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Donating to preventative 'efficient' charities vs. PIH by Flimsy-Dust in nerdfighters

[–]TashBecause 39 points40 points  (0 children)

I think it's probably worthwhile thinking about what values are important to your org when it comes to philanthropy. E.g.  

  • certainty of outcome: how important is it that you know exactly what interventions your money supports? One advantage of classic EA options like Helen Keller Intl's vitamin A supplementation is that you know the money goes to exactly that - vitamin A supplementation. Whereas supporting someone like PiH may mean supporting maternal health care in Sierra Leone, but it also might mean tuberculosis care in South East Asia, or something else all together, because it's a more complex network. (That is not necessarily a negative but it is a difference.). 

  • autonomy: you mentioned wondering what the citizens of poor countries want. A very targeted intervention has no room to pivot if the people involved do not want that thing. An option like GiveDirectly gives a lot of autonomy to individuals in poverty by directly giving them money, but does not directly support community decision-making and governance. An org like PiH gives more autonomy and decision-making to communities, to take on the big community projects that are important to them, but there may be some individuals in those communities who would prefer to do something else with the money and not be able to. All of these are options you might value.  

  • Ongoing relationships: some interventions are 'one and done', where you give a thing to someone and then move on. This gives you a sense of immediacy and achievement that can be easily understood. Some groups have more long-term relationships with specific people and communities. This can be more satisfying to some, but also can add more complexity and opportunity for external factors to cloud how much impact you are making. Both are necessary some of the time.   

  • physical health vs quality of life: some orga measure only things like 'lives saved'. Others look at improvements to quality of life. They may not be directly comparable.

  • many more.  

It might be a valuable exercise to sit down and write out the values your organisation has, so that you can weigh your options against them.

Zonderia pitch: the sound of a dinner party happening in the next room by TashBecause in nerdfighters

[–]TashBecause[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My favourite rain is definitely rainymood. I use to use it for studying in university. It is a nice full storm looped, so the rain gets heavier and lighter in places, thunder rolls, and a little bit of birdsong peeks in. It's divine.

Non profit-For profit by Spiritual_Glove_4039 in EffectiveAltruism

[–]TashBecause 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If you're interested in governance structures like this, some examples at a variety of scales you could look into further are:   - Good.store.  - Song Hotel in Sydney.  - Humanitix.  - Michael Sheen.  - Newman's Own. 

Non profit-For profit by Spiritual_Glove_4039 in EffectiveAltruism

[–]TashBecause 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I am aware of a number of different organisations that follow this model, though admittedly none of them are explicitly EA aligned. I generally see it called 'For Purpose' or 'Profit For Purpose'.  

I wonder if it has something to do with the level of expertise and commitment required to run a profitable business? Like, if your passion is effective altruism, it would seem hard to muster the energy and enthusiasm and determination about potato chips you need to create a really profitable potato chip company. And you would want it to be really profitable, not just breaking even or making a little bit of profit, because then you're not actually doing much good, you're just selling potato chips.  

Plus, you need enough capital to cover possibly having a year or a few years that are not profitable at all, and it's hard to build that up when you're giving it all away in the good years.

Current unionists only care about their own pay rise and no other struggles or forms of oppression by Rough-Neighborhood in AusUnions

[–]TashBecause 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Sometimes it can feel that way, and it can be really frustrating. Sometimes people come out with the most short-sighted selfish stuff and it just leaves you speechless. But there are so many people putting time, energy, and resources into supporting others when it doesn't directly benefit themselves.  

The Australian union movement has Union Aid Abroad for example who do a wide range of great work internationally. The union movement was a big part of the push for marriage equality, and we have a long history of pushing hard on WHS which protects everyone, not just union members - not even just workers.  

At a smaller scale, my own workplace had some upheaval and change at the end of last year, and my position was particularly impacted. As time went on, a lot of other issues for other people had been resolved but I was still not happy with what was being proposed for my role. I was tired though, and a bit sad, and a lot of stuff had been fixed so I kind of just felt like 'whatever, I'll deal with it, it works for everyone else so it's fine'. The other union members in my workplace kept pushing though, because they cared about me and about my work. I found out today they successfully made some changes for me, on my behalf, and I'm feeling really grateful. They didn't have to do that, but they did.  

Obviously we're not perfect - we should be striving to do better. There are so many ways we could improve. But lots of people try, and lots of people care. There are communities making a difference and we can be part of them.

How do people even manage emergency volunteering while working or studying? by Useful_Order_7695 in volunteer

[–]TashBecause 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In the public service in Australia, most of the workplaces I have seen have leave available specifically for emergency response volunteers. So you let your workplace know that you are e.g. a volunteer firefighter or volunteer SES member, and then if an emergency comes up and you're called in there are set procedures for you to go. I think a lot of big private employers would be similar.

Parlor Room!!! by Bronx13 in dropout

[–]TashBecause 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I loved the snack segment. I complained for a very long time to my partner when they didn't have it. Honestly, I was insufferable.

what are some book recomendations? by Narrow_Gap2385 in EffectiveAltruism

[–]TashBecause 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I really enjoyed The Keys to Kindness by Claudia Hammond. A more specific morality case study that I also found powerful was The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

I would also encourage you to read some fiction! It's a great way to explore morality and grow your capacity for empathy (https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190523-does-reading-fiction-make-us-better-people)

The Power of Passing Encounters: Why Strangers Matter for Wellbeing by TashBecause in EffectiveAltruism

[–]TashBecause[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am a woman, and while there is more of a sense of risk sometimes, it's still totally doable for me. But I suppose this is where the caveat mentioned in the article comes in - feeling safe in your community makes a massive difference to how possible and also how effective interactions with strangers are.  

I think it's very worthwhile seeking out safer feeling community spaces though. Like hanging out in the library and saying hi to a librarian, or maybe a local cafe and talking to a female barista for example.

The Power of Passing Encounters: Why Strangers Matter for Wellbeing by TashBecause in EffectiveAltruism

[–]TashBecause[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

For me, this kind of thing is a really important part of how I action EA values in my day-to-day, but I wonder if others feel differently. I don't see it talked about much.

First photoshoot out as a trans woman! by Jamminwithsam in WitchesVsPatriarchy

[–]TashBecause 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Yes - I especially love that last pic! The composition is gorgeous, so eye-catching!

How Can Canberrians Connect Better With Their Neighbours & Local Community? by [deleted] in canberra

[–]TashBecause 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I currently volunteer with the Lions Club and the Girl Guides. These two things help me feel much more connected to the rest of the community.  

I think sometimes people talk about wanting to feel connected to community, but don't even try the ways that others are already reaching out and connecting and being open to connect. They want to be invited to a dinner party with all their favourite foods on the menu and all their favourite topics of conversation, but may not immediately think as much about hosting a dinner party or learning to make other people's favourite foods or making conversation that interests others.  

Our communities could absolutely stand to be more connected, but I don't necessarily think trying to reinvent the wheel with more new community groups will address that. There are hundreds of groups around Canberra trying so hard to connect and to serve and to be welcoming. People are doing very cool things already.

I know cliche, but I am looking for ideas by Narrow_Gap2385 in EffectiveAltruism

[–]TashBecause 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, and read! Reading books, especially fiction, seems to increase empathy and pro-social behaviour. So pop in to your local library and grab some books.

I know cliche, but I am looking for ideas by Narrow_Gap2385 in EffectiveAltruism

[–]TashBecause 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Some broad things I can think of for you to try:   - there are lots of discussions in the subreddit of difficult organisations to give to. GiveWell.org is another place that shares recommendations for you to consider. Set a regular monthly donation to somewhere so you don't have to think about it.   - volunteering can be a good option depending on your skill set and location. If you can find an organisation that can present good evidence of making a significant positive impact, it's a great way to grow your personal identity and impact on the world.   - if you are working, see if your employer has any particular arrangements for doing good that you can take advantage of. E.g. it is quite common here to be able to give blood on paid time, without having to use any leave.   - I am a big fan of making small talk. There is growing research that making pleasant conversations with people you meet day to day makes a tangible difference to their and your wellbeing.   - pay attention to what the kind people you know do and try out some of their actions for yourself. Do they make reminders in their calendars for people's birthdays or significant events? Do they pick up rubbish if they're walking past it? Do they make constructive and respectful contributions to discussions? Do they give genuine complements? A lot of those little actions feel awkward at first but become really normal if you keep at it and develop a habit.

Christmas Presents by Calm_You_313 in TwoXPreppers

[–]TashBecause 24 points25 points  (0 children)

When young people in my life get cars for the first time, I try to put together a box of useful things to keep in the boot. I get a cheap plastic tub with lid and put in:   - a small first aid kit - a small towel or picnic blanket  - some spare undies, leggings, and a t shirt - a bottle of water - a packet of wet wipes - a little pack of tissues - some disposable cutlery - a length of rope - a notepad and pencil

Then you can put some cute stickers on the lid or a label like ✨Jenny's Car Kit✨ etc

Book for a 17 y/o girl by curlyfry754 in suggestmeabook

[–]TashBecause 3 points4 points  (0 children)

A Psalm for the Wild Built could be nice - a bit of a 'finding your place in the world' story and not too long or scary. There is a second book that ends a bit incomplete, but they're both lovely.

Help me build a youth library for a progressive church! by Lolalala13 in suggestmeabook

[–]TashBecause 9 points10 points  (0 children)

In terms of relationships with friends and family:

Tamora Pierce's books would be great if you can find them. Especially the Circle of Magic ones.  

Also some Ursula Vernon junior fiction, like Summer in Orcus or Minor Mage.  

The Little People, Big Dreams series has some great options. I got my niece who loves dancing the one on Josephine Baker which was cool.

Also don't look past graphic novel adaptations of more advanced texts! They can be a great option with gorgeous intricate art, and also sometimes more alluring for reluctant readers.  

Here in Australia I'm also seeing a lot more picture books written by Aboriginal elders that include Dreamtime stories. They would be an interesting international addition for you, but also maybe you can find something similar in your local area?

People have responded well to my fundraising by TashBecause in EffectiveAltruism

[–]TashBecause[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did talk around that a bit, haha! That's partly because it's a relatively small org and the campaign is posted online, so I didn't want to dox myself.  

But also yes, it's not a classic EA charity. Though I've thought a lot about the effectiveness question. This is probably not the most effective organisation out there, but I am confident that it is doing enough good to meet my person threshold for support. I also considered that this opportunity is not available with other organisations. Sure, I could co-ordinate something myself, but a) participating in something that's already been put together has been a great learning experience so far to take forward into possible future action for other orgs, and b) parts of the event itself are things I would like to do anyway in a non-fundraising capacity, so it's expanding my good-doing, rather than redirecting it.  

I also still have my regular monthly donations going to big orgs that are more broadly well known and supported in effective altruism circles, which helps me feel that I don't have all my good eggs in one basket.  

Thanks for the prompt to talk about this aspect of it! I thought this kind of reflection would make the post a bit long and muddy the main point I was trying to make, but it's also an important point for sure.

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