Re: The Davos Question

[cadoo13]

it's really a shame how obesity is common is america...yet starvation is common in countries such as iraq and africa. the really sad this is no matter how much money we donate...it just isn't enough to wipe out full hunger and poverty. but atleast to whomever the money goes 2, it's appreciated :)

---sorry for the spelling.

[danbergam]

Don't be sorry for anything, I agree with you, it's a shame that we waste all that food we don't really need, while all of them have not enough for to survive...

About the money we donate, I'd say it's a matter of how this money is used: I think that if it's used for to build anything, improve anything, in perspective, it's always needed!

Thank you for stopping by!

[Jolt70]

I agree, but your missing something. We have helped them and continue to help them. We have spent millions, possibly billions, sending food, medical aide, etc... If we used that money to develop an economic system they wouldn't need help anymore. They don't try to help themselves because they know we will help them. That is not their fault, it's ours. If we don't show them any other way than that is all they know.

[danbergam]

You know, the video needed to be short: but I talk about helping them "to build their own future".

Yes, to simply feed them is not enough; is not even so respectful of their status of human beings, having nothing less (in terms of capabilities) than the other ones.

About the reason why many may seem not willing to help themselves... well, if I lived in their conditions, since ever, maybe I'd end too seeing no future, no reason for to hope in better days... I'd feel definitely abandoned, maybe.

[danbergam]

It's just what white race did... it's what the richest nations do to the poorest ones.

We need to stop doing it, we need to change our attitude.

"Decimation of evil white race"? This would not really repair what white race did... and would generate other hate.

But hate destroys... it doesn't build anything.

And... my race is white: many, many like me have understood all these things.

[thegentilehunter]

when i talk about ego i talk about that same ego that gun owners "*not bagging guns"* that makes them say that they have the right to kill home invaders, to save them $200 of property or a bit of security.

[danbergam]

Yes, even a thief is a human being and its life values more than each possible property...

You know, I'm quite scared by this chance people have to own weapons... sometimes they end being used for other reasons, for other purposes... this is what I fear, the rage we can find in ourselves, sometimes...

[thegentilehunter]

a friend told me that in America and I'm guessing in other western countries the minority's is in power so the main issues stopping action are money and anti-war supporters with no knowledge on what their talking about. now that i think of it the theory makes perfect sense because the western media would prefer to find and give minority groups heaps of air time even if they where .001% of the population, so with of air time brings on more influence and power.

[danbergam]

It's all revolving around money and power, for sure!

And it's always been like this, both on a little and big dimension: power and richness are in the hands of a very little minority.

And, usually and sadly, who has money and power is not so willing to share it with anyone else... :-\

[thegentilehunter]

so what must be done, people in western countries have such big egos and could never believe that their more important than the majority to the extent of giving away more than a small donation, to forcefully take away from the rich would be concidered as wrong, and other non-western countries could never beleive that their problems are less relevant than bigger but less direct ones.

[danbergam]

I think that if we all renounced to something little, each single day, we could help them a lot: I mean, I don't think we would really suffer renouncing, *all together*, to what may help them... but, then, simply giving money is not enough: it should be used in serious, long terms projects, I think...

[thegentilehunter]

the funny thing is most of the worst places for poverty, are quite fertile and in abundace of valuable resources, but they've been stricken by insergancey and really bad governments, but other countries would never fix the problems or send lots of peace makers, America's government can hardly invade hostile middle eastern countries with out ppl complaining let alone invade a country with nonthing to get out of it.

[danbergam]

Sometimes I have a malicious thought: if those countries, that often, as you say, are rich of valuable resources, were fully developed, it would be less easy/*cheap* for us, to have access to all of those resources: I mean, if someone is poor, desperate and uneducated, it's easier to convince it to sell you something for 1/10th of its real value... I hope I'm wrong.

[thegentilehunter]

i would agree that is done, but the main reason millarty force is not used much is it's expensive, potential genocide is worth little compared to making you citizens fell a little more secure. although the best resources like blood diamonds aren't sold by poor ppl their sold by rich rebels who've decided they want it all

[danbergam]

...and these rich labels keep all the money!

And, the power, there, is kept by few persons, and those millions persons kept in poverty and ignorance (not their fault, btw) have no voice in chapter...

:-/

Really, changes should occur on so many levels: I believe that all the nations together could do it, somehow, if they only wanted!

Isn't all this absurd? We plan to conquer the space and we don't want to fix things in our world! I know, political and economical reasons... :-\

[bob1qaz]

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[mrclown2001]

The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer, if all the countries in the world would use the money they spend on their armed forces, there would be no hunger and no poor. And we are the biggest one of them.

[danbergam]

Oh, we are all involved!

"If all the countries in the world"... right!

And yes, "the rich keep getting richer", and we know how this is achieved: saving as much money as possible. :-\

In short terms, helping them (in a serious way) is probably seen as a useless waste of money: instead, in long terms, I'm sure they would be able to greatly contribute to this humanity: avoiding to help them we kinda condemn ourselves...

Thank you for your opinion! :-)

[KOB127]

there is something written in the bible it says give a hungry man a fish and he will be hungry for more teach the man to fish and he wont go hungry if we are to do anything for these people it would be to teach them to make it on there own

[danbergam]

Yes, exactly!

It's exactly what we should do: give them a chance for to make it on their own! :-)

[narsonra]

The great thing about this was that one village saw the rats grow in numbers and they could hunt them for food. See they were able to be self reliant. That is what THEY need. We can just be a stable ground for them and leave and leave them to fall. If that makes any sense... sorry :/

[danbergam]

This example was nice, for to show that they are able to be self reliant.

But what came to my mind was - Me, living in the western, civilized world... would I ever eat accept to eat a rat? -

The answer is - no -, of course.

Too many of them live in the same conditions we used to live... centuries ago?

It something that cannot be accepted, imho, especially considering that we often have more than we need!

It isn't... human.

Thank you for your opinion! :-)

[narsonra]

I honestly think I would need help if I was in their place. But also, we can't just go in there and give them things they would never be able to have once we left. You need to place something there that is a natural source almost. I heard of this one man when to Africa, it was a village in the Sahara, and they had no way to get food so he let hundreds of these little rats there (don't remember what breed).

[danbergam]

In facts, we can't go and simply... give them a fish!

If those nations were set free from dictators or inner battles for power, if there were houses, schools, hospitals (we can build them, but we can't ask to some missionaries to do it all!), if we were able to irrigate the desert (it's a matter of trying, I think)... they could do it!

The problem is that all of these "if" require money, but I have the impression that nobody is really ready to spend it...

:-(

[LocoWella]

I rly do agree with danbergam that 1 of the main issue is the flow of money that runs in and out of the world's countries, but if we are 2 put a finger on 1 singular basis for a growing nation, we must ask ourselves 'what makes a nation to prosper', and sadly I think what makes 'us' different from 'them' is that we have the ressources, they don't.

[danbergam]

Yes, desertification doesn't help: but they have diamonds, and beautiful places... and let's mention the most precious resource: people!

If they were granted an instruction and a "human" life, they'd be perfectly able to help themselves!

I think to all of the africans took away from their places, for to be reduced to slaves; nowadays, they contribute like anyone else to their nations: but instruction, better conditions and a chance... are the starting point.

Thnx! :-)

[ctpwns]

the reason why this won't work is only because empathy is merely a style now. there are so many who say that they feel sorry for others, but only because they were guilted into such thought by the real persons with empathy. Nice try, but sadly i doubt this will work

[danbergam]

Well, if empathy was the beginning from where we (single persons, istitutions) started to seriously plan something for to help them build their own future... it might mean *everything*!

[AverageJoe9]

You are so right.

We need to help others,

not just ourselves. like how

you answered a question with

questions....

Good video!

[danbergam]

Thank you very much: my point is that they are human beings like us... and we cannot simply turn our heads away and pretend we don't know about them...

Questions? Oh, they're perfect for to force who's watching/reading to search some kind of answer! ;-D

[KOB127]

AFRICA IS NOT PART OF THE USA if you give a shit about people dieing their then go help them yourself BE LIKE GONDI "Be the change you want to see in the world" and we are bombing Iraq mainly well THEY BOMBED US WITH OUR OWN PLANES!!!!!!! people need to be put in their places sometimes so THATS WHAT WE ARE DOING

[danbergam]

Yes, Africa is not part of the USA... but it's, however, part of the world!

Many missions go there, for to give help: but the whole, big problem, imho, may be solved only by all the nations together.

About bombing, I remember that September, 1... though, I still have doubts that going and bombing is the best solution: to throw bombs is like planting seeds of hate that may give poisoned flowers even years after...

It's just my opinion, by the way.

[DRDR3ADSA]

we are bombing Iraq mainly well THEY BOMBED US WITH OUR OWN PLANES!!!!!!!

when did iraq bomb you with your planes?

[danbergam]

"Well"? Sometimes bombs fall in the wrong place and innocent civilians lose their houses/lives: does this really repay all of the sorrows suffered that September 11?

And, is this justice? Justice, imho, should be to make pay only the persons guilty of a crime...

I have a heart, after all, so I can empathyze with what you have lived that Sept, 11... I just don't believe that a war may solve anything: it'll easily complicate everything, generating hate, not love.

But, what do we really need?

[KOB127]

I'm sorry this here is a crock of shit we need to help ourselves before we think about anyone else fuck those starving NOT OUR PROBLEM! we are at war lets get that done with before we start feeding people like babies

[danbergam]

It isn't about feeding them "like babies", but helping them building their own future with their own hands!

"Not our problem"? If you were in their place, would you accept excuses like - sorry, first we have to spend money in bombing someone else, - or, let say - in sending satellites in space for to photograph Saturn -?

Probably you would reply - are these things more important than *millions* human beings living (and dying) like this since decades? -

[KOB127]

Your on crack....First off I'm not in their place i really don't care what people are doing or how they are doing 100,000 miles away PLUS WE DON'T HAVE MONEY IN THE FIRST PLACE the U.S is Trillions of dollars in debt see you need to open your eyes and look on a globe or something

[AverageJoe9]

Or maybe you do. If everyone in the USA would donate lets say $10, we would have plenty of money to help others in other countries!

[AverageJoe9]

Or maybe you do. If everyone in the USA would donate lets say $10, we would have plenty of money to help others in other countries!

[danbergam]

First of all, I wasn't just talk about the U.S., but, more in general, about the richest nations.

I believe you when you talk about that trillions dollars debt... though, I see that a lot of money are spent and west in our western world...

I look on a globe: that's why I see those persons miles away!

[vinegarbar]

There is no way to fix the problem. Why? They live in a fucking desert and nothing grows there period. As the saying goes, better to teach someone to fish then to feed them. And we can't teach them to harvest because they LIVE IN A FUCKING DESERT. THE MORE FOOD WE GIVE THEM THE MORE STARVING CHIDREN THERE IS.

[1337BiOSHOCK]

Sam Kinison HBO Special LOL

[danbergam]

I agree with you, when you - better teach to someone to fish! -... it's just what we should do! Help them build their own future with their own hands!

Yeah, that desert is a big problem... though, I googled:

africa desert irrigation

and there are some projects for to irrigate, in a micro-scale, even the desert!

But I guess that these things require funds... it's all about money, in the end...

[930Paco]

we are the worlds greatest achievers but at the same time we are the greatest problem.

[danbergam]

Definitely, we can find in ourselves the most luminous goodness or the darkest evil... it's up to us to decide.

Thank you for your words!

[MickeJo]

Telling the world not to develop weapons is a non-solution cos it'll only work if every contry is unarmed. It will not happen. And therefor, contries have the right to defend themselves. The mass destruction weapons have probably saved more lives than killed because of the peace keeping role they play.

[danbergam]

Well, it was just an example of wasting of money (in my humble opinion, by the way! ^_^).

Yes, probably mass distruction weapons have helped keeping some kind of peace: but it's something based on fear, not on, let say, reciprocal respect...

Thank you for your opinion!

[unnamedfaggot]

um. maybe it's easy to say share. But letting go of riches will be quite hard for people who worked hard to earn that much. And even those who got theirs from illegal ways,I think, there will always be doubts. No man is pure. Since man lives with greed as his foundation. It's quite impossible.. (i just think so..)

[danbergam]

Sometimes it sets me ashamed to think... let's say, to the money involved in movie or sport industries (all those people paid an abnorm amount of money... for doing what?!)

For not to talk about the money wasted in mass destruction weapons: it's all absurd!

Yes, man has, in itself, a voice of greediness; but there's also a subtle voice murmuring about... about seeing ourselves in each other human beings.

It's worthy to try, even if it's a desperate one...

Thank you!

[Analverkehrsinsel]

Start in front of your door. That will change something. You won't change anything else really other than the things that directly surround you.

[danbergam]

You're right, we can do something with the part of the world directly surrounding us... but this may lead to bigger, wider changes if anybody does the same... and this doesn't always happen, sadly.

Not only: some problems are so big, that cannot be solved without some serious programming and scheduling... without a serious effort.

Thank you for your words! :-)

[ResidentEvil501]

I really wish i could help them but sadly there is nothing i can do to help.

[danbergam]

I really wish I could do something as well... and sometimes it seems to me that, from here, there's really nothing I can do.

But, you know, today, after a month I see that video title, I stopped and read what this Davos it's all about... and I said myself that reminding to the world leaders, once again, about those people... it's better than doing nothing!

I guess that many, many little things may become a unique, big thing, sometimes! :-)

[LeonShnider]

Yes,we would!

My answer is:Don't give them fish teach them how to fish.

[danbergam]

I totally agree with you, Leon.

Sadly, to give them that fish for today it's so much easier than teaching them to fish...

:-\

Thank you so much for your words! :-)

[ShineOnThrough]

Yes, it's very sad that they stay in poverty and famine because when they look at around that is all they see. It is the only truth they believe exists. It is impossible to help them all, but I believe if the world helped as many as they could, the rest would be able to lift themselves up and start to believe it can be better.

[danbergam]

The first two sentences you wrote are terribly true. For sure, it would be impossible to help them all to pass from poverty to richness and development: to give them the opportunity to help themselves... and to believe that they can do it, would mean a lot!

Thank you for your opinion! :-)

[castword]

if i had a billion dollars, I would have given over half of it to those people.

5*

[danbergam]

Oh, I'm sure you would do it! :-)

Now, let's suppose that *each one of us*, people of the richer nations, gave, for them, *one cent* *each single day*: I guess that together we would be able to give them a lot, with no real effort... though, there is still the problem of *how* that money would be used... :-\

Thank you!

[LittleMickyFingers2]

Dan, this was a very thought provoking video. It tells me something of the compassion that you must feel for your fellow man.

It just goes to show that You Tube can be used as a vehicle to deliver a number of very powerful messages. Subscribe to AnnieLennox and have a look at some of her videos - they are amazing and she deals with subjects like this one.

5* and faved and saved!

Best wishes, Michael.

[danbergam]

When it comes to some big absurdities of our times I can become quite direct.

It seems to me that if each one of us tried to walk in others' shoes, this world would be a lot better.

I had to check out: *that* Annie Lennox! :O

She tries to do something... though, she doesn't sit on the highest and most powerful seats... :-\

Anyway, let's never lose the hope!

Thank you so much, Michael! Best wishes to you in return! :-)

[LittleMickyFingers2]

You are most welcome my friend - have a great day! Michael

[EmCSpiteri]

My friend is on Mission and he could do with any help that we can give.

[danbergam]

And those missions, and any little thing we can give mean *a lot*, really! :-)

But these are like drops in the sea, in my opinion: what those people would need is a serious, concrete project, to help them build something that may grow in time: instead, I have the impression that too many powers prefer to not spend so much in doing this... because they don't see any convenience in it. :-\

I mean, it's decades that we talk about millions people starving in Africa...

[EmCSpiteri]

Most missionaries not only give them food, they help them build class rooms so that they might be educated, andf yes, they build churches. Thrue, they are like a hut with some brick walls, but it is a start.

[danbergam]

In facts, it's a beginning. A good, concrete one, actually!

But when I think to the absurd amounts of money wasted in the richest nations for the most various (and sometimes not so necessary) things...

Oh, well... let's hope that something may change in better!

God bless that friend of yours (and you too, by the way)! :-)

[EmCSpiteri]

My friend is a Franciscan Priest by the way, and thank you

Bye.

[EasyRaoul]

Nice one, Dan!

[danbergam]

Thank you very much, Raoul! :-)