Not to be a party pooper, but The ice bucket challenge is a symbol for much that’s wrong with contemporary charity: a celebration of good intentions without regard for good outcomes. It is iconic for what I call donor-focused philanthropy—making charitable giving about the giver, rather than about those who need help. ALS is a terrible condition that cruelly cuts short the lives of thousands of people each year, and one for which I desperately hope that we find a cure. But there are very many problems in the world, and there are diseases that affect even more people, harm them to a greater extent, and can be treated at little cost. If we’re not at least having a conversation about this, then we’re not taking seriously the scale and diversity of the world’s ills. Additional reading: qz/249649/the-cold-hard-truth-about-the-ice-bucket-challenge/
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 01:14:56 +0000
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