Choosing a problem

Bjorn Lomborg challenges us to prioritize what we are doing. He makes comparisons on resource allocation between big issues like climate change and malnutrition.
The Copenhagen Consensus analyzes the world problems in a systematic manner, and suggests we focus on things we have solutions for right now - go for more solutions than more ways to define the same problem.

I don't agree with the assessment of the priorities he presents, especially in light of the criticism he has received for shady scientific presentation of climate change. But I think it's an interesting way to think about the plethora of problems that people undertake. Resource allocating in imminent and important causes is a difficult task too decide.

Getting Involved

Lots of people think they're charitable if they give away their old clothes and things they don't want. It isn't charity to give away things you want to get rid of and it isn't a sacrifice to do things you don't mind doing.
-Myrtle Reed, author


This quote kind of got me thinking about the way most people get involved in volunteer work in general and the approach to the non-profit sector. This is especially interesting in light of the way new social media such as facebook, have enabled people to join new causes by the click of a button.

Is there a threshold level of commitment and understanding that people should have before endorsing an idea? Do we need to be thoroughly versed on the literature regarding a topic before participating in it? Has joining groups and supporting causes online become a meaningless activity for social networking users? This issue extends beyond the online world however. People often have good intentions but lack an understanding and a commitment to what they are doing.

Notions of volunteering and donating to causes have in some sense become an expected norm of society, at least in the student body. Peer pressure to participate monetarily are often high, think of the bucket being passed around lecture theaters asking for money for cause X by your friend. The nature of student volunteering also serves as evidence of the passive role that we take in our involvement with the non-profit sector. Consider the most common roles of volunteering that students undertake, which range from manning a booth to fundraise to helping set up for events. To be sure, these are worthwhile roles which are necessary parts for groups and activities to be feasible. However, the lack of engagement of the larger student body that is often involved with initiatives has implications for sustainability of the projects. These non-committal roles that volunteers often engage in hinders the development of leadership skills and other character building opportunities that are offered by participating actively.

Discussion

Two new forums of discussion that I discovered this weekend. These two sources bring people involved in the issues together to present ideas and possible solutions. Both sites have an intent to inform and challenge the audience to think about some fundamental themes and ideas around us. The presentations are passionate, accessible, and seem to cut past some of the rhetoric within traditional media. Worth checking out.


TED: Ideas Worth Spreading
Munk Debates

Here's a taste from TED:

What the World Eats

This is a photo essay from TIME magazine that my Pharmacology prof showed to us. It's pretty cool to check out (these are before the ongoing global food shortage crisis):

Part I
Part II
Part III

Dr. James Orbinski

I recently finished reading "An Imperfect Offering" by Dr. James Orbinski, a Canadian emergency physician and a past president of Médecins Sans Frontières. The title was obviously the inspiration for this blog's name. Orbinski outlines the often ambigous nature of humantiarian work in today's global setting. Orbinski draws from his experiences in the world's hot spots in the past (including Rwanda, Somalia, Zaire, Balkans, and Sudan) with his vision for humanitarinism. One of the remarkable things about this book is the personal level of engagement that Orbinski presents. While describing his work in the world's troubled areas, he relates how the trauma affects his decisions and life. Attention to the personal also plays out in Orbinski's call for change in humanitarianism. He draws attention to the individual level and focuses on uncompromised care for people rather than catering to the whims of larger forces. His vision balances principles and practicality while avoiding being ideological and ineffective. A good read...check it out, or look Orbinski up!

Contemplation

Today, I start this blog on a recommendation made by a good friend. Over the past couple of years, I have been enrolled in the Undergraduate Science program at U of A. Although I entered the program with high hopes and amidst dreams of learning a new way of thought, my experience thus far has been anything but so far. Since starting the program, I have been conflicted internally if I made the right choice entering into this field. Before I go too far, I want to say I love the sciences - I am not simply in the program because I could find no other better program. I believe that Science is a dynamic force that can effect change on the world continually and should force you to question your mode of thinking perpetually. To the contrary, I have been barraged with courses where the focus has been on rote memorization rather than learning conceptually. I realize the necessary development of fundamentals that students have to understand before fully being inundated into the role of a scientist. However, as students there should be a key focus on fostering the mindset and soft skills which are in the job description of a scientist. I am left jaded at my faculty for mindlessly molding classes of students into a mindset where the focus of learning is so narrow.