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From: tbray@mprvaxa.UUCP (Tim Bray)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Starvation and Corruption
Message-ID: <453@mprvaxa.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 7-Feb-84 01:03:42 EST
Article-I.D.: mprvaxa.453
Posted: Tue Feb  7 01:03:42 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 3-Feb-84 02:46:22 EST
Organization: Microtel Pacific Research, Burnaby BC
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Starvation is a very political issue, and belongs here, not in net.flame.

To be aware of the starvation and anguish in the third world and not work
hard towards some long-term solution is indeed short-sighted. Such a solution
must be rooted in education, democracy, economic reform, and where necessary,
revolution.

To be aware of this situation and refuse to contribute from stockpiles
of subsidized agricultural goods to alleviate it in the short term is
short-sighted, evil, and corrupt.  Short-sighted because, among other
things, the survivors will certainly not forget your refusal.

I was listening to an OXFAM worker once who was working 80-hour weeks trying
to mobilize a shipment of food for famine relief in East Africa.  She
noted bitterly that if she was asking for a million units of IUD's rather
than protein/vitamin supplements, they would be delivered the next day.
Now, the birth control technology is a necessary and vital part of the 
solution.  But to refuse the food now is totally indefensible, and if the
Christians are right, you will most assuredly burn in Hell for it (but then,
so will I, for other reasons...).

Mr. Polli is right.  Messrs. Renner and jj are wrong. They would be well
advised to develop a more insightful and compassionate attitude towards
their fellow men in less fortunate continents - if for no other reasons,
to reduce the likelihood that their descendents will pay a price in blood
for their corruption and evil today.

Tim Bray	...decvax!microsoft!ubc-vision!mprvaxa!tbray