It is a global village now. Decades ago, most did not know what the outside world looked like. Now, they know through TV & other media. In fact, even the poor hears the first-hand experiences of others who have travelled.
We have been blessed with much to get ahead of the pack. But we mostly do not care. Most do not even vote & those elected are not held accountable for their promises. Look at Obama, he has to fulfil his promises which are many!
We were colonised just a while ago though most now are born in free country! How many bother that history can repeat itself! We have to be on guard always! Look at Sri Lanka, a land compared to paradise that cannot live together! Also Pakistan, where the reason for existence is hatred for us! Most want peace but held to ransom by a minority. Comeon, a little bit of ego-sheddding can bring all to peace in SL, everywhere!
Our poverty can be lessened to a great extent by discipline & willingness to change. But we are duped by politicians, who divide us to keep the status quo. Sachs may not know our ground reality. Africa has great potential. In fact, China has recognised that & they tango now with each going overboard to please the other! China is looking high & low for resources & diversification. But Africa is divided by their tribal roots.
The initiative has to come from within. Our chalega attitude can be a boon but will we be caught napping again? So far the going is not bad like in our fims, even Slumdog M!
I must confess I clicked on this title with great enthusiasm - having read Sachs - but found the article to be very poorly written with badly crafted corelation between ideas, locations, and issues. It's bad journalism and equally very poor use of grammer - the use of apostrophe after 'Sachs' for instance. I would hope such articles are edited and proof-read before being issued for public consumption.
I must confess I clicked in this title with great enthusiasm but found the article to be very poorly written. It's bad journalism - a jumble of ideas and sentences.
the media shapes views and opinions by what they focus on. Societies show what they care for by their actions - for example do we value creative effort, do we value innovation, do we value philantrophists? All one finds is sycophancy at every step in the name of one other the other leader with dubious credentials. We all know that a lot of Mumbai;s early development took place from philantrophic efforts - why does this not happen today? Why are our new multi billionnaire more focussed on personal consumption than giving back to the society? Perhaps it is necessary to make philantrophy fashionable. The only problem is there are always more people willing to claim credit than provide without acknowledgement.
I'm fed up of the numerous attempts to paint philanthropy in different colors, some samples: 1) From above article 'enlightened self interest' 2) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) 3) Sustainability
I think this is bakwas / crap / hot air.
When J N Tata envisioned Jamshedpur, IISC et. al, he was not thinking that he 'needs to do this to make his business survive for the next millenium', he did it out of genuine love for his country & its people. The same Tata Group today spends a lot of time making presentations on 'CSR' by group companies.
We need to make Philanthropy a good thing again. Giving is something you do, because it is a good thing to do, period. It is NOT self interest, enlightened or otherwise.
I think there is enough money floating around to make a difference to the poor.
