I have just seen one of those adds they normally put on TV around lunch time or dinner time – the ones that try and make you feel guilty about the plight of some orphan or undernourished kids from the third world. I’m sorry, but I hate these ads and will never be paying any money for their cause.
It’s not that I don’t think children around the world should be nurtured and looked after, it’s that whay are the adults in these places making babies when there is absolutely no chance that they will ever be able to provide for them. Before you yell at me about me being anti poor, don’t bother – I’m not. If all that was missing was the money, but the general support and welfare systems were in place to help families, go for it. But nothing is in place for these people at all. There is no welfare, no shelter, no medical help – nothing. Why then would you bring a child into this earth if they are doomed to suffering.
What has entrenched my view on this subject is the fact I remember these appeals when I was a kid. Over twenty years later and nothing has changed – except now they have slicker ads. I guarantee that in another 20 years they will still have ads like these.
Where have all the billions of dollars raised over the years gone? While there have been small improvements in some places, the problem is still endemic and I can’t see the point of wasting more money.
What I want to know is how much money is spent on teaching the populatioon about birth control. How much is being spent on getting these people to hold off on having baby after baby when there is nothing to support these children.
And finally, why should I pay to support another country’s children when the leaders of that country are inavriably living in luxury. If you can’t look after your own population don’t come bug us to do it for you.
Harsh I know. But thats my view.