Christmas Present.

For the past few years Christina and I have donated to charity on behalf of our friends and family at Christmas. This first started through Heifer International when in a moment of interesting cultural zeitgeist various family members bought each other goats, ducks, oxen and such in third world countries. The reasons for this are pretty simple, we haven't lived within a thousand miles of any family members in years, everyone in our family has enough money to buy themselves what they want up to the level that they would get in a present, it feels at least as good to give charitably than to a relative somewhere else, and it takes a lot less effort.

We've taken this seriously over the years, generally increasing what we give (although perhaps not this year, which has been financially very poor for us) and thinking about it more than whether to give a goat or or a water buffalo. It's quite a good way to think about what is the greatest good that can be done, the most efficient use of resources to improve the human condition. Heifer International was very good because animals reproduce, and can be spread around the village, continuously increasing wealth. But this year I wanted to get deeper than that.

It seemed to me that the biggest problems in the world derive largely from two factors, too many people, and wealth not spread around evenly. Now, to reduce the problem of over-population we can either kill large numbers of people off, or stop producing them at the same rate. To spread the wealth around evenly we can either take it from the rich and give it to the poor, or enable the poor to become more wealthy. I know that the greater the educational level of women the lower the birth rate, the more educated the children, and the greater hopes for improved economy as a result. This is a feedback-loop, the best sort of change as it is self-reinforcing. The more women are educated, the more their offspring are educated. Increasing the education level of women in third world countries seems to me to be the most cost-effective method of solving problems because it has a knock-on effect in so many areas. Worried about Global Warming? Reducing the population is a solution requiring zero technological advancement. Worried about poverty? Increased skills for third world people diversifies their methods of getting wealth and improves their chances of competing in the global economy. Worried about war and hatred? Educating people to truly understand heir neighbors is the most effective method of preventing violence between groups.

It turns out that a cousin of Christina's is runs a non-governmental organization (NGO) in India. Named Video Volunteers, its' aim is to provide a voice to the poorest of the poor in India, to provide information, resources, opportunity to the Dalit (which has been known as the "Untouchable caste") and particularly women. We believe that such grass root organizations, directed by the people concerned, working for the goals of those concerned, and self-reinforcing, are the most effective methods for improving the world as a whole. We think through our Christmas present to them, on your behalf, the lives of dozens of people will be dramatically improved, and this improvement will be self-sustaining, a good deed that will live on for generation after generation.

We hope you like your present, and if you don't already give presents like this we hope you will consider doing so in the future.