to pay these companies the money that could have gone to help reduce the AIDS epidemic, build new schools, or anything else that would promote well-being and economic recovery.

This is so awful, that Representative Maxine Waters recently introduced a bill to outlaw such funds.

"The act would protect impoverished countries from the predatory practices of vulture funds and allow these countries to use their limited resources to meet the needs of their people," said Waters. "I am proud of my work in Congress to cancel poor countries' debts. We cannot allow vulture funds to erode the progress that has enabled many of the world's most impoverished nations to reduce poverty."

Will the Proposed Climate Change Legislation Create Change?

The other day, I helped out with a briefing that was cosponsored by the Friends Committee on National Legislation, Friends of the Earth and MoveOn.org. The briefing was about ways to improve the Climate Change bill that is currently moving through the House of Representatives that was proposed by Reps. Markey and Waxman. The bill is an attempt to slow and eventually halt climate change. But will it actually do that??? Probably not say many environmental groups.

poverty and immigration

Recently, I attended part of the "Reform Immigration for America Summit" here in Washington DC.  I learned more about my friend, John Glazer's commitment to the New Sanctuary Movement and along with hundreds of other committed activists, cheered as Rep. Gutierrez of Chicago described the importance of passing a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill.  Soon, President Obama will sit down with legislators to discuss Comprehensive Immigration Reform and faith communities all around the country are coming together to form prayer vigils and speak up about the moral implications within immigration policy.

What does this have to do with poverty (and more specifically Outreach International) you ask?

In far too many cases, people who live in extreme poverty or overwhelming insecurity are forced to migrate from their homes to a location that provides a safe, livable place where families are able to survive and thrive.

While Outreach International works with communities to create places where people create whole lives for themselves, some situations make this extremely difficult.  Millions of people all around the world flee from neighborhoods that have been devastated by war, communities where there is no sustainable work, or governments who threaten their civil liberties. 

Iran, Democracy and Development

The recent election dispute in Iran and the seemingly likely vote-rigging in that election make me realize again how important free and fair elections are. While I try to respect other forms of government different from democracy and recognize that there are benefits and drawbacks in every form of government, I truly believe in the power of participation. I believe that every person has the right to participate in their government. This right should be protected by the government and it should be treasured by the people. And it is essential to development.

The Ugly Politics of Foreign Aid

I just read a pertinent article called, “The Foreign Aid Crusade: Overdue for a Makeover”.   In it, Adam Graham-Silverman explains the current status of foreign aid.  I can't link to the article at the moment, so here's a run down in my own words:

 

Ever since the end of the Cold War in 1991, foreign aid has slipped down to mere pennies (relatively speaking.)  At the height of the Cold War, the U.S.’s concern for its social and political image around the world was paramount.  Sending monies overseas to countries that were dealing with huge humanitarian crises (such as extreme hunger, disease, and poverty) encouraged most of the world to see the U.S. as generous benefactors -- worthy of praise and support.

 

When the Cold War ended, less priority was placed on the U.S.image around the world and foreign aid precipitously dropped.

Congress has not passed a foreign aid bill since 1961.  The bill has been amended numerous times – but these have only been stop-gap measures that attempt to make the legislation relevant to our current time.  And now it looks like an overused day planner – half scratched out, additions throughout the document – to the point where it makes little to no sense and is extremely confusing.  It has over 140 goals, over a dozen agencies working on the same thing, redundant policy, etc. 

 

Toward Conflict-Free Electronics

Campaigns highlighting the links between diamonds and conflict, knitwear and sweatshops and coffee and exploitative working conditions have done much to raise consumers' awareness of the hidden human cost to seemingly ordinary products.

But did you know that your cellphone, your laptop or digital camera could be fueling the world's most deadly contemporary war, the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)? For instance, a recent report found that the batteries from Nokia, LG, Motorola, Samsung and possibly Sony Ericsson mobile phones contain cobalt mined in the DRC.

Summer's Here: Don't Spend it at a Resort

It is June, which to me means summer is here! It is getting hotter, kids are finishing their last days of school, and parents are planning vacations (maybe less this year because of the recession). I thought this would be the perfect time to talk about one of the most frustrating things I have ever experienced--the resort vacationer.

International travel can be one of the most amazing experiences imaginable. It can open your eyes to new cultures, new foods, new ways of life. It can also break your heart and change your life. It can help you to see how little material things some people have. It can inspire you to ACT. On the other hand, it can also just be a luxuriant week of excesses that does little besides reinforce the inequality in the world.

Development in Fiction

I have often found works of fiction explore the complexities of poverty and development in much richer detail than technocratic and sterile policy reports put out by thinktanks, the World Bank and UN. Books like the Poisonwood Bible, Acts of Faith, The Song of Lawino, The Quiet American and Cause Celeb seem to capture the moral dilemmas, politics, psychology and cultural clashes that infuse change in the developing world. No Human Development Report could ever match the descriptive power of Graham Greene or Barbara Kingsolver.

It turns out that I am not alone in preferring a good novel to the latest Famine Early Warning System report. A group of scholars associated with the Institute for Development Policy and Management at Manchester University have come up with a list of works of fiction they believe provide a rich and sophisticated portrait of poverty and development.

Green Schools and Fuel Efficiency...The Earth Wins

In the last few weeks, climate change, energy and the environment have been front-and-center in the news. While the climate change bill that is moving through the House is not as good as it should be, there has been progress on a couple other key related issues.

A couple weeks ago, on May 14th, the House passed a "Green Schools" bill to provide $6.4 billion annually for the next five years to fund green school building and renovation projects. The bill passed 275-155; now it is up the Senate to pass a similar bill. To make this even better, the House bill has provisions to make sure that the money is focused especially on schools with low-income students.

Diarrhoea: An Unpopular but Important Cause

Diarrhoea kills some 1.7 million children every year -- that over three times the population of Kansas City wiped out annually by a preventable disease.  And yet, given the 'gross-out factor' it is highly unlikely that this disease will ever get the kind of celebrity endorsements that have helped raise awareness of breast cancer and AIDS.  Likewise, few development professionals want to become known as a 'diarrhoea expert.'  There is no glamor, it seems, in excrement.

Economic development requires basic human rights first!

I just got back from a Senate briefing on a Supreme Court decision that changed the definition of "Indian" so that far fewer tribes would get the rights that they were promised hundreds of years ago.  I was embarrassed for our country because once again, Native Americans had to explain to Congress that their land was stolen, they were forced to move to "unwanted" parts of the country, and they continue to be treated as a colonized people.  (my words not theirs.) 

The lawsuit began because a tribe in Rhode Island wanted to buy back 31 acres of land (land that was theirs in the first place) in order to build housing for low-income folks.   But multiple states and local goverments that might  lose control of land (and taxes) are putting up a fight.

No wonder that 8 out of the 10 poorest counties in the United States are located on reservations.   In Indian Country, there is little economic development and in some cases a lack of basic utilities such as heat and running water.  There is no reason for this.

I sometimes think it's important to remind ourselves that poverty exists here in the United States -- simply because of the color of one's skin.  This is especially true for the Native Americans.

Basic human rights and dignity still lack even in our land.  Outreach International knows all too well that without these things, raising a community out of poverty is almost impossible.

-Karyn Wingard-Manuel

Amnesty International Calls for Action on Sri Lanka

The human rights group Amnesty International warned yesterday that "An all-out massacre is about to take place in Sri Lanka any day now" if the international community did not intervene rapidly to save civilians in the war zone.

The Value of Community

I recently came across the latest stories "from the field" on the Outreach International website and got hooked.  It felt so good to hear about the many successes around the globe because of the work OI is doing.   I couldn't help but smile when reading about Fulgence and Marcel working together to build a well in their community; I silently celebrated when I read about Flank (from Zambia) and Ana (from the Phillipines) who worked with Outreach International and raised their voices to their government leaders in order to receive their fair due -- parcels of land where they now make their living; I read with relief about Vilma's work to start up a local pharmacy; and I smiled as I imagined the life of Chiwa, a 7 year old girl who used to spend her days walking to gather water for the family and now spends her days going to school.  Ahhh... it's nice to sense some hope in the lives of real people.

I noticed that all of these stories emphasized one thing -- one integral factor that brought them their success -- community.  They all worked to gather the support of the community before they did anything else.  They knew that without the strength of a multitude of voices -- their power, their momentum for change -- would be too weak to make a difference.  They depended on community, they worked together, and the result?  They made changes to their community and their lives.

Obama's Budget: How is it for the poor?

For those of us who don't follow politics every day (I was one of those people for a long time), it may seem from the headlines that Obama's budget has passed and that we are done worrying about the budget this year. Unfortunately, we are far from that point. 

What passed in early April, was the top line numbers for the budget, the upper limits for accounts that include a wide range of programs. On this blog we were concerned mostly about the International Affairs Budget, which includes funding for a lot of development programs. We were successful in lobbying for an increase of the International Affairs Budget--It was increased by over $4 Billion!

Now Obama has submitted his specific requests for each program and it is time to lobby again. As you can see from the chart above, there are some very important programs that are underfunded in this budget.

Five Works of African Literature You Should Read

1. "Things Fall Apart," by Chinua Achebe. This profound reflection on rural life in Nigeria and the impact of colonialism was the first novel written by an African to be widely read outside the continent. If you read no other African literature, you should at least read this book.

2. "The Song of Lawino," by Okot P'Bitek. This epic poem is a relatively quick read (I got through it in an afternoon) but is a rich, funny and insightful look at the tension between tradition and modernity in rural northern Uganda. The lamenting and biting song of the protagonist, Lawino, skewers her well-educated husband's decision to leave her for a "modern women."

Five Good Non-Fiction Books on Africa

1. “Africa: A Biography of the Continent,” by John Reader. A wide-reaching and sweeping look at trends and broader explanations for the way things are, covering history, geography, anthropology, biology and politics. While it is a thick tome (some 700 pages) it manages to be engaging, interesting and easy to read. This would be a good place to start for the interested newcomer to African issues.

2. “Africa Works: Disorder as a Political Instrument,” by Patrick Chabal and Jean-Pascal Daloz. A lucid and theoretically-rich exposition of African politics. Describing how systems of patronage operate within the context of modern states, Chabal and Daloz provide powerful explanations for conflict, corruption and poor economic development. It also introduces English-speakers to the rich seam of francophone research and literature about Africa.

Call to Action: War-torn families escape and ask for help

The civil war in Sri Lanka is coming to a climax, trapping as many as 100,000 people in the cross-fire. You’ve probably seen it in the media.

Only half have escaped so far, and according to the United Nations, many more remain trapped, looking to escape. With newly escaped groups likely to reach safe districts in as soon as 48 hours (according to UN reports), your support is needed most urgently!

Outreach International benefits over 150,000 people in communities in Sri Lanka. We are already on the ground and ready to help the displaced victims forced to flee south from livelihoods, homes and families as the conflict intensifies.

Outreach International needs your support to help the refugees that will soon arrive in our communities, desperately hoping for assistance. 

They need help and they need it right away.

Harishke Samaranayake, a member of our Sri Lankan team commented, “Water and sanitation is one of the biggest issues here.” An International Red Cross spokeswoman also said recently, “The humanitarian conditions in the conflict area are very grim.” The next 48 hours are critical to meet the needs of displaced families.

Please help the displaced families seeking refuge, safety and security by sending your donation today.

Our Sri Lankan team has already started collecting dry food and health care items, ensuring that food supplies, clean water and sanitation are supplied for the refugees. Sadly, the needs of women and children are especially great.

Please donate. A gift of $25 or more will help victims not only today in our relief effort, but also in the long term commitment of Sustainable Good around the world.

Thank you for sending immediate assistance to the families in Sri Lanka.


Sincerely,
Matthew C. Naylor, President
Outreach International

Sometimes I feel too powerless to make a difference.

I remember sitting in the library a couple years ago and finding out that a friend of mine from Malawi had passed away from a bad case of malaria.   I could do nothing but weep for Kathy and her family and think about how unfair the world is -- where people die of preventable disease for no good reason at all.  I also remember the time when my husband was working in a Malawian hospital and saw a woman undergo an emergency c-section.  There was no clean gauze available so the people attending to her were left no choice but to use guaze that had been collecting dust on a shelf.  The woman later died a painful death due to the infection in her wound.  It was another senseless death.   I remember feeling overwhelmed by grief and hopelessness.  The solutions seem so simple.  Yet, I knew of nothing I could do to make a real impact for the hundreds of thousands of people dying every day.  I wasn't a politician or a millionare -- and I didn't know anyone who had influence.  At the same time, as a white, middle class, American I knew that I inherently carried much more power than many of the friends I made in southeastern Africa. But that power only felt superficial to me.

Earth Day's Over...Do you still care?

Earth Day is one of my favorite days, but today is 5 days after the day we honor our Earth (technically 6), so why I am still talking about it?

On April 22nd ever year, it is popular to talk about how great the environment is and how much we should be doing to end climate change, protect endangered species, promote clean energy, and the like. And on April 23rd, we move on to other things and we all pat ourselves on the back for being such good environmentalists on Earth Day.

Along the same lines, greenwashing  has also become a hip, new trend, as this Earth Day comic indicates. This is especially true of advertising. Every product and every company is trying to convince us that they are "green". (One of my pet peeves is seeing ads in the metro station from Chevron asking me to go green...I don't need an oil company telling me how to save the environment.) The greenwashing of politicians' speeches is also a growing epidemic. And yet, despite the cacophany of voices claiming to be green, the kind of massive, system change that we need seems far from realization.

The point of all of this is to say that I don't want to just add to the mass of people trying to capitalize on the "green revolution." So I am going to ask us to do something different this year. Today, not less than five days after Earth Day, I am asking us to take seriously the plea to make every day Earth Day.

On April 22nd, Obama made his Earth Day speech proclaiming: "My Administration is also working to achieve a comprehensive energy and climate policy, one that will lessen our dependence on foreign oil, make the U.S. the global leader in clean energy technology, and prevent the worst impacts of climate change. "

The President is encouraging action. And Congress is moving toward action on climate legislation....Finally! A first draft of climate change legislation, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 was released. Now WE must act! The proposed legislation needs to be improved by leaving out the carbon trading and simply capping carbon emissions. Congress also needs to ensure that the revenue from this system is returned to consumers. Take the opportunity today to show that you care about the earth every day by writing your members of Congress, encouraging them to pass climate legislation with these improvements.

Write your letter here!

Another way that you can work to create a more sustainable world is by donating to organizations like Outreach International which helps to better the environment and the lives of the poor. Check out this amazing story!

-Stephen Donahoe

Peace is Political

‘Why can’t we just get along?’ This commonly repeated refrain, while seemingly commonsensical, actually hinders the work of building peace in situations of conflict.

We can’t all get along because resource competition, prejudice, racism, bigotry, and insecurity are very real. Someone who is running for their life in Darfur cannot afford to pretend that by hugging the Janjaweed then everyone will be able to live happily ever after. We can’t ‘just all get along’ because conflict is inherent to the human experience.

Conflict is the result of a very real divergence of interests and values. We are in a world constrained by scarcity. Not everyone can have as much water, land, food as they want. As a society we are forced to interact with people who are potential competitors. We must decide whether to negotiate with them or compel them to accept our will.

We resolve these conflicts through politics – the process of discussing, negotiating, managing and neutralizing conflict over interests, values, power and identity. We set up institutions and systems (such as markets, courts, elections) that simplify the distribution of resources and the arbitration of disagreements. 

Happy Earth Day!

How are you celebrating earth day today?

Advocacy – Fish -- Water

 

The analogy is well-worn: Give a person a fish and you feed them a day;  Teach them to fish and you feed them a lifetime; and continuing the trajectory via such organizations as Outreach International: give them organizing abilities and you have an ongoing fishing community.  It is marvelous to see such transformations taking place, many of them cited on this blog.

 

But I want to follow this analogy one step further.  If that fishing community starts finding that there are less fish to catch, then what? (This is not hypothetical;  for example, see:  Dwindling Tuna Catch Hits Local Livelihoods In Philippines).

 

The first step would be to identify the source of the problem.  For example, it could be due to: toxic chemicals being dumped into the waters;  a consequence of deforestation; overfishing; climate change and thus changed water temperatures.

 

Enter the role of advocacy.  Advocacy is always an admission of failure – a failure of the current dynamics and structures to adequately support basic levels of well-being.  But it is also an opportunity to find openings that might alter the terrain for the better.  Part of the ‘capacity-building’ aspect of international development deals with organizing individuals into a community who can then address the larger issues.

 

My point is that the global nature of some problems and the perversely skewed nature of the power relationship make it almost impossible for local communities to overcome some of the obstacles.  For example, there was a small village in India, composed primarily of Dalit, whose aquifers were being depleted by a nearby bottling plant.  The people took all the right steps – petitions to local government and the company, then to the national government, then escalating to {non-violent} protests, etc.  But nothing changed until an organization in the West caught wind of it, and organized an email campaign targeted at the parent company, Coca-Cola.  Soon after, the situation began to be rectified.  This example does not imply the “West” is the advocacy saviour; only that in this case the U.S. has more sophisticated web tools (though that has been balancing out), and it is a market that Coca-Cola wants to ensure its brand remains secure.

 

Zambia Floods Affect 700,000

Zambia is having the worst flooding it has experienced in 40 years, following an unusually heavy rainy season. Government estimates suggest some 600,000 to 700,000 people "have been either displaced or severely crippled" by the flooding. Click here to learn more.

Outreach International has worked in Zambia for many years, helping develop sustainable community organizations, improving agriculture and increasing access to clean water and sanitation. Click here to learn more about Outreach International's programs in Zambia.  Click here to read a story about Outreach International's impact on one particular Zambian community.

-Matthew Bolton

Why I am in Favor of Taxation

It might be a politically unpopular thing to say, but I believe taxation is underrated. That doesn’t mean I believe in crushing, oppressive and unsustainable taxes – when taxes are too high or unfair, they can be quite destructive. But a well-designed system of public finances is crucial to democratic governance.

I believe taxes are so important because I have lived and worked in countries where tax systems, even government, have collapsed or almost nonexistent.The result? Unaccountable political authorities, ineffective justice systems, crumbling infrastructure and inadequate social safety nets for the poor and vulnerable.

We are Learning!

It is easy to be discouraged by foreign aid efforts. Too often it seems that there is not enough money, the projects aren't sustainable enough, local people aren't involved enough...the list of "not enoughs" could go on for a long time.

When I find myself feeling cynical about the woes of international development, I normally think about some of the amazing projects I have experienced with Outreach International. Today I found another great source of hope that we are actually learning something...that there are other people and groups that are creating sustainable good as well. On Aid Watch, William Easterly (author of White Man's Burden) writes about a micro-finance project in Ghana that exemplified the main principle that we advocate for on this blog, the participation of local people in their own development.

I'm no economist but...

 

I think everyone can agree that business investment is helpful to local economies of the poorest billion people.

I came across a great blog today -- Bottom Billion Blog.  In it, Jean-Louis Warnholz wrote an interesting article called, "A Secret Unveiled: Africa is Open for Business."  Economists and others more economically savvy than me say now is the time for investment.  Warnholz points out that investing in a business in Africa is actully one of the ten ideas changing the world right now.

There is a debate going on these days on whether international aid is helpful to developing nations or downright destructive --in the end creating more problems than solutions. 

One way or the other, trade and business development (rather than aid) is the best way to invest in local economies -- but many corporations are still timid about the risks involved with such a venture.  Apparently, those perceptions are a bit old fashioned.  Time writes, "Democracy is up. Inflation and interest rates are in single digits. Terms of trade have improved. Crucially, said Nellor, 'growth is taking off.' The IMF puts Africa's average annual growth for 2004 to '08 at more than 6% — better than any developed economy — and predicts the continent will buck the global recessionary trend to grow nearly 3.3% this year."

China is leading the trend in investing in Africa -- and maybe it's time for other businesses to do the same.

What do you think?

-Karyn Wingard-Manuel

It's A Good Era for Foreign Aid and Human Rights...and more

There have been so many good things happening in the news recently (lots of bad too...but let's be optimistic, shall we?) that I thought I would do a short "What's in the News" post. Here are some of the great things going on in the world:

The US is Joining the U.N. Human Rights Council

The Senate Restored $4 Billion in Funding for the Foreign Affairs Account (although the House didn't restore it, so we will see what happens when they go to conference and compromise).

Obama Committed to Working Toward a World Free of Nucs (see page three of the speech)
    Urge your Senators to Join Obama in Seeking this World

Obama's Budget Passed. At least the top-line numbers passed in both the House and the Senate. Now they have to compromise between the two versions. Obama is going to submit more specific budget details in early May. This budget will have some absolutely transformative effects on health care, the environment, and social programs.

What have you seen in the news recently that gives you hope?

-Stephen Donahoe

Now It's Getting Personal

I truly believe Karyn's post the other day that relationships are the main factor in giving, because through relationships we truly understand the depth of a problem. This has happened to me just in the last few days. I have been sympathetic to those that have been affected by the global financial crisis since the beginning (except for the giant corporate CEO's and Madoff's of the crisis). I hate to hear on the news the stories about people being laid off, companies going bankrupt, towns in financial meltdown.

However, the depth of the pain of this crisis didn't hit me until the other day when my mom told me that she had been laid off. After 28 years working at the same company, she doesn't have a job, and won't for the next 4-6 months.

What Motivates You to Give?

Non-profit organizations (like Outreach International) are constantly wondering how to motivate people to donate money to good causes.  In last week's Newsweek,  Professor Peter Singer writes this intriguing (and possibly motivating?)  scenario:

Imagine that you are walking near a shallow ornamental pond when you notice that a small child has fallen in, and is apparently in danger of drowning. You look around for the child's caregiver, but there is no one in sight. Without pausing even to pull off the expensive pair of shoes you are wearing, you rush into the water to save the child."

"You don't have to be a hero to do that. We expect it of you. You'd have to be a monster to put the cost of your shoes ahead of saving the child's life."

"Or would you? "

Israel’s Use of Phosphorus Weapons was a War Crime, Says Human Rights Watch

A respected human rights organization has described Israel’s use of white phosphorus weapons in the recent Gaza conflict as “evidence of war crimes,” due to the indiscriminate impact on civilians.

The report, entitled “Rain of Fire: Israel’s Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza” and published by Human Rights Watch, presents eye-witness testimony, ballistics evidence, photographs and other data, documenting how Israel illegally used phosphorus around residential neighborhoods, a school, market and hospital.

“In Gaza, the Israeli military didn’t just use white phosphorus in open areas as a screen for its troops,” said Fred Abrahams, co-author of the report. “It fired white phosphorus repeatedly over densely populated areas, even when its troops weren’t in the area and safer smoke shells were available. As a result, civilians needlessly suffered and died.”

Books You Must Read

This post comes from guest writer, Diane Sadler who works in the Communications Department at Outreach International:

Wednesday night on Charlie Rose (KCPT), he interviewed 2 amazing women who have written books about development & poverty, and also Peter Singer and his new book.

Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa
by Dambisa Moyo

The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor in an Interconnected World
by Jacqueline Novogratz

The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty
by Peter Singer

You can watch the segments from these links:
Peter Singer, Dambisa Moyo, Jacqueline Novogratz 

Dambisa Moyo has a brilliant insight into aid. Jacqueline Novogratz has a story you must hear – The Blue Sweater.

Women Making a Difference for Women in Extreme Poverty

Sue McLaughlin guest blogs about her experience as the founder of her own Dining for Women chapter.   What a wonderful way to gather people together in community, learn about the devestaing effects of poverty, and pitch in to make a difference.  Thanks Sue!

As a woman of privilege by world standards related to income, education, and race, how can I make a difference for other women around the world who through no fault of their own live in extreme poverty? This is something that I've asked myself. There's so much need that it feels like filling an ocean with one drop of water at a time to try to do something about it. Then I heard about Dining for Women.

Dining for Women is an international giving circle dedicated to empowering women in the two-thirds world by funding programs that foster the physical, emotional, and economic self-sufficiency of women living in extreme poverty. Through the collective, focused giving of Dining for Women chapters all over the world, women can join with other women to make a difference in the world.

I started a chapter of Dining for Women in Independence, Missouri this month. We had our first meeting last night. Eleven like-minded women met to learn of the situation of women and children in Uganda and the work of Bead for Life in promoting economic self-sufficiency for women in that war torn country.

At our meeting we shared food and friendship, concern for our sisters in Uganda, listened to Ugandan music, and experienced the beauty of beads and jewelry handmade by the Ugandan women of Bead for Life. We learned of the devastation of AIDS that has left many of these women widows and HIV positive and raising their own and orphaned children. Through our donations (of what we would have spent on a nice dinner out) and our purchases of Bead for Life jewelry, we raised over $700 in our chapter alone. The money we raised will be combined with the other chapters of Dining for Women to provide a significant collective contribution to the developing self-sufficiency of the women of Uganda. Women linking with other women is what it’s all about!!

Why Are More Women Living in Poverty?

Continuing to honor Women's History Month, here's a post from Lulu Marin, a brilliant anthropologist friend of mine:

Women face a much greater risk of poverty for a number of inter-related reasons, including:

Women are paid less than men, even when they have the same qualifications and work the same hours. Women who work full time earn only 77 percent of what men make—a 22 percent gap in average annual wages. Discrimination, not lack of training or education, is largely the cause of the wage gap. Even with the same qualifications, women earn less than men. In 2007, full time, year round female workers aged 25 to 32 with a bachelor's degree were paid 14 percent less than men.

A woman works as a waitress at a diner. Women are often tracked into “pink-collar” jobs that typically pay less than jobs in industries that are male-dominated.

US National Cluster Munitions Call-In Day

Cluster munitions campaigners in the US are urging Americans to call their senators on 30 March 2009 and ask them to support the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act, S. 416.

This legislation would prohibit the US from using cluster munitions that have more than a 1% failure rate or in civilian areas.  This would help prevent the deadly contamination of conflict zones with dangerous unexploded ‘dud’ bomblets that act like de facto landmines.

The Feminization of Poverty

I'm taking full advantage of "Women's History Month" to raise awareness of the all-too-close link between women and poverty.  Many of you probably know that women  are 70% of the world's poor -- a horrible statistic  that should be remedied.

This is what Diane Pearce meant when she termed the phrase "feminization of poverty."  An unproportionate number of women suffer from poverty because of their gender.    

Studies have shown that even in the U.S., women (despite having better credit than men,) are steered toward sub prime loans more often.  This is just one example of how in the end -- women become victims of ignorance and bias.

There is still  a lot of work to do in getting the attention of our world leaders (as well as our spouses and partners) and making this a priority for ALL people.  We need to keep bringing up how certain policies affect health care for women and families, domestic and sexual violence, economic security for women, work/family balance, and equal pay.

If women are empowered -- all become empowered. 

 

Roadmap to End Global Hunger

The Liberal Dilemma

I have been thinking a lot recently about my relationship with the world. What is my ecological footprint? How does my life affect the poor? What does my spending have to do with those who have less? How am I making the world better? I started this questioning in a previous post, but was recently faced head-on with a conflict that brought my struggles into greater focus.

I was at an acquaintance's party just relaxing on her patio talking and meeting new people. I was having a good time enjoying the night. But a couple of the other guests, a brother and sister, were having a heated discussion about an issue that summarizes one my current dilemmas: gentrification. The brother and sister were African American and had lived on Capitol Hill in DC all their lives. They were complaining that they were sick of people being surprised when the siblings said they were from DC.