Is It Possible to End Global Poverty?
In the Fall 2005 issue of Exchange, we asked a handful of Oxfam supporters that question and printed shortened versions of their replies. Here are their more in-depth thoughts.
In the Fall 2005 issue of Exchange, we asked a handful of Oxfam supporters that question and printed shortened versions of their replies. Here are their more in-depth thoughts.
Bruce Detwiler
In 1964, after his sophomore year at Yale, Bruce Detwiler went to live with a black family in Holmes County, Mississippi—one of the poorest counties in the country where the median family income was $400 a year and just about everyone was a subsistence farmer. Detwiler had decided to spend his summers as a civil rights worker.
In 1964, after his sophomore year at Yale, Bruce Detwiler went to live with a black family in Holmes County, Mississippi—one of the poorest counties in the country where the median family income was $400 a year and just about everyone was a subsistence farmer. Detwiler had decided to spend his summers as a civil rights worker.
Jim Scheibel
Jim Scheibel’s first job after college was with the agency for which he is now the director in St. Paul, Minnesota: Community Action Partnership. He served as the mayor of that city for four years and was on its city council for eight years. During the Clinton Administration, he served as director of VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America).
Jim Scheibel’s first job after college was with the agency for which he is now the director in St. Paul, Minnesota: Community Action Partnership. He served as the mayor of that city for four years and was on its city council for eight years. During the Clinton Administration, he served as director of VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America).
Steven Friedman
Steven Friedman has always been a social activist, and in part it was his grandfather’s Depression-era stories that helped mold his outlook. "I grew up hearing about the importance of trying to make a difference and the need to look out for all people—especially working people," said Friedman.
Steven Friedman has always been a social activist, and in part it was his grandfather’s Depression-era stories that helped mold his outlook. "I grew up hearing about the importance of trying to make a difference and the need to look out for all people—especially working people," said Friedman.
Thalassa Scholl
Thalassa Scholl came face to face with poverty when she lived in Pakistan. She was attracted to Oxfam’s work after a devastating flood. She saw a newsreel showing a small Oxfam plane dropping supplies to Sindhi villagers who were stranded on the rooftops. Scholl has been a member of the organization for 20 years.
Thalassa Scholl came face to face with poverty when she lived in Pakistan. She was attracted to Oxfam’s work after a devastating flood. She saw a newsreel showing a small Oxfam plane dropping supplies to Sindhi villagers who were stranded on the rooftops. Scholl has been a member of the organization for 20 years.
Barbara Waugh
"The religion I grew up in had as one of its central tenets that the poor will always be with you," said Barbara Waugh, a director of university relations at Hewlett-Packard Company and a long-time radical activist. The weight of that notion cast a pall over her entire life. Then, one day, she read a book about a Bangladeshi man named Muhammad Yunus and his very simple idea for ending poverty: loaning the poorest of the poor small amounts of money so they could acquire an asset—a goat to milk, thread to weave—and start earning an income. Yunus’ ideas about microcredit changed her outlook completely.
"The religion I grew up in had as one of its central tenets that the poor will always be with you," said Barbara Waugh, a director of university relations at Hewlett-Packard Company and a long-time radical activist. The weight of that notion cast a pall over her entire life. Then, one day, she read a book about a Bangladeshi man named Muhammad Yunus and his very simple idea for ending poverty: loaning the poorest of the poor small amounts of money so they could acquire an asset—a goat to milk, thread to weave—and start earning an income. Yunus’ ideas about microcredit changed her outlook completely.
Dianne Antos
Dianne Antos’ first introduction to Oxfam was in 1991—at an Oxfam Hunger Banquet organized by her son’s high school. Instantly, she was sold on the idea. Her meal that day consisted of a small portion of rice.
Dianne Antos’ first introduction to Oxfam was in 1991—at an Oxfam Hunger Banquet organized by her son’s high school. Instantly, she was sold on the idea. Her meal that day consisted of a small portion of rice.