2009/5/27 Athar Ahmad Bhatti
<atharab@gmail.com>
Dear Odhiambo
The mercy train, rotary international, lions, red cross and wfp and
other ngo's are doing a commendable job.
I agree with all the above, except Mercy Train! It was a short term solution and is like gone now. I also don't quite like WFP!! The reasons - please see if Phares can get you a copy of that TED video we watched in yesterday's meeting - the one where Mwenda from UG was the speaker.
What is needed is to PREVENT the disease, not wait to treat it.
My viewpoint is in agreement with you that is teaching to fish is better then fishing. The fact to remember is that is a longterm goal.
If there are no people left to fish, who will you hand the economic development plate to?
I agree with you.
Consider for instance the dying in Turkana, Ukambani to name a few. Most are people that like you and me had a sustainable income. Today they are helpless. It could happen to any one of us.
I doubt that. We'd not be having some vocabularies such as "marginalized", "arid and semi-arid", etc. These are cases where the govt has flatly failed to adequately address the problems facing the masses, despite collecting taxes from them.
You know what? Taxes are collected from all of us and then decisions on how to use them are made in Nairobi. There is a problem with that. A big one.Most of Ukambani and Turkana have always been like they are.
I take you back to the story of Joseph (pbuh) in Eygipt. He taught people to store grain for the draught under devine guidance. We need to teach people this for the future. In this regard you are quit right. But aleviating suffering even if it means handouts is our duty
until those affected can stand on their own feet.
Sure. Until those giving handouts get to the same level as those relying on handouts! Reminds me of the ever growing gap between the haves and the have-nots in Kenya.
Mankind only needs an 6 by 5 piece of land when they leave this world. What we spend and give others is what we save.
In conclusion, my deepest desire is to activate as many as possible to give selflessly. Help because we can... Who knows what end of the stick we will be tommorrow. Athar
We just need a govt that can deliver to the people! I have always wondered why it's taking too long to get the Israelis/Egyptians export their irrigation technolgies to Kenya. Recently, the Agricultural Minister was there and promised some positive action! I'd rather my money (taxes) was used for that than continue to give to initiatives like Mercy Train which are only mean to "cure the disease" whose causes and modes of prevention are known.
Best regards,
Odhiambo WASHINGTON,
Nairobi,KE
+254733744121/+254722743223
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