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Cheeseman1000
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
Iceland
8201 Posts |
 Posted - 07/10/2004 : 16:47:02
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As you may have guessed, this is unlikely to turn into silly banter...
I've been watching one of these big charity drives on TV, and though I usually abhor this kind of glitzy approach to charity, it did bring home to me that there are some serious problems in the world today.
There is an AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa that far outstrips any knowledge you think you have of the problem.
The large majority of the population of the Indian sub-continent are living in abject poverty, begging and working in horrendous conditions for virtually nothing to feed their children.
Apart from examples, there is unparalleled inequality in the world, the rich (and that includes most of us here, like it or not) live in comparative luxury, are healthy and well nourished, and can expect both themselves and their children to have some sort of a future. Those below the poverty line may exist without shelter, food or medicine, and have no chance of escaping from this situation.
I'm sorry to bring down the mood here, but I guess this is an important subject. What do you think caused this? My guess is that its all mankind's fault. I don't really know how to expand on that, but I think somewhere along the line, we're to blame.
The other question: what can be done about this?
I have no answer to this one.
Kind regards,
Dr. Simon
Specialist In Broken Hearts |
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deleted
4894 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2004 : 17:52:01
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I think man kind is to blame. We're far too greedy, it's like the simple idea of communism, the communism you try to explain to your kids about everyone having the same thing and been equal, thats a fucking great idea, it'll never work though because we don't as a race want to be equal, there are greedy people and people who need to feel superior.
Malaria, dengue, yellow fever all prevelant diseases, all prevelant in the african countries in particular, all kill millions a year. MILLIONS. Malaria is the biggest killer, more people a year die from malaria than any other cause. Where does the money go to in the treatment and containment of these diseases though... in vaccines.. which is great!? Right? Wrong.. the vaccines are for the people who travel to these places not for the people who live there. Make no sense? Well, when working out the possible good a vaccine would do for africa say you have to take into account many factors of the endemic epidemic, spread, prevelance etc, and it is calculated that to make africa malaria free every person born there would have to be vaccinated within the first few weeks afer birth or it just would not work. They are in fact better off unvaccinated and allowed to develop herd immunity (that's a techie term not mine)...
There was that marvellous pesticide.. name escapes me.. grr..that seemed like a wonder-chemical.. malaria again is passed on only by mature female mosquito's as it is near the end of the life cycle that the parasite is formes within the mossie. This pesticide targeted only those that were past child bearing age so there was no reason for the mossies to develop resistance... untill large plantations began to use it... and used it a lot... and let it run off into ditches and rivers where young female were spawning and there larvae where hatching... hence a need for evolutionary change and adaption via resistnce.... greed getting in the way of good deeds....
I was told by a clever man that the best possible way of ridding these pathogens in africa would be to set up a series of traps every 100 meters or so with a missie attractant in and lure them all away from biting people. The only problem with this th government found the bright blue material used to make the traps were stolen and so the traps were pulled because of the cost of posting security...
yet we still pump millions into anti-malaria drugs for the tourists..
grand world isn't it... Bit of Bill for ya'
Here's what we can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride. Take all that money that we spend on weapons and defences each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace.
Frank Black ate my Hamster
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deleted
4894 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2004 : 17:55:16
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oops... tre ranted... i just remember being really incensed by this at uni, it made me mad that anti malaria drugs for tourists and chemicals for plantations were profitable hance ok, and traps for bugs that would actually help the country were non profitable.. in fact expensive... so bad..
Frank Black ate my Hamster
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offerw
* Dog in the Sand *
South Africa
1264 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2004 : 01:21:18
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It is a sad truth, if there was a profit to be made more people would have cared.
These problems are all extremely complex, you need education, money and politicians all working together towards solving these problems. From where I am standing I'd say we're a long way away from seeig that happen. Not in my lifetime I'm sorry to say.
wilhelm |
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Homers_pet_monkey
= Official forum monkey =
United Kingdom
17125 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2004 : 04:33:55
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Without a shadow of a doubt, man is 100% responsible for these problems. We have to take responsibility, who else is going to? God?
Man is a vile creature at times. More vile than any other.
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If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you. |
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World Problems
