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My thoughts:
After watching the film, I was surprised. All of what they covered happened when I was younger, so I didn’t really have a clue of what was going on. Whenever a country is in need peoples first instincts are to do whatever, they can to help. The only thing is they don’t realize what else they could do. In the film, everyone said that whenever people donate is helpful but there are other things that could be more beneficial, and these big companies are donating the same things over and over.
Is foreign aid bad?
Foreign aid’s intentions aren’t bad but when it is affecting local markets is when it is bad. Before the earthquake in Haiti, Haiti had the most production of rice and it was a luxury to eat rice. Then the US got involved and started sending supplies over. They sent rice, water, and any other necessities. What the US didn’t realize before it was too late, was how it crushed the local farmers and businesses. Wouldn’t you rather free food over having to pay for food? After the earthquake everyone just wanted to help. Have you ever heard of “too many cooks in the kitchen”? That is what happened. It was a horrible event so out of the kindness from everyone they started sending food, water, any supplies that could help. They had so much of it, and they are still giving some out. The gestures are nice but what people don’t realize is how much we take away. Celebrities pushed for aid, but Africa said that was the opposite that they needed. In my response I talked about how great TOMS was. The film didn’t directly say that TOMS was bad its just that they were free shoes, and it ruined the local businesses.
What is the best way to end poverty?
I don’t truly know the best way to end it. I think there are steps to take to gain recognition. My only concern is the film focused on Haiti and how they are dealing with poverty and the effects of how people “helped.” Poverty is everywhere. There is constantly talk about what you should do to end it. Celebrities will get involved and try to get their fans to help too. One example from the film was Bono. Since the 80’s there has been so much action with poverty. From “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” the concert they some of the money went to countries in need. I think getting celebrities to post on platforms or hosting concerts and donating the proceeds is good but there needs to be more research on their end. They need to know the best way to help fight it because however many fans want to donate, they could be donating to not the best cause.
Will we truly ever end poverty?
I would like to believe that eventually we will end poverty. I think that since people get the happy feeling when they give back/donate to countries in need they don’t realize what we can do to be productive. In the film they said something like charity becomes a bad word and here it’s a word that makes you a better person. People compete on who can be the most charitable but its just an action. We don’t take time to go to these countries and see what needs to be done.