Thursday, September 23, 2010

Teach a Man to Fish...

Give a man a fish and he eats for day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime [Chinese Proverb]

For the poorest of the poor in today’s world that old proverb is bullshit!

It should read; Teach a man to fish, and he just gets enough of a glimpse of what life could be like if he could afford a damn boat, that he hates you even more when you leave him standing on the shore!

The world’s poor already know how to fish, and grow crops and manufacture any number of consumer goods. What they lack is credit and the ability to get their commodities to market.

Earlier this week the United Nations General Assembly met to discuss the progress to date on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Of the 8 goals for reducing poverty and increasing equality only goal number 8 (Develop a Global Partnership for Development) even touches on the need to help develop small business. Yet it is small and medium sized business, especially those based in agriculture, that have proven time and time again to be the engine of economic growth for the wealthiest countries. If businesses were supported and given the chance to grow, I dare say the implementation of all of the MDGs would be made easier. With increasing domestic assets and sources of taxation the lesser developed countries would not be as dependent on foreign assistance thus lowering the cost of aid doled out by the wealthier nations. It’s a win-win!

Since the early 1990s Micro-Finance has become one of the fastest growing and most effective methods of raising real people out of poverty. Small, low-interest loans, which encourage trade among the world’s poorest, have been proven to move people from dependency on foreign handouts for mere survival into productive economies. Raising people out of poverty increases world wide security, reduces the threat of terrorism and violence and lessens strain on the environment.

This past week I hit 100 followers. I promised myself that when that happened it would be time to step it up and go from a passive journal to a real on-line community. I want to this blog to become a meeting place for people who are passionate for change.

My focus is Micro-Finance. I’ve been an entrepreneur my entire life. I know first-hand what it’s like to build a business from scratch only to have it ripped away from you by market forces beyond your control, I know how hard it is to pour your heart and soul into something only to be told that you are a bad risk and I know that even a tiny bit of credit on fair terms can make all the difference in the world.

I am asking each and every one of my followers to get involved and help entrepreneurs. It’s the only way that makes long-term sense in fighting global poverty. Go to the Believer’s Trust tab at the top of this page to find out how.

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. – Albert Pike

8 comments:

  1. I agree with your ultimate point, but you failed to point out that "millennium development" really a plan to set up a UN global taxation system to stifle the exact small businesses you are speaking of. Since the UN is accountable to no one, and given their history on issues like "oil for food" in Iraq and "watch the genocide" in Darfur, can you trust the U.N to do anything?
    The UN should be dismantled, the building destroyed, and in it's place a memorial erected in memory of all the death, destruction and poverty it has caused. The UN was a Marxist concept, both the first time (League of Nations) which allowed both Hitler and Stalin to massacre billions, and ultimately led to WW2, and then the newer UN which would take hours to lay out all the disasters it has caused. I know, somebody will say, the UN isn't Marxist...Both Woodrow Wilson were avid Marxists. Also, in the original UN Charter, the "eastern block" Soviet States were guaranteed individual representation while free countries like The US, or Canada did not get representation for their States. On top of that, there was nothing in the UN Charter forcing nations to guarantee basic human rights for their populations so when Middle Eastern theocracies, Far Eastern military juntas etc., Also, the former British and French colonies in Africa and Asia given up after WW2 also had to meet no standard of human rights civil governance or guarantees of freedom. Ultimately, a decade after its creation, Communist regimes and Genocidal dictators formed the majority of the UN members.
    So, when Mahmoud A-Jad is lecturing the US on women's rights, and today, demands a seat on the IAEA, it is as the UN's original creators (Stalin and FDR) intended.
    Question: Has the UN ever done anything to promote small business creation? Has Marxism (Communist States such as USSR, Cuba, Venezuala etc,) ever favored small business? The answer is a big fat NO and it's not just by chance. Both the UN, and Statism in all it's forms hate small businesses because small business empowers people not of the chosen elite. Christianity (in it's proper non theocratic form) does the same, which is why the Statists hate Christianity in the same way as small business. I have no problem with a world forum where nations can gather to discuss their problems, but giving that body legislative authority and military capabilities has been a huge disaster and has increased, not improved world poverty. As you so aptly put it, the best way of conducting business is at a local level so that those who conduct business (or government) badly can be held accountable. Marxism forces those in it's grasp to give all property and business (and spiritual belief) to the far away government and the elites will feed and decide what's best for all. Your business philosophy runs totally counter to the philosophy of those within the UN. The UN will never change, but it would love to change you!

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  2. I, by the way, have also started, grown and then saw my business ripped away by a situation beyond my control. I could be bitter or angry. However, I understand that God is in control and whether I am as financially successful as Bill Gates, or have to fish or hunt just to feed myself, as long as God comes first, those matters will sort themselves out. Personally, I always support a small "mom and pop" business over giant corporations always, and I research any large corporation before I will give them my business. I am just as tough on charities. It blows my mind that people ignore those in need that they pass by daily in their own community, yet pat themselves on the back for giving money to a "charity" knowing nothing about what was done with their donations. Time and effort on a local level often/usually have far more positive impact on real people than passing off money that you didn't need to start with. I am not saying donating to charity is bad, but must be done with care and not out of ignorance or laziness or those donations will likely do very little to actually help people or could do more harm than good.

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  3. Thanks Andrew33

    I'm certainly not trying to defend the UN. What I am saying, which is echoed in recent books I've read - Dead Aid and Enough; Why the World's Poorest Starve in an Age of Plenty - is that the MDGs are glossing over and missing the point on the one thing that can acheive the end of poverty.

    And that is small business. We are in total agreement there...

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  4. also to Andrew33

    I agree on the local aspect of charity. That is why my plan is to allow people to earmark their investment for local inititives as well. Micro-Finance is not just for Asians and Africans, there are plenty of organizations doing similar kinds of work in every region of the world.

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  5. Reminds me of the mark of the beast.

    a man cannot buy or sell without this mark
    aka
    minimum credit score yes most banks will accept 650, but knowing this is a calculated figure rounded to the nearest 1/2 it is likely as not that the true calculated minimum score is 666

    I can't tell you the number of times I have tried to do something spectacular and not been able to find the financial sources to pull it off. because my square peg did not fit in their round holes. and I feel your frustration.

    congratulations on the 100!

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  6. marymanard

    It's not about beaing spectacular. It's about following your calling and doing what you can.

    The book of Revelations is a vision in the form of a dream. Be very careful how you interpret dreams. When was the last time your dreams made sense in the light of day?

    Following a literal interpretation of things like the mark of the beast and it's meaning can set you on a very dangerous path indeed. The number 666 was significant in 1st century Roman culture because it was the numeric value of the letters N-E-R-O, the emperor at the time. Perhaps that is all the meaning the number needs.

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  7. very interesting, great job! That all inspiring phrase:
    Give a man a fish and he eats for day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime [Chinese Proverb]
    is true, work needs to be done in some of the countries, however i do agree with marymanard, making a difference requires large amounts of money, and it is hard to make significant changes.

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  8. IWillLiveWhenTheDustHasSettled

    Malaria infects more people in the devleoping world than any other disease, including AIDS. One does of life saving Malaria medication is $0.12. One mosquito net, which will last for up to 5 years is $10.

    It might take a lot to save a continent but how much is one life worth to you?

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