Take action on Ethiopian poverty
Monica Fernandez
freshman
Yesterday morning, when my home Web page opened (www.bbc.co.uk), I could not help my eyes from watering down while I read the headlines. Maybe I am too sensitive. On the other hand, whoever hears about six million people that are under direct threat of death and at least 15 million people who will face famine in the next year without their hearts breaking a bit, is probably too insensitive.
At the moment, Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries in the world, is going through a terrible crisis. The government cannot cope with it. The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has warned that his country is facing a famine worse than the one in 1984, in which one million people died from starvation. It is so bad that basic needs such as clean water, soap and transport have been put aside. Right now is about keeping their people alive. Two million tons of food aid is required to feed the people. However, the situation could get worse. Andrew Pendleton, who advises the organization Christian Aid in Ethiopia, has pointed out that Ethiopia's ability to cope with the drought was hampered by its continuing foreign debt, which eats up at least 10 percent of the state's revenues."
I am not writing this so you can feel pity for these people during the one minute it takes you to read the article. Rather, I am asking you to have a pro-active response to what I am telling you. It is not enough to pray, although it helps. I am asking you for a minimum amount of effort that could save lives. I am asking you to sacrifice your daily coffee, can of coke, bag of chips, or whatever it is, and donate that money to the Red Cross so that it can be forwarded as aid to the Ethiopians. It takes no time or effort. There is no excuse to avoid doing this simple act of generosity.
How to do it? Easy, just go to http://www.redcross.org/donate/ donate.html (make sure you put the money to go to the program in Ethiopia). However, if you really want to make a difference, you can also send this address to family and friends and ask them to donate more than one dollar. I am sure someone in Ethiopia will appreciate it; they will literately owe you their life.
Monica Fernandez
freshman
Walsh Hall
Nov. 12
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, November 13, 2002
