5 million children die of hunger a year-and yet we practically do nothing!

[caprisun]

Its estimated that this year around 5 million children, mostly in areas like africa, will die of hunger. and it just shocks me that we in the west can just sit around as if nothing is happening. i mean i no we give some aid or whatever, but its pathetic, like the US doesnt even give .01% of its gdp, yet it can fund military projects etc. like i dont really have much of a point, but like do you not think its a pretty sad enditment on us all that we throw away money like we do in the west while so many people die needlessly?

 

[bobknowsall]

Your idealism is kinda admirable, but there are reasons we don't just give all of our disposable income to Third World countries. The main one is that, yes, some of us just don't give a damn. But we also have our own lives to take care of, and the victims of starvation and war tend to be faceless and very distant indeed. Life sucks, yeah, but for some it just isn't worth the effort required to fix it.

 

[Aerodynamic]

We are like ants, some of us live, some of us die.

I like that you are seeing into this kind of stuff, but there isn't much most of us can do about it.

You may want to check this out though.
http://www.worldometers.info/

 

[Nevyrmoore]

Your idealism is kinda admirable, but there are reasons we don't just give all of our disposable income to Third World countries. The main one is that, yes, some of us just don't give a damn. But we also have our own lives to take care of, and the victims of starvation and war tend to be faceless and very distant indeed. Life sucks, yeah, but for some it just isn't worth the effort required to fix it.

This, and also one other thing; charity begins at home.

We can't even completely sort out the people suffering in our own countries, you expect large-scale attempts in third world countries will go any better?

 

[Captain Awesome]

We could kill 2.5 million people and give their corpses to the other 2.5 to eat.

POW! Problem halved.

 

[bobknowsall]

Your idealism is kinda admirable, but there are reasons we don't just give all of our disposable income to Third World countries. The main one is that, yes, some of us just don't give a damn. But we also have our own lives to take care of, and the victims of starvation and war tend to be faceless and very distant indeed. Life sucks, yeah, but for some it just isn't worth the effort required to fix it.

This, and also one other thing; charity begins at home.

We can't even completely sort out the people suffering in our own countries, you expect large-scale attempts in third world countries will go any better?

Yeah, I think that really contributes to the general malaise towards foreign aid. "Well, our country's still fucked, so why should we help them?" It's an understandable viewpoint, but not one I'd hold myself. I just stick to the odd bit of volunteer work and charity donation. It's all I can do for now.

 

[Flying Dagger]

Most of the problem stems from corruption in the leadership of those countries.
Yet the media vilifies countries that actively step in and tries to use military action to correct these issues... Something that i'm in favour of.

 

[MagicMouse]

To quote Falconer, "I shed no tears for strangers."

 

[Motiv_]

As others have said, we have problems enough as is.

Also, I hate to break it to you, but there really is no such thing as "Disposable Income" anymore.

According to http://www.usdebtclock.org/, the United States is over 10 trillion dollars in debt. So yeah, it sucks that people are gonna starve to death, but you're asking homeless people for a lease, as the saying goes.

 

[dmase]

Most of the countries don't want help or will accept it, but then not be willing to change a little. There is a point where a country should back off, people hate America for intervening too much.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

>>implying that money is going to do anything

Listen, we would have solved this problem were it not for the fact these are very complex issues. In Africa, we have tribal fighting, Islamic groups attempting to establish caliphates, Christian groups calling for the execution/jailing of homosexuals, stigmas against condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS, and soil which cannot support the European methods of farming. Add to that the fact that many primitive beliefs and superstitions which ultimately cause damage to both humans and other organisms on the continent and you have a giant cluster fuck.

Oh, also damage from the Age of Empires(not the game lol).

Well looks like this thread is about wrapped up. Only thing is, not all 5 Million are in Africa a lot are in different areas, but those areas still can't just be made better by throwing cash at it.

 

[Flying Dagger]

Actually, thinking about it the bodies would be pretty damn skinny, better make it like 3.5/1.5

They tried to use this solution in the Cattle industry and the result was BSE. Mad Cow disease. It's a variant on Crudzvelt Jakobs Disease.

Fighting ridiculosity with SCIENCE

 

[Dorian]

And now for a brief word from Portal Maniac, seeing as how he's tired of keeping his opinions on such matter to himself.

I think our actions are totally justified.

Now, you're probably thinking "Portal! How could you even dare THINK of such a thing, you monster!" I really wouldn't blame you. So, I'm going to take you back to a day in my biology class with the very awesome Mr. Williams.

During one of our lulls in classroom activity, we (as in, everyone excluding me) got talking about the helping 3rd World Countries with food and resources. He said, quite logically, that eventually, we'll have to stop doing what we do over there, for what could potentially be a myriad of reasons. Sadly, I forgot the good example(s) he used for that, as it was well over a year ago and in the morning. The point being is, the people we had been "helping" would, and I suppose are, depending entirely on our support. And once we pull out, they'll be completely helpless and unable to fend for themselves, and, well.......
It'd be a very, very, very bloody month for them.

Think of it as feeding large animals, such as a family of bears, in a place where little food exists for them. Someday, you will die. And after then, the remaining bears will all starve to death, regardless of the efforts you put forth.

It's nothing but a GIGANTIC setup for disaster, if you think about it.

 

[RickyLill]

i agree with pantsoffdanceoff to improve one of the many countries in dire need of help would require a staggering amount of resources and not to mention logistics to build up a suficient infrastructure for that country to be stable and survive on its own.

 

[Booze Zombie]

People die.

If they didn't we'd eat up all the Earth's resources in a matter of weeks, if that slowly.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Actually, thinking about it the bodies would be pretty damn skinny, better make it like 3.5/1.5

They tried to use this solution in the Cattle industry and the result was BSE. Mad Cow disease. It's a variant on Crudzvelt Jakobs Disease.

Fighting ridiculosity with SCIENCE

You think humans as a species could get any LESS sane?

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Actually, thinking about it the bodies would be pretty damn skinny, better make it like 3.5/1.5

They tried to use this solution in the Cattle industry and the result was BSE. Mad Cow disease. It's a variant on Crudzvelt Jakobs Disease.

Fighting ridiculosity with SCIENCE

So if the same was for humans...

... Rage Zombies?

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Say that to football players who makes millions a year to spend on huge houses and cars. Say that to the talentless musicians who earn more money that most people and spend it on drugs and alcohol. Say that to the government who is trillions of dollars in debt and continues to throw money on the pile.

The world isn't a perfect place.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Oh and with all the memory loss and dementia associated with CJD, they won't even remember they were hungry in the first place. I should run this type of shit, yo.

 

[ethaninja]

I think its sad. Wish I could just rob a bank and then drop it all over the poor people.