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Sean McCarthy

Uzodinma Iweala - Stop Trying To 'Save' Africa - 3 views

www.washingtonpost.com/...AR2007071301714.html

shared by Sean McCarthy on 04 Oct 11 - Cached
  • Why do the media frequently refer to African countries as having been "granted independence from their colonial masters," as opposed to having fought and shed blood for their freedom? Why do Angelina Jolie and Bono receive overwhelming attention for their work in Africa while Nwankwo Kanu or Dikembe Mutombo, Africans both, are hardly ever mentioned?
    • Felecia Russell
      Felecia Russell on 04 Oct 11
       
      Now this is the question. It is not about why Americans are helping Africa, but it is about who are being highlighted as the faces of saving Africa. This is partly the media's fault, but it is also a guilt trip of Americans becasue of previous slavery and racism towards African Americans. Highlighting these people is a way to show reparations and the new and improve America. To show how white people are helping the poor Africans. However, this is unfortunate because some of these people do these things out of the kindness of their heart and not for the public hype. There is nothing wrong with helping those in a less fortunate space. Personally, I LOVE brangelina :)..Nevertheless, they are not the only ones helping those in Africa and Africans are not the only people who need help.
    • Matt Nolan
      Matt Nolan on 04 Oct 11
       
      In today's society everything is about celebrities and what they do for the world. Bono and Angelina Jolie are an example of white people helping the poor Africans. I completely agree with Felicia on this one, people don't want to see someone of the same race who is just as poor trying to help someone, people want to see rich celebrities giving a helping hand because it motivates the people of the United States and around the world to try and help anyway they can. The celebrities are symbols of peace and bring the people together.
    • Kaitlyn Guilbeaux
      Kaitlyn Guilbeaux on 04 Oct 11
       
      I agree with Felecia that subconsciously, perhaps the media is placing the spotlight, and the 'halo', upon Bono and Angelina as a way to make up for the way that white people in the past have treated African Americans.
    • Tavish Dunn
      Tavish Dunn on 05 Oct 11
       
      I agree with Felecia's statement. Celebrities are highlighted as the ones trying to "save" Africa as a way of generating hype for the issue, whether they are helping out of kindness or the desire for more fame. In addition to using this as a way for people to get rid of their feelings of guilt, people are motivated to give because they have placed celebrities on a pedestal. Many people give to a specific cause because they want to be like the celebrities they idolize and follow a trend rather than showing feelings of true kindness.
    • Eric Arbuckle
      Eric Arbuckle on 05 Oct 11
       
      I agree with Felecia too!
    • Xochitl Cruz
      Xochitl Cruz on 05 Oct 11
       
      I agree with you Felicia. I feel that the focus is on people who are not African helping out, for the reasons you and others have pointed out. These famous celebrities get all this media for doing something with a country in need. However, the people who pay out of their own salaries to help everyone else around them, gets nothing, those people I feel are the ones really doing this for personal gain
    • anonymous
      anonymous on 05 Oct 11
       
      Felicia definitely hit the nail on the head here. I agree, and I find it a little bit unfortunate that Africa has gained the image of this disease ridden poverty stricken place due to the focus on celebrities and what they've done for this country. The media has a huge impact upon any movement or form of popular culture today, and I think the author makes a good point at the end when he states that Africa is framed as this place that needs "saving." Others feel sorry for Africa because of it, and a big deal is made of helping and being Africa's hero really, communication and maybe some alliances with other countries would be much more effective in helping Africa to come out of the vicious cycle of poverty it's been in since apartheid.
    • steve santos
      steve santos on 05 Oct 11
       
      The framing heuristics of the hype of the celebrity influence of thinking celebrities are the vital sense of sincerity in actually trying to help where marketing typically is a guilt trip to advocate a cause for the sake of sales wether than the ideal is truly advocated. The severity of the heart of africa is drawn to be black and diseased where there are certain aspects of civility that africa actually has but is undermined to the sense of racial diversity.
    • chelseaedgerley
      chelseaedgerley on 12 Oct 12
       
      Honestly its all part of politics.For decades the USA had gone back and forth on US policy and whether or not to intervene. Its unfortunate that Africans have this stigma attached to them as dying, and unable to help themselves at all. However stars and other white people have raised/donated mission to help them. I understand that white are portraying them a certain way but a lot of good have been done for those people.Media driven or not, I believe their is a true passion in most people to help people in Africa. Some intention may be dishonest but you can focus on the negative when trying to save lives.
  • It seems that these days, wracked by guilt at the humanitarian crisis it has created in the Middle East, the West has turned to Africa for redemption.
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 04 Oct 11
       
      Oh, how much I love this statement! Truly selflessness is a flag we all fly, as we shout out about our altruism, in order to fulfill the selfish desire for recognition, and in this case, rectification.
    • Eric Henderson
      Eric Henderson on 05 Oct 11
       
      This is truely a good statement, since I do believe that this is very true. Westernized countries just plain feel guilty about the situation in the Middle East, therefore they took to trying to "save" Africa to clear their guilt.
    • Sarah McKee
      Sarah McKee on 05 Oct 11
       
      I do think a lot of people just do things like this to make themselves feel better but I think it's more related to them trying to justify the way they live. How much we have compared to others. I've never really thought of it in relation to the Middle East, I don't think I see the connection.
    • Joette Carini
      Joette Carini on 05 Oct 11
       
      I think that this could be attributed to a general trait that Western societies have in general... people need to help other people in order to, essentially, feel good about themselves. Yes, people may feel guilty about other situations, but I think that generally people need to do something to make themselves feel better, and that something, in this situation, tends to be "saving" Africa.
    • Eric Arbuckle
      Eric Arbuckle on 05 Oct 11
       
      I have to comment, though it humors me you believe we are responsible for the middle east situation, I am not surprised. What is the "situation" in the middle east? How did we get there? What kind of beliefs do the radical Muslims have? And if we "messed" up the middle east and if it's our place to feel guilty, what was it like before?
    • Eric Arbuckle
      Eric Arbuckle on 05 Oct 11
       
      I have to agree with Sarah and Joette on this.
    • Tyler Coville
      Tyler Coville on 05 Oct 11
       
      If we are reasonable for the situation in the middle east who says we are not responsible for the situation in africa. We have continued to pour more money to dictators to get resources like diamonds. Which they use to buy more weapons to repress the people. We then give money for aid to these communities but they have to either go through the dictator or the dictator himself just posts a heavy tax when the currency is converted to the local currency (which he has a law in place to require)
    • sahalfarah
      sahalfarah on 12 Oct 12
       
      This statement speaks so true to all Americans because even they can honestly say that we're all guilty of this. Whether it is the government or us as individuals, people do good things to feel good about themselves. 
    • Alexa Datuin
      Alexa Datuin on 12 Oct 12
       
      This is the epitome of what America had become. Actions to "help" others are taken out of personal guilt. The reasoning behind helping others, especially others, has lost meaning. It's as though people justify lending hand to others is because it's what they are supposed to do, rather than really wanting to.
    • Karina DaSilva
      Karina DaSilva on 12 Oct 12
       
      I think this is also an example of the "white savior" mentality that a lot of people have, without even knowing.  Africa and its inhabitants are not seen as equals, but as things that could be saved with westernization. It's racism in a very subtle, but real, form. 
    • Devin Milligan
      Devin Milligan on 12 Oct 12
       
      Everyone wants to help save africa, but there are so many other problems in other countries too. Like the drug war in mexico. Africa is not the only country in need. In fact there is still a lot to do in our own country to help others.
  • as emaciated as those they want to help.
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 04 Oct 11
       
      Couldn't help but giggle at this.
    • Eric Henderson
      Eric Henderson on 05 Oct 11
       
      haha me too, very interesting statement
  • ...20 more annotations...
  • The relationship between the West and Africa is no longer based on openly racist beliefs, but such articles are reminiscent of reports from the heyday of European colonialism, when missionaries were sent to Africa to introduce us to education, Jesus Christ and "civilization."
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 04 Oct 11
       
      It is sad really. The West feels that it needs to industrialize, modernize, and stabilize developing nations - a goal which is objectively not plausible - and there is a definet focus on Africa. While many other developing nations receive aid, African countries are singled out and lumped into one group of "african", where s south east asian countries for example would be listed by their specific names. Africa is a large continent with a VAST array of cultures, languages, races, and governments. The nations of Africa differ greatly in their levels of modernity, and to assume that the governments of Africa are corrupt or unable to fix their domestic problems, is in a subtle way, racist and ethnocentric.
  • Every time a Hollywood director shoots a film about Africa that features a Western protagonist, I shake my head -- because Africans, real people though we may be, are used as props in the West's fantasy of itself
    • Jonathan Omokawa
      Jonathan Omokawa on 05 Oct 11
       
      There is no doubt that Hollywood does tend to exploit people. But then again, what flashy business doesn't?
    • Courtney Sabile
      Courtney Sabile on 12 Oct 12
       
      I agree with this statement. The issues pressing onto Africa with starvation and warfare are used as simply entertainment background for cinema. Sure there is always a message with topics like this. Aid is important, but the pop culture attention drawing to Africa makes it seems like nothing is being solved at all.
  • There is no African, myself included, who does not appreciate the help of the wider world, but we do question whether aid is genuine or given in the spirit of affirming one's cultural superiority. My mood is dampened every time I attend a benefit whose host runs through a litany of African disasters before presenting a (usually) wealthy, white person, who often proceeds to list the things he or she has done for the poor, starving Africans.
    • nsamuelian
      nsamuelian on 05 Oct 11
       
      Every time i see an ad or commercial about the white celebrities trying to "help Africa" a thought like this goes through my mind. I highly doubt that a celebrity with such high ratings in today's society truly wants to save Africa's poverty or starving people. I feel as if they do it more for the social attention and positive reputation rather than for their souls and well being.
    • Jonathan Omokawa
      Jonathan Omokawa on 05 Oct 11
       
      I would not go so far as to say that all celebrities vie for attention by doing the "help Africa" stuff, but I would agree that a large majority do it. I don't really feel it is asserting cultural superiority or dominance as just being selfish in their own right.
    • Alexis Schomer
      Alexis Schomer on 11 Oct 12
       
      I think it's really interesting how charity has become a social appeal. People don't donate because they want to help out, they donate because other people will think higher of them. A point this article is trying to make is that the publicity of "helping" is so overwhelming it almost takes away from the action itself. 
    • khampton44
      khampton44 on 12 Oct 12
       
      I really agree with the above statement that people help now because they feel like everyone is and not because they are really into the cause and want to help. I think this is also why so many stars have their own foundation, they feel like more people have them then people who do not.
    • Kevin Olive
      Kevin Olive on 12 Oct 12
       
      Does it really matter what inspires the help? As long as the people that need help get help that's what is most important. Help is help no matter how you look at it or the reasons behind it. 
    • Tori Mayeda
      Tori Mayeda on 12 Oct 12
       
      i think that it does matter. I don't think the people want others to pity them. Yes, they are receiving help but it is demeaning if people are going to help and have no passion for it. "here, take this because it will make me look good and i want to follow the trend." i don't think anyone would feel very good about getting that. 
    • Brandon White
      Brandon White on 12 Oct 12
       
      The basic premise that the author appears to be making is that of the egoism that we as "first-worlders" have in regards to Africa. The author feels that we do not help Africa typically out of genuine want to see good happen. but out of our own want to feel good about ourselves and have other perceive us as good people. Sometimes even when I do "good" things, I wonder if this is the case. Especially when I was applying for college. Did I do 200 hours of community service out of the goodness of my heart, or the want to get into a good college? The truth may lie somewhere in-between. 
    • Nicolas Bianchi
      Nicolas Bianchi on 12 Oct 12
       
      It is obviously a bit of both but I think how the media plays it, it leads us to lean towards the cultural superiority
    • Benjamin Chavez II
      Benjamin Chavez II on 12 Oct 12
       
      I understand how his "mood is dampened".  I can't stand when people feel they must talk about how amazing they are and what they have done. Whenever people do that it becomes evident that the reason they did whatever they did was to acquire more attention from others. "You have to speak to be heard, but sometimes you have to be silent to be appreciated".
  • True to form, the Western media reported on the violence but not on the humanitarian work the state and local governments -- without much international help -- did for the survivors. Social workers spent their time and in many cases their own salaries to care for their compatriots. These are the people saving Africa, and others like them across the continent get no credit for their work.
    • Gaby Ramirez Castorena
      Gaby Ramirez Castorena on 05 Oct 11
       
      I think this is the main point of the article
    • Sarah McKee
      Sarah McKee on 05 Oct 11
       
      But isn't that the point, these people are helping just to help and the other people are often helping to gain media attention.
    • Lauren Dudley
      Lauren Dudley on 11 Oct 12
       
      I would have to agree with this point of the article as the media will portray what they want the people to focus on. If the media does not believe that certain aspects of a situation will grab the people's attention then they will not show it, even though that point could be significant in pointing out the true heroes and their actions. I find this unfortunate as the article mentioned earlier that the media portrays celebrities that help, but why not the ordinary people, especially those of Africa. The media should really get to focus on the true aspects of a situation.
    • Mark Drach-Meinel
      Mark Drach-Meinel on 05 Oct 11
       
      I think it's important to note that all the media cares about is the bad things that happen. They only report how Africa needs to be saved but there is no information of all the good that is being done right now.
    • magen sanders
      magen sanders on 05 Oct 11
       
      i agree that the media only focuses on what they want us to see, not everything in africa is as terrible as the media may portray it to be. yes situations in other countries are extremely hostile but the media tends to focus and just the negative to gain sympathy and attention to that subject. the opinions are then skewed.
  • a sexy,
    • georgenasr
      georgenasr on 11 Oct 12
       
      Something about using this word doesn't seem appropriate in the context of people who are active. Whenever a writer uses this word, depending on its context, I usually think less of the author. 
    • Caitlin Fransen
      Caitlin Fransen on 12 Oct 12
       
      I dont understand why this word is used in this article, it doesn't seem to fit. I agree with the above person it makes me think less of the author. 
    • Shannon Wirawan
      Shannon Wirawan on 12 Oct 12
       
      I feel like this word was used in this article to represent the current generation. Our current generation is basically to the extent that sex sells. So the author was just probably trying to make it known. I think the word, 'sexy' also had to do with the fact that the author was talking about celebrities in relation to the main topic.
    • Sean McCarthy
      Sean McCarthy on 12 Oct 12
       
      I also agree that this was a reasonable use of the word. The lovely irrational citizens of America are much more likely to get behind something that's trendy and "sexy". And that's exactly what the author is calling us out on. Many people arent (perhaps subconsciously) 'helping' out Africa out of humanitarian love, but because it has become trendy lately. you see "sexy" people helping out kids in Africa, and you want to be "sexy" like them.. I've done a terrible job explaining the use of this word, but hopefully y'all get what I'm trying to get at.
  • stereotype of Africa as a black hole of disease and death.
    • georgenasr
      georgenasr on 11 Oct 12
       
      See, this is one of the problems with widepread media campaigns... they often give people the wrong idea about what is really happening and what is the real state of people. It won't be easy to integrate into campaigns, but people need to be aware of the big picture, not just segments of it. 
    • Caitlin Fransen
      Caitlin Fransen on 12 Oct 12
       
      I sometime catch myself falling into this trap as well, I get convinced by the media campaigns that africa is just filled with disease and starving people. 
    • Nicolas Bianchi
      Nicolas Bianchi on 12 Oct 12
       
      This is definitely a problem with media.  Obviously not all of Africa is as bad as we make it and it leads all of us to believe that everyone needs help.  It paints a different picture than what is actually going on.
    • Meghann Ellis
      Meghann Ellis on 12 Oct 12
       
      Media blinds us from seeing the actual problem going on in Africa. I do find myself believing that these campaigns are true. The only focus on certain things that attract us to think the worst. This is a major problem in the social media campaigns
    • Ashley Mehrens
      Ashley Mehrens on 12 Oct 12
       
      I think that the major problem with these ad campaigns is that they only show poor run down villages. The towns that have actual success in their businesses are never shown. The play to society's emotions to raise revenues, which may or may not be helping. Although I'm sure there is corruption in Africa, the West may be trying a bit too hard to fix the problems. Social media leads society into believing they need to make a change radically, when a gradual change is probably going to help more. 
  • Africa wants the world to acknowledge that through fair partnerships with other members of the global community, we ourselves are capable of unprecedented growth.
    • Lauren Dudley
      Lauren Dudley on 11 Oct 12
       
      This statement could very well be true and if our country, along with others do not give them a chance how will we ever know if they can stand by themselves with good relations. I believe that it is just hard for us Americans to realize this point because we are a country that is used to helping when we believe someone needs it and it is hard to back off if you have seen they are in trouble.
    • Tatiana McCuaig
      Tatiana McCuaig on 11 Oct 12
       
      I see where African is coming from, with all progress the western world sees as coming from powerful nations, when really there is quality work being done from the people of the nation themselves. If the western world keeps on crediting themselves for the progress made, it makes them feel like they have done all the work and makes them feel better about themselves for doing such quality humanitarian work. Though humanitarian work is absolutely helpful, more note should be taken to the work being done by the people themselves. 
    • Hayley Jensen
      Hayley Jensen on 12 Oct 12
       
      This is an interesting point. Maybe instead of trying to emulate the suffering of Africans, we can talk about the power they possess. By empowering the population, by providing life-sustaining support but not expecting glory in return, and by identifying African citizens as capable citizens of the world instead of a helpless population reliant on our generosity, the world will gain a bigger respect for Africa and its citizens will tap into this unprecedented growth.
  • pick out children to adopt in much the same way my friends and I in New York take the subway to the pound to adopt stray dogs.
    • Finn Sukkestad
      Finn Sukkestad on 11 Oct 12
       
      This really illustrates the majority of the college liberals who say they want to save africa, I think that if we just gave the same sympathy that we give to africa to the destitute in our own country then more people would help because it would  bring that same fame and self fulfillment as someone who is making a difference for someone.
    • Sarah Marroquin
      Sarah Marroquin on 12 Oct 12
       
      I don't think that this statement is really appropriate for the author to say. I also think that if they are trying to help those that need help then that should be respected.
    • Erick Sandoval
      Erick Sandoval on 12 Oct 12
       
      We already have a picture in our mind that Africa is not the safest place to live but of course blood usually sells over the good things that happen over there. 
    • madison taylor
      madison taylor on 12 Oct 12
       
      should it really matter what the motives are for people who are giving money and aid to Africa as long as it is helping and trying to make a difference?
    • Caitlin Scott
      Caitlin Scott on 12 Oct 12
       
      I don't think it should, but I think that what this author is trying to say is that people are trying to make a difference but it may not actually be helping the African cause.  However, this author is asking something of the media that they do not do in regards to other things besides Africa.  They don't ever report good things that people do, it's always about the bad, so the media isn't targeting Africa, they are targeting everything.
  • Africa wants the world to acknowledge that through fair partnerships with other members of the global community, we ourselves are capable of unprecedented growth.
    • Kayla Sawoski
      Kayla Sawoski on 12 Oct 12
       
      Just because parts of Africa are in poverty, doesn't mean that all areas are. Those people should still be acknowledged and recognized for the hard work they are doing. Some parts of Africa are actually capable of going far and are going to be very successful. People there still have the opportunity to make a change. 
  • News reports constantly focus on the continent's corrupt leaders, warlords, "tribal" conflicts, child laborers, and women disfigured by abuse and genital mutilation.
    • Dana Sacca
      Dana Sacca on 12 Oct 12
       
      I never really understood why news does this. Why do you focus on the negative? I feel like society has become increasingly negative. But the negativity makes sense because when things become frustrating you get discouraged and give up. There needs to be a balance between negative and positive. When there is positive it is up lifting and gives people hope. The news shouldn't focus on just negative because that contributes to the discouraging factor.
  • ad campaign features portraits of primarily white, Western celebrities with painted "tribal markings" on their faces above "I AM AFRICAN" in bold letters.
    • sahalfarah
      sahalfarah on 12 Oct 12
       
      A classic ad company ploy..
    • Brandon Weger
      Brandon Weger on 12 Oct 12
       
      I like the last line, "we ourselves are capable of unprecedented growth." It's nice to think about ourselves in that light, and its an optimistic picture for the future, but what are we actually accomplishing and what are we falling short on?? Words can only go so far, sorry to be sort of hypocritical, but action must be taken if change is your goal.
  • magazine spreads with celebrities pictured in the foreground, forlorn Africans in the back.
    • jeffrey hernandez
      jeffrey hernandez on 12 Oct 12
       
      In some cases celebrities are using the struggles of people in Africa and their help they are giving them as a publicity stunt. 
    • Ryan Hamilton
      Ryan Hamilton on 12 Oct 12
       
      Stuff like this bothers me. I am all for people wanting to help out in places that need it even if it is for self gratification and all of that. But the situations are much more complicated than the media leads people to believe. There are religious clashes in many of the central African countries and in the Northern African countries like Mali we are seeing Al-Qaeda and similar organizations set up Islamic radicalism. Feeding the poor and helping the people that are displaced by these things is not fixing the problem. And for the people who are saying the the US is just sending money to these countries and their 'corrupt dictators' is just wrong. We are trying to do much more than that. We have US Special Forces in many of these countries like Somalia, Mali, and many of the other central African countries. The US is putting some of our best soldiers in there to help the people. The media does not cover that part, they rather highlight the Pitt's and Clooney's. 
    • Kim H
      Kim H on 12 Oct 12
       
      I think part of the reason we only hear about what celebrities are doing is because we feel more connected to them than to people we have never heard of. Because we feel connected to them, publicists feel that we are more likely to respond to pleas for help from people we feel more connected to. 
  • Africa doesn't want to be saved
    • Sean McCarthy
      Sean McCarthy on 12 Oct 12
       
      African citizens just want to be seen as individuals that are equal to us, who have simply been born into more difficult circumstances, as opposed to some diseased animal that can only survive out of the goodness of some person's heart.. it's very similar to people who are crippled and are treated as less than human. this is kind of a reminder that we need to treat everyone as equally human, because we don't know what they're going through, we just know that they're people who deserve their same God-given rights.
  • shane paulson on 05 Oct 11
     
    I completely agree with Felicia. The media is the greatest influence on why these celebrity figures are the ones being spotlighted for the force behind helping out Africa. I think in many ways it is the media attempting to save these reputations of celebrities in order to keep the population of readers and listeners interested. People tend to be drawn to stories that they are familiar with or that they can relate to.
  • Edmund Garrett on 12 Oct 12
     
    Well, I do agree it is nice to give aid to Africa and the reason does matter. People that simply give money just to have his or her name announced that they did so is not the morally correct reason. You should just give cuz it's the right thing to do but nevertheless I would not stop sending money because of ill reasons. The reasons don't matter that much. We are saving people and if the ends outweigh the means then who cares.
Valencia Hamilto

Iweala, U. (2008) Stop Trying to 'Save' Africa-- washingtonpost.com - 13 views

The problem with this topic is that people generalize Africa as a country and not a continent. Africa is made up of many different countries and not all of them are suffering from poverty. People q...

question Africa

started by Kaitlyn Guilbeaux on 03 Oct 11 6 follow-ups, last by Valencia Hamilto on 05 Oct 11
Valencia Hamilto

Questions about "Stop Trying to Save Africa" - 21 views

I believe there are groups and organizations in America that help "save" Africa through good hearted nature, who actually care and have great interest in helping out countries that are less fortuna...

started by Melissa Moreno on 04 Oct 11 5 follow-ups, last by Valencia Hamilto on 05 Oct 11
Mangala Kanayson

Iweala, U. (2008) Stop Trying to 'Save' Africa-- washingtonpost.com - 12 views

Nope. It's part of an effort to prevent people from looking inward at their own problems. If we're concentrated on saving Africa, we won't look next door or help the homeless 19 year old on Moorpar...

question Africa charity

started by Kaitlyn Guilbeaux on 04 Oct 11 3 follow-ups, last by Mangala Kanayson on 04 Dec 11
Mark Drach-Meinel

Hans Rosling's new insights on poverty | Video on TED.com - 3 views

www.ted.com/...s_new_insights_on_poverty.html

shared by Mark Drach-Meinel on 11 Oct 11 - Cached
    • nsamuelian
      nsamuelian on 12 Oct 11
       
      Rosling stated that the only time he believes statistics is when it's "grandma approved." His use of charts and the numbers he put together allows him to tell his story. The fact that he mentions and shows the different lifestyles on the same street with the different pay per day shows the extreme poverty and the gap between the rich and poor in a country, specifically Africa in his example.
    • Melissa Moreno
      Melissa Moreno on 12 Oct 11
       
      I am disagreeing that the impoverished nations are at a disadvantage but I do believe that it is constantly cast in a negative light by the story telling. Just because he uses numbers and charts doesn't mean he isn't telling a story like the ads Iweala talked about in her article. There is a problem with poverty, but there is a problem everywhere and maybe it is time we started focusing on the good things instead of constantly focusing on the bad. We as a nation have a lot we need to fix in our own country and I agree with Jonathan, it is going to take a lot longer than our lifetime to see those problems fixed.
    • Ryan Brown
      Ryan Brown on 12 Oct 11
       
      Completely agree with Melissa. I understand the point of this showing the varying degrees of economic wealth between people but everything is in perspective. Africa as a country as been used and abused for the better part of their existence, impoverished countries need to focus one step at a time before they can flourish. They need a good leadership base, africa has always had the natural resources to succeed, so where do you put the blame? take your pick.
    • Mark Drach-Meinel
      Mark Drach-Meinel on 12 Oct 11
       
      I think it's very interesting about what Rosling said about Africa. We have the image of Africa being poor and impoverished but it is the continent that has grown the fastest despite its initially poor conditions. It's all a matter of perspective
    • anonymous
      anonymous on 12 Oct 11
       
      I think this video does a good job of capturing the vast differences in poverty between towns, and the perspective in which we examine Africa is indeed huge here. It has come such a long way since apartheid ended, and I feel that it should at least receive credit in that sense.
  • Eric Henderson on 12 Oct 11
     
    I agree with you Mark, because Africa has grown a lot recently. Its rate of growth is large right now, but its overall growth is minimal, therefore it is all a matter of how you look at it.
Flavio Guzman

Bystanders to Genocide - Samantha Power - The Atlantic - 5 views

www.theatlantic.com/...304571

shared by Flavio Guzman on 29 Nov 12 - No Cached
  • And most crucial, what could the United States have done to save lives?
    • Dana Sacca
      Dana Sacca on 29 Nov 12
       
      I don't think anything could have been done. By Clinton's reaction he obviously had more important things on his plate than those being killed off in Rwanda. This is saddening and sickening. There was such a big hype about "Kony 2012" and yet nothing was done about this?
    • Cameron Schroeck
      Cameron Schroeck on 02 Dec 12
       
      I think this raises the question about a country's responsibility to other nations. Clinton may have had many priorities, but does that mean we can simply ignore other country's concerns? I think that every time period is going to have a different mood toward foreign policy. There are times when we can only focus on ourselves and others where we should do more for other countries. Regardless, there is an emotional/moral obligation to help others/other countries in need. 
    • Devon Meredith
      Devon Meredith on 03 Dec 12
       
      The question shouldn't be "what could have the United States have done to save lives?" but "what could the Clinton Administration have done to save lives?". When citizens elect the president they put all trust and knowledge in what decisions he will make. America made its choice to elect Clinton and so we should be able trust that he will make the decision. 
    • Tori Mayeda
      Tori Mayeda on 03 Dec 12
       
      I agree that there probably wasn't much that Clinton could have done to help. On the other hand i find it hard to believe that he had no idea that it was going on. Sure there might have been more important things going on that pertained to him but i feel like if that many people were being slaughtered it would stand out. It wouldn't be something to just pass over. 
    • haakonasker
      haakonasker on 03 Dec 12
       
      There was not any Country in the world that did anything while the genocide took place. I think that the world sometimes turn their back against big issues that goes on. Especially in Africa. The genocide in Darfur, Sudan is another newer example on how the United States and the rest of the world turned their back against, also the starvation of millions of people in Eastern Africa that have been going on the last couple of years, manly in Somalia. I agree with Tori, on that Clinton did know what was going on in Rwanda, but did not act upon it. This is what the world do a lot of times. If a Country is not going to benefit financially or for their own countries security, they will not do anything about the problem.
  • s. It reveals that the U.S. government knew enough about the genocide early on to save lives, but passed up countless opportunities to intervene.
    • Alexis Schomer
      Alexis Schomer on 02 Dec 12
       
      I think the U.S. needs to step it up. The president is too worried about intervening with the "wrong" countries because he is concerned about losing trust or priveleges with other countries. This cowardice to step up and do the right thing has killed hundreds of thousands of people. I personally talked to a survivor of the genocide mentioned above and the terror he and his famil went through is not okay. The U.S. government also fails to announce the Armenian Genocide as the president does not want Turkey to put the U.S. on their bad side. People should take a step back and look at what is happening to the world around them. Although it may be more pragmatic to make certain decisions, the morality and "rightness" should also be a key role as we are all humans and have a level of compassion and urge to do the right thing and help others in their time of need. It would have been right o defend the Tutsis who were a minority and could not defend themselves. 
    • chelseaedgerley
      chelseaedgerley on 03 Dec 12
       
      So many signs or insights of information were given were given to the us, yet because the "genocide" word was used the US stayed out of it, aside from sending UN troops. United States policy resembled "outta sight, outta mind". many, if not all lives could have been saved
    • Kelsey Fratello
      Kelsey Fratello on 03 Dec 12
       
      I agree that this was not okay. This statement of the U. S. knowing enough about the genocide but just merely passing up the many opportunities to help puts the U. S. in a bad light. Like Alexis said, the president was so concerned with the alliances he has made with countries in the world that he basically sat back and let the genocide happen. It is so sad to think that so many people lost their lives or lost those whom they loved and that this country could have taken steps to stop this, but didn't. This article puts the U. S. and Clinton in a particularly bad light, as it should for what happened. 
    • Courtney Sabile
      Courtney Sabile on 03 Dec 12
       
      I agree as well. Clinton should have paid more attention to this issue. By passing it up, it gave him an unfavorable image. He was the President, and other countries around the world see his actions through all of America. It was a poor action to not be able to intervene with the genocides.
    • Brandon Weger
      Brandon Weger on 03 Dec 12
       
      I'm not really sure if I agree that we should have intervened, or that I blame Clinton... I think that it's hard to really make that claim, to say that the President should have been on top of things and intervene in a  genocide. It is very dangerous to just leap into a country and try and tell them what to do... we would be painting a target on our back, and might even create a war in that manner. I know that we knew about it and we could have done something, but that doesn't mean we were the only country, just Clinton got caught holding all of the cards and was blamed for not taking action. Being President would be too difficult for me, foreign affairs are very tricky business...
    • Edmund Garrett
      Edmund Garrett on 03 Dec 12
       
      It's sticky business. It's hard to just intervene in other countries internal affairs. Who are we to judge and patronise their culture. What we have defined as genocide is not necessarily what the Utuu call it. Perhaps that basic sense of what is mass killing does not ring in their heads. It's just a fact that is considered differently by different societies and cultures. Maybe an ethnic cleansing or simply just a cleansing to better their society. And who are we to enforce what our ideas I what's better onto them?
  • In the course of a hundred days in 1994 the Hutu government of Rwanda and its extremist allies very nearly succeeded in exterminating the country's Tutsi minority
    • chelseaedgerley
      chelseaedgerley on 03 Dec 12
       
      super interesting genocide, one that I have researched deeply. Super interesting because this genocide wasnt two different lands, they shared everything aside from the title of hutu and tutisi. It was people murdering their own people
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • As the terror in Rwanda had unfolded, Clinton had shown virtually no interest in stopping the genocide, and his Administration had stood by as the death toll rose into the hundreds of thousands.
    • Meghann Ellis
      Meghann Ellis on 03 Dec 12
       
      What else could President Clinton have done? This is the question that many find debatable. Is the duty of the United States to protect other nations in times of genocide. Honestly I think that many didn't not know how bad the genocide was at first but as time went on more and more died, which called for more nations to step in and help. Clinton was taking a huge risk if he put his country into the mix of the genocide. Oddly enough I don't think that there was much he could personally do and so I think he made a good choice in just staying out of it, even though it may not be the most moral thing to do.
    • jeffrey hernandez
      jeffrey hernandez on 03 Dec 12
       
      Even if he did send troops into Rwanda, it's very difficult to know who you are fighting against. Also the president would have to endure the consequences of looking like a bully to other nations. Sometimes staying neutral is the easiest way out of it and that is the direction the president choose. 
    • Devin Haerle
      Devin Haerle on 11 Dec 12
       
      It was a lose-lose situation. If the US intervened other nations in the region might twist US actions into those of the bully, the oppressor, even if they were well-intentioned, and moving more troops into the region may have only served to escalate the situation and bog the US down in yet another costly and likely unpopular war. Proponents of intervention often seem to overlook the economic and psychological cost of war. If the US stood by, its citizens and others would accuse the government of a lack of action on important issues. Clinton's actions were no doubt well-rehearsed and he assuredly recieved advice on the situation from the cabinet, advisors, et cetera- few Presidents act alone- and he did what was seen as in America's best interest.
  • A few years later, in a series in The New Yorker, Philip Gourevitch recounted in horrific detail the story of the genocide and the world's failure to stop it
    • khampton44
      khampton44 on 03 Dec 12
       
      I found the last part of this sentence to be really true. I did not know about this at all but it seem like it should have been a bigger deal and someone needed to step in and help. I do not see how it could have been so easily ignored. So many people died for no reason at all it just seems crazy it was not in the media or in our history books now.
    • Justina Cooney
      Justina Cooney on 03 Dec 12
       
      This is the most shocking and interesting aspect of foreign policy; that is how we choose our battles. The excuse that we had no idea what was happening really does not cut it but I do understand that many things are weighed out when making decsions like whether or not to get involved in other countries problems. I wonder how people make decisions to refrain from interviening and keep from the media mass genocides like this incident in Rwanda.
  • "We come here today partly in recognition of the fact that we in the United States and the world community did not do as much as we could have and should have done to try to limit what occurred" in Rwanda.
    • Karina DaSilva
      Karina DaSilva on 03 Dec 12
       
      I get the impression that it is far more likely for a government to take action over something if it is made public. The Tutsi genocide is far less known than say, the Holocaust. People don't know about what is going on, therefore they don't ask questions. Once people start raising questions, however, I feel like that's when a lot of politicians start making a "stand".
  • Hutu militiamen, soldiers, and ordinary citizens murdered some 800,000 Tutsi and politically moderate Hutu.
    • Devin Milligan
      Devin Milligan on 03 Dec 12
       
      I think that this is pretty horrible. For people to ruthlessly kill this many people is just unbelievable. Something should have been done to stop this. I think that the fact that Clinton knew about this and did nothing to stop him make him slightly guilty. Its like someone watching a murder and just walking away and not helping while its happening. And i think it made Clinton look bad as well as America.
    • Ashley Mehrens
      Ashley Mehrens on 03 Dec 12
       
      I think that this is an extremely sad story to be told. People really need to be more informed about this kind of thing. If more people were informed then I think the government would be more inclined to step in and help. Well the government is supposed to work that way. But someone in one of the later comments mentioned Kony 2012 in which many people did make a statement about and the government still didn't step up to the plate. Not only was the Clinton administration made to look bad, they also could have easily changed their image.
    • Sean McCarthy
      Sean McCarthy on 03 Dec 12
       
      The US government's semi-imperialist use of its military in recent years is out of control, but what we SHOULD be using our military for, outside of protecting out homeland, is to eradicate genocides like this.. here's an idea, let's stop deposing foreign leaders just because they don't like us, and start worrying about mindless killing. gameplan -set.
    • Flavio Guzman
      Flavio Guzman on 11 Dec 12
       
      How is it possible that this was allowed to happen? thats more than half a million lives lost and yet it took years for someone to write about it. If this had happened in any developed country we would have known this was going to happen before it even happened. These are the issues that all goverment should be worried about fixing now, not other things such as oil.
    • Devin Milligan
      Devin Milligan on 03 Dec 12
       
      I think that this is pretty horrible. For people to ruthlessly kill this many people is just unbelievable. Something should have been done to stop this. I think that the fact that Clinton knew about this and did nothing to stop him make him slightly guilty. Its like someone watching a murder and just walking away and not helping while its happening. And i think it made Clinton look bad as well as America.
  • Why did the United States not do more for the Rwandans at the time of the killings?
    • Kayla Sawoski
      Kayla Sawoski on 03 Dec 12
       
      What else could President Clinton have done? It's hard to get involved in something so far from us. Rwanda is on the other side of the world and it is hard to stay in contact. We only know what is going on from stories and pictures being shared with the U.S. I feel like if the United States got involved it possibly could have made it worse. Clinton was put in a tough place and all the pressure was put on him. I think there were things that maybe could have happened to help but it was a difficult place to be in. 
    • madison taylor
      madison taylor on 04 Dec 12
       
      I think the U.S did do somethings as far as sending military aid to protect people. besides that i don't know how much more the United states could have done to help. We sent soldiers over who had much more pwerful weapons than the hutu extremists and so the hutu usually stayed away. The U.S could not do much more at the time of it happening
    • Brandon White
      Brandon White on 03 Dec 12
       
      In retrospect, we as Americans look at the Rwandan genocide and think about how we could have saved people. But would we really do anything different in a similar situation today? Look at Syria. There is violence there similar to the situation in Rwanda. But we are not getting involved. We are far to retrospective and not proactive. 
  • portrayed (and, they insist, perceived) the deaths not as atrocities or the components and symptoms of genocide but as wartime "casualties"—the deaths of combatants or those caught between them in a civil war.
    • Sean McCarthy
      Sean McCarthy on 03 Dec 12
       
      this is so interesting, it kind of echoes what we've been learning about with the polis, that in it politicians can take Truth and kind of turn it in a way that helps them..
  • most efficient killing spree
    • Kim H
      Kim H on 07 Dec 12
       
      This phrasing here really bothers me. Saying that this event was "efficient" makes it sound as though it was a good thing. This genocide was horrific. That's a much better word to describe it, than efficient. 
  • gina Hogrefe on 29 Nov 12
     
    This article informed me about the genocide in Rwanda. I have done investigations of the genocide in Darfur and Sudan because George clooney and his father were jailed for protesting and I wanted to know why the media brought more attention to an actor and not a country that is killing itself. Genocide is mass murder and it is unfortunate that if there are no incentives for America or other countries to help then they turn a cheek. Notice how USA invades countries where oil is plentiful. This to me explains USA avoidance to act on humanitarian issues like this.
  • Tyler Schnorf on 29 Nov 12
     
    I feel that we should have done something to help what was hapening overseas, but at the same time where does our role as the "international police" end? It is sadly coming to the point where if there is an international issue and the US is not involved then it looks like we are not doing our job of protecting. Yes we should have helped the genecide, but the issue was not with our country so why are we being criticized? I am not saying that we should not of helped, only that is it not fair to question the character of the US
  • Emily Shandorf on 02 Dec 12
     
    The article describes the mass killing of approximately 800,000 people in Rwanda, East Africa, in 1994. Two ethnic groups were in competition with each other: the Hutu people and the Tutsi people. The Hutus massacred the Tutsi population brutally, trying to eliminate it completely. The rest of the world did nothing to help. We learn something very terrible: that the US was a bystander too genocide. It was sad to read how President Clinton did not even want to help out or respect the situation. Actually, it was ignored. He did not have any interest in stopping the genocide and he stood by as many deaths were occurring. Genocide is a serious crime-the worst possible. One population was trying to eliminate another by terribly violent means. People are asking themselves how it is possible for a country like the United States not to know about it. I, myself, wonder how the President of the United States cannot know the details. Why did he show no interest at all? I think the reason is that he and the United States simply did not want to get involved. That is why he issued the "Clinton apology," which was actually a carefully hedged acknowledgement" Another issue I found interesting was the fact that the policymakers declared the deaths as "casualties" and war deaths. Were they ashamed into admitting that it's partially the US fault that ignored this problem that affects everyone? Was this a way to create a kind of distance between the terrible violence and the typical political situation in another part of the world? At the end of the article the writers says that policymakers don't want to talk about suffering because it affects them and it shows one's "rational" arguments are weak. To me, this means that very often countries and political leaders do not want to risk anything by taking a stand or making a strong decision. It is easier not to do anything -- and apologize for it later! It makes me think that we need strong, intelligent
Caitlin Fransen

Joanna Moorhead on the best country to give birth | Life and style | The Guardian - 18 views

www.guardian.co.uk/...healthandwellbeing.health

shared by Caitlin Fransen on 10 Sep 11 - No Cached
    • magen sanders
      magen sanders on 10 Sep 11
       
      obviously these statistics of new mothers dying is high because of a lack of medical insight and medicine as well as resources but if perhaps they do live through a childbirth are they aware of the now even higher chances of death during a 2nd or 3rd child birth?or is it just now a expected custom?
    • nsamuelian
      nsamuelian on 11 Sep 11
       
      i had the same questions in my mind while reading this, but i think if they have the proper medication and necessities to advance the process and outcomes of the childbirth in the first place, the survival rate of the 2nd and 3rd children will possibly increase as well.
    • Matt Nolan
      Matt Nolan on 12 Sep 11
       
      it is sad to see that women in this country are not able to receive proper medical attention for their babies. Its not just the medical attention that is lacking, it is the transportation where is the transportation for these mothers? As a society we need to do something for these third world countries to receive the proper medical attention, changes need to be made and we all have to participate.
    • anonymous
      anonymous on 12 Sep 11
       
      These are the stories that make me want to pursue a career in Public Health. It is absolutely ridiculous that mothers in Niger and all over impoverished Africa are forced to go through such a delicate procedure virtually on their own with only slightly trained caretakers, if they're lucky. Birth is the beginning of life, and no one's life should begin this way. Mothers' greatest joys should be the birth of their children, yet they clearly are unable to enjoy this process (or gain any positive feelings from it whatsoever) in any way due to poor conditions. The issue of economic inequality throughout the world is presented in a huge way by this article. If Swedish mothers-to-be can be given such fantastic care, mothers in Africa (and mothers everywhere, for that matter) should be able to receive just as much care. However, the overall key is education. All successful pursuits within governments begin with educated and well-trained personnel who can perform any and all necessary tasks pertaining to a position.
    • Ryan Brown
      Ryan Brown on 12 Sep 11
       
      This article is quite ridiculous when you compare both countries as it should not be done. There are two many different situations that yes, it does show the differences between the two socieites and many of the problems but what can be done to change this? The infrastructure need sto updated and worked on but that is more complicated (and expensive) then anyone can understand for a 3rd world country. The United States often times takes situations like these into hand and tries to help the world solve its problems but you cant keep giving handouts, especially when we are already struggling to support our own country. Yes I think every child deserves to live and be born in a safe environment where they should be given the chance to succeed but we can not save everyone, we must be realistic, no matter how bad this sounds, it is the truth.
    • Xochitl Cruz
      Xochitl Cruz on 13 Sep 11
       
      Along with what Marina said, the women in Niger do not get to enjoy the birth of their child. Instead they have to endure this immense pain, which may last for plenty of hours, and do so quietly. The process of childbirth is not pleasant, but it is a joyous moment for the mother. Nevertheless, they have to endure and then walk back to their home without getting any check-up after the labor. This problem is just leading to more problems for the mothers and newborns since the mothers endure about nine months and their newborn might die instantly. I think that the country should get not necessarily professionals, but sanitary facilities to move a step forward and cut down the statistic a bit more.
  • She was was born by caesarean section because of worries over a uterine scar, the result of previous surgery. It might have been fine, the doctors told her, but there was a risk it might rupture. "Why take that risk?" says Carmen, smiling
    • Gaby Ramirez Castorena
      Gaby Ramirez Castorena on 10 Sep 11
       
      i think this further emphasizes the difference in the care that each location chooses to dedicate to childbirth- one place doesn't care or seem to want to even try and deal with the risks of childbirth, whereas the other place is all about prevention and care
    • jose marichal
      jose marichal on 14 Sep 12
       
      I AGREE WITH GABY
    • magen sanders
      magen sanders on 10 Sep 11
       
      was this a nessessity or are the people being spoiled with this type of care. i understand care in a hospital is important but this may be overdoing it a bit.
    • Sarah McKee
      Sarah McKee on 11 Sep 11
       
      How is this overdoing it? It's best, if you can, to take all precautions. It's easier to take a precaution then to fix a problem after the fact. If there had been a complication she could have died or her baby could have died.
    • Eric Henderson
      Eric Henderson on 12 Sep 11
       
      I think this may be overdoing it just a little bit, just because of my personal morals, but in their particular society, it is perfectly normal to avoid any risks whatsoever by way of a caesarean section. I personally was born this way, but this is only true because it was a danger to my health. This is the only instance in which I believe it is 100 percent acceptable to have a caesarean section performed.
    • Jonathan Omokawa
      Jonathan Omokawa on 12 Sep 11
       
      I don't think that they are being spoiled. I think its odd to do a caesarean because of cosmetic worries. Since, I assume that is her reason for not wanting the uterine scar. But I definitely don't think its overdoing it. Personally, if I had the resources for everything to go the way I wanted, why not take advantage of it.
    • Lauren Frenkel
      Lauren Frenkel on 12 Sep 11
       
      Agreed. Why not take advantage of the available resources? When comparing the different types of care available it may seem a bit over the top how ever it is keeping women safe and comfortable. Although comfort is not a necessity, it is a luxury that other countries unfortunately do not have access to. Perhaps if more luxuries were provided then less deaths would occur for both women and infants.
    • Alexa Datuin
      Alexa Datuin on 14 Sep 12
       
      I agree with Sarah, Jonathan, and Lauren. I think it's important to take advantage of all resources at all times, even more so if you can afford it. I don't think there is any way to "over-do" anything when it comes to health. With technology these days, it's best to keep moving forward and continue to find new ways for problems and situations that will happen for many years to come. Otherwise, all the money and time spent into doing health research will be put to waste. It's better to be safe than sorry.
  • ...52 more annotations...
  • he fertility rate, at 7.5, is among the highest in the world.
    • magen sanders
      magen sanders on 10 Sep 11
       
      thats because they dont have access to birth control of any kind including condoms and oral contraceptives.
    • Sarah McKee
      Sarah McKee on 11 Sep 11
       
      And currently it is the highest at 7.6.
    • Jonathan Omokawa
      Jonathan Omokawa on 12 Sep 11
       
      I agree with Magen. The complete lack of knowledge in this area of the world is ridiculous. Many of the women would rather take risks than use contraceptives because of its too hard to get them or too expensive. Is it not easier to just say no? I can't imagine there are tv shows or billboards promoting sex in these parts of the world.
    • Ashley Mehrens
      Ashley Mehrens on 14 Sep 12
       
      I really don't think that the women have much of an option. They don't have the extra money to spend on contraceptives considering they probably can hardly feed their families. Also the women probably don't have the option to say no. Niger is culturally much different than where we live, probably using a more patriarchal system. The men dominate home life, saying no isn't practical. On top of all that if they don't have the money for decent healthcare, they also probably don't have the means to have television or billboards, especially in the villages that the article talks about.
    • Amanda Power
      Amanda Power on 10 Sep 11
       
      of course children are not going to live very long if they are not properley cared for and checked for diseases after they are born. They miss a treatment window and are unfortunatly killed by the diseases that could have been cured or even prevented.
    • Gaby Ramirez Castorena
      Gaby Ramirez Castorena on 10 Sep 11
       
      furthermore, is this lack of aftercare due to the poverty in Niger, or the lack of importance that these people give to childbirth? or possibly both?
    • Sarah McKee
      Sarah McKee on 11 Sep 11
       
      I can't imagine that it is do to a lack of importance of childbirth. Children are important in all societies or at least virtually all, I hate to say all. But it is programmed into our DNA, we take care of children, they are important for our survival and the survival of our species. I mean, maybe they have a slightly less important in Niger because Niger has the highest total birth rate in the world but I can not fathom a society that does not think of children as being important.
    • Joshua Gray
      Joshua Gray on 12 Sep 11
       
      I couldn't imagine that somehow only in Niger people didn't put an importance on child birth. I am led to believe that the lack of aftercare in Niger is indeed due to the amount of severe poverty. There aren't many doctors or nurses there trained in modern medicine, and those rare cases that a Nigerian citizen gets a scholarship to medical school, how likely do you think it is they'd want to return? I am not saying they hate their country or that none return, but to them it is a way out of poverty and to a better life
  • There is no aftercare, Insa explains: no midwife will check up on mother or baby, so Dahara will have to use her own judgment if there are any post-natal problems and seek help if and where she can
  • Niger is officially the most dangerous place on earth to have a baby: in May, a Save the Children report found that, of the 125 nations it surveyed, Niger was where childbirth was most likely to end badly. Statistically, Dahara, who is 26, has a one-in-seven chance of dying during her reproductive years as a result of a pregnancy-related complication or infection, or childbirth injury. Her baby son, lying here on the table, has a 15% chance of not reaching his first birthday and a one-in-six chance of not making it to the age of five. And Dahara is fortunate to have had the skills of a midwife like the cheerful Insa: across the country, only 16% of deliveries are attended by anyone with any training at all.
    • Gaby Ramirez Castorena
      Gaby Ramirez Castorena on 10 Sep 11
       
      These statistics are obviously very concerning and eye-opening when it comes to comparing between childbirth here in the US and childbirth in places like NIger. However, I also wonder why these woman choose to go through so many risks in childbirth by having so many children. I understand that perhaps these woman and their families desire children on their behave, but why choose to have so many if the risks only dramatically increase? Is this for reasons of culture or mere wants on behalf of the family (ies)?
    • Joshua Gray
      Joshua Gray on 12 Sep 11
       
      I believe at least a part of the issue for countries like these are that they have serious lack of birth control. Many of these people are very uneducated and lack advice in these areas that our culture often takes for granted. Having a large family can also be a plus in their enviornment. More people, more workers and their children can help with work. Or if the parents become sick, they will have someone to look after them.
    • Meghann Ellis
      Meghann Ellis on 14 Sep 12
       
      This show global inequality based on the statistics of survival of mom and baby. Niger clearly doesn't have the technology to make childbirth more efficient. In comparison to Sweden's hospital care, Dahara is left be the doctor to herself and her child, thus risking the life of her baby and of herself. The care in Niger seems cruel and unsafe , where as Sweden has midwives there for every step of the way. Everywhere in the world no matter what the country should have proper equipment and care for childbirth.
  • Until then, she, her partner Tommy Svedberg, 41 - who was at the birth and is now taking paternity leave to be involved in his daughter's first weeks - and Tess are staying at the hospital, in a large, hotel-like double room.
    • Gaby Ramirez Castorena
      Gaby Ramirez Castorena on 10 Sep 11
       
      ...contrary to the other family, where the father won't even be involved at all in the early weeks of their baby's life
    • Jonathan Omokawa
      Jonathan Omokawa on 12 Sep 11
       
      I had no idea there was something called paternity leave. I thought that this was pretty cool. I think its pretty important that the father is there to help the mother deal with the newborn. This also might help prevent psychological problems with the mother.
    • Alexis Schomer
      Alexis Schomer on 13 Sep 12
       
      I agree. I had no idea either but I think it's great that the father supports the mother. Child birth is a miracle but it can also come with extreme side effects and the support of a husband can be very helpful in these situations! 
  • Education, she says, is key. "If we could raise awareness of some of the health issues, we could save many lives,"
    • Tavish Dunn
      Tavish Dunn on 11 Sep 11
       
      While more advanced medical equipment would help deal with many issues new mothers face in delivery, help from people with actual training to help with deliveries would prevent several of the complications faced by new mothers giving birth.
    • Caitlin Scott
      Caitlin Scott on 14 Sep 12
       
      I think that the Save the Children people are doing a great job in doing the small part that they have in educating the women of Niger about even something so small as breast feeding.  I don't think that they have unattainable goals and if education is where the change needs to start then building up from there would do a world of difference for those women.
  • massage, a shower, acupuncture
    • Sarah McKee
      Sarah McKee on 11 Sep 11
       
      During labor?
    • Jonathan Omokawa
      Jonathan Omokawa on 12 Sep 11
       
      Did not think that acupuncture was something performed in hospitals.
  • Because, it transpires, when you come into hospital to have a baby in Niger, your relatives come too: they sleep on the floor by your bed, they help look after you and your baby, and they are here, too, to donate blood if you have a postpartum haemorrhage - you only get blood if you bring your own donors.
    • Sarah McKee
      Sarah McKee on 11 Sep 11
       
      But they said that the father doesn't even come or deal with the child for the first few weeks or so. So, are these just people from the mother's side of the family?
    • Hayley Jensen
      Hayley Jensen on 14 Sep 12
       
      Maybe this speaks to gender roles and how they differ throughout the world? This seems to be perpetuating the female gender role as the primary care taker with babies, at least for the first part of life.
  • Of 2,600 babies born here last year, around one in six was dead at delivery or died soon afterwards. In addition, a total of 61 mothers lost their lives. This is shocking stuff: in Uppsala, where there are 4,000 births a year, two to three babies will die annually and one woman will die, on average, every seven years.
    • Sarah McKee
      Sarah McKee on 11 Sep 11
       
      I wonder how the US ranks in these statistics.
    • Kiera Murphy
      Kiera Murphy on 12 Sep 11
       
      This is extremely shocking. It's a shame that the technology here in the U.S. has been utilized for decades and other places in the world don't have the ability of access the advances necessary for survival. This idea pertains to more than just pregnancy and delivery. A majority of medical advances, such as medicine, is not available to the people who are in need. Letting people die when we have the resources to save their life, is not moral. I understand that because of financial reasons we can't save the world from all it's problems. But how odd is it that we can't even agree to have universal healthcare for our own citizens??
  • And then the wife gets worse and they say, well there's no point in taking her now, she's going to die anyway
    • Sarah McKee
      Sarah McKee on 11 Sep 11
       
      Obviously men don't value women or children in Niger.
  • three weeks early and is slightly underweight
    • Amanda Power
      Amanda Power on 11 Sep 11
       
      if this situation were to happen in niger the baby would have died, and so would the mother if complications with the uterine scar (which would probably have not been seen) had risen.
  • Niger's women have to pay for the privilege of their substandard, inadequate services
    • Amanda Power
      Amanda Power on 11 Sep 11
       
      I think i would rather have my baby at home than walk all this way to be treated very poorly, possibly not have a midwife, and have to pay.
    • tania markussen
      tania markussen on 17 Oct 11
       
      The fact that the nigerian women have to pay for poor treatment where one in seven leads to death and where there is no medical equipment if anything goes wrong and no pain killers is very sad and feels very unfair.
    • Melissa Moreno
      Melissa Moreno on 12 Sep 11
       
      This really resonated with me because I feel that it is such a strong comment on what the female population has achieved in the more advanced countries but does paint a picture of how far we are yet to come on a more global scale. I am curious as to where the 100% comes from and if the numbers prove to be completely true I would hope that the United States would strive to for this in regards to their female population, and on a broader scale the entire population to be as literate and educated as Sweden (China, Japan, etc.). While we are one of the most advanced countries in the world we still have a massive mountain to climb in relation to healthcare, education, and various other facets as a whole.
  • Sweden, by contrast, is one of the wealthiest economies on earth. Its people are healthy and well-fed, its shops well-stocked, its communications excellent and its women well-educated, with virtually 100% female literacy. More than 72% use modern contraception and the average age for a first birth is 29. The fertility rate is 1.7. It is, in every way, a happier and healthier place to be a woman.
    • Alexis Schomer
      Alexis Schomer on 13 Sep 12
       
      It;s amazing what money and education can do to a community! 
    • steve santos
      steve santos on 12 Sep 11
       
      its very interesting to think of these notions of morality and personal motif in the definition of defining the line between the polis and the market when there are many limiting factors dissolving the two of them. where there is no gubernatorial sense of how to allocate resources to feed people; very little is any, and then the polis struggling to make ends meat and water of daily survival to bring into consideration that of others. certain things then become "nice problems to have" in western civilization when drinking water is abundant and famine is not an actuality as opposed to how it is in Niger where life to death is over, or under depending how you look at it, in regards to the access to something so crucial as clean water
  • To call the birth centre here basic is an understatement: to the western eye, from the outside, it resembles a neglected public lavatory
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 12 Sep 11
       
      This line was definitely powerful in my mind. It really contrasts the difference in quality of life between a first world nation and Niger. 
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 12 Sep 11
       
      "Why take that risk" - immediately made me cringe at the privileged healthcare that we are provided in first world nations in contrast to that which is provided in the third world.  
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 12 Sep 11
       
      Honestly, this makes me sick. I can't stand seeing nations unable to offer proper healthcare to their citizens and then over charging. Of course we see these fees in the US as well, but predominantly the average American can afford all basic medical expenses (this is not to say we shouldn't have true universal healthcare - because we should). It saddens me that the government of Niger can not properly regulate the industry or perhaps provide some sort of aid for mothers to be. While I understand their economy is lacking, which is a much greater issue at hand, it is truly disheartening to read about all the statistics in this article and realize those deaths were of real mothers who would have survived given proper care. 
    • Joette Carini
      Joette Carini on 12 Sep 11
       
      I really do wish that more people out there could read this type of article... it really is a reality check. It deeply saddens me to not only know this new information given to me about how it is in the world of Niger, but also to know that people like Carmen really do not know how good they have it. I myself have never truly been exposed to a type of environment like Dahara's, and I am so very thankful, but many people do not have the gratitude that I do for being raised in a generally clean and safe environment where people actually work for the well-being of children and where complications are minimal, and it bothers me to know that SO many people take it for granted. 
  • in Niger, birth is considered to be women's work and fathers keep their distance. The only piece of medical equipment in evidence in the entire centre is a plastic bowl into which Dahara has delivered the placenta.
  • Mothers in labour are looked after with every hi-tech advantage possible
    • Eric Arbuckle
      Eric Arbuckle on 12 Sep 11
       
      Shows a great difference in the ways women are treated in the two countries. It is to no surprise Niger, seeming to be a country still living in history and ancient Islamic beliefs, shows nearly no interest in the well being of women. Much like Afghanistan and other undeveloped Islamic countries.
    • Kayla Sawoski
      Kayla Sawoski on 14 Sep 12
       
      Compared to Sweden, Niger is definitely less developed and less technologically advanced. Clearly, the Swedish people have more opportunities and are living in a flourishing area. 
  • Most of the mothers I talked to had had their first baby at 15 or 16 -one had had 11 babies before she was 25. Only 4% use modern contraception and not for cultural or religious reasons - many of the women I asked said they would welcome advice on spacing their children.
    • Eric Arbuckle
      Eric Arbuckle on 12 Sep 11
       
      Seems to be common in old traditional Islamic countries.
    • Devin Milligan
      Devin Milligan on 13 Sep 12
       
      This makes me really happy to be living in America.
    • Nicolas Bianchi
      Nicolas Bianchi on 14 Sep 12
       
      It's crazy how different cultures can be
    • Eric Arbuckle
      Eric Arbuckle on 12 Sep 11
       
      Sums up the reality and horrible differences between Sweden and a country like Niger.
    • Edmund Garrett
      Edmund Garrett on 14 Sep 12
       
      A random razor blade? Seems to be an invitation for infection
    • Ashley Mehrens
      Ashley Mehrens on 14 Sep 12
       
      It probably is an invitation for infection, but they have no other options. Throughout the article they have said multiple times that they simply can't afford anything more efficient. In a small village like the one described they have a village attendant that has probably never had any formal training only figured some of the common things out through experience. 
  • It's 10am on a stiflingly hot Monday morning and I am in a delivery room with one of the unluckiest mothers on the planet. She is Dahara Laouali, and at the moment she is lying on a narrow, dusty hospital trolley pushing her baby into the w
    • jose marichal
      jose marichal on 12 Sep 12
       
      This is dumb.....
  • silence
    • georgenasr
      georgenasr on 13 Sep 12
       
      Why is this considered a tradition? Does anyone know why this is actually significant/symbolic for mothers in Niger? 
    • Devin Milligan
      Devin Milligan on 13 Sep 12
       
      I have no idea, but i can only imagine how unpleasant that would be. I would like to know the answer to your questions as well.
    • Kayla Sawoski
      Kayla Sawoski on 14 Sep 12
       
      Going through labor is a tough moment for all women. Not being able to speak or produce any type of noise would make it that much more unpleasant. 
    • Kevin Olive
      Kevin Olive on 14 Sep 12
       
      I wonder how and why this tradition started in the first place? Wonder what happens if the tradition is broken?
    • Brandon Weger
      Brandon Weger on 14 Sep 12
       
      Its interesting and quite saddening to see that the tradition is to endure labor in silence, especially when Nigerian mothers have so much less at their disposal, that they have to be strong when the health care is so weak... almost as though they are forced to compensate for Niger's lacking
    • Kim H
      Kim H on 14 Sep 12
       
      Interesting thought that its like they are "forced to compensate for Niger's lacking". It does kind  of seem that way. I wonder if the tradition comes out of that old saying of "children should be seen and not heard", but in this case its the women. 
  • that the messages aren't getting through
    • georgenasr
      georgenasr on 13 Sep 12
       
      Will it make a difference? These mothers seem very insistent on sticking to tradition; since they refuse to make any sound while giving birth to a child. I feel like some mothers would change their attitudes on breast-feeding, but others will want to commit to traditions. 
  • They scream, they shriek, they moan, they writhe: and they do it two to a room because there is no such thing as private delivery space. Nor for the most part is there any such thing as pain relief - a trip round the dispensary reveals empty shelves. Only women who have a caesarean are given anaesthetic.
    • Lauren Dudley
      Lauren Dudley on 13 Sep 12
       
      It is horrible to hear about the agony that women have to go through in Niger to bring a new life into this world, a moment that should be joyous. It is astounding and I bet that many people are not even aware... we here in the United States take for granted our modern technology, safe environments, and the knowledge we have in order to have safe procedures, such as during childbirth. I hope that this changes soon in order to give these women somewhat of a relief.
    • Alexis Schomer
      Alexis Schomer on 13 Sep 12
       
      I thought they had to be silent...?
  • harassed-looking midwives
  • "What makes us successful is that we put women at the centre of what we're doing,"
    • Lauren Dudley
      Lauren Dudley on 13 Sep 12
       
      This is a big difference between Niger and Sweden as Niger doesnt provide what should be necessities and the father is not apart of the birthing process, etc. In Sweden they realize how miraculous this process is, but also how precautious they need to be... I hope Niger can get sufficient funds and work on increasing their care of the women to give them some peace of mind about the labour process.
    • elliott reyes
      elliott reyes on 14 Sep 12
       
      this is a better difference becasue sweden women have better care than Niger women niger women are poorer and cannot access the resources that sweden women have
  • A tale of two pregnancies: from a helicopter to a horse and cart
    • Courtney Sabile
      Courtney Sabile on 13 Sep 12
       
      This last section of the article best sums up the drastic contrast between the maternity care in Sweden and Niger.
    • Tori Mayeda
      Tori Mayeda on 13 Sep 12
       
      What the lady from Sweden is going to experience is something that is realistic to me, But what the lady in Niger has to go through is unimaginable. I don't think i would want to have a child if the conditions were like that. They are definitely on opposite sides of the spectrum.   
    • Luke Gheta
      Luke Gheta on 14 Sep 12
       
      I find this comparison troblesome. The author of the website and the organization of, save the children, are framing an argument of two locations that are the best and worst places to bear a child. I ask the question why? Why would you want to construct an article about how different Niger mother-bearing is compared to Sweden. I could assume that most readers agree that there are problems in Niger that should be addressed. The cleaver ending " A tale of two pregancies: from a helicopter to a horse and cart" should not be the focus of this web-article. THE FRAMING IS ALL WRONG, I would advise the author or authors to express more solutions. Educations is the solution. Well is it? Education is the foundation but applying the skills is the " Different plant". Sweden learned how to reduce fatality rates of giving birth by learning from the past. While Niger is still living in the past. Conflicting time zones. Joanna Moorhead should have utilized her time efficently. Instead of tell a story that everyone already knows about. She should have helped the pregant women in Niger by getting the horses ready and pleading doctors in Sweden to donate there resourses in Niger. Know that would be time well spent.
  • I'll be able to phone the hospital with any worries and the midwives will come out to see me every day if I need them," she says.
    • Tatiana McCuaig
      Tatiana McCuaig on 13 Sep 12
       
      This is the complete opposite of the situation that Dahara is in with her new born. Carmen has multiple resources available with simply a phone call, while Dahara has to solve any worries on her own or with the few resources in the village
    • jackmcfarland12
      jackmcfarland12 on 13 Sep 12
       
      In my sociology class we have been discussing the connections between social norms of genders and of different cultures. Whenever I picture a typical American childbirth i can always see the father nearby or helping in the delivery process, maybe even being one of the first to see the baby. In the Niger I guess the men see it as a totally female role until he can be used as labor, common in more underdeveloped communities.
  • placenta.
  • 16 Share
  • Niger is rated the world's poorest country by the UN. Around 14% of its under-fives are significantly malnourished (and in the aftermath of last year's crop shortage and in the face of another shortfall this year, that figure could soon be much worse). Less than half its population has access to safe water.
    • Devon Meredith
      Devon Meredith on 13 Sep 12
       
      I think that this whole passage is another reminder of how great our country is. Although our country has issues deciding welfare and we aren't usually thought of to be given as many free benefits as a third world country, when you go to a hospital you are guaranteed cleanliness, proper medicine, and also a higher percentage that you and your baby will survive the birthing process. I think this in itself is just another obvious reason why the United States of America is such a great place to live and the opportunity to take advantage of all these great services. 
  • But there is more to the horrors of Zinder. Many of the women who come here will have travelled long distances, often in agony, to reach the hospital
    • jeffrey hernandez
      jeffrey hernandez on 14 Sep 12
       
      transportation is a serious issue for the many who dont have access to medical services, a mobile heath service should be developed so everyone can receive proper care  
    • Kevin Olive
      Kevin Olive on 14 Sep 12
       
      This does not surprise me at all. I do not expect many nations in Africa to have great health care systems. It shows that some people are just less fortunate due to their surroundings and resources.
    • Edmund Garrett
      Edmund Garrett on 14 Sep 12
       
      It is  simply a difference in resources and medical expertise. Sweden has more money and an intricate health care system. It not only is the best country to give birth, it also has declining mortality rates and a large elderly population.
    • Ryan Hamilton
      Ryan Hamilton on 14 Sep 12
       
      This highlights the global inequality between countries such as Niger and Sweden. And it is sad because unless there is some sort of outside help Niger is stuck in a kind of loop. Child birth will always be hard and more dangerous in a country like that unless update their infrastructure, which is almost impossible because of the lack of money. If you scale this down and look at singular countries we have the same types of inequality problems that we see on a world scale. Many times low income families are left with fewer opportunities just as poor countries are. It is unrealistic for first world countries to pour money into everything from infrastructure, education and medicine, but since our world is becoming smaller and smaller maybe it would be advantageous to help in at least one area. 
    • Sean McCarthy
      Sean McCarthy on 14 Sep 12
       
      I agree with this point. This problem reminds me of the saying that you can give a man to fish and he can eat for one day, or you can teach the man to fish and he will always have food. there is a massive, widespread problem in Niger, as well as many other 'third world countries' that can't be fixed just by other governments supplying infrastructure or things of that nature. A widespread societal change is really necessary, but as to the best way to do that, that remains the question.
  • Dahara's husband has not been involved in the birth and is unlikely to play a big role in the early weeks with the baby
    • khampton44
      khampton44 on 14 Sep 12
       
      If the woman had just given birth then she will be tired and not fully healed especially if she did get all the medical help she would have needed during the birth. She needs her husband's help so much right now and the fact that he is not helping and he's not expected to help is really just sad and could be part of the reason the children are not getting enough at a young age.
    • Edmund Garrett
      Edmund Garrett on 14 Sep 12
       
      Considering that women in Niger are materially disadvantaged, I wonder what one does for a means of entertainment? Maybe this would lead to a more births? (or at least combined with the lack of contraceptives)
    • Erick Sandoval
      Erick Sandoval on 14 Sep 12
       
      Even though we are living on the same planet, ther are people who live on both sides of the spectrum, whether it be a healthy and sanitary life, or a filthy, hopeless one.
    • Karina DaSilva
      Karina DaSilva on 14 Sep 12
       
      I think this really highlights the difference between privileged society and those who are not so privileged. The fact that there is both physical and cultural limitations placed on these women makes me wonder if this plays a direct role in their state. Not that it has to do with all of it of course, but it might be an important factor.  Either way, comparing the situations between Sweden and Niger, it really does make one think whether what is going on in Niger could be considered an extreme of how bias can have an indirect on the welfare of its people (example: women are often illiterate, yet there is a call for more educated midwives)
  • What is needed now is an emphasis on preventing deaths in babies, especially those in the early days and weeks of life.
    • Brandon White
      Brandon White on 14 Sep 12
       
      We can introduce as many medical technologies as possible, but what is really needed is a fundamental change in the thought of the mothers of Niger. In such a rural area, this is obviously not easy.  How can policy makers with an eye on international health make a shift towards prenatal and postnatal emphasis on health? In a country with isolated pockets of civilization are present, it is not possible to introduce a hospital or medical center that is in a convenient location for all mothers. This obviously creates an inherent inequality in these mother's ability to give birth to healthy children. The most that we can do is focus on education: As in, teaching these women the importance of vaccinations and sticking to a specific health-based regime.  We far too often underestimate the important of education on even items that, to us, seem to be common sense. Every culture is naive to certain aspects of other culture. And as strange as it sounds, it is worthwhile to try to make a fundamental changed in Nigerian culture to try emphasize health. 
  • Carmen's chance of dying as a result of childbirth over her lifetime is one in 29,800 (Dahara's, remember, was just one in seven). The risk of Tess dying in her first year is one in 333. In Sweden, 100% of births are attended by a skilled, trained midwife.
    • Kelsey Fratello
      Kelsey Fratello on 14 Sep 12
       
      The dramatic difference of these statistics is really sad. Losing a child is one of the hardest things things a parent has to go through. I personally know someone who lost a baby who was only 6 months old; the parents were so heart-broken for so long. In Niger, the mothers, as the fathers don't seem to be around during this time, have to go through this all the time. This is so depressing. 
    • Phillip Delgado
      Phillip Delgado on 14 Sep 12
       
      All though the thirty eight year old woman has a great chance of having a healthy baby, a hundred years ago she most likely wouldn't have survived. It is amazing what modern medicine can do. 
  • Dahara pushes, pain creasing her sweating face, and then pushes again - and suddenly between her legs there is a little boy with the walnut features of newborns everywhere, and a mop of damp, dark hair. Insa gives a delighted squeal, but Dahara is still silent: as her baby is wrapped in a cloth, she turn
    • mgarciag
      mgarciag on 14 Sep 12
       
      I think that it is amazing that there is so much of a difference in medical care between countries such as Niger and Sweden.  It's like they are from a time hundreds of years before.  
  • Death is a real possibility for women who get into difficulties giving birth in Fardun Sofo: Zeinabou Abdou, the village's traditional birth attendant, has years of experience but no drugs and no equipment except for a packet of razor blades for cutting the umbilical cord.
    • Hayley Jensen
      Hayley Jensen on 14 Sep 12
       
      I think this is a great example of how public policy implications in America can differ so greatly from those internationally. Sometimes it's hard for the American population to keep that in mind when getting up in arms about current issues in our society.
    • Shannon Wirawan
      Shannon Wirawan on 14 Sep 12
       
      This was a really interesting article. From the start of the Nigerian silence birth to reading about the wealthy living of Sweden, it really did hit me that this is actually happening around the world. It made me put a lot of things in perspective. This article was really interesting to me, because it showcased the extremes of child birth from two very different countries. Not only did this article make me kind of depressed, it also made me think about everything I have now.
  • Where Uppsala's hospital is white, clean, spacious and calm, Zinder's is dirty, cramped and chaotic. The corridors are crammed with dusty, ancient-looking equipment. There are open bins and swarms of flies in the quadrangle, and cats roam free. The paint is peeling, there is no air conditioning despite temperatures of 40C and more,
    • Amanda Garcia
      Amanda Garcia on 15 Sep 12
       
      This is a nightmare. The state in which they are made to give life invites nothing but misery and the fear of death. The equipment and care (or lack thereof) that they are provided with is appalling. The entire process is terrifyingly dangerous; no human being should be made to accept these conditions. 
  • Because this boy is the fifth child Dahara has pushed into the world and of the others, only one is still alive.
    • Caitlin Fransen
      Caitlin Fransen on 15 Sep 12
       
      Only one is still alive? wow! did they die at birth or die sometime during there childhood? either way it shows the very poor living conditions are. Do they have a really low life expectancy age? 
  • anonymous on 12 Sep 11
     
    This lack of care available to Nigerians makes me wonder if they do not value human lives as more developed countries do. The men do not even believe that the women are worth the money to go to even a run-down hospital, and when babies die, it is such a common circumstance that it is not a big deal. Perhaps money is really hard to make in Nigeria, but life is priceless, isn't it?
  • ...2 more comments...
  • Eric Arbuckle on 12 Sep 11
     
    Although this article is the sad truth, Niger is one of many countries with very similar beliefs and practices. It may be gut wrenching and very foreign to us; however, that way of life is all they know. A country like that does not change because the country as a whole does not want to change. The old Islamic and cultural traditions countries practice freeze them in history. The people not only are uneducated on the modern way of life, but lack the motivation to seek the knowledge to change their own way of life. That does not dismiss the horror women face in countries like Niger, I feel people from western cultures should do their best to help, but there is only so much the modern world can do to influence an entire way of life.
  • cj_woldanski on 12 Sep 11
     
    I thought that this article was really interesting about the way that it explained some of the differences between childbirth in a technologically advanced nation and a third world nation. I think that it is unfortunate how some of these children in Niger are being born with the odds not really in their favor, but that is life. These mothers need to be more aware of what may happen to them or their children and you would think that maybe they would try to find a better site before they started the birthing process. I also thought that it was interesting how in the article, it explained how that in Sweden the health care is free, but what I would like to know is how do they get free health care because nothing in life comes free, someone is always picking up the tab.
  • Mitchell Burris on 12 Sep 11
     
    Global equity is an impossibility. This idea that Nigerian infants "deserve" the same degree of pre/post-natal care is unrealistic. Proficient medical care is essentially a luxury not a basic human right. The situation in Niger is horrific but unfortunately it's a grim fact that life simply isn't fair. Their are numerous problems in Niger and other third world countries that contribute to the poor quality of life and we (The U.S and/or philanthropic individuals) can not rectify all these problems nor is it our responsibility. I realize this sounds cold and unfeeling but I do not mean it that way.
  • Emily Shandorf on 14 Sep 12
     
    It is interesting knowing how different cultures and religions are comparing to ours. I was shocked reading that in Niger woman while having a baby don't make any noises. They suffer in pain and go through with it. Now a days in the hospitals besides getting pain killers and medicine the woman is free to complain and yell and do everything just o have a baby. America is a liberal country. In the poor countries woman usually get pregnant at a young age (15 or 16) and most of the people are not ready to be a parent for more then one child, but even for only one. It is a great responsibility and time consuming. I understand that there is only a 4% that people use contraception but the risk is high and it is not a joke to bring another human being to life. it must be difficult for Dahara seeing that her kids that she had before died and that the one that she has might or might not die. It must be a worse feeling loosing "your" human being or also aborting. I also found interesting the tradition that men don't play role in the in their child's life, they keep their distances. I would never want my husband to do that and my child to grow up without a male figure that will teach him/her new things, experiences. Another interesting fact that you can only get blood from relatives in the hospital if someone is dying or is sick and needs new blood. A good aspect that they have put in Niger is "Save the Children" which is where they take away health fees and therefore more poor people have a better chance of surviving. I agree on that the countries needs more trained midwives, well-equipped antenatal clinics to improve lives in these countries. Niger just needs help from richer countries because it is not a safe place and it is not a place to grow up a child. At the end of the article there is written "Ces't le vie", (it's life), like if it was normal that new born babies have to die from these mal treatments and diseases that in other countries could
Tyler Schnorf

Wired 11.09: PowerPoint Is Evil - 3 views

www.wired.com/...ppt2.html

shared by Tyler Schnorf on 22 Oct 11 - Cached
  • Visual reasoning usually works more effectively when relevant information is shown side by side.
    • nsamuelian
      nsamuelian on 22 Oct 11
       
      This made me think about the Chart Wars clip we watched. In that clip, we concluded that visuals are more effective to get your point across rather than words, but this article is saying that no matter how creative and appealing your visuals are, the audience will be bored if you haven't introduced an interesting topic for them. I think they both make sense, but personally I'm not too sure which one i agree with more.
    • Felecia Russell
      Felecia Russell on 23 Oct 11
       
      Well, yes because there is a connection. A graph with words makes more sense together than separate. Words by itself is considered boring. Picture by themselves are lacking content. So, images and words together would be better for listeners. This article does suggest that the importance of words will not be good enough without visuals, and vice versa, but I disagree. I think people gravitate more towards visuals by themselves. However, I do think that for information to make sense, visual reasoning is more effective when relevant information is presented as well.
    • Tavish Dunn
      Tavish Dunn on 24 Oct 11
       
      The Chart Wars clip does have some connection to this. Images can carry a powerful message, but without relevant words to explain the image, people can easily interpret the visual incorrectly. Words give context to an image, although the image itself is primarily what causes an emotional response. Relevant information can also give the sense that the issue expands beyond the single instance shown in one image. I think that visuals cause people to think about an issue while the relevant information gives a clearer understanding and focus.
    • Ryan Brown
      Ryan Brown on 24 Oct 11
       
      In today's society the ability to use images affects people every moment. That ad, the commerical on tv, the poster on the wall etc. How visually striking are those images for the unadopted pets with the sarah mclaughlin song or the starving children in africa. There are reasons they show you photos to things like that, to make an impact and emotional connection. Everyone has a weakness for imagery and it truly just depends on the depictions being made.
    • Valencia Hamilto
      Valencia Hamilto on 24 Oct 11
       
      I believe that powerpoint presentations are effective when visuals are present because it gives the audience a better undersanding of the information being presented.However some powerpoints can be boring like Tufte said in the article "Thus PowerPoint presentations too often resemble a school play -very loud, very slow, and very simple." For powerpoints it depends on the presenter because if the presenter is not engaging and very vague the presentationn will indeed feel like a school play and the audience wont truly benefit from it.
    • Kaitlyn Guilbeaux
      Kaitlyn Guilbeaux on 24 Oct 11
       
      I believe that PowerPoint presentations are for the most part effective and good. There are many instances when PowerPoints seem ineffective, and that is because the presenter utilizing the slideshow doesn't know how to create an effective presentation. That is why small children are being taught how to use the programs in elementary schools. If we all know how to make a good slideshow, they will always be effective learning tools. PowerPoints are beneficial, when they are done well, because many people thrive when they can look at a visual that represents what they are learning about. From this article, I have gotten a vibe that the author believes that slideshow presentations are made to stand alone. That is something I almost never see. A presenter uses a slideshow as an aid to accompany something that they are speaking about. If a presenter did not say anything and just made his/her audience look at slide after slide, of course it would be boring and ineffective! That is not how slideshows are meant to be used.
    • Matt Nolan
      Matt Nolan on 24 Oct 11
       
      I feel like a PowerPoint presentation is a thing of the past, there are so many new ways to get information across to people. When someone gives a presentation with just a bunch of info some people will understand it ,but others will not feel engaged. Instead of someone just trying to get a bunch of information across to people with 40 slides of info in a PowerPoint they are not going to feel engaged, they are not going to want to listen and they will not think any of the information is important to their lives. There are so many new ways data is presented and when people are learning they need to feel engaged to the material they are being presented.
    • John Buchanan
      John Buchanan on 26 Oct 11
       
      I feel like I should bring up an idea that I have seen used before called a Pecha Kucha. Its a twenty-slide PowerPoint presentation that is just made up of pictures, with NO text. Each slide is only allowed to be up on the screen for twenty seconds before the next one comes up. This sort of presentation is conducive to preventing "information overload" and makes it easier for the audience to follow along.
    • magen sanders
      magen sanders on 24 Oct 11
       
      especially in Dr. Marichal's class. the difference is that most poeple dont know how to use them. most people even teachers put too much infor on the powerpoint for a student to take note on or process. there is a technique to making a useful and productive powerpoint most dont know about
    • Jonathan Omokawa
      Jonathan Omokawa on 24 Oct 11
       
      I have to agree with Magen. In class we use the powerpoints but minimally. We know that taking notes on the slides presented would be less than useless. Its sad that the majority of Profs use the Powerpoint to teach everything. Every single subject that I have taken in college either at CLU, UCR or at Berkley (just the schools that I've either sat in class or taken classes) have all used Powerpoints and each one, I've fallen asleep at least once because its so boring. I think thats what Tufte is getting at. Its a boring way to teach therefore ineffective.
    • Taylor Rofinot
      Taylor Rofinot on 24 Oct 11
       
      Not sure that I can agree with this. although powerpoint doesn't help all the time it isn't a clear line of stupidity and can still help relay statistical information
    • Sarah McKee
      Sarah McKee on 24 Oct 11
       
      A table or graph can be very useful to have up as a point of reference and so people can see the data for themselves and if there are multiple tables or graphs it would be useful to use a powerpoint. I don't think powerpoint is what is stupid, it's the way people use it. Used properly it can be a useful tool.
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • At a minimum, a presentation format should do no harm. Yet the PowerPoint style routinely disrupts, dominates, and trivializes content.
    • Melissa Moreno
      Melissa Moreno on 24 Oct 11
       
      I feel as if whether we are making a power point or taking notes off one, more often than not a power point is overwhelming and chalk full of information for us to read and write down instead of listening to what is really being said. That isn't to say that I believe power points are bad and stupid, I simply mean to suggest that individuals do not use the power point in the most effective manner which I think is more accurate than just dismissing the program and its value all together.
  • Particularly disturbing is the adoption of the PowerPoint cognitive style in our schools. Rather than learning to write a report using sentences, children are being taught how to formulate client pitches and infomercials. Elementary school PowerPoint exercises (as seen in teacher guides and in student work posted on the Internet) typically consist of 10 to 20 words and a piece of clip art on each slide in a presentation of three to six slides -a total of perhaps 80 words (15 seconds of silent reading) for a week of work. Students would be better off if the schools simply closed down on those days and everyone went to the Exploratorium or wrote an illustrated essay explaining something.
    • Gaby Ramirez Castorena
      Gaby Ramirez Castorena on 24 Oct 11
       
      I agree with the last couple sentences of this paragraph in specific. I honestly think that the amount of information we retain from a powerpoint presentation is little to none. We seriously would be better off going to an educational place or such- we would be learning more in comparison.
    • Mark Drach-Meinel
      Mark Drach-Meinel on 24 Oct 11
       
      I fondly remember the days that we actually left the school building to go to places like museums to learn. What ever happened to those days? I feel that these are very important resources that a school can use but choose not to. The best we could get nowadays is to read a power-point about what we would see at the museum.
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 24 Oct 11
       
      I'm not fond of the author's false dichotomy that we are teaching power-point message based language in place of decent literary writing. Also, I hold the author's assertions that teaching children the boring methods of working in the business world as "pointless" as being misguided. True, school is much more than preparing children for the workplace - but it is a definitive pillar of education to prepare them for the tasks they will encounter outside of school in order to allow for a functioning society (a working polis). 
    • sahalfarah
      sahalfarah on 29 Oct 12
       
      Mike is exactly right. School is a lot more than just teaching kids reading, writing and arithmetic. They will learn the foundations of society by working hard. 
  • Audience boredom is usually a content failure, not a decoration failure.
    • Gaby Ramirez Castorena
      Gaby Ramirez Castorena on 24 Oct 11
       
      ...or lack of interest as well
    • Flavio Guzman
      Flavio Guzman on 30 Oct 12
       
      I think that no matter what the topic, if the presenter is able to present the information in a way that makes it interesting to the audience there is no problem. But the presenter must use his style of presentation to present the information instead of just relying on the powerpoint to do do the presentation for him/her.
  • The practical conclusions are clear. PowerPoint is a competent slide manager and projector. But rather than supplementing a presentation, it has become a substitute for it.
    • Nancy Camarillo
      Nancy Camarillo on 24 Oct 11
       
      More and more we see that some, if not most, classes make it a point to incorporate PowerPoint presentation into the requirements. As much as these presentations are painted in a position light (and this is not to say I am against PowerPoint) they lack the proper execution. When professors add all the information they are going to use in lecture, you see a good amount of students feel that there time is being wasted as all the information needed and being used in lecture is on this presentation, one that they can easily print. We become disengaged when all the information is given to us, yet we have to sit there and pretend we are interested. Can PowerPoints be useful, yes of course they can. But for the most part, they tend to contain too much information, and we tend to get lost in the sea of data.
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 24 Oct 11
       
      The author again assumes that everyone misuses power-point which is far from the case. 
  • Presentations largely stand or fall on the quality, relevance, and integrity of the content.
    • Eric Arbuckle
      Eric Arbuckle on 24 Oct 11
       
      Power points largely rely on these factors as well. To any successful presentation there is quality, relevance, and integrity; however, power point allows for creativity and a use of marketing skills to HELP capture the attention of the audience. As seen in the pictures above, Tufte shows a power point and attempts to use it as a "chaotic and incoherent" mess. I find it very interesting that Tufte actually uses a horrible power point and expects the readers of his article to believe it signifies ALL power points. I do agree with him on one issue though, power points being used for young children in grade school is a bit early because young children need to begin with the basic understanding of how to comprehend and truly absorb what they read rather than relying on pictures to create their own narrative.
    • Jacqueline Ramsay
      Jacqueline Ramsay on 24 Oct 11
       
      Power point presentations may cause a distraction from the actual content of a presentation, with all the obnoxious graphic and fonts that take over the screen. But students should be taught how to incorporate power point into their presentations because with today's technological advances, power points are very commonly required. The important thing is to continue teaching the importance of public speaking and essay writing, but also ensuring their knowledge of power point as an additional tool. Power points can also draw the audience in by using few words, making sure not to overwhelm but simply introduce the important information. Giving the audience something to look at other than the presenter also gives your eyes options, keeping you more focused. However, when teachers use power points for their class lectures and fill them with notes that we are expected to know, students spend too much time trying to copy the notes rather than focus on the actual thoughts and words of the professor. I think the more simple the better.
    • Tyler Coville
      Tyler Coville on 24 Oct 11
       
      Overall I agree that powerpoints are poorly implemented, yet I think they can be used properly to improve a presentation. I think the major problems with usage today is. -Too much content/Blocks of text -Distraction (especially in classes where everyone is so busy copying the slides down they mis important information) -Presenter relies on the information to remember what the presentation is on (basically being unprepared) -Related to last one losing track of the topic and jumping around to different slides to figure out what you wanted to talk about
  • Slideware may help speakers outline their talks, but convenience for the speaker can be punishing to both content and audience.
    • Eric Henderson
      Eric Henderson on 24 Oct 11
       
      This statement is very ture because i believe that powerpoints, while sometimes necessary, are really overused. They should be used for supplementary ideas rather than the centerpiece for the speaker's whole presentation, as that is detrimental to everyone.
    • Tyler Schnorf
      Tyler Schnorf on 31 Oct 12
       
      Powerpoints are definately too overused in todays society. They should be used as guides to help learning not to convey a specific message to an audience.
  • betraying an attitude of commercialism that turns everything into a sales pitch.
    • Mike Frieda
      Mike Frieda on 24 Oct 11
       
      I feel that while using imagery and data might in away betray the content of the talk - I believe it is the way in which the presentation is done that truly decides this. One could use the power point simply as a reference to statements made by the speaker, or an outline as the author mentioned. I feel that saying all "slideware" somehow is a problem is kind of hyperbolic.
  • The standard PowerPoint presentation elevates format over content, betraying an attitude of commercialism that turns everything into a sales pitch.
    • Joette Carini
      Joette Carini on 27 Oct 11
       
      (I just realized that I posted this as private... but I posted it on time I swear!) I definitely agree with this point. I remember when we used to start using Powerpoints in school back in the elementary days, and it was the plain black and white, and it focused more on information than format. However, starting in high school, it started to be more about whether or not the presentation was aesthetically pleasing. I never would have connected it to commercialism, but now that Tufte has brought it up, they do have striking similarities. 
  • Everything is wrong with these smarmy, incoherent graphs: the encoded legends, the meaningless color, the logo-type branding. They are uncomparative, indifferent to content and evidence, and so data-starved as to be almost pointless.
    • jeffrey hernandez
      jeffrey hernandez on 29 Oct 12
       
      These graphs aren't coherent nor meaningless, most people are visual learners and looking at these graphs with color and labels helps it to become very clear for someone to understand and remember. 
  • Graphics Press A traditional table: rich, informative, clear. BAD Graphics Press PowerPoint chartjunk: smarmy, chaotic, incoherent. Consider an important and intriguing table of survival rates for those with cancer relative to those without cancer for the same time period. Some 196 numbers and 57 words describe surviv
  • Imagine a widely used and expensive prescription drug that promised to make us beautiful but didn't. Instead the drug had frequent, serious side effects: It induced stupidity, turned everyone into bores, wasted time, and degraded the quality and credibility of communication.
    • Luke Gheta
      Luke Gheta on 31 Oct 12
       
      Edward Tufte is crazy. Edward states " Imagine a widely used and expensive prescription drug that promised to make us beautiful but didn't. Instead the drug had frequent, serious side effects: It induced stupidity, turned everyone into bores, wasted time, and degraded the quality and credibility of communication". What! First Edward, this is the 21st century which requires humans to use magic that can connect us to the internet. It's called a computer, and by the way, I have one. Within my computer, is a Voodoo based software called PowerPoint, which has significantly degraded my English capabilities and caused the education system to plummet. I will know connect the dots and complete my response. "Crazy" is a strong work, lets say "powerful", so I can keep up with the theme of "PowerPoint". I just called Edward Turte crazy, well is he. Probably not, but I can use derogatory words in hopes of publishing an article in Wired magazine. So Edward, you should restate your phrase, "PowerPoint is Evil". First, PowerPoint and slide presentations gain student attention through means of video, graphics, music and pictures. Second, Professors can share lectures and presentations by sharing flash drive. Third, the benefit of using power-point create creativity within students and is a useful tool in the job market, because the majority of business have used PowerPoint.
  • anonymous on 23 Oct 11
     
    I think PowerPoint slides are really useful for getting some ideas in school to stick into the students' heads. If the teachers always had to draw diagrams in their explanations, that eats up some valuable class time and they might not be as clear as one which is made on a computer (and very few people have handwriting as neat as a computer's). If the presentations are actually good, they don't look like advertisements, but also have important content, whether it is explained verbally or visually.
  • ...3 more comments...
  • Lauren Frenkel on 24 Oct 11
     
    I would definitely have to say that power points are very useful, but as a second addition. Power points are a great way to guide a lecture or discussion, however not all the infomation can be provided on it. Lecture is important so that you are forced to listen and think about what is being said rather than just reading it. Power points become problematic because at times they are relied on to heavily and they can cause some one to be distracted from the main point that is trying to be made.
  • Kiera Murphy on 24 Oct 11
     
    I believe PowerPoint is a very effective tool in the classroom! As a visual learner I benefit from relating facts and information with a slide or picture. For example in Dr.Marichal's class I may remember the image of the young and old lady picture when I'm having to answer a question about perception. Also, a PowerPoint helps the professor stay on track and gives them a great tool to keep organized and prepared. Some professors do rely on PowerPoints too much, but if you use them as a source of an outline for lecture of discussion it serves as a very useful and technologically savvy resource!
  • cj_woldanski on 24 Oct 11
     
    Personally, I think power points are a great way to help get someone's point across. Some power points are boring because of the way they are formatted or simply because the person presenting is boring. When information that is relevant to the subject is put up on the big screen and it is outlined in bullet points it gets right to the point and tells you this is what you need to know. But I'll admit when someone does have a weird chart like the example that looked just like a Picasso painting it does get confusing and does not have a lot of valuable information.
  • Andrew Rothans on 24 Oct 11
     
    I feel visual reasoning really is more effective because I can see what I am being told. The information means alot more wen it is presented to me visually. I enjoy classes where the teachers use powerpoints because I can actually take notes and process what I am being told. In my opinion powerpoints really help present information in a different way and make information more interesting.
  • Mitchell Burris on 24 Oct 11
     
    I do think that the author makes a good point. I find that most often when I am confronted with a power point presentation that I am in for a boring presentation. It is hard to say definitively if this is because of the presenter and it would have been a boring presentation anyway or if it is the way it was presented through power point. My first impulse is to surmise that the real problem is with the people giving presentation and not power point itself because I can think of a number of classes specifically *cough*Dr Marichell*cough* that I find engaging, helpful, and entertaining. Maybe this is related to what the author is getting at. Perhaps power point is becoming a crutch and helping people learn a short cut method to an "assignment completing" presentation. Over all I think that if the speaker is engaging and simply uses the power point to add to their presentation and does not simply read the slides to the listener that it can be a valuable tool.
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