1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

40hr Famine.

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by ItzaHexGor, Aug 10, 2008.

40hr Famine.

Discussion in 'The Lounge' started by ItzaHexGor, Aug 10, 2008.

  1. me555

    me555 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2007
    Messages:
    206
    Likes received:
    0
    Trophy points:
    0
    40 Hour Famine kinda makes me realise how fortunate we are.

    The children in India starve (and work for very little money), whilst other countryies have people who are overweight and obese. I bet that none of you guys has ever had to work all day long everyday, without a proper home, education etc

    So i guess its not only the donations that count, its also the message that hits the reality of this sugar-coated world we live in.
     
    Last edited: Aug 20, 2008
  2. ItzaHexGor

    ItzaHexGor Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2007
    Messages:
    4,187
    Likes received:
    21
    Trophy points:
    38
    From:
    Sydney, Australia
    Starting the Famine in an hour, so I won't be on until at the very least, 12:00 on Sunday AEST.

    Sorry, I forgot to reply what with being on camp and yearlies coming up soon, etc, and I'll respond in greater detail after I finish the Famine, but, in short, you're wrong about the relief they provide, BoP, and I've already said that. Firstly, five bucks doesn't just feed a kid for a month, it feeds and cares for a kid for a month. That includes shelter, treatment and supplements. You're also wrong about them just sending food. They allow them to become self sustainable. They develop crops and construct chicken runs and wells for water. It's true that it's mainly rice, but rice is definitely not nutritionally devoid, and that's not the only purpose it serves. Firstly, it's an amazing source of carbs, sugars, etc. Because of this, it's a staple food for the vast majority of Asia, and what with India being in Asia, it's under its ideal conditions for growing. Secondly, it stores easily. Rice isn't only useful as food, but it's also the main thing they use to trade. I've heard from my school, who went to Cambodia to experience and help first-hand (my school being very active in supporting communities there what with them being a poor nation as well as everything they've gone through recently) and one of the hardest things they had to teach these families was to put some rice aside to keep. Just putting aside a bit each day was so hard to teach them, because there's so little food, but then they're able to trade it and buy other things they need. Thirdly, you said white rice, and correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't white rice just refined, or whatever, brown rice? That said, they're able to eat brown rice, giving them more of what they need, mainly being fibre, I think. Lastly, as I've said before, they don't only have rice. Chicken runs, etc, are also built supplying them with eggs and meat too, I guess. I'm not too sure how that works, but eggs at the very least.

    You also said:
    "I still can't believe most of you people who are willing to shell out wads of cash to help people around the world when most of you can't spare some change for the homeless guy down the street."
    Seeing as you're not willing to dish out anything, and that you're actually opposing charities like this and coming up with excuse after excuse just to make yourself feel better about not giving, I don't think you can talk.
     
  3. BirdofPrey

    BirdofPrey New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2007
    Messages:
    4,985
    Likes received:
    5
    Trophy points:
    0
    From:
    Arizona
    I didn't mean rice in genreal Itza. I was talking about the specific type of rice they send. The stuff they send to these poor countries is a variant that doesn't contain much nutritional value. If they sent a different kind of rice and a variety of food there wouldn't be a problem.
    Also you can't live off of just carbs. You need protein, fat, fiber, vitamins and minerals.


    Also I am not saying this stuff to feel good about not giving. I am merley stating that it is a better idea to give back to your OWN community because you can give more to your neihbors than people half way accross the world because you can give yourself.
     
  4. ItzaHexGor

    ItzaHexGor Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2007
    Messages:
    4,187
    Likes received:
    21
    Trophy points:
    38
    From:
    Sydney, Australia
    Just finished. That was so shat.

    Firstly, they don't just send over rice. I've already said that. They might initially, as in, just until they're able to grow their own, but the 'five bucks feeds and cares for a kid for a month' is just an equivalency, as I've already said. If they went into all the specifics and initial costs of the materials, seeds, chickens, immunisations and treatments, and then the ongoing costs of more seeds, etc, and the costs of sustainability for each differently sized community, no-one would be able to relate. Five bucks feeds and cares for a kid for a month is a simple average equivalency that everyone can relate to. Secondly, as I've already said, they don't just get rice. They get chicken runs and chickens for the eggs, which takes care of fats and proteins, and possibly for the meat as well, but as I've already said, I'm not too sure about that. They can get fibre from brown rice, which is just unrefined white rice. White rice is generally better in general though as it lasts longer and can therefore be stored and traded, etc. Vitamins and minerals come from supplements, etc. Thirdly, I'd like to see some hard proof not only for that they do send/use/grow short grain white rice or whatever, but that it's so nutritionally devoid in the first place. I'm fine with it if it is and they do, because it's a heck of a lot more nutrition than there otherwise getting not to mention that it's not the only thing they're eating, but what makes you say they use it and that it's so bad to eat in the first place.

    Why is it such a better idea to give to your own community? You've asked what makes your local community less deserving, but what makes the kids in developing countries all around the world less deserving? I'm not saying that one is or isn't more deserving than the other, but why're you denying one your support? Also, what do you mean by 'you can give yourself'? Do you actually help them personally? Do you assume there aren't volunteers helping personally through World Vision? Do you feel you ought to get the recognition for giving or do you feel you ought to be there to see the benefits of it?
     
  5. Babmer

    Babmer Guest

    This one time, at band camp