Philanthropy can’t Stop Wars! Education can!
Image Source: Pexels
If 50% of the defense budgets of the 10 biggest nations were given to philanthropic causes, we would still have wars and violence but the degree of war and violence will greatly depend on the purpose of the philanthropic action and the beneficiary of the philanthropic gesture.
How will the purpose of Philanthropy increase or reduce wars?
The Preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO declares that “since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.”
In 1945, UNESCO was created in order to respond to the firm belief of nations, forged by two world wars in less than a generation that political and economic agreements are not enough to build a lasting peace. Peace must be established on the basis of humanity’s moral and intellectual solidarity. This strong message from UNESCO says it all.
If the Philanthropy is meant for offering infrastructural, medical, political or socio-economic assistance to victims of violence or wars, then I think it will not solve the problems of violence or wars. It will instead give enough time for the victims to gather momentum and be well prepared to fight in the future.
This explains why most refugees or victims of violence who have traveled or have had time to heal in another place or country, abandon everything to go back and fight for their fatherland.
It’s common on the news headlines these days to hear suicide bomb attacks and gunshot massacres. Why do these people kill others despite the wealth and good life they have? How much do we think we can give these people to stop doing what they are doing?
Anyway, if the philanthropy is meant for political, infrastructural and socio-economic wellbeing and neglects the mental wellbeing, then I can guarantee that it will only postpone the war and build a strong army for future wars.
Secondly, if the purpose of philanthropy is not clear, it will rather fuel violence and wars as opposed to reduce violence and wars. There are so many times that I question philanthropic gestures?
For instance, I ask why most Western nations are spending much money for Africa to plant more trees and protect their forests in a bid to fight climate change and are doing very little to cut down their cattle industry and meat consumption which are strong drivers of Climate Change?
Moreover, if the purpose of your philanthropy is of superior motive as opposed to being on the basis of justice and equality, then it will catalyze hate, violence and wars as opposed to heal. Goodness should be done on the basis of equality, justice and effective understanding of the dignity of the human person. I have learned to give not because I have, but because I know what it means not to have.
If we learn to give not because we have but because we understand what it means not to have, then we surely will be doing philanthropy that heals. If you know what it means to go to bed with an empty stomach, you will certainly never want to let anybody go to bed with an empty stomach. This feeling of mutual respect is one of the things that can promote philanthropy that heals but it is rather unfortunate that most of the world’s philanthropy today, is philanthropy that promotes superiority and inferiority.
People give because they want to feel superior and make others inferior and this explains why when inferior people receive, they use it to challenge the superior people hence instigate more violence and subsequently wars.
Image Source: Pexels
The beneficiary of the philanthropic gesture
The beneficiary of the philanthropic gesture will also determine whether the gift will help or destroy. If the beneficiary is a bad governance structure then we should expect terrible results and vice versa. Also, if we use the top-bottom approach, our chances of succeeding will be limited.
How can philanthropy conquer violence and wars?
If Philanthropy is to conquer violence and wars, then it should focus more on education and it should use the grassroots approach (Bottom-top approach)
Nelson Mandela said “Education is the most powerful weapon which we can use to change the world” and then UNESCO believes that “Through learning and understanding, individuals become more interculturally competent to comprehend the richness that lays within a diverse world, resulting in tools for the ongoing construction of lasting peace, when consequently they become prepared to appreciate, rather than reject, diversity as well as to manage conflicts in accordance with the values of pluralism and mutual understanding.”
As such if philanthropy is focused on building the minds and nurturing a society of justice, equality and dignity, then we can be sure it will reduce violence and wars.
Education is vital to achieving acceptance and respect for all people regardless of colour, gender, national (geographic), ethnic or religious identity. A world without violence and wars is possible if philanthropic efforts are more focused in building strong institutions that will educate people to shun violence and wars.
Philanthropy for Education can surely stop violence and wars!
#ecoTrain #steemiteducation @ecotrain @eco-alex @steemiteducation
You have mentioned this so beautifully @thegreens
If we learn to give not because we have but because we understand what it means not to have, then we surely will be doing philanthropy that heals.
The intention is so very important in doing Philanthropy work, you may not even need budgets as huge as needed for Defense and get Peace in the world, but we have some champions out there who will never want that to happen.
Thanks and i am happy that we are both Passengers of Ecotrain. WIll always read your great posts to learn and share! Together we can maker the world a better place!
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STOPSlavoj Zizek would agree... Thank you for sharing.
Agree!
Yes I agree with this too. This mindset can make all the difference. Philanthropy because you know what it means not-to-have.
It is not enough to have the authority (top down) dictate what should or should not be. Each and every one must educate ourselves and take personal responsibility for the world we live in and strive to make it better for the next generation.
So many golden nuggets from you @thegreens. I look forward to hear more thoughts from you.
Thanks for taking time to go throught the post and highlighting some strong parts of it. Peace!
lovely answer.. i think focusing on education is a great idea! and that takes so many forms..
I think that is actually that hard part,, deciding where to spend this 50%!!!
Thanks and Very true. Deciding where to spend is the most difficult part in Philanthropy. However, what parameters can we put in place to make sure help is urgently and importantly given to he who is due? I think we can have a question of the week sometime in the future which shall focus on who to choose to give in case of crisis or disaster.
Your views are very valid. I will write mine after the storm, here. Shared this post on twitter
Thanks very much and thanks for the upvote too!
I totally agree with your point here:
... for as long as the beneficiaries of this "philanthropy for education" will not use their education to build nuclear arsenals, weapons and bombs and biological and chemical weapons that may potentially wipe out an entire nation.
... for as long as they will use their knowledge to improve the living conditions of the greater population on the planet.
The absence of violence and wars will be achievable if people (especially in the government) will stop being too ambitious and greedy, and if everyone is tolerant of each other's beliefs, race and religion, in my humble opinion.
Your closing sentence has a lot of wisdom. If people can kick greed out of their lives and promote unity in diversity then its a go for world peace! thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Thank you. I would also like to add:
If people will just follow these commandments, the world will be a better place.
Jesus also said,
Confucius had a similar quotation:
This "Golden Rule" is what Jesus is saying to love our neighbours as ourselves. There will be no wars if people will treat each other kindly and lovingly.
Thanks for the quotations and linez. They are really inspiring
but love and team work can save many many people
I wish you can teach us at #steemschools about your view and life achievements
I like your mission
Thanks very much. Love is all we need and we must learn to love irrespective of anything. We just need to love people and build a team of love and we can save many people. Does #SteemSchools have Discord group? Will like share more about what we do.
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What a lovely answer to the question. I loved how you tied up philanthropy with education because yes, I also believe that education and awareness are the keys to eradicating violence from the world.
Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world and i am glad we are already educating people via EcoTrain. Peace!
Beautiful response to a difficult question. Your ideas are both realistic and optimistic... this is what we need to move forward! I appreciate you questioning what are the motivations for someone or a group of people in taking philanthropic actions.
Thanks and look forward to sharing with you as well as learning from your posts!
fantastic post! we agree. thanks for sharing your great perspective on this. resteemed at the hearth :)
Thanks for your support and glad to connect with you.
thanks for sharing your great perspective. we agree that it is education that is needed. resteemed at the hearth :)