Do you really care about starving children?
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(I'm not religious in any means) != (this fits into god made it that way for a reason, if he meant for every single person to survive then humans would be invincible)It always turns into a debate if you mean for it to be that way or not. I'm not religious in any means but this fits into god made it that way for a reason, if he meant for every single person to survive then humans would be invincible.0 -
I must say, and Im ready for the abuse about it. I do not really care. As for my opinion countries where people just continue to have children even though the adults are starving themselves, are beyond any of my help. These people dont seem to understand that having children will not benefit them. These people and children have no quality of life.
Should a geographical accident of birth prevent a person having the same rights (eg the right to bear children) as those more fortunate?
Hi there! I couldn't help but chime in - I would think that women living in conditions where their children are literally starving to death would actually ENJOY having the option of not having as many children. In many cases the type of social/economic conditions that lead to starvation are also the same conditions that result in lack of reproductive choices for women. In many cases it's also ignorance, with people thinking it's fine to have as many children as possible because god will provide!
But taking another view - if they do have choices and it's really about rights to have children, that's fine - have 20. But don't be asking me for money to support them.
I agree in principle, but it's an ethical argument. Should our own lucky geographical accident of birth give us the right to dictate what another does? In many cases it's not necessarily ignorance but cultural necessity. It is also the very basic principle of evolution - to continue the bloodline. I imagine that simple evolutionary need overwhelms all choice - in fact, some creatures in times of high stress of the environment will even turn to asexual reproduction to endure the survival of the species. Ultimately that is what life is about - to continue the species. It's not really a 'choice' thing.0 -
When I can stop debating whether to pay part of this utility bill or part of that utility bill, then I'll worry about starving kids.0
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Yes, i do care. It is a subject that bothers me deeply, specially having kids, it makes it far more of a personal issue for me. I have family that came form different countries to escape different things, poverty was among the highest on their list. I hate when people say they don't care about people in other countries because they just chose to have so many kids. Well, all I can say is walk a mile in their shoes first. Also, we have that problem here in the U.S. but we are fortunate enough to have programs for the needy, and children. How many people have had government assistance or have their kids raised in the system? They surely are not taking care of the kids they had? And we have no excuse, birth control is free in America through many programs! It is a serious issue, and when i am not personally traveling to help kids like that in other countries, I am helping in other ways.0
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Wow. A lot of people only care about their own countries. I will try to forget this the next time a natural disaster hits another Western country and they are asking the world for aid.
I care and I donate money when I can.
Poor and hungry in a Western country is NOTHING compared to poor and hungry in 3rd World countries.0 -
I must say, and Im ready for the abuse about it. I do not really care. As for my opinion countries where people just continue to have children even though the adults are starving themselves, are beyond any of my help. These people dont seem to understand that having children will not benefit them. These people and children have no quality of life.
Should a geographical accident of birth prevent a person having the same rights (eg the right to bear children) as those more fortunate?
Hi there! I couldn't help but chime in - I would think that women living in conditions where their children are literally starving to death would actually ENJOY having the option of not having as many children. In many cases the type of social/economic conditions that lead to starvation are also the same conditions that result in lack of reproductive choices for women. In many cases it's also ignorance, with people thinking it's fine to have as many children as possible because god will provide!
But taking another view - if they do have choices and it's really about rights to have children, that's fine - have 20. But don't be asking me for money to support them.
I agree in principle, but it's an ethical argument. Should our own lucky geographical accident of birth give us the right to dictate what another does? In many cases it's not necessarily ignorance but cultural necessity. It is also the very basic principle of evolution - to continue the bloodline. I imagine that simple evolutionary need overwhelms all choice - in fact, some creatures in times of high stress of the environment will even turn to asexual reproduction to endure the survival of the species. Ultimately that is what life is about - to continue the species. It's not really a 'choice' thing.
Keep in mind, in many countries, it is not the woman's choice to get pregnant in the first place.0 -
Don't forget to factor in a high infant mortality rate if we're gonna get "all up in this". Hurry up before they lock this thread.0
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Yes, I care.0
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No it definitely doesn't. But by the same token it doesn't give anyone the right to demand support.I must say, and Im ready for the abuse about it. I do not really care. As for my opinion countries where people just continue to have children even though the adults are starving themselves, are beyond any of my help. These people dont seem to understand that having children will not benefit them. These people and children have no quality of life.
Should a geographical accident of birth prevent a person having the same rights (eg the right to bear children) as those more fortunate?
Hi there! I couldn't help but chime in - I would think that women living in conditions where their children are literally starving to death would actually ENJOY having the option of not having as many children. In many cases the type of social/economic conditions that lead to starvation are also the same conditions that result in lack of reproductive choices for women. In many cases it's also ignorance, with people thinking it's fine to have as many children as possible because god will provide!
But taking another view - if they do have choices and it's really about rights to have children, that's fine - have 20. But don't be asking me for money to support them.
I agree in principle, but it's an ethical argument. Should our own lucky geographical accident of birth give us the right to dictate what another does?
By the way I do care more than I let on. But it doesn't help when you learn about how much greed and corruption (and an actually very wealthy upper class) there is in many of these countries. I just wish more was done to help solve the underlying problems like proper governance in many of these places.0 -
Should a geographical accident of birth prevent a person having the same rights (eg the right to bear children) as those more fortunate?
When you and all your relatives and acquaintances are doomed to starvation because of your geographic misfortune, "should" you bring more people into this world so they can starve too?:ohwell:
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Whether or not a woman should 'choose' to have a child in a country that is not providing for her should not be the issue. The issue should really be about equal rights to life itself? That is what I meant about a geographical accident of birth - i was lucky enough to be born in a western relatively affluent and developed country. Others weren't so lucky. That could so easily have been me if the coin had flipped the other way.
I do care and I sponsor a child as a small gesture to show I care. I also respond to aid requests in emergencies, but I also agree that we should sort out the problems in our own countries as well. I can't do everything I would like to, but if we all did a little bit for others, perhaps this would be a better place.0 -
Unfortunately some with strong religious beliefs won't allow birth control, but that's another subject once we get "GROUP" discussions forums!!!I think that if a person can responsible, they should be allowed to have children. But nobody needs eight, nine, or ten kids. More birth control options, whether natural or medical, needs to become available to women in these third-world countries, so they can prevent unwanted pregnancy.
their religion may be against birth control (pills etc), but knowing which time of the month is fertile works pretty well, and in this case would reduce numbers dramatically. no meds, no birth control perse'. just knowing when not to put the round peg in the round hole.
knowledge is power. those people have not been given the power. the women have NO choice. they have to succumb to their husbands. Their husbands need to be educated that a week without sex will result in not making another child that will ultimately starve. its murder for lust. how does that fit in their religion? but im sure thats for another forum.0 -
To be 100% honest I dont care about starving children in other countries as much as i do my own0
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Are they my kids......uhh, nope not mine......the honey badger and I do not care!0
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In the US, we pay farmers NOT to grow on their land, so as to control prices and supply. If we truly wanted to feed everyone, we would have ALL available land put to use growing crops.
Are you referring to the CRP program? This is in effect to conserve topsoil. If ground is over farmed it's value will depreciate over time making crops not grow as well. Have you ever worked on a farm or saw the difference in corn produced in rich soil and corn grown in ground with little to no topsoil? Also, farmers make much more of a profit off of farmed ground than CRP. If they were doing it only for the money, they would plant crops on it instead, so they obviously understand the value of not putting all available land to use growing crops each year.0 -
Servilia - I would bet my last penny that not a single starving person in Africa is DEMANDING support.
Unlike the lazy 'won't get jobs' in the UK who demand stuff all the time....0 -
But it is not. Social, economic and cultural climates are very VERY different in other countries. We live our insular lives and don't realize how other people have it.I think that if a person can responsible, they should be allowed to have children. But nobody needs eight, nine, or ten kids. More birth control options, whether natural or medical, needs to become available to women in these third-world countries, so they can prevent unwanted pregnancy.0 -
Servilia - I would bet my last penny that not a single starving person in Africa is DEMANDING support.
Unlike the lazy 'won't get jobs' in the UK who demand stuff all the time....
Ok my bad, I'll reword - it doesn't give anyone the right to call us greedy or heartless or whatever if we don't send support. Or to expect us to do so.0 -
Nevermind.0
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When I feed the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist. -Helder Camara0
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this is a very interesting topic, i'll admit i haven't read through all the responses just yet but i will answer the initial question. i'm not exactly in a position to donate money just yet, but my efforts have been reflected in my extensive volunteer work. not everyone is able to help financially or time-wise, and others prefer not to, and no one should be judged for it. as a society it is hard to care about that which doesn't affect us directly, and it's easy to empathize but when it's not thrown into your face it's also easy to bypass0
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Heartless as it may seem, no. I don't care about tarving people in other countries. Whether they're children or adults. I care about my own country more and I'd rather my money go towards making my own country a better place, so that my cousins and eventually my own children can be sure of safety and security. I also don't support most charities, especially not one that have the disposable income to advertise on television. My fiancé ued to do some of the account for one of thoe charities and that whole "Please donate just £2 a month" line is BS did you know that next to none of that goes on whatever it i that just £2 a month can help with? No, it goes on tv adverts, manning phone lines, paying third party companies and goodness know what else.
I care about improving my area and the area my family live in, and donating money to a charity is rarely helpful. I get off my as and I make myself known in the area, I participate in fundraising events where 100% of the money goes to what it's supposed to because everyone involved is volunteering. I help out with my neighbours and look out for their children. I take care of my own back garden before I go meddling in other peoples, so to speak.
P.S my S button is broken and I can't be bothered to proof read :P
^^^^This^^^^^0 -
i was lucky enough to be born in a western relatively affluent and developed country. Others weren't so lucky. That could so easily have been me if the coin had flipped the other way.
living a life where you use the advantages you were born with isn't something anyone needs to apologize for.
"lucky" is relative. Are you "lucky" if you're born in a "relatively affluent and developed country"? Perhaps. Unless that country is China and you were born female. Then you're not so lucky, huh? What if you're born right here in the good old USA, that must make you really lucky, right? What if you also were born with MS?
Living a life where you adapt to the challenges presented to you is something all humans strive to do. A jillion factors influence who you are, and what challenges are presented to you. But every person has the power to make decisions, to varying degrees. And those choices shape the experience of life.
I DO live in an affluent and developed country, and I have STILL decided NOT to procreate, because I think the earth doesn't need it, and I don't want to. If I knew for a certainty that procreating was going to guarantee me having to watch my child suffer and starve to death, I'd do anything necessary to prevent it (the pregnancy, in the first place). However, I accept that there are consequences for my decisions, while multitudes of other humans do not.0 -
Woah there! In many countries, having more children means more hands to help till your farm, help with your business, look after you in old age when there/'s no old age pension system.
I am seriously dropping my jaw at some of the responses on here - are you really saying "Well I'm American and so I'm Ok and I really don't give 2 ***s about some dirt eating family on the other side of the world who I'll never have the misfortune to meet..."
Have we NO concept of one world? We are all human beings, surely we owe some duty of compassion to try to ensure that those who live in unacceptable conditions which could be made better have a glimmer of hope that those on whom fortune, destiny, or just damn luck has smiled will spare some crumbs their way.0 -
Just saw a thing on the news about government catering spending $16 per muffin.....what does that tell you about how much people care about starving children?!0
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Just saw a thing on the news about government catering spending $16 per muffin.....what does that tell you about how much people care about starving children?!
yeah i saw this on cnn, that is CRAZY...0 -
In the US, we pay farmers NOT to grow on their land, so as to control prices and supply. If we truly wanted to feed everyone, we would have ALL available land put to use growing crops.
Are you referring to the CRP program? This is in effect to conserve topsoil. If ground is over farmed it's value will depreciate over time making crops not grow as well. Have you ever worked on a farm or saw the difference in corn produced in rich soil and corn grown in ground with little to no topsoil? Also, farmers make much more of a profit off of farmed ground than CRP. If they were doing it only for the money, they would plant crops on it instead, so they obviously understand the value of not putting all available land to use growing crops each year.
I grew up in the central valley of California. I know all about topsoil conservation, and crop rotation so as not to strip the earth. I'm referring to congress-created dustbowls, giant plots of land perfectly suitable for growing food, left fallow for years at a time because if we grew THAT much food then the price would come down too much. The owners of that land just collect the revenue and leave it barren.0 -
wow...self righteous much?0
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I grew up in the central valley of California. I know all about topsoil conservation, and crop rotation so as not to strip the earth. I'm referring to congress-created dustbowls, giant plots of land perfectly suitable for growing food, left fallow for years at a time because if we grew THAT much food then the price would come down too much. The owners of that land just collect the revenue and leave it barren.
Is that where they grow the Prius batteries?0 -
Woah there! In many countries, having more children means more hands to help till your farm, help with your business, look after you in old age when there/'s no old age pension system.
I am seriously dropping my jaw at some of the responses on here - are you really saying "Well I'm American and so I'm Ok and I really don't give 2 ***s about some dirt eating family on the other side of the world who I'll never have the misfortune to meet..."
Have we NO concept of one world? We are all human beings, surely we owe some duty of compassion to try to ensure that those who live in unacceptable conditions which could be made better have a glimmer of hope that those on whom fortune, destiny, or just damn luck has smiled will spare some crumbs their way.
Where's the 'like' button in this damn programme?0
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