Speck and Log

Slightly revised mail I sent to a friend earlier today - a topic of recent contemplation.

Last night I went to a film screening at Canda House in Trafalagar Square. It was a co-sponsored by the Canadian High Commission and the organization for which I am interning, Afghanaid. It seems that Canda is relatively committed to assisting Afghanistan, which was quite gratifying to hear. However, as we consumed delicious refreshments (including delectable cheese mini-quiches, champagne, and Jellie Bellies), I could not help but notice the extreme contrast of wealth between those attending the screening (even myself) and the young refugee boy in the documentary film. Though one of the topics of conversation was the proportionally low amount of income that goes to development, I wondered what our individual levels of aid were. How can we condemn countries for giving away such low percentages of their gross national income to overseas aid if we are not willing to do the same as individuals? As an aside, I discovered the other day when researching a paper that although the US gives the largest amount of ODA (Overseas Development Aid) of any country, it has one of the lowest percentages of giving of the developed countries. I believe that it was a mere 0.17% of GNI in 2005. Sweden and Luxembourg were at the highest with 1.03% and 0.89%. I know that the people attending the filming probably give away larger portions of their incomes. Still, how much of our income finds its way to those who truly have nothing? This is something that I continue to struggle with as a Christian, aspiring development worker, and Western citizen.