Every morally sound, middle to upper person has most likely searched at one point or another for the answer to one question; how can our culture provide Third World countries with aid and relief, and as a result save the lives of millions of people? Some may say that there is a way to end their suffering and provide them with the resources and necessities to maintain a decent lifestyle, but I am unfortunately less optimistic. If food, water and other basic valuables were sent on an enormous basis, then we as a society would be sustaining a population that cannot thrive as it is. The population of such a place may even grow if adequate resources were poured into it, and this would create an entirely different dilemma. Instead of sending valuable resources over to other, poorer countries, we should save our energies and find an alternate solution to the problem at hand. This essay merely suggests that we should allow large numbers of poorer immigrants into our countries with no strings attached, as a solution to poverty and famine which devastates so much of the world. Not only would it stave the non-maintainable population growth in poor countries, it would provide many with the ability to reach their dreams and goals in richer countries that can support more people.

On the other hand, sending food and other supplies to people who are malnourished and in a state of poor health would provide an immediate positive impact on the lives of many, many people. This would also give us the impression that we have accomplished something great by saving lives. As human beings, we all feel special when we help those who need it most, and in this case they do need it most.

And yet if we really were intent on helping, we would not think short term, we would instead be thinking more about the long term effects that our actions will have. If we choose to continue leaking resources into poverty-stricken countries then we will only postpone the actions of which I mentioned earlier. We are not changing their environment, only allowing them to live a few extra days. To conclude, we must decide whether or not we truly want to help them, and if so, what kind of sacrifices we are willing to make in order to do so.

Learn more about this author, Matthew Outerbridge.
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