i had a cool dream. i dreamt i was using heroin. and i totally knew how to do everything, and i was so suave with it, but i had, like, 5 times the amount of equipment i needed and i wasn't actually sure it was heroin. i don't think i ever got to the injecting myself, cause i kept fumbling around. and then i woke up, went back to sleep, and this time i shot up at least three times in the same amount of minutes, but nothing ever happened.
hey, in case you were wondering, the materials i used in my dream (or attempted to use) were cotton ball, spoon, lighter, shoelace, water, needle/syringe thing. and "heroin". (which may have been flour or icing sugar or baking soda. definetly not a rock.)
which leads me to belive i read too much. cause i definetly read about how to do heroin, and then i dreamed about it several months later.
speaking of scary things, there is this display in the atrium by the campus women's group, and it is the most psycho thing ever. i think it's supposed to be a tribute to battered women, or something. it consists of about 30 of these: take an overlarge piece of black paper. with chalk, like at a crime scene, draw the profile of a woman's head. then, proceed to liberally splatter the whole thing with dark red paint. the effect: very creepy. i don't know what point they are trying to shock into people. because the people who would be shocked wouldn't beat up a woman in the first place.
i am supposed to get christmas songs to put on here for hermy. i should get on that. hey, if people have song requests, i'll do my best to fill them.
a new contest for people, as has been demanded: describe a cure for poverty. can be ridiculous. will be "pointed" on grounds of logic, viability, verility (kidding) and political appeal.
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Ok, here goes:
1) Remove the bulk of profit from Bill Gates/Microsoft and use that cash to end/severly reduce poverty
2) Snafoo all the goods/money/people being used by the U.S. for war and other evil purposes and shoof them all into ending poverty
3) Force the world, er, mayhap 1st world countries, to give up some portion of their goodies *coughcough, all the extra food that north americans/my roommates waste merely due to laziness* and share the wealth.
Thats all for now, I like how all of those have basically a zero popularity rating, ah well, I blame it partially on me being tired *yawn*
Hermit
Oh see, thats super creepy. All the U of C women's centre has is lots of delicious tea, comftrable, modern couches and jellybeans.
My solution to Global Poverty:
1. Create an international system. Seriously folks, we really need one, like, for real. So, there would be a way to punish the assholes ruining the world and causing violence among the third world.
2. Once we have a global system for regulating violence and such, there would be a decrease in said violence. Thereby, decreasing global poverty, because with less war, there would be less refugees, and those people could instead get into the workforce and work to structure their country's economy, and gain some finances.
3. Kill McDonalds, STARBUCKS, Gap, Old Navy, American Eagle, Converse, and all of those other massive corperations(mainly clothing, but food too!). Globalization is the devil. Because of globalization, millions of people are living in destitute conditions all over the world. Globalization is destroying cultures all over the world. The world is being Americanized. So, if we get rid of globalization and allow countries to structure their own economy and make goods for their own population, the world would be a lot happier. Slave labour wouldn't be used as often, and hopefully the economy would restructure in these countries. Slave labour contributes to global poverty as companies move their factories around. They situate a factory in a city, and then after a while, move it somewhere else. Well, geez, you may ask, at least these people are making SOME money, right? Yes, but hen investors pull out, and there is nothing there to stabilize the market, everything collapses. Also, the IMF pretty much dictates what goes on in poor countries, and when they say say THIS NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THIS TIME AND WE NEED YOU TO REPAY YOUR DEBT NOW, it just hurts the economy further. So, we need to get rid of globalization and then, countries could build their own economies (hey, I still like cool stuff from other countries!) by exporting goods and trying to sustain their own country, rather than making jeans for Americans. Also, the reduction of globalization would help countries preserve their culture, which is important.
4. I suppose that's my solution. WORLD + INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM - VIOLENCE AND GENOCIDE - GLOBALIZATION = LESS POVERTY
Sadly, this solution is a shitty solution, because it would never work. WHY? BECAUSE OF SOVEREINGTY. Sovereinty is a good thing, because it prevents other countries from dictating what we do, but it also prevents us from going into Sudan and fixing civil wars the world over. The excuse is "OH THEYRE THEIR OWN COUNTRY. THEY SHOULD DEAL WITH IT!" and we're legally bound to that statement. So, it's hard to go in and say OH HEY LETS FIX THINGS, because we caaaaaaant. So we need an international system to allow us to go in and help people. So that's why we couldn't create an international system of laws governing all countries (also it sounds kind of creepy, like a world empire and Napoleon and shit) and solve violence problems. The globalization thing wouldn't work because most western countries are quite invested in other countries, and sadly, American Apparell probably doesn't have enough clothes for all of the greedy clotheswhores, and I guess it's hard to grow coffee in the states... Soooo.. for now, we should all just go to thrift stores and american apparell and pray that the USA blows up or something and globalization depletes. WE NEED TO MAKE OUR OWN SHIT, GUYS.
OKAAAAAAAAAY I'M SORRY THAT WAS LONG AND RAMBLY AND TERRIBLE, ITS JUST A PERSONAL INTEREST AND SHIT.
There is no cure for poverty, short of restructuring society as we know it, and wiping out a huge deal of the earth's population. We're on our way out though - unsupportable population growth, mass famine, destruction of the planet's resources, and molding new illnesses that have the ability to collapse our civilization. Yes? Ok. In the meantime, don't eat meat, or drive, and don't have kids. Also, realize that unless you have big ideas and an even bigger personality, you are never going to make a difference beyond your private life, and as much as you might like to think you are doing a good job of it, there is no way to escape western ideals. *ends cynical rant*
Well, I also believe that humans have gotten themselves into too big of a mess to handle themselves, and that good ol' mother nature is starting to do what is neccesary to friggin control us, therefore lessen poverty. The only thing(well I guess not the only thing) that really sucks about that is that a large majority of natures solutions to over population and such are targeting those who are already in poverty, because they don't have the same access to healthcare and sturdy shelters and such. But I also think that us 1st world country types think that we are safer than we really are, because sicknesses and freak weather and such are getting harder and harder to fend off, even for us. If you don't believe me, take a look at the wonders that the black plague worked...before the black plague, everybody was poor, everything was horribly un-hygenic, people were way too crowded, and there were not enough resouces to go around. Along comes the plague, it wipes out a huge percentage of the population, and the standard of living goes way up. Well...people were still poor and un-hygenic...but not to the same extent. Also...I think we have something far bigger than a plague coming to us...we are going to get it from multiple angles: Disease, Weather and Self-Destruction(War, McDonalds, Etc...) So yes...that is my opinion. Which I realize makes me look like an awful person, but I think it's true...and it's not like I enjoy watching half of civilization die...but I think it's what is neccesary. And that was officially a very rambly ramble, and I shall now be quiet.
Ok, so I officially have crappy ideas. *steals what everyone else said and pretends she made it up
Yep, and I like how I just went and participated in the ultimate 'feed poverty via evil corporate U.S.' activity. Ergy, I hate compromising one thing to appease another *sigh*
Okay, yep, basically nothing decent to add to this conversation.
Hermit
I think a good solution to poverty is to have people go through the whole process of making something if they want it. If you want a new shirt, you have to pick the cotton, spin the threads, weave the cloth, dye the fabric etc. etc...that way the "richest" people would be the ones with good work ethic (I hate saying work ethic because it reminds me of Communism, but you know what I mean) and lazy people (consumers like me!) would NOT have life handed to them on a silver platter.
Also, steal a cow from a feed lot and raise it in your backyard. I had this idea a long time ago, but I still stick true to it. You can ride it to work and it'd eat grass instead of its departed brethren, meaning less emissions and no more lawnmowers. It would give you a sustainable nutrient source (milk!) and when it dies, you can use plenty parts of it (clothes, more food, etc.). I had a ton more reasons why this would be a good idea, but I'm kind of half-asleep at the moment so I can't think real clear-like.
Anyway, adopting an ancient-tribal way of life seems like the best way all round.
Cows are one of the leading sources of gas emissions that are causing the ozone to deplete.
I think we should explode planet earth, except for our group and respective families (and possibly boyfriends too) We will have created a space bubble made from non polluting materials such as grass, and worm farts, and we could float around space. We would then land on the moon, and because we wouldn't reproduce, the human race would be ended when the last of us dies. Then, either divine creationism or evolution (whatever you believe in) would restart from our remains, and the world could have a fresh beginnings, with us as the template. I think that would improve things. And honestly, with all the nuclear crap around, it is very possible to blow up the world. So there you go!
Jo, shut up!
These are magic cows with no emissions. They turn grass into jellybeans.
Okay, my turn for an ideological rant. And I just had my "intro to international relations" final, so forgive me.
Pretty much, I see that there is no magical 3-step way to end poverty, and I don't think that there is a way to actually eradicate it. Not entirely, and not viably, and definitely not in our lifetime. However, that doesn't make me believe that we should just stop trying, because while poverty has existed ever since we moved out of our tribal communities into market economies (and yes, that is jumping thousands of years there), there have always been degrees, and that generalised, world-wide gap is widening. And even this is really hard to speak on due to the immense nature of the problem (ie: homelessness poverty in Calgary is far different from AIDS devastation poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa which is massively different from favela community poverty in Brazil which is massively different from lack of health insurance and I have leukemia poverty in the States). That being said, I think that there are a few things that could make things better:
1. Restructure the Bretton Woods institutions (the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO). These institutions are based on Western imperialist market liberalisation policies which are intent upon removing states' rights to control their own economy. For example, the IMF issues debt relief packages to heavily indebted poor countries, which is a good thing, but they have it as part of a package deal where, in exchange for debt relief, countries must agree to privatise public services (ie: healthcare, education), open up their economies to foreign investors (allowing huge multinational corporations to saunter in and set up sweatshops), and otherwise liberalise their economies (removing tariffs, ending subsidies, etc). This then ends a country's ability to care for its own people, entirely opening their country for to be plundered by the Western capitalist system. And the thing that really gets me, and this makes me mad, is that the indebted governments are forced to end subsidies (paying money to certain industries so that they may produce mecessary things such as FOOD without being entirely subject to market fluctuations which would lower production), while at the same time Western agricultural countries (ie:Canada) are subsidising farmers to produce things like wheat, leading to the production of too much of the product, the excess of which is then sent off to vulnerable countries for way cheap. Then, this cheap foreign product enters the country, which massively devalues domestic production of the product and often times the doestic farmers cannot compete with the cheap-o foreign prices, so they end up with no way of making money. Bretton Woods=double standards.
2. Educate women. I think that this is the closest to a magic cure that anyone has found. Over and over again, in places where women are educated birth rates drop, disease rates drop, poverty decreases, and a bunch of other good things happen. I really don't know much on the subject, but I've heard that some pretty crazy things have occurred as a result of female education.
3. Acquire few needs. There are so many things these days focused on how to change things slightly so as to stop environmental destruction, end poverty, etc while not disrupting our comfortable materialist lives (ie hybrid cars. Don't get me wrong, I think hybrids are great, but if we're truly serious about ending global warming, we need to stop driving so far so fast so often). SO much of the world-wide poverty problem, as I see it, stems from unfair economics which basically goes full circle around the world from corporations to market regulations to unfair trade and lands right back on our doorstep with the amount and variety that we demand. No, I really don't need cheap bananas at every fathomable time of year, thank you muchly (bananas=muchly corrupt trading system, lots of GMO and chemical wheeze, huge CO2 as a result of transport (they come from South America for heaven's sake), all because we think that we need to have just so many bananas all year round for a cheap price).
I'm not done but this is far too long already. Sorry guys *sheepish grin*.
step 1...Kesinee's brain implodes
step 2...Kesinee's brain inflates just to tell her how dense she is compared to rat
step 3...Kesinee's brain implodes
hehe Kesinee!
I totally had brilliant ideas like that when i was a kid! It was all like OMG OKAY and id explode everything on earth except for a sweetass series of glass tunnels. like these big huge spheres of glass connected by tunnels and wed all live in our sweet glass spheres and walk to eachothers sphere from time to time. Our spheres would be full of pillows and toy/food generators, which if you said I WANT A BEANIE BABY or I WANT A CUT UP TOMATO! it would generate out of thin air. And there would be plenty of books to read.
Aw man, i wish life was like that.
Alrighty. Time for the awarding of points. addressed on aspects oflogic, viability, political appeal. though i think i should have given more criteria, cause you people have super amazing answers. even though the answers eomtimes didn't fully answer the question. since i am overlord, i shall award bonus points. maybe.
hermit:2 points
paula:3 points
eve:1 1/2
joelle:1
redcard:2
kesinee:1
ratty:4
keep in mind this has little to do with how well i like you. i am trying moi best to be impartial. which is hard.
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay...I finally have point!
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