Caring for those in Poverty
In 2009, Peter Singer wrote the first edition of The Life You Can Save to
demonstrate why we should care about and help those living in global
extreme poverty, and how easy it is to improve and even save lives by
giving effectively. Peter then founded a non-profit organization of the
same name, The Life You Can Save, to advance the ideas in the book.
Together, the book and organization have helped raise millions of dollars
for effective charities, supporting work protecting people from diseases,
restoring sight, avoiding unwanted pregnancies, ensuring that
children get the nutrients they need, and providing opportunities to not
only survive but thrive.
In the decade since the first book’s publication, dramatic progress has
been made in reducing global extreme poverty. However, millions still
live on less than $1.90 a day, and there is yet much to be done.
To address the continuing need, and to build on the success of the first
edition, Singer acquired the book rights and updated the content to be
current and even more relevant. With mission-aligned celebrity narrators
and by giving away the audiobook and e-book for free (in addition
to having it available for purchase through traditional e-commerce and
retailers), the 10th-anniversary edition of The Life You Can Save aims
to inform, inspire and empower as many people as possible to act now
and save lives.
It is possible to get a free audiobook version or to buy a Kindle e-book
version - https://www.thelifeyoucansave.org.au/the-book/
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In an affluent society, it’s often hard to draw the line between what we
want and what we need. Popular culture celebrates materialism and
excessive consumption as essential signs of success and power. Whole
industries exist to persuade us that things we want are actually things
we need - or, at least, things we deserve - to make our lives more convenient,
or more efficient, or more fulfilling. The message all around
seems clear: wants are needs, and the more the better.
In our daily lives - or in mine, anyway - the relationship to materialism
seems more complicated. I suppose some may openly embrace being
materialistic. But most seem to deny it. I know I do because I struggle
with the uncomfortable ethical implications and negative environmental
impacts of overconsumption. For instance, I know that the Arctic is on
fire, that scientists estimate that in fifty years much of the earth will become
uninhabitable, and that each purchase I make only increases my
St Margaret’s News 8 July 2020