I loved this article. Really hits at the problem we're trying to solve. We find these 6 questions helpful to ask if you should (or shouldn't) volunteer your skills overseas: blog.movingworlds.org/6-questions-to-ask-yourself-before-volunteering-overseas/
Why I stopped being a voluntourist
171–180 of 186 posts
Re: Why I stopped being a voluntourist
#172White people are finally starting to "get it". http://youtu.be/dyf2Cf5GkTY See Dambisa Moyo's interview about her book "Dead Aid" The statistics showing how aid is actually hurting African countries and not allowing them to develop on their own the way the rest of the world has.
Bill Gates fights incredibly hard to try to prove that aid is incredibly effective and considers this a "myth" to be dispelled. What do you think about the concept?
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Re: Why I stopped being a voluntourist
#173Earlier quoted context omitted.
China is the second largest single country economy on earth and growing. They will be completely covered with healthcare in the next 10 years. They are the largest holders of gold on earth, hold the largest amount of debt from the US. They are developing, but as a nation, they are not poor. > Blaming westernized companies (by which I mean both western companies and local companies like Reliance/Infosys that try to ru…
> China is the second largest single country economy on earth and growing. Having the second largest GDP doesn't mean much if you have more than 10x as many people as number three on the list.
Agreed. But I am talking from a "Wealth of Nations" perspective rather than a per-capita basis. The brand, "China" is not poor and is only getting richer, not saying anything else than that. There are certainly poor people in China and will be for some time to come.
Re: Why I stopped being a voluntourist
#174Earlier quoted context omitted.
> But drop me in India and I'm suddenly a crazy feminist ranting against rape culture (FYI India has one, the US doesn't). So none of those men in US jails and prisons are being raped? You should enjoy another country without imposing your values on them, it is OK for you to like or love your way of life, you are absolutely allowed to be proud, and so are they. What is not in good taste is assuming your way is always…
On the topic of men in prison, the US does indeed have a rape culture. I thought it was clear from context that I'm using the term the way western feminists do, but I guess I should have been explicit. Of the specific business practices I suggested, which one do you believe is not a good way to make money? I'm not sure why you use the term "impose". I'm a guy with a laptop, I have no power to impose anything on anyon…
> On the topic of men in prison, the US does indeed have a rape culture. I thought it was clear from context that I'm using the term the way western feminists do, but I guess I should have been explicit.
I am afraid it wasn't clear. I do not have all the same cultural references and opinions you do. I saw the phrase "the US does not have a rape culture" and I thought, that sounded a little finger pointy. That's all, I suppose that drives an urge in me to point the finger back. Glass houses and all that. I can agree with some of what you say, especially when you said you meant "modern", not "western" as I think we have different definitions for the latter.
Perhaps my opinion is driven from a colonial history of my country and your country has less of that. Anyway, I have a feeling if we went further down this rabbit hole we would end up seeing eye to eye on many things, I'll draw this one up to a simple cultural misunderstanding, not of you in India, but of you and I. So with that, I won't take up any more of your time.
Re: Why I stopped being a voluntourist
#175Earlier quoted context omitted.
China is the second largest single country economy on earth and growing. They will be completely covered with healthcare in the next 10 years. They are the largest holders of gold on earth, hold the largest amount of debt from the US. They are developing, but as a nation, they are not poor. > Blaming westernized companies (by which I mean both western companies and local companies like Reliance/Infosys that try to ru…
Are you seriously using the most westernised Asian country as an example of non western business practices?
I was just picking a country that seemed to me to be as good a country as any, with their own methods of law, their own values etc. who has remained productive as a nation.
I think I may be learning I might not have the same definition of "western" as some people. I had always imagined Western as referring to Western Europe and the US but now I think there is a colloquial phrasing that uses western as a synonym for modern. If that is the case I think this next century is about to get really confusing...
Re: Why I stopped being a voluntourist
#176Earlier quoted context omitted.
This sounds like a great approach to the problem but how would one go about finding those people? Were you thinking SME level or street vendor level?
Sounds like step one: solve the meta-problem. Be the one who finds those people, so you can inform others who want to find them. I appreciate the issue. Having found a source of cubic meters of free fresh bread weekly, finding a charity willing & able to take it proved a significant problem. Just cataloging available/interested charities & entrepreneurs, and advertising the list, would be very helpful.
What were the difficulties in getting charities taking the bread? I mean, were they logistical problems? Were they worried about some increased risk or was it simply a case of bad admin?
Re: Why I stopped being a voluntourist
#177Earlier quoted context omitted.
Are you seriously using the most westernised Asian country as an example of non western business practices?
I was just picking a country that seemed to me to be as good a country as any, with their own methods of law, their own values etc. who has remained productive as a nation. I think I may be learning I might not have the same definition of "western" as some people. I had always imagined Western as referring to Western Europe and the US but now I think there is a colloquial phrasing that uses western as a synonym for m…
Western as in "white people showed up and ran everything". (like singapore, or Hong Kong)
Japan before WWII but after the West showed up, based it's whole economy and work system on Germany, after WWII it was essentially run by the US. They are completely "Western" (as in white people) when it comes to their way of business and economy.
Re: Why I stopped being a voluntourist
#178Earlier quoted context omitted.
I was just picking a country that seemed to me to be as good a country as any, with their own methods of law, their own values etc. who has remained productive as a nation. I think I may be learning I might not have the same definition of "western" as some people. I had always imagined Western as referring to Western Europe and the US but now I think there is a colloquial phrasing that uses western as a synonym for m…
Western as in "white people showed up and ran everything". (like singapore, or Hong Kong) Japan before WWII but after the West showed up, based it's whole economy and work system on Germany, after WWII it was essentially run by the US. They are completely "Western" (as in white people) when it comes to their way of business and economy.
I think you need to google salaryman. There is nothing equivalent in any Western country, not in scope, extent, social significance, prevalence. Nothing. It may be unique to Japan. The "Organization Man" was as close as the West ever got and it's been a long time since most professional business people worked like that, if they ever did.
Re: Why I stopped being a voluntourist
#179Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sounds like step one: solve the meta-problem. Be the one who finds those people, so you can inform others who want to find them. I appreciate the issue. Having found a source of cubic meters of free fresh bread weekly, finding a charity willing & able to take it proved a significant problem. Just cataloging available/interested charities & entrepreneurs, and advertising the list, would be very helpful.
What were the difficulties in getting charities taking the bread? I mean, were they logistical problems? Were they worried about some increased risk or was it simply a case of bad admin?
I can't speak for those charities, but I have experience with helping run an animal shelter. Some things to keep in mind with donations like this:
* What's the bread's shelf life?
* Will there always be X amount of bread? How much notice will the charity have if it's no longer available?
* Will the bread be delivered, or does the charity need to find a volunteer to pick it up?
* What are the costs of disposing of unused bread? Will the extra bread take up enough space in the dumpster to overflow and incur charges?
* Is someone going to throw a tantrum/cause bad publicity if they find out we're not using all the bread?
* What's the bread's nutritional content? Is it consistent?
Re: Why I stopped being a voluntourist
#180Earlier quoted context omitted.
FYI, kiva is a scam (in as much as the company is incompetent) that primarily props up predatory lenders in other countries
Great. Now here's the question. What's better, having loans available at high interest, or having no loans available at all? I'll go with the former.
It's not clear that the presence or absence of kiva affects the calculus at all.