Allow me to begin by asking a question...
Who is this particular entry (ethical implication/responsibility of development) for? Is it for us? It must be...It certainly isn't for the people we are helping as they are unlikely to have received an invite to this particular weblog. In this same vein it is unlikely for our philosophical or developmental enemies, as well.
So why justify it if only to ourselves? Fellow Wagnerds are unlikely to call one another out for faux-public service between all the back-patting; in front of one another at least. Perhaps it's the West Guilt (see: younger more celebratized cousin of White Guilt, also still prevalent; see western world) in which we acknowledge the glamorous or the, as Natasha may put it, "sexy" nature of international aid that so often trumps funding the single non-English speaking mothers of the Bronx in becoming gainfully employed. We now also acknowledge that a sizeable portion of the aid necessary is in response to shortsightedness, lack of cooperation with and/or direct exploitation of the under-resourced countries throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America. Not to mention the travesties that have beset the US (see: Detroit, Michigan) following the same model of success. However the exploitations and shortcomings don't seem to get the same pr attention that the ground-breaking and the church-building and the vaccine deliveries do. Interesting...
Recently I went to an absolutely lovely restaurant to enjoy (nothing short of elitist) hot-pot with some amazing people to discuss opportunities and the subsequent impacts we will have when visiting Shanghai this summer; and I had to walk over at least two homeless people sitting in the cold to get there. Moreover, I will likely refuse many dozens more of my pithy donations which I justify by my pricey (but worth it ;D) trip to the new Mecca of urbanization...
...This trip shall make me a more effective public servant for the under-resourced!! He proudly and altruistically thought to himself as he hurried past a homeless man reeking of urine asking for help...
That sounds like public service the same way that profit-seeking sounds like healthcare.
This makes me think of Illich (To Hell with Good Intentions), when he calls Americans, excuse me, United States-ians, the height of arrogance in that we would "aid" countries while the US is littered with problems relatively no different than any society on Earth.
So the question becomes...
How can I, as someone who sees social problems every few blocks in my everyday life, ethically justify leaving this land to fight the problems of somewhere/one else?
PROs) share best practices and avoid same mistakes;
Early intervention = larger impact & cost saving;
Plant the seed so grows the tree, etc;
Global community/ were all brothers and sisters.
CONs) people are content with or believe it too labor intensive to change the institutions that regulate social wealth and stratum in the US;
International efforts make for a highly-visible and therefore praiseworthy aid venue;
Not to mention the indoctrination that the west superimposes on the world, even by the least biased US anthropology student who may be blogging right now, thinking how he is exempt from all this because he REALLY understands the people...
All this post-development NGO band-"aid"-ing meanwhile, is reinforcing the developers and governments/agencies that have established these ineffective, biased or false institutions that they can continue at the current trajectory unimpeded.
That’s my conflict...
Also, and finally, the fact that oil drilling, mineral excavation, etc. is still seen as a viable source of sustainable development is so consumption-based it borders on childish. I could not agree with Lomborg more (...Yes, if we listen to green extremists) that UN money should shift from fluff global warming projects (much of which is likely earmarked anyhow) to serious large-scale renewable energy-namely solar. Moreover, the next slew of public service jobs will most definitely be green inspired and will eventually lead to tech and blue-collar jobs alike through invention and the everyday maintenance, respectfully. Once we acknowledge that the earth is finite AND THAT EFFECTS HUMANS ON EARTH then and only then will we begin to truly view ourselves as consumers and seek actual sustainability....whatever that means...
Recent Comments