Then suddenly I realised the reason for my despair was that I was only looking at one half of the picture. I was only looking at the problems while totally ignoring all the efforts to improve things.
Yes, people are dealing with huge problems but there are thousands of organisations around the world devoted to reducing those problems and salvaging people's lives.
I remind myself that poverty for instance is being tackled by dozens of organisations. Oxfam alone has 21 branches across the world, including Oxfam GB which in 2016/17 had a total income of £408.6m, with 5,000 employees and 23,000 volunteers. Among other things, Oxfam is a global leader in providing water sanitation to impoverished and war-torn areas.
I also remind myself of the hundreds of research projects into horrible diseases like Ebola, multiple sclerosis, cancer and dementia.
I know many people are rather cynical about charities, suggesting for example that too much of their money goes into administration and executive salaries rather than the good causes the public's donations are intended for. But nevertheless they make a big difference to the millions of lives blighted by dire circumstances.
So now that I'm seeing the wider picture, seeing solutions as well as problems, seeing all the help going to those who urgently need it, I feel a lot more cheerful and optimistic.
Unfortunately that wider picture tends to be ignored by the media, which much prefers to focus on dreadful disasters rather than the organisations that come to the rescue.
No wonder despair is so common, But it doesn't have to be.
My training under various teachers has made me capable of being unaffected by either good or bad and be neutral.
ReplyDeleteRamana: It's hard to remain neutral on every occasion, especially where there's a personal interest. I'm impressed!
DeleteSorry, Nick....
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Ms Scarlet: Ah yes, the Naomi Campbell charity. Well, as the Charity Commission is still working to establish if there was any wrongdoing, I shall await the outcome. But it shows there's a watchdog that keeps a close eye on charities to discourage malpractice.
DeleteChange is painfully slow, but it does happen. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteColette: Indeed, slow progress but progress nonetheless. It may not look like it, but global poverty has rapidly decreased since 1990.
DeleteI try to focus on the smaller picture of how to help people locally.
ReplyDeleteBijoux: That's the only practical response, unless you actually want to work for a charity. I worked for Diabetes UK for 5½ years - they do some valuable work.
DeleteThere are a lot of good work being done out there but we don't see most of it.
ReplyDeleteMary: Very true. We hear all about earthquakes and floods and drought but we don't hear much about the organisations that rush in to help those affected.
DeleteI worked for a non-profit, science education charity. You see the budget in a different light when juggling the numbers. There is a lot of room for abuse from the wrong people. But many, many charities do a lot for people. At least there is some help for some.
ReplyDeleteI am a big believer that charity begins at home. I do try to help out locally or individuals in a tight place.
Ann: Charities do a lot more than most of us are aware of. And we tend to exaggerate the administrative failings of a small number of them.
DeleteAgreed but so much of the time there is very little we can do and the news can be deceiving about good deeds. The world is in crisis. There are more good people in the world but the big problem is the evil-doers are running things.
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www: Indeed, the rogues and rascals are running too many governments. But they can only do that because people keep voting for them.
DeleteJoanne: (O) can mean so many things I have no idea what you're trying to say!
ReplyDeleteMy husband was a Doctor without Borders (Médecins sans Frontières) up from 1975 when he was 34 and his whole life as a doctor.Today with nearly 81 years he is of course retired but takes still care 3 times a week of refugees and homeless persons. We can help a lot if only we want.
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Hannah: It's wonderful that at the age of 81 he's still looking after refugees and the homeless. I think the British government would just like to sweep them all away and not have to worry about them.
DeleteWe probably don't get a very good balanced view. I wonder if there are any valid comparisons between what is being accomplished to lessen world needs now versus earlier years. It does somehow seem to be very severe with so many people forced from their homelands into refugee camps for years. Certainly there are more homeless here in Calif. on our beaches and other areas which garners lots of attention with efforts to provide housing for them receiving ongoing attention. My former neighbor Dr. worked on Skid Row in Los Angeles where many live, too. Some of that problem occurred when certain types of mentally ill patients ceased to be institutionalized some years ago and became on their own.
ReplyDeleteJoared: Some things have definitely improved. The level of global poverty has declined rapidly (though it's rising rapidly in the UK). As you know, Jenny and I were shocked by the number of homeless people and disturbed individuals wandering around San Francisco's city centre. A lot more needs to be done to help them.
DeleteExcellent post Nick. It can be so depressing hearing all the bad news, your post reminds us that there is more good news.
ReplyDeletePolly: There's good news all over the place, but the media prefers to focus on disasters and misfortune.
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