Interesting and important essay IMO. I have much more contempt for the institutionalized NGOs that benefit from taxpayer money, and whose existence depends on preserving the problems they pretend to be solving. Mr. Beast sounds like a grifter, but at least he’s not employing an army of activists lobbying govt and institutionalizing the grift.
UnHerd Reader
2 months ago
The faux charity is that practiced by the majority of NGOs. This article is enabling that on going many – $billions industrial grift. The author is blaming a guy who actually dies what he says, without government money, while ignoring the insane bs of the NGO industry.
He isn’t ignoring it actually – but it’s buried carefully away at the very end of the article here:
“Yet at the same time, Donaldson is exploiting less fortunate people’s problems to shape his image of decency, while reinforcing the aid illusion that has blown so much money and achieved so little over the past half century.”
OK, he doesn’t directly address the details of NGO and charity failures in the aid illusion.
But he does hit the bullseye on the NGOs:
“And these sorts of strategies paid off: former foreign secretary David Miliband pockets £1 million a year running the International Rescue Committee, which has recruited a stellar list of “ambassadors” and was handed at least £33 million from Britain last year.”
Let’s rephrase that another way: David Miliband takes £1m a year from money that should go to needy refugees.
Of course he’s being accused of racism and misogyny. That’s what happens to everyone in the US who gets too successful.
Matt Tompkins
2 months ago
Very interesting article
Peter B
2 months ago
“stunt philanthropy” and “aid illusion”. Sums it up perfectly.
It’s quite something that the former deputy editor on the Independent is apparently calling time on the aid industry.
That’s not to say that Mr. Beast may not be doing some good – and even have good intentions. But “stunt philanthropy” it still is.
This might indeed be better and more cost effective than some of the stuff NGOs and charities are doing.
But there are presumably better ways of getting the money, technology, skills and resources to places in Africa than through PR events. The real solution is when the Africans can – and do – do all this stuff for themselves. I can’t help feeling that every time we help out (and we’ve been trying for well over 60 years), we’re not really building up local skills and initiative.
Samantha Stevens
2 months ago
So much about Mr. Beast and his appeal to children is super creepy. His best friend and costar was a young guy with a wife and child, UNTIL he decided he was a woman, abandoning his family. Then multiple young people accused him/her of grooming them through private chats, having inappropriate conversations, etc. YouTube for Kids is DANGEROUS.
Jack Robertson
2 months ago
Celebrities are self-serving sociopathic tw*ts. All of them.
Thankfully the Age of Fame is almost over.
Main Edition
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Interesting and important essay IMO. I have much more contempt for the institutionalized NGOs that benefit from taxpayer money, and whose existence depends on preserving the problems they pretend to be solving. Mr. Beast sounds like a grifter, but at least he’s not employing an army of activists lobbying govt and institutionalizing the grift.
The faux charity is that practiced by the majority of NGOs. This article is enabling that on going many – $billions industrial grift. The author is blaming a guy who actually dies what he says, without government money, while ignoring the insane bs of the NGO industry.
He isn’t ignoring it actually – but it’s buried carefully away at the very end of the article here:
“Yet at the same time, Donaldson is exploiting less fortunate people’s problems to shape his image of decency, while reinforcing the aid illusion that has blown so much money and achieved so little over the past half century.”
OK, he doesn’t directly address the details of NGO and charity failures in the aid illusion.
But he does hit the bullseye on the NGOs:
“And these sorts of strategies paid off: former foreign secretary David Miliband pockets £1 million a year running the International Rescue Committee, which has recruited a stellar list of “ambassadors” and was handed at least £33 million from Britain last year.”
Let’s rephrase that another way: David Miliband takes £1m a year from money that should go to needy refugees.
Yes, a true socialist.
Nothing lies beyond the reach of its abuse.
Of course he’s being accused of racism and misogyny. That’s what happens to everyone in the US who gets too successful.
Very interesting article
“stunt philanthropy” and “aid illusion”. Sums it up perfectly.
It’s quite something that the former deputy editor on the Independent is apparently calling time on the aid industry.
That’s not to say that Mr. Beast may not be doing some good – and even have good intentions. But “stunt philanthropy” it still is.
This might indeed be better and more cost effective than some of the stuff NGOs and charities are doing.
But there are presumably better ways of getting the money, technology, skills and resources to places in Africa than through PR events. The real solution is when the Africans can – and do – do all this stuff for themselves. I can’t help feeling that every time we help out (and we’ve been trying for well over 60 years), we’re not really building up local skills and initiative.
So much about Mr. Beast and his appeal to children is super creepy. His best friend and costar was a young guy with a wife and child, UNTIL he decided he was a woman, abandoning his family. Then multiple young people accused him/her of grooming them through private chats, having inappropriate conversations, etc. YouTube for Kids is DANGEROUS.
Celebrities are self-serving sociopathic tw*ts. All of them.
Thankfully the Age of Fame is almost over.