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For the first time in history, it is now within our reach to eradicate
world poverty and the suffering it brings. Yet around the world, a
billion people struggle to live each day on less than many of us pay
for bottled water. And though the number of deaths attributable to
poverty worldwide has fallen dramatically in the past half-century,
nearly ten million children still die unnecessarily each year. The people
of the developed world face a profound choice: If we are not to turn
our backs on a fifth of the world's population, we must become part of
the solution.
In The Life You Can Save, philosopher Peter Singer, named one of "The 100 Most Influential People in the World" by Time magazine,
uses ethical arguments, provocative thought experiments,
illuminating examples, and case studies of charitable giving to show
that our current response to world poverty is not only insufficient
but ethically indefensible.
Singer contends that we need to change our views of what is involved
in living an ethical life. To help us play our part in bringing about that
change, he offers a seven-point plan that mixes personal philanthropy
(figuring how much to give and how best to give it), local activism
(spreading the word in your community), and political awareness
(contacting your representatives to ensure that your nation's foreign
aid is really directed to the world's poorest people).
Visit Peter Singer's website |
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