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Live 8: G8 -- Justice vs Charity


This weekend saw the Live 8 concerts - on the 20th anniversary of Live Aid - which aimed to send a message to the leaders of the G8.

The message was about making poverty history, about fair trade about trade justice and not charity.

Did it work? Will it work? Can we really eradicate poverty through the very well meaning actions of a bunch of musicians, a handful of actors and millions of us ordinary folk. Will the G8 leaders succumb - even though it isn't in their country's best interests?
 

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Login to find out (July 11, 2005 at 10:38pm)
Shazia: I once DID NOT sleep with a certain gal when I could have. I'm the walking, talking, living, breathing epitome of altruism! (H)
 
Login to find out (July 11, 2005 at 6:36pm)
The Origin of Virtue... cool book... talks about altruism, very interesting approach to how human beings define and can/can't be truly altruistic
 
Login to find out (July 11, 2005 at 5:37pm)
I believe that genuine altruism exists, but I have doubts as to whether Allah(S) encourages such a lifestyle. In Islam there is great emphasis on marriage as it is often suggested as the fulfillment of half of one's deen. There is also prescription for spending what one's budget allows; not to overspend, but not to over-hoard either, as Allah(S) wants us to enjoy what he has blessed us with. By this token, I would think that asceticism is discouraged. And if one is to be married and raise a family, it is unfair to their relatives to be deprived of their time in lieu of altruistic efforts for the rest of mankind. If you look at history, some of the world's greatest leaders had less than exemplary offspring b/c they probably did not devote enough attention to the healthy upbringing of their kids. But then again, many revolutionary causes would have been lost had these leaders not sacrificed the well-being of their kids.
 
Login to find out (July 11, 2005 at 4:12pm)
i do believe in alturism. i think all the true martyrs are alturistic. the mom who gives her life for her baby's... there was this Catholic saint in WWII who was in the concentration camp and gave his life so a jewish man was "saved"... i have a gazillion stories... and some do not believe in God, so heaven can't be their motivation. I think Mother Theresa is an example - i think she helped others and gave up everything for others - purely for others.
 
Login to find out (July 11, 2005 at 3:47pm)
is anything genuinely altruistic? come on, prove me wrong - at the moment i haven't come across anything that is
 
Login to find out (July 11, 2005 at 10:41am)
the path of altruism is not always a healthy one. but neither is the motivation to help others out of fear of an unfortunate fate as a means of punishment by the higher force or helping others with the expectation of help in return, etc. some ppl are just plain selfish and calculative in their interactions with others.
 
Login to find out (July 9, 2005 at 8:32am)
i agree with y'all. it's sad how morality and religion have become an obsessive-compulsive exercise for some people. Mystic, good deal w/ the "psychological egoism." it's different than selfish-ness as it is an orientation for the common good whereas the latter is a pursuit for the individual good and an inability to derive happiness from the well-being of others.
 
Login to find out (July 8, 2005 at 12:26pm)
true dat shazia - we should do something because it is good in and of itself, not because others or a religion told us.
 
Login to find out (July 7, 2005 at 3:19pm)
i agree with you also. there are so many people who say they do things and do not do things because of religion. but it sometimes seems that they may believe they have found God but in doing so, switched off their own brain and their ability to think and reason.

we'd all be much better if we actually considered our behaviour - whether good or bad. and thought through the consequences of our deeds onto others around us.

i of course am much better at saying this than practising...
 
Login to find out (July 7, 2005 at 12:51pm)
i agree with you ramsey... doing something for heaven is a very childish and undeveloped sense of morality and actions.
 
Login to find out (July 7, 2005 at 12:49pm)
manas - Socrates said that we are all selfish by our very nature (he called it "psychological egoism") but that it was GOOD! That true selfishness is wanting the best for yourself - happiness... however, in order to be truly happy, all those around you must be happy as well ... as the famous saying goes, "no man is an island"... therefore, we MUST look out for others FIRST and as a RESULT, we will necessarily be caring for ourselves. It is fairly recent that the word "selfish" had negative connotations. I, personally, like and agree with psychological egoism. :)
 
Login to find out (July 6, 2005 at 8:29pm)
not entirely. but my initial reaction is to always be skeptical of the motives. in the end, one's true motives are only to be known by them and the higher force. on that note, is performing charitable, philanthropic acts a mark of selfishness if one does it out of fear of punishment by Allah(S) rather than the love for humanity?
 
Login to find out (July 6, 2005 at 4:20am)
It's cynical b/c I have lost faith in the notion that people do good things simply for the sake of helping others.
 
Login to find out (July 4, 2005 at 7:03pm)
Not to be a total cynic, but I'm sure that many celebrities take part in these kinds of efforts for PR reasons...and of course the tax law in most countries supports charity so not all "giving" has its roots in selfless-ness.
 
Login to find out (July 4, 2005 at 7:02pm)
In my mind, the status of the less fortunate stems from the following: 1) that there is an imbalance in the economic system of the country 2) through their actions (drug habits or sloth) or 3) tragic circumstances beyond their control AND/OR 4), the lack of gratitude and spirituality amongst the more financially blessed. While the efforts of others to better the living conditions of the less fortunate may take care of 1,2 and 4.....#3 remains beyond the control of all and will always be around as a trial mechanism imposed by the higher force.....a trial mechanism for the needy and those in a position to help them.
 
Login to find out (July 4, 2005 at 1:04pm)
yep Mystic, all those little drops of water make up an ocean - so we'll see. and Ramsey, you said it... ah i long for a more innocent age. undimmed by cynicism.
 
Login to find out (July 4, 2005 at 1:03pm)
i heard a clip of GWB speaking on the radio about G8 and the expectations. i dont believe that people power - when it comes to those of Africans of well intentioned Westerners would move him. he was elected on the mandate of America first, second and third. how can anyone seriously expect him to behave differently?

lastly, blair deserves this public humiliation. the so called 'special relationship' is one of master and slave, dog and owner. as GWB said, it's no quid pro quo at all...
 
Login to find out (July 3, 2005 at 7:35pm)
I do not believe in consequentialism, but even if the impact is short-lived, the effort was made and maybe a FEW people were/are able to wake up and see beyond their own bubble and at the grave situation of the majority of the Worlds population and systems. I think it is great. it is always good to try to make a difference with good intentions!!!!!!