3.2-What's+the+point+of+humanitarian+organisations?

 __**3. 2. GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATIONS**__ ** This page wil now be open till the __2nd December.__ Do you feel like participating and joining in the discussion? I would so much appreciate it...:)) Please, edit the page and make my day, OK? ** ** 1. a. Watch the following commercial and state your views on it. ** media type="youtube" key="Tm9D3MatgKw" width="295" height="244" align="center"

** b. Do we really need organisations like __"Doctors without Borders"__? Why / what for? Check their website [|Doctors without borders] and identify the piece of news that impressed you the most. **** I tend to feel guilty whenever I see this kind of videos. I live such a comfortable life and yet I don´t hesitate to complain. Yes, I know, very selfish of me. Thankfully, this kind of selfless organisations give us hope for the world. Everyday we're bombarded with horrifying news. Doctors without borders, ami, onu are just some of the best known names that fight to change those situations. As common individuals we usually live apart from that horror, however we can support their work, even if it´s with monetary help.In fact, we claim so many rights, but this is a very important duty that we often forget! Rita Rebelo **** Excellent point of view, Rita. The way you put it, juggling rights and duties, makes us all wonder about the role of NGOs in our democratic, global world ?!... ANA ****I think we do need these organizations and that they do spread hope and support all over the world, but we also need them clean, without political purposes and corruption. Maybe that pervades because we are careless towards their noble work and rejoyceful efforts. Or maybe it will exist regardless of our carelessness because our lives would keep relying on money and materialistic targets. I'd like to get myself in these kind of stints but I can't say that I don't have some egoistical wishes beneath my "dream". I want to see how far my courage and strength can go. Nonetheless, I admit I'll take pains by leaving my family and friends behind if I do end up by participating in such an experience. But when I came back I'd be able to compensate them with much more of myself. Vitória Melo ** Very good points, Vitória:)) You’ve brought up the issue of corruption, but that’s too complicate to deal with. On the one hand, they are said to accept money from unreliable sources, on the other hand money is money, after all, and they do need it for their humanitarian purposes. I think I’ve already said that I admire MSF and other non-profit organisations so much that I wouldn’t dare point a finger at them. I wouldn’t have the guts to do what they devote their lives to (sometimes even give their own lives as their ultimate sacrifice); so, what’s the point of speculating on the possible origins of the donations they receive. ANA Excellent answer, Diogo Pinto:)) CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve finally decided to join us and the quality of your intervention doesn’t surprise me. Pity that you aren’t a regular visitor:(( Maybe now you decide to be a WIKI fan and start participating in all pages. Will you accept the challenge? I sure HOPE so... ANA Well, to begin with, I have to say that I really liked the video and the way it was made. It really captures our attention to the fulcral problem that organisations like Médicins Sans Frontières go through. Lack of support. Just the way they convey the message that every little help is well-received, and that by a help you gice you may end saving a life of a poor person. Furthermore, I would like to state that this theme is a good theme to discuss in class. And I say this because people are always too busy in their daily life that they forget there's a group without medical care, and lousy conditions that asks for our help ! So, it's good young people like us get in touch with these matters, so that in a close future we know what are we doing when we support Humanitarian Organizations. I read somewhere, that only because there's currently about 3 million donors worldwide. Well, it is pretty obvious that as the financial funds raise, the effiency will increase too and more lifes can be saved. Mariana Marques
 * I think it's kind of an hard question to answer, because in one way we do need it, it provides help to the people that live in countries with really bad health care systems (many times, even non existing), but probably in some cases it might just make everything worse. For example, war countries, fighting civil wars, in this case the doctors are forced to treat everyone as equal, so they would probably heal a soldier and he could return to the war, or even heal a civilian who will most likely still be killed, and even most of all they would be constantly threatened by soldiers or rebels, in the end their lives might be in even more danger than the civilians themselves. Although the organization provides a great deal of aid to the countries they are in, maybe none of this needed to start in the first place if those countries started to improve, if people in power started thinking more about the community, or if other countries also helped with financial aid or something like that, or if this stupid mining less wars ended and people started to think of what would be best to the world, instead of what is best for them, then we wouldn't need to put all this great doctors in places where their lives are constantly threatened, by man or nature...in that perfect world they would just be doing their duty in a regular country, instead of trying to hide from death. // Diogo Pinto //**

**2. "WHAT'S A LIFE WORTH REALLY? Go over our worksheet again, will you?** **a. Have you already watched the TV series "OFF THE MAP". It's awsome:)) Check the following clip and then tell me your opinion, OK?****b. Would you leave everything behind and simply go wherever your heart and soul ask you to?**media type="youtube" key="MjaFmnChMlc" width="339" height="280" ** It´s quite amazing how someone can leave their loved ones and start a new life. What´s even more amazing are doctors like those that give up their easy, comfortable lives to go to the unknown, to a much harder, much dangerous life style. These are the forgotten heroes of our days, that fight for theirs and the others' lives. **** Some films and series show a very exciting, and perhaps easy daily life for these doctors. The reality, I imagine, is far from that. Patients don´t often survive, doctors don´t find the love of their lives there, rebels don´t spare them just because they are good people. Brave, persistent, fearless, virtuous, they are this and more. **** It´s an experience that has always crossed my mind. It´s a test to anyone´s soul. And a possibility that I hope one day I have the guts to pursue. Rita Rebelo **** My most sincere congratulations again!!!:)) Your answer proves that you've turned into a very mature young woman that manages to distinguish LIFE from FICTION and realises the true value of leaving family and friends behind and embarking on a lonely and hard adventure for the sake of the others'well-being (and probably our own self-fulfilment too). ANA ** There are countless positive words that can describe the character of those who decide to endure such an experience. However, it's quite bewildering and contradictory being able and supportive enough to join a major cause and help unfortunate souls when people are no longer polite to the person sitting next to them. Societies all over the world are getting colder and colder and youngsters' lives are swallowed up by luxury and futility. So, in spite of thinking that there are people who still care about world's most frightening and harsh scenarios it's rather difficult for me to believe that their decision is solely based on solidarity and lovingness. They might also seek adventure, a way to break out of a painful situation by acknowledging an even more miserable picture, a path to fill up an emotional void in their minds. Vitória Melo When I was young I used to tell my mother if I ever became a doctor I would definitely volunteer by being part of an organization that works in third world countries. Today, I’m not sure I would be able to do it. Besides being very hard to leave your beloved ones, your luxury, your comfort behind, it is even more difficult to realize you’ve been ignoring people who go through the most horrible experiences your all life. Maybe if you don’t see it in person you will find excuses to your selfishness and you won’t be so frustrated with the difficulties some children have to overcome. Once you’re there and you want to help those people, but there are so many and so few resources, you will think it’s never enough. I would, at least. Obviously, I would love to experience something like that and it is still a possible scenario for me. I’m just not sure I would be able to deal with it. Núria Paulo. **Well, it's hard leaving everything behind and start a new life, or have an around the world journey. You leave your family and friends and take this alone, first not many people can do it, it's nowhere near easy, huge emotional and psychological impact, not just for us but also for the ones around us...but still, I guess in some people's case this is something that needs to be done. I think somewhere in the future this will probably happen to me, leaving everything behind and go in search of answers, not in organizations, most likely alone, it's an important journey and i guess my reason is that we only have one life and i don't want to waste it, i want to do certain things, it's a way of people finding themselves, to be free in some way. If i died without doing this I would probably regret it, and when i do die, which will take a lot of time (no way i'm gonna die young, still have way too many things to do), what i want is to go away with a smile on my face, knowing that my "soul's" wishes were fulfilled. And going around the world, walking trough the deserts and forests, seeing the beautiful landscapes or the devastated grounds of the world, helping people or just trying to survive, its a obvious must. It's a hellish journey but in the end there is nothing like it.** // Diogo Pinto // media type="youtube" key="mM3Na9a2mzw" height="274" width="412"

This is a trailer of the first documentary, in which MSF shows its field operations. Set in war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and post-conflict Liberia, "Living in Emergency" interweaves the stories of four doctors as they struggle to provide emergency medical care under extreme conditions. Teresa Silva

People should give more importance to organizations like Doctors Without Borders. Everyone should understand the amount of courage, disponibility and the capacity of being able to give up on a perfect life, family and friends that these wonderful people have. These people have almost super-natural habilities by doing jobs that no one would be able to do or even try. The experience of testifing such atrocities like hunger, poverty, diseases and war sceneries requires a strong mind and spirit in order to never give up on their goal and yield to dificulties. People like Doctors Without Borders must be faced has heroes due to their difficult job, to their spirit and to the fofference they make in the world. Rita Pinto

I find it truly impressive to someone leave everything he/she loves behind and save people from every corner of the globe, but unfortunately I wouldn't be capable to do such thing. Seeing and passing through that situation would help me and the most of us being aware about what it costs to survive. Definitely it would make us grow psycologically and mentally. However, I'm not brave enough. Sometimes I feel selfish when I see those images which show us how the conditions third world countries live in but the best way to overcome this is enjoying every minute we have alive and giving the right value to what we have and people give us. Mariana Ferreira

This organiations are the ones that should make the different, that should be helped and must help the ones that need their support. I agree with all of you, and I consider that living our life to go sometimes to the middle of a war mut be difficult, but some of those who go there don´t have a life here also. But I think that jut when you are down there in the middle of he conflicts, you realise what you really are. Renato

=== We can talk, and we can agree that we must do more things like these organisations, but the truth is that we don´t do anything! This organisations are synonim of bravery and willpower, because they do help the world, instead of being here talking and saying "Yeah, we should be together and help who needs". That´s what people who do not have courage like us do. Look to them, they are real heroes! Bernardo ===



===Those were two of the flyers that Doctors without Borders spread throughout the world via the internet, news or just on paper to make people aware about the earthquake that completely destroyed Haiti. They were there to help the victims, trying to find survivors among the rubble and trying to recover the devasted country, but above all, they need support, not only financial support but also logistical, and volunteers, because any help is scarce, and is required. They are few to help everyone who needs help around our world! Ana Margarida ===

=== Today is The World AIDS Day. These videos are some of the many in the channel that explain to us what is the situation in Africa and what we can do to help. Organisations like Doctors without Borders are definitly needed! And the ones that volunteer are a role model for us. Obviously it would be hard for some people to simply leave their lives and family behind and go to those dangerous and insecure countries. So, the doctors, nurses and all the people that were courageous enough to do that indeed are great human beings. As for me, I really would like to be able to help people, and situations like we see in Africa touch all of us. Waht scares me the most is the problem of security, but, it is a weight in our consciousness knowing that a small gesture from us could mark or save the life of someone and not doing anything. ===

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Emilia Mota
=== First of all, Congratulations Emília ! I gotta admit I really liked your second video from youtube. The concept is really cool, and it conveys the message in a simple way. The fact that celebrities from all over the world gather around to help this kind of initiatives should be taking in account. Now, about the question that comes to the table when we're talking about this issue : If we could do watchever doctors without borders did and still do, my answer, I think, is no. I'm a bit spoiled and used to a good and comfortable life. Having said this, it is quite difficult to give up on that style of life and further on our beloved ones(not giving up in this case, but getting away for big amounts of time). It is, indeed, a selfish answer, I'm aware of that. So, that's why we should support and thank all those ones who were altruistic enough to accept the adventure. And supporting, I feel like doing that. If one day, I have the conditions to do it, I would like to contribute with some help, because these organisations deserve it. If I were on a mission like this, I would only go maybe a month, turning it into an adventure and bringing somthing new, more experience to my life. Mariana Marques ===

== This organizations perform a crucial role in life not for us but for the ones who need help and are ignore everyday. We can also blame ourselves for lack of action and lack of solutions for the problems the world has such as hunger, international violence, unemployment, poverty, lack of understanding. Sometimes all that is needed is friendly word to make someones day so why not do it ? 40 cents to save one person for a day! Look if you smoke or drink you can get ride of the addiction by saving someone else life. Just do it. Words have some power, but combined with action and devotion can save lifes so blend them because we are the world, not you, not me, not both of us but all of us. ==

media type="youtube" key="Glny4jSciVI?version=3" height="315" width="560" = = = Pedro 12ºE =

=Nowadays this kind of organization have a major role in the countries where there is lack of health cares and basic needs. Without them we would see much more starvation and, therefore much more deads. Despite of their important role they still have some big issues in order to get to the countries who relly need help and that's where the human cruelty emerge. This organizations have to pay to the governments to go to their countries to rescue and save lifes. This is outrageous. Since when does a life has a tag price? We should support this type of organizations to give a better life condition to the one's who need it.=

= Filipe Borges 12º E =

It's always a nice and honorable action getting out of our country, away from our friends and family, to help people with poor living conditions, however the nowadays reality makes me think twice about leaving the country under the "excuse" of volunteering. If I lived in a perfect nation, or even in one that could give at least average living conditions to each one of its people, I wouldn't hesitate about leaving my country to help others on the other side of the world... The fact is our country is not perfect and a lot of portuguese people also need our help urgently.So, before leaving Portugal, I would like to/will first volunteer inside my country, because I wouldn't be able to not think of myself as careless while leaving my own country with problems and doing nothing about it while going out to help another. Besides that, my opinion is not distinct from the ones I've read. NGO's are, with no doubt, an important factor in what concerns to the survival of thousands of people in developing countries and what they do is, like I said in the beggining, honorable and prestigious.** Diogo Silva **


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