But yes, the sensible production and movement of food is a good thing. But I would not argue that stopping funding is a good idea, and I strongly argue that secular outlets such as NGO’s and the UN work better. Well, I’ve only worked a little with UN but I’ve worked with secular NGO’s and there is a vast difference.

Reallocation from the current ways of spending may well be in order, however.

On the other hand, in a lot of Africa, most rural hospitals are run by churches or church related groups. I’ve heard of some that insist you listen to hymns or preaching before treatment, but such hospitals are few and far between. Most of the Catholic hospitals (or hospitals run by mainline Protestant churches) are pretty liberal about such things, and often have non believers on staff.

And remember, a lot of charity money ends up in people’s pockets…so giving to a non church NGO or the UN might not be a good answer.

How about using time and energy to petition the European Union to stop subsidizing their food, and to allow African food to be imported? Or pressuring NGO’s to support a “green revolution” there?

The “green revolution” works: notice India and China are no longer starving…and although we grow and sell organic food, there is no reason not to do both ways to grow food.

To be fair I don’t think those experiences mean anything either way, I was just answering an anecdote with an anecdote…

I had ever come across colton mining before, I never made a connection something I was doing.

Well, as far as the connection to something we’re doing goes, I’m not sure there’s much to be done there. Not buying a cellphone won’t change much in the big scheme of things, and I’ve never heard of sustainable electronics*. Still, better to know than not to, in case that changes. Or in case I turn activist :p

I’m sure we’re all guilty of unknowingly doing something that contributes negatively to the lives of somebody somewhere in the world. Just because these things are not hidden from us, doesn’t necessarily mean we’re irresponsible for not knowing about them. And it certainly doesn’t mean we don’t care or don’t want to know about them.

I guess I just disagree with that. I can’t know everything that goes on in the world, but insofar as I could know *more* with little effort, I’m responsible. And while it doesn’t mean I don’t want to know things, it does mean that I don’t care to the exact extent where I didn’t bother to get more informed.

And I accept that; I can’t care about everything, I like to be a good person but I also like to do what I want and enjoy my own life. All I can do is get to a balance I feel comfortable with. With as little denial as possible involved, preferably. But then denial is one of those unknown unknowns isn’t it…

*Hey ! You know what I could do ? Google “sustainable electronics” ! Eh, or not, we’ll see.
If I don’t though, and it turns out there’s AMAZING THINGS I could do to make the world better, I do think I’ll bear some responsibility for my ignorance of that fact. Not as in “the world sucks and it’s my fault” of course, more like “okay, I could have done better there”.

Recently, we’ve had a flood of Somali immigrants to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Why? Don’t know, but it often reminds me of my time in Africa.

There was also a war going on as Eritrea was a part of Ethiopia at the time and a seperatist movement was under way, but Americans stationed there were in very little danger.

Greg’s right in htat most Americans have a very myopic and incorrect view of Africa.