Vampires in Rio

Shot in Super 8 in the 1960s, Ivan Cardoso created a series of short films called Vampires In Rio. Considered one of the great cult films of its time, Vampires in Rio was screened in the Museum of Modern Art much to the surprise of many who think it's one of the worst films ever made....

Barack Obama at Tempe

Typography in San Lucas Toliman

The images below are a typographical study of San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala. Note the beautifully handmade lettering.

Let’s Change the Image of Poverty

Raise your hand if you’re tired of watching those late night, D-list celebrity-clad, over-dramatized ads that some NGOs continue to use to try to get you to donate money. Yes, I’m sure they are effective, but I, for one, would much rather see how the money that I’m donating is being used. We know what the problems are, now show us what you think the solutions could be (and for which you will use that viewer’s donation.)

As reported by livemint.com, “People don’t want to hear that the world is ending. They want to be presented with a solution or, at least, some little action they can take right now that is clearly linked to a solution to this problem.”

So, my apologies to those actors who may lose a gig or two, but I really do think it is time stop selling poverty, and instead focus on selling the solutions to poverty.

Help the Poor, Travel More

We previously posted on small organizations, blah, blah...

The holiday season is just around the corner and with it is the arrival of gift catalogues, donation envelopes, and fundraiser invitations. You may choose to give to an organization via one of those mechanisms.

Or, you could help alleviate global poverty through travel.

There’s no proof, but I certainly echo this blogger’s question – can travel make the world a better place?

Organizations are often looking to increase their donor base. And it is no coincidence that what they usually do to bring a large donor on board is to take them on a tour of their projects. This is how celebrities end up getting involved in humanitarian efforts. The photo opps become the best advertising for a specific cause or organization.

And you, can choose to pick your organization based on their materials, or you can travel and see for yourself. I guarantee you that if you were to witness extreme poverty in certain parts of the world, you will be moved and motivated to help and make a difference. (You are clearly already interested because you are reading this blog!)

Pick a country that you would like to visit. Remember that the world’s poorest are concentrated in the southern hemisphere. How much you structure your trip around this cause is up to you, but you could do anything from just letting yourself wander into the poorest parts of town, or join a tour that will do that (link to favela tours in Rio), or even better, volunteer for an organization.

Small organizations are better

I would claim that there are enough philanthropists in the world, with enough money and interest to donate, that if there were clear and direct channels between them and those in most need, a significant change could happen.

The issue ends up being that the organizations that receive the money are usually the largest and those who can afford to have the PR machines that attract philanthropy. Unfortunately, these large organizations are also the ones which spend a lower percentage of the donation directly to the beneficiary. Instead they have many costs to cover (the salaries of the organization’s staff and the mechanisms through which the poor receive aid.)

So, stay local, go small. Try to find the grassroots organizations, or even better, groups that through endowments can cover all the administrative costs, and who can guarantee that 100% of your donation will go directly to those in need.