Comments for Jeremy's Journeys

Comment on Trapped in Chala by David

David — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 11:51:30 +0000

Thanks for the thoughtful response, Jeremy.

You ask: “Where do you consciously draw the line?” Gosh, I wish I knew. One idea that makes a lot of sense to me is the approach Peter Singer has outlined in his paper “Famine, Affluence, and Morality.” Maybe you’ve read it?

Like in microeconomics, Singer looks at suffering from a marginal perspective, arguing that our decisions should be guided by making the “marginal costs” for us when we sacrifice equal to the “marginal benefit” for others when they benefit from our sacrifice. When we all act so that this condition holds, then there is a kind of “efficient” allocation of suffering. Alas, as in many traditional markets, efficiency doesn’t occur; the world is one big market failure in the allocation of suffering.

Anyway, thanks for giving me a venue to process my thoughts. I look forward to more discourse in the depa.

Comment on Trapped in Chala by FD

FD — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 04:03:54 +0000

Jeremy, First, I am happy you are safe and although may have never been in real danger, still it’s comforting to know you are safe. Thihnking about your thought-provoking post…solidarity is a noble thing, demonstrates brotherhood and oness. But where does that end and common sense kick in? I’m guessing you stick out in Peru since you are a white, tall, American (nothing wrong with that:)), would you have been picked out in a crowd? Would you have been seen as a person who only stayed to feel good about themselves? Sometimes when other ethnicities try to sympathasize (sp?) with me, the first reaction is “why are they doing it?” then goes to feeeling “They know nothing about me.” Although staying behind would have been noble, it may have been taken in another way by those miners. Nonetheless, your actions/feelings/thoughts are noble and would expect nothing less from you. What you are doing and what you did should be commended and exampled. That aside, again, I am happy you are safe…makes you appreciate food and a clean bathroom more I bet.

Comment on Trapped in Chala by Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:35:14 +0000

David,
I probably should have noted that the photos above are from La republica’s(a Peruvian newspapaer) website.

In the end, I do wish I had stayed. Solidarity is definitely what we’re going for, whether in our work, or in our lives. There’s no right place to draw a line and say, “in this, I want to be treated as special.”

This situation does play on the larger question of martyrdom. How much can and should we sacrifice ourselves for others? It’s clearly not healthy to sacrifice all of your well-being for the sake others–if you do that, then you will have no energy to put towards the cause for which you are sacrificing. There’s got to be some sort of balance for each individual. How do you consciously find that equilibrium?

Comment on Trapped in Chala by David

David — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:16:29 +0000

Hi Jeremy, great post. Please keep up the great work. Where did you get the photos?

I also wanted to comment on your last paragraph. Nora and I stayed behind, but we did just get on another flight the following morning. Although other members of our Cruz Del Sur bus hopped on the same flight on Tuesday morning, the fact is that we probably would have been ignored by the military if we weren’t extranjeros. In fact, we might just now be returning to Lima as the strike ended yesterday, and the puente aeria would have stopped as well.

Certainly, some of the decision was to soothe our own egos and make us feel a sense of solidarity with the Peruvians with whom we live and work. In this sense, the gesture was largely symbolic, as Nora and I cannot be sure whether our seats were filled by someone who “needed” them more. Maybe they even went empty!

Was it worth it? On Tuesday morning, several Peruvians waiting at the airport encouraged us to tell the Coronel that we were Americans. “Los extranjeros ya se fueron ayer [the foreigners left yesterday],” one told me. When I explained to him why we stayed – that we weren’t really tourists but instead working in Lima, that we wanted to be Peruvian just like him – he seemed to understand. “Si, no quieren una ventaja, que bien [Yeah, you don't want an advantage, very good],” he told us.

Although I recognize the gesture was not a truly selfless one, I feel like I could justify my actions to the poor Peruvians with whom we work. In the end, theirs is the opinion that matters the most to me.

Sincerely,
David

Comment on Does Microfinance Work? Part 2: Immeasurables and the Big Picture by Suzie

Suzie — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:26:45 +0000

Me again, have you noticed any tension between the women – sugar mamas- and men -sugar recipients? If so, how do you give self-worth to the men as well and deal with these changing economic dynamics?

Comment on Does microfinance work? Part 1: The Individual Picture by Suzie

Suzie — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:18:47 +0000

Question: so what’s the point of pumping money through Kiva then? Couldn’t you just have a database of MFI’s, and the interest rates might decline because the MFI’s wouldn’t be beholden to anyone but their entrepreneurs, so they’d feel less pressure to protect themselves? Not sure if that would work for or against actually.

Dovetailing off of that, you say it’s all an experiment for you, could you talk a bit more about whether you think KIVA itself makes sense for these communities (I understand they sponsor your blog…)?

Feliz Navidad

Comment on Does microfinance work? Part 1: The Individual Picture by Joan

Joan — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 13:32:32 +0000

I understand now, Jeremy. Thanks! It makes sense…

Comment on Does microfinance work? Part 1: The Individual Picture by Jeremy

Jeremy — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:25:08 +0000

Sorry that wasn’t clearer. When loaners fund a loan on Kiva, the money goes to the MFI, in my case, it’s FAPE. FAPE in turn is giving the money to the entrepreneur funded on the website. When the entrepreneur pays back that money to FAPE, then FAPE in turn, gives the money to Kiva. Kiva, when lending the money to FAPE, does not ask for interest on the money, only that, if the entrepreneur pays back the FAPE, that FAPE return the money; however, FAPE still charges interest to the entrepreneur to make up for all of the costs of operation. Many studies can be done as to what the fairest interest rate is, but it has to be high so that the MFI can subsist. Does that clear things up a bit? Be sure to ask me more questions if you have them.

Comment on Does microfinance work? Part 1: The Individual Picture by Joan

Joan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:04:15 +0000

Jeremy –

I’m not sure what you mean when you say Kiva doesn’t charge interest, but your institution does. What do you mean?

Joan

Comment on A schmorgus holiday post by Maria

Maria — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:45:18 +0000

I constantly felt like a giant when I was there and you’ve got at least 5 inches on me so you must be like a god, or a pro basketball player.

I miss you.

I showed the lovely video you made me to EP and Kate. We all love it, especially the sweet black and white flash effects.