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U.S. Malaria Donations Saved Almost 2M African Children

nytimes.com

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Re: U.S. Malaria Donations Saved Almost 2M African Children

#31

Post by madiathomas »

mrkrab wrote: post #25
HenryTheHorse wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Really, don't get me wrong You're offering a most disingenuous argument. Would a pediatric hospital in a relatively poorer town in the US ask the same question while treating a child?

Moving food to a poor town in the US from somewhere else is a trivial task. Africa has its own set of problems.

Please help me understand. Why would Africans need unhealthy, pesticide-infested food from America? Unless it is a country ravaged with wars, sponsored by the same, America? We can grow our own food.

Re: U.S. Malaria Donations Saved Almost 2M African Children

#32

Post by tomjen3 »

lucb1e wrote: post #10

Now the devil's question: how are we going to feed all the people that survive because of this? Really, don't get me wrong, it's fantastic that lives are being saved. The amount of grief being spared by this, by not losing a child for so many families, is unimaginable. I am just wondering if we are not creating an even bigger problem by solving this problem before the other.

We are going to feed them with part of the work of two million children who will grow up to be farmers, artisans, cooks, bakers, school teachers, doctors, etc.

Humans are (on average) a net plus to society. Feeding them is not an issue, we already have the technology.

Re: U.S. Malaria Donations Saved Almost 2M African Children

#33

Post by tomjen3 »

someSven wrote: post #19

This will kill the rainforrest in Africa. Because the survivors will use it for bushmeat, wood, jobs, fields for cows, ...

That is not true, but even if it were: fuck the rain forrest. What we are talking about here is peoples children.

Re: U.S. Malaria Donations Saved Almost 2M African Children

#35

Post by madiathomas »

DenisM wrote: post #28
lucb1e wrote: post #10

Now the devil's question: how are we going to feed all the people that survive because of this? Really, don't get me wrong, it's fantastic that lives are being saved. The amount of grief being spared by this, by not losing a child for so many families, is unimaginable. I am just wondering if we are not creating an even bigger problem by solving this problem before the other.

What's with the downvotes? The question is asked in good faith and it produced an interesting discussion. Would y'all prefer for the author to remain silent with his thoughts, and for the opposing arguments to remain untold?

If I had enough clout to downvote, I was going to do so. I was going to do so because the comment is totally ignorant. I don't know who is feeding people around the world this misinformation that African people are all dying of hunger and waiting for food aid.

Re: U.S. Malaria Donations Saved Almost 2M African Children

#36

Post by dmoy »

pavlov wrote: post #14
lucb1e wrote: post #10

Now the devil's question: how are we going to feed all the people that survive because of this? Really, don't get me wrong, it's fantastic that lives are being saved. The amount of grief being spared by this, by not losing a child for so many families, is unimaginable. I am just wondering if we are not creating an even bigger problem by solving this problem before the other.

Improving women's education and children's health is probably the best way to reduce uncontrolled population growth. Wanted, healthy children are more likely to grow up to be productive adults.

RIP hans rosling, I still see his bubble charts and excited babbling in my head any time this comes up. Seems like a very reasonable explanation.

Re: U.S. Malaria Donations Saved Almost 2M African Children

#37

Post by kodfodrasz »

tomjen3 wrote: post #33
someSven wrote: post #19

This will kill the rainforrest in Africa. Because the survivors will use it for bushmeat, wood, jobs, fields for cows, ...

That is not true, but even if it were: fuck the rain forrest. What we are talking about here is peoples children.

> fuck the rain forrest. What we are talking about here is peoples children.

tell this to those whose children die of hunger because of climate change.

Re: U.S. Malaria Donations Saved Almost 2M African Children

#38

Post by ckarmann »

dotancohen wrote: post #21
someSven wrote: post #19

This will kill the rainforrest in Africa. Because the survivors will use it for bushmeat, wood, jobs, fields for cows, ...

A friend of mine once retitled a similar headline "U.S. Malaria Donations create an additional 2M starving Africans". I'll not add _my_ opinion of the matter, but I would love to see intelligent discussion on the matter. Is saving lives from disease just putting these same people on the path to starvation?

No, because at the same time, starvation is decreasing even though population is increasing. It's not a problem of too many people.

You don't create a self-sustainable economy by destroying human capital.

Re: U.S. Malaria Donations Saved Almost 2M African Children

#39

Post by jonathanjaeger »

I don't know if this is a hard/cold way of looking at things, but I want a bang for my back in donating to charity. I've (almost) exclusively give to malaria foundations.

Even if you don't want to give, set your Amazon to smile.amazon and it will donate a very small portion of your purchases to the charity of your choice. It may add up to $50-$100 in money given on your behalf over time.

Re: U.S. Malaria Donations Saved Almost 2M African Children

#40

Post by madiathomas »

someSven wrote: post #19

This will kill the rainforrest in Africa. Because the survivors will use it for bushmeat, wood, jobs, fields for cows, ...

Ignorance on this comment is on another level. Please find some time and visit Africa. Stop learning about Africa from charity organisations who want to swindle you of your hard-earned cash. Obviously they will portray a bleak picture so that you can donate. We don't live in bushes. We have cities and some of us have a better quality of life than most people in the Western countries.
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