Comments on: Blog Action Day? Oh Bake off!

By: Janine

Janine — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:25:05 +0000

Thanks for the feedback Rafiq! I’m really relieved that you were just stirring again – maybe you should keep that spoon ; )

Have a fab weekend too!

By: Janine

Janine — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:58:38 +0000

Thanks for the feedback Rafiq! I’m really relieved that you were just stirring again – maybe you should keep that spoon ; )

Have a fab weekend too!

By: Rafiq Phillips

Rafiq Phillips — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:07:17 +0000

Hi j9

If you ever speak to Suzan ask her about my wooden spoon. It has now been put to rest. I just started a conversation, my intention was to ruffle some feather and bring attention to many ways to change lives locally and internationally tha was all.

Do you remember that 25% that I signed off with a smile ?

Why not donate that to Breadline Africa? That is no joke.

Have a great weekend.

By: Karmen

Karmen — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:22:44 +0000

Hi Jay,

Here is an article about the photographer who took that photograph and a write up how this sort of stuff affected him. (He commited suicide eventually).

The girl in that picture was on her way to a feeding centre when she collapsed, but the photographer chased away that vulture. I think people should not criticise food crisis until actually either experiencing it, or witnessing this grim situation.

To us a piece of bread might be trivial, but to some it is separating life from death. It is so depressing, I don’t even feel like having lunch anymore =(

http://www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/odds_and_oddities/ultimate_in_unfair.htm

By: Janine

Janine — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 09:17:00 +0000

@Rafiq – I tried really hard to bite my tongue and say nothing BUT I have to ask … do you really believe that driving lesson and a little tourism site are going to make a difference to staving children like this:

http://tcor.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/vulture.jpg

This child needs food, vaccinations and HOPE – surely?

Rafiq – I agree there is a desperate need for education and skills development in South Africa – but driving lesson… you are joking right?

By: Karmen

Karmen — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:13:07 +0000

Here is a blog addressing the world food crisis more in depth:
http://brainalert.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/this-is-silent-mass-murder-jean-ziegler-food-crisis-threatens-security-says-un-chief/

By: Rafiq Phillips

Rafiq Phillips — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:57:16 +0000

Thank you Smallz. Have you miss-read this post? A question was asked at the end. My reasons for not donating is not because I do not support the cause. Would you like to know why?

By: Rafiq Phillips

Rafiq Phillips — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:21:59 +0000

I was very excited, after our conversation last night, to do this. That was until Quirk CEO, Rob Stokes, called what bloggers write waffle on twitter? How can the CEO of the emarketing company, namely Quirk, call what bloggers write waffle when they are a key ingredient to successfully executing the World Wide Blogger Bake Off strategy?

Some bloggers have spent many years growing their blogs, personal brands and their online influence/reputation. Have we as bloggers been waffling all along?

I am perturbed by this statement.

https://twitter.com/robstokes/statuses/961268529

By: Aruni

Aruni — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:05:32 +0000

Thanks for the link! Education is a long process and we have to start somewhere…

By: JBagley

JBagley — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:50:16 +0000

I agree with you Rafiq that education is key to alleviating poverty in Africa, but the money, food and education needs to get the people that really need it – not your tourguides or driving school instructors. Do you honestly believe that idrive and tourguide are having any effect on the starving children in countries like Ethiopia who live off less than $1 a day? These are the people that need your help a lot more.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs applies directly to poverty – the first thing a person needs is food, water, shelter and sleep and if you not getting the basic commodities such as these, why would someone want to be educated on how to feed themselves (remember, eduction is a lot longer term than having to eat 3 times a day)?

And yes, we should make this a daily cause, not a “once a year highlight the issue and move on”, but 1 day is better than never.

BTW, at least you blogged about it, so much for myself!