Here in the Southern Sudan programme, we have had a tough week (not even considering the arrest warrant of President Bashir which I hope to write about later). We have faced some disappointments from multiple donors which we haven’t experienced in the last couple of years. Some have cut our funding, some have cut our projects completely. Who knows why – a plethora of reasons, I’m sure. Some of it can be attributable to the fact that aid work in Southern Sudan is trapped in this little place called “transition” and donors don’t know if they are supporting relief work or development work. It’s a bit like being an 11 or 12 year old girl –you don’t want to wear kid clothes because they seem too babyish but you can’t really fit into junior/adult clothes. It’s uncomfortable. I say – food is food, a vaccination is a vaccination and a latrine is a latrine – but in the donor world, there is a need to categorise this into relief or development work and these two are sometimes personified as fierce competitors and often times take different priorities in the eyes of the donors.
All of this brings me to my thought, “Why is it so difficult to save lives?” Ok, maybe this is slightly dramatic – but “Why is it so difficult to provide basic services to the most underserved people in the world?” Yes, I’m aware a large part of the world is experiencing a recession which is unlike any time in recent decades. And I know the markets are affecting everyone, even the wealthiest, but I would still argue that there are some very rich people out there. Actors, musicians, professional athletes, heirs and heiresses, to name a few.
There should be an agency that pairs the richest people, companies or trusts with the neediest people (preferably those being served by Tearfund in Southern Sudan). This would be the epitome of “spread the wealth,” wouldn’t it? Sure celebrities are involved in humanitarian efforts. Angelina Jolie, Ben Affleck, and Matt Dillon, among others, advocate on issues relating to East Africa all the time – but in the famous words of Jerry McGuire “Show me the money.”
I’m calling on my blog readers. Who do we know? My cousin Jennifer has had multiple run-ins with famous people – she is a celebrity magnet –but I don’t think she’s been close enough to ask for a million or ten million dollar check. I have always believed in the six degrees of separation theory so I’m urging everyone to please examine all your degrees – surely there is someone out there with a big stash of money that they want to use to save lives. $1,000,000 would be a good start.
All of this brings me to my thought, “Why is it so difficult to save lives?” Ok, maybe this is slightly dramatic – but “Why is it so difficult to provide basic services to the most underserved people in the world?” Yes, I’m aware a large part of the world is experiencing a recession which is unlike any time in recent decades. And I know the markets are affecting everyone, even the wealthiest, but I would still argue that there are some very rich people out there. Actors, musicians, professional athletes, heirs and heiresses, to name a few.
There should be an agency that pairs the richest people, companies or trusts with the neediest people (preferably those being served by Tearfund in Southern Sudan). This would be the epitome of “spread the wealth,” wouldn’t it? Sure celebrities are involved in humanitarian efforts. Angelina Jolie, Ben Affleck, and Matt Dillon, among others, advocate on issues relating to East Africa all the time – but in the famous words of Jerry McGuire “Show me the money.”
I’m calling on my blog readers. Who do we know? My cousin Jennifer has had multiple run-ins with famous people – she is a celebrity magnet –but I don’t think she’s been close enough to ask for a million or ten million dollar check. I have always believed in the six degrees of separation theory so I’m urging everyone to please examine all your degrees – surely there is someone out there with a big stash of money that they want to use to save lives. $1,000,000 would be a good start.
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