Expert: Le Anne Clausen - 12/1/2006

Question
Hello!
 I am a student majoring in Journalism at San Jose State, and have decided to write an article on the issues of poverty going on in the world, and the lack of resources in third world countries. I have been researching different charity organizations aimed at helping fight poverty on a global scale, and I realize you are an expert on human rights, and would love to get some words from you about your feelings regarding the poverty issues in the world, and more specifically, about the United States' overabundance of commodities which are squandered away on a daily basis...I would love to use you as a source for my article..I am hoping to cause more awareness about the issues of poverty, through my article!
  Thank you,
    Mandie

Answer
Hi Mandie, and thanks for your question.  I've been trying to find the right words to respond to your question.  Hmmm...the words I keep coming back to are 'scarcity' and 'abundance.'  We, or I, perhaps coming from family who experienced the Great Depression, are conditioned to believe our resources are scarce.  We gotta look out for number one, after all.  Even as a grad student, I am conditioned to think of myself as poor.  But to be honest, I always have something I can share in my closet or my pocketbook; and that's even on full need scholarships.  If you can find the book, 'Beyond the Rat Race,' by Art Gish, that's what I found most formative in my commitment to simple living.  He's hard-core; I used to work with him; but he's very honest.  Because of this book, I no longer choose to drink soda or pre-packaged beverages; I'm probably healthier drinking water or fair-trade coffee/tea.  I think about how my convenience causes another person suffering--whether I use plastic or glassware when I throw a party, for example, or in choosing socially responsible products when I go for groceries.  You don't have to do it all at once; I figure I can make one change once a week:  deoderant this week.  Laundry detergent next week.  etc.

I think far more about the relationships and the physical planet beneath my feet after my time as a human rights worker, than I think I ever did before as a North American consumer of goods.

I don't know if that's articulate enough for you, but it's an attempt.  Many thanks again for your question, and good luck on your article!

peace,
Le Anne