Give to the poor

Let us not be delusional. We, who live in the affluent world, do not go hungry NOT because we work harder than those in area of famine. We are born into countries where living standards are higher, food are plentiful, education is available and affordable and most important of all, children and women do not need to be care in order not to step on land mines. They do not need to walk miles just to bring water back to home.

Yes, unavoidably, there are people, in the rich countries, who abuse our good will and empathy. However, this is not an excuse for those who made millions for asking the government to reduce the tax rate. There is no inherent special ability of these million-dollar earners that makes them worthy of that high income. It is only a combination of good fortune and circumstances. Take a look at the USA tax rate history [source].

In 1950's and 1960's, the tax rate over US$400,000 was at 91%. For those wealthy Americans, your country needs more tax to reduce its debts. You have made your money because you are lucky to be in USA and there is an obligation for you to help your fellow citizens who are not as lucky as you are.

In the season of gathering, while we are in the company of our loved ones, please help those in need. I help by loaning via Kiva.org. So can you. So far, I have made 20 loans, and you?

Priority

Life is full of competing priorities. How one places one before another is completely a personal decision. This person is requesting a USD350 loan to pay for the cost of having his son baptized. He will pay for the church service, a celebration for the guests, and buy his son a smart suit.

Well his wishes was granted. He got his loan with a 32% interest.

I want to offer help to those who are needy. But I am not one of those who helped to fund this loan.

ps I understand why one should pay for the food and smart suit for one's kid. Why the church would charge for baptising? Another source of funding for [???]

How many children need to die before ...

Another tragic story. 16-year-old Neil Beagley was suffering from an inflammation of his urethra. He was unable to pee as a result of this. His kidneys and bladder stopped working, he had heart failure, and he died a painful death. Why? because his parent prayed instead of seeking medical help. [source]

How many children need to die before the faithful understands that prayers do not work?

How many children need to die before the religious organisations start to tell their followers to seek medical care when they or their children are sick?

How many children need to die before the world wakes up and say enough is enough?

How many children need to die ...

AASFSHNR anthem nomination - 2

More nomination:
Vein of Stars" by the Flaming Lips

Voltaire-God Thinks

Carl Sagan - Pale Blue Dot

A Perfect Circle - Imagine

AASFSHNR anthem nomination

martinWEAREFIRST posted a request for nomination of an anthem to the Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and the Non-Religious team at Kiva.org. Just in case you don't know, AASFSHNR team is the largest lending team at Kiva. The team passed that US$1,000,000 mark last October. It is almost at USD$1.5M as I write.

To all fellow AASFSHNRists:
This team has the longest name in the universe. That is good, because it was written by our most loved Prophet and Team Captain, and it is The Word, never to be changed or interpreted, under risk of blasphemy.
BUT THIS TEAM DOES NOT HAVE AN ANTHEM!! (and that is bad, and we should strive to change!)
I am hereby submitting, for a team wide vote, Danny Michel's "If God Is On Your Side (who's on mine?)" Listen at:

www.myspace.com/dannymichel

Further nominations will be accepted for the next 6 days. We rest on the seventh. Then the votes will start.

If there are no further nominations at the end of 6 days, a vote will still be required. If a majority of 50% plus one, of the votes cast, are in favour of making this song the official AASFSHNR anthem, I am sure Our Prophet, who unlike other prophets we heard about, respects the democratic will of his congregation, will post a link on the web site pointing to this song.

May Apollo (greek god of music), Minerva (the roman goddess who invented music) and Saint Cecilia (patron saint of all musicians) help us in this momentous decision.

Since several songs have been nominated. Here they are (including Danny Michel's)
Danny Michel's "If God Is On Your Side (who's on mine?)

Tim Minchin: If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out

Leftöver Crack - Atheist Anthem

Super Furry Animals - God! Show Me Magic! :

Super Furry Animals -Run! Christian, Run!

XTC-Dear God

John Lennon- Imagine

If more is nominated, I will add to this list.

Providing eye care for 20 Rupees

That's right, for about USD0.43, yes 43 cents at today's rate, Aravind in India is delivering quality eye care to many at 1% the cost of the equivalent in UK.

Solving Africa's Food Problem

The first "green revolution" called for by the former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in 2004 has been producing good result.

Countries, such as Malawi, have transformed their food production using relatively simple means: With the help of government subsidies, farmers can now obtain two bags of fertilizer and five kilograms of hybrid maize seed at just 25 percent of the actual price. And, whereas the World Bank and other donors have refrained from such agricultural subsidies over the past few decades due to concerns about corruption, they are now supporting them and refocusing on agriculture as a priority. "It's a 180-degree turn for the better," Sanchez says. "You can avoid corruption by keeping it on a small scale."

Bill Gate is now charging for a second green revolution

"The charge is clear—we have to develop crops that can grow in a drought; that can survive in a flood; that can resist pests and disease," Gates added. "We need higher yields on the same land in harsher weather." The answer, at least in part? Sustainability paired with genetic modification.

Gates also called for a more environmentally focused effort this time around. "The next Green Revolution has to be greener than the first," Gates said. It "must be guided by smallholder farmers, adapted to local circumstances, and sustainable for the economy and the environment. The last thing anyone should do is create short-term gains for poor farmers that have long-term costs for their children.

Basing on fossil fuel based fertiliser will make these farmers continuously is not sustainable in the long run as we know that fossil fuel is a limited natural resource which is not renewable. A better solution would be to adapt/adopt a permacultural path. Here is a video showing how permaculture is applied to green the desert in the middle east. [source]


Cross posted to Sustaining future

USA healthcare crisis

This is an emotion filled presentation. After watching it, my eyes are wet.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

If you have time, this is the longer version:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Atheists Lead The Movement To End Poverty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In just over one year the community of Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and the Non-Religious (AASFSHNR) at Kiva.org have raised $1 million (USD) in interest-free loans to help end poverty. Kiva.org is a US non-profit organization that connects lenders with borrowers, from around the globe, who need a micro-finance loan. Peter Kroll, the AASFSHNR community team leader, created the community on August 28th, 2008 with the ambition to organize those who share his world view that "people should care about reducing the suffering of other human beings because we acknowledge the evolutionary fact that we are all one human family."

Kiva's co-founder Matt Flannery has put out his call that "now is a time for the world's privileged to demonstrate to the world's poor just how compassionate and resilient we are." The AASFSHNR community has responded, as well as many other communities and individuals. More than four years after Kiva's founding almost $100 million has been lent worldwide.

Micro-finance is the brain-child of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mohammad Yunus. Yunus realized decades ago, on a visit to a poor village in his country of Bangladesh, that the local people were caught in an endless cycle of debt caused by loan-sharks. He realized what a difference it would make by "removing the barriers faced by the poor so that they can unleash their creativity and intelligence in the service of humanity."

Kiva AASFSHNR team reached $1M

Here are some write-up of this:

AASFSHNR Reaches US $1m In Loans

Another:

A Million Dollars of Micro Finance

One million dollars is a lot of money, especially for entrepreneurs around the world turning to microfinance institutions for loans. One million is the amount lent to these entrepreneurs by the team Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and the Non-Religious (AASFSHNR) at Kiva.com. Through Kiva, anyone can lend $25 or more to an entrepreneur looking for assistance. When a borrower repays, the money becomes available to re-lend.

AASFSHNR, just over 1 year old, is the first group to reach $1,000,000. Despite the modest goal of $50k in four months, 10 days after creation AASFSHNR hit $10,000. As the loans were paid back, or new money was lent, the group total climbed faster and faster.

AASFSHNR is a fantastic example of the generosity of atheists and others who fit into the group’s theme. We don’t always agree when posting on the team forum, but we do work hard to fund loans. In addition to our group’s milestone, Kiva is fast approaching an even more impressive moment. Collectively, Kiva lenders have lent nearly $100 million around the world. I invite everyone to Kiva. While you are at it, you’re welcome to visit us heathens. [by Heather Huntley]

I am sure this news will pop up everywhere.

We care

The atheist team in Kiva will reach $1M loan soon. It is standing at $992,125.00 as I type. Well done!

Religious People Make Better Citizens - or not

The Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and the Non-Religious team at KIVA.org will soon be reaching the $1M of micro loans to people in need. The second team Kiva Christians is at $620K mark.

There is good people and there is bad people. It does not take religion to make people good!

Random Acts of Kindness

It does not take religion to have good people doing good thing....

Everyone should be able to see clearly

Donate to this project here.

Kiva

Recently I have become a lender in Kiva, not much just two times. Will definitely be doing more.

USA today has an article on the lenders. Topping all groups is Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and the Non-Religious "committed to caring about suffering." ($863,425.00 loaned) Next in the listings: Kiva Christians ($568,675.00), followed by Team Obama ($438,025.00). When sort by Religious Congregations, The Flying Spaghetti Monster tops at $101,850.00 followed by Mormons ($68,550.00) and Catholics ($66,775.00). [loaned amount updated at time of writing, but the order came from USA Tdoay's article.] Unfamiliar with the FSM parody "pastafarianism"? Check it out here.

We care!

Safe drinking water

In a recent post, the comments evolved to a discussion of the world's problem. One of them is safe drinking water, over 1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water! Here is a video from TED describing how lifesaver drinking bottles can help to solve this problem. He estimated that with 20B UK pounds, all the world could have safe drinking water.


Other approaches: LifeStraw, rapid sand filter system, or clay pot water filters (step by step guide of making clay pot water filters, a process which the inventor has declined to patent!)