Peter Singer: "The Life You Can Save" (Random House)
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2009-03-12/peter-singer-life-you-can-save-random-house
Philosopher Peter Singer believes ending world poverty is within reach. However, it will require a new perspective on what it means to live an ethical life. He offers a plan for giving, and explains why it is ethically indefensible not to help those in need.
Guests
Peter Singer
Professor of Bioethics at Princeton University. Author, co-author, and editor of forty books on topics ranging from Marx and Hegel to stem cell research to the way we eat.
Comments
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wow, what an amazing conversation. I am in such agreement with what you talked about. I know we often live "out of sight out of mind", but we can not keep doing this. We as a family have taken part in alot of different outreach projects. METRO is an amazing NYC based project that helps to reach out to kids, I have spent time there and it was the best experience ever. My son who is 16, went to the Dominican republic last year to help to build an ophanage and to spend time with the children who are orphans. Poverty is the way of life there, and he was humbled at the happiness and joy that these kids have even living without. But he was also part of a clinic that got medical attention and helped to distribute food to these kids. If everyone would just do a little, get involved it becomes something that you really become attached to. You realize that you can help. There are so many ways that we can help, we really need to just get connected with the right organizations and no matter who you are you have something to give. Everyone has something to give. Giving is the most rewarding thing in this world, I truely believe this. And I agree, this isn't and can't be just a government issue. People need to love their neighbors, and take better care of one another. We are more alike than we are different. Stepping out of your daily box, and just for a day give a day to a soup kitchen, or giving time to an organization definatly opens your eyes. The greater needs like you said, are these kids, the future of our world. I love that the church I attend commits to 30% being given out to other outreaches. Humans are Humans, no matter where they live. I love that you broke it down to a 50 $ operation to restore sight in an other country. Thank you for opening our eyes to more of what we should be paying attention to. I can't wait to get your book.
Wow that little piece of the advertisement I just viewed on Peter's website on hunger was so sad. I was not aware that so many bilions in the world are going hungary and dying..children with diarehha...
It to me raises so many questions on how and why the world has come to this? I do not think that it is safe to say that poverty in the world is within reach to cure it, but if all of us take a stand then it could be a signifigant start. I personally would begin with the sick and hungary children first, then work my way up, seeing as our children are our future.
I found Peter Singer is right about helping out people who are poor and living in poverty. I guess I am on the fence though about helping people in our country first and other countries second. To me it steam we are willing to help people who are in desperation, such as the earthquake in haiti. But I don't see other countries helping out us when we are in need, for instance hurricane katrina. Those people were also living in poor conditions. I feel we first need to help our own people before we are able to help out others. What good is it to other people when we can't even support our own country.