O Blog Action Day [En] é um dia no qual blogueiros de todo o mundo se concentram em falar sobre um mesmo assunto específico em seus respectivos blogues. O tópico do ano de 2008 é a pobreza. Este dia encoraja a discussão global e leva a campanhas e conscientização a respeito da questão à volta do mundo.
DPfinnie [En] escreve:
It's very easy when one lives in comfort to feel moved and send a fiver to whichever charity happens to spring to mind, but to actually get up and do something practical about addressing poverty, its underlying causes and its symptoms takes real comitment and dedication.
A blogueira e jornalista sul-africana Damaria Senne [En] oferece algumas dicas sobre como você pode fazer a diferença:
You can serve as a role model in your community, inspiring young people so they can see that success for people in their community is possible. As a budding writer, I so wanted to meet a Motswana writer, or a Black South African writer, just so my dream could look more real. If they could earn living as a writer, it would mean it was possible for me to do the same.
Com a atual crise econômica global pairando sobre nós, Naeem se pergunta se a pobreza e a crise econômica podem ser resolvidos pelo sistema financeiro islâmico [En]:
Islam views the economic problem in a radically different way than Capitalism and Socialism. Islam focuses on the distribution of wealth not just the production. The problem of poverty will not be solved by producing more and more for the rich to consume rather it will be solved by ensuring that basic needs of every individual are satisfied completely. There are enough resources in the world to satisfy the basic needs of everyone
Sci-Cultra [En] lança um olhar um bocado interessante sobre a pobreza e as razões por trás dela, partindo de uma perspectiva econômica:
It is a fact learned through hands-on experience that hand-outs (aka aid) don’t work. The irony of the G8 nations is that they are part of the problem, by endorsing the unfair trade rules that then lead them to debating how much aid to give; plus give loans that are inextricably tied to extortionate interest rates, which are in some cases passed on to profit-making vulture funds, e.g. in Zambia. This is like smiling at someone in a friendly manner and beckoning to hug them whilst simultaneously locating a tender place in-between their ribs on their back to drive in your knife.
Pumelela Nqelenga [En] pede à juventude para se levantar e agir contra a pobreza:
We must stand for others and show the world what our ancestors meant when they spoke about “ubuntu”. I also call upon my own generation, the youth, to see that we too have the power to bring change, just the same why our parents did in the Soweto uprisings. We too have a page to fill in the history books, a chapter that writes about a generation that fought for equality and poverty. I call for a change!!
Open Technologist [En] escreve sobre usar o software de código aberto para combater a pobreza:
The Mifos Initiative program is using open source software to create a service model that increases access to technology for microfinance institutions, allowing them to reach the worlds poor. Microfinance is a program whereby poor people are granted small loans (less than $200) to start and sustain small business like the Villiage Phone Program.
Loy Okezie [En], blogando da Nigéria, sugere formas de usar a tecnologia e as mídias sociais para aumentar a conscientização sobre a pobreza:
Using recent web technologies, we can at least together reduce poverty in Africa and around the world. The new web space offers a great opportunity in the fight against poverty. Let me now share some of the newest web technologies that could be used to take action against poverty.
Ignatius Nothnagel [En] da Cidade do Cabo, na África do Sul, nos conta sobre como uma velha senhora que mal tinha dinheiro para leite ou pão quase foi jogada para fora de uma loja:
My jaw drops. “She's what? Banned?” I look puzzled for a second, “From the most lower-class shopping market we have?” At this point the lady bursts into tears and I have to fight the urge to dodge what is now turning into a Scene.
Kerry-Anne [En] escreve sobre a pobreza na África do Sul:
The percentage of households living below the poverty line decreased from 53% in 1995 to 48% in 2005. The poverty line is set at R322 per person per month. That's the cost of a restaurant meal for two here in South Africa. Read that again. Almost HALF of the people in our country have to cover ALL their living expenses out of LESS than the amount we spend on a single dinner. Sobering, isn't it?
1 comentário
Nós temos que e mostrar ao mundo a nossa capacidade de mudança. Reconhecer que temos poder para isso, precisamos participar de maneira fundamentada, investigada e não agir polemicamente, com frases feitas e ideais sem história, sem capítulo. Eu imploro, “Vamos mudar”, sem questionar a posição do outro, mas vamos igualar os interesses pelo melhor. A probreza do mundo é visível e a capacidade do mundo mudar isso existe, só falta atitude.