Dear All:
These discussions are raising some fascinating issues regarding the
virtual experience of global problems and the contradictions one
encounters in trying to respond politically to such experiences. On the
one hand, perhaps because the experience is 'virtual' rather than 'on the
ground', it is easier to distance oneself emotionally from the human
consequences of hunger and poverty, and to imagine that we are somehow
above or not part of the problem or the global relations perpetuating
inequality and suffering. Two of the dangers from this vantage point are:
1) that any collective response to these problems is easily dismissed as
'corrupted' and 2) that those enmeshed in the global virtual system of
representation on a daily basis will be in some senses 'trained' to
believe that pushing the right buttons is enough.
As critical geographers it seems to me that we need to discuss and
consider: 1) how we can position ourselves critically within such virtual
representations of global problems 2) whether short-term imperfect
responses can and ought to
be part of working toward lasting long-term solutions and 3) in
particular, given the nature of our work, how we can help to challenge
virtual images and experiences that may suggest that pushing a button is
enough.
Creating and promoting alternative hunger sites that emphasize
the links between global inequalities in wealth, poverty and hunger, and
address issues such as the conversion of arable land to export crops, and
provide links to sympathetic organizations, might be one possibility.
______________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Vera Chouinard Ph: 905-525-9140 ext. 23518
Professor of Geography Fax: 905-546-0463
School of Geography and Geology Email: [log in to unmask]
McMaster University
Hamilton, Canada
L8S 4K1
On Thu, 16 Dec 1999, Niall Johnson wrote:
> Hi,
>
> This discussion started with the assertion that the UN had created the
> Hunger Site website. This is not true.
>
> The Hunger Site was apparently founded by a private individual as an
> independent and non-partisan Internet site to help alleviate hunger in the
> world. It enables people to learn about hunger and to make free donations
> of food to the hungry. It is not owned by any company or affiliated with
> any group or organization - political, religious, or otherwise.
>
> The UN WFP (World Food Programme) is willing to accept the money raised;
> but did not create the site.
>
> > I think the discussion about the UN website has missed a very important
> > issue - the changing relationships between non-profit organizations and
> > corporations. There has been some work done on this in Canada, the US and
> > the UK.
> >
> > These new relationships are taking a myriad of forms including:
> >
> > -the move towards more strategic forms of corporate philanthrophy, e.g.
> > money being given to fewer non-profit groups in a more targeted way
> >
> > -corporate voluntarism (firms supporting employees in their volunteer
> > efforts, including provision of time off for such activities and possible
> > funding or secondments. Companies may also develop special partnership
> > arrangements with non-profit organizations, e.g. those favoured by a
> > customer group important to the company or that are seen to give the firm a
> > good image. Typically environmental organizations are targeted, along with
> > non-denominational public service or health organizations. Arts
> > organizations are often losers in this, as are groups such as the Salvation
> > Army that are religion-based)
> >
> > -corporate sponsorship (e.g. Shell, the naming of public facilities in the
> > U.S. and Canada after private individuals or firms, even if the majority of
> > funds came from public sources)
> >
> > -partnerships between non-profit organizations and firms. I have in my
> > office cards put out by the Canadian government for people to send it to
> > indicate their personal opposition to racism. These were published as part
> > of the March 21 anti-racism day here, and are sponsored by Pepsi among
> > other firms.
> >
> > We need to understand the UN website mentioned in a broader context, one
> > that I think has been very neglected by critical geographers.
> >
> >
> > Tony Jarvis wrote:
> >
> > > Hi folks
> > >
> > > This sounds rather twee but the UN has set a web site that allows you
> > > to feed a "hungry person" just by clicking on a button. (i.e. it is
> > > free, and only takes a couple of seconds to do!).
> > >
> > > You can feed one person each day and every day if you wish. The service
> > > is paid for by advertising revenue on the site.
> > >
> > > Whatever the ethics are relating to commercial sponsorship of UN
> > > international food relief programmes - and I don't think they are
> > > particularly good (what next? McDonald's logos on the side of UNHCR
> > > lorries, peace-keeping forces wearing Microsoft badges, or tanks
> > > displaying Shell logos (no pun intended)) - I don't think this
> > > should be used as an excuse for not supporting this scheme.
> > >
> > > If it really does save lives then we should "click that button" as
> > > often as we are able, not just because the individual action may save a
> > > life, but because all the individual actions added together
> > > may represent a significant democratic force in the global inequalities
> > > debate. (However I do remain rather dubious about the whole concept.)
> > >
> > > The web address is: http://www.thehungersite.com
> > >
> > > --------------------------------------------
> > > Tony Jarvis [log in to unmask]
> > > School of Earth Sciences and Geography
> > > Keele University, Keele, Staffs, ST5 5BG.
> > > Tel: 01782 583095 Fax: 01782 715261
> > > --------------------------------------------
> >
> >
>
> ----
> au revoir
>
> niall johnson
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> Department of Geography and Sidney Sussex College
> University of Cambridge Cambridge
> United Kingdom CB2 3EN United Kingdom CB2 3HU
>
>
>
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