Kiva

[Cirion Spellbinder]

What do you think of this charity? Is it worthwhile to put my money into this system?

Visit the Site Here → http://www.kiva.org/about

[brimstoneSalad]

I don't really think it's useful, no.

I would focus on Mercy for Animals, and other effective animal advocacy, because you get the most "bang for your buck" in terms of effective altruism there.

[Cirion Spellbinder]

I don't really think it's useful, no.

How so? I imagine that interest free loans would help alleviate suffering. Are you suggesting that animals have a greater net suffering than humans and / or that the system itself does not help people who need it?

[brimstoneSalad]

I don't really think it's useful, no.

How so? I imagine that interest free loans would help alleviate suffering.

In terms of effective altruism, I believe it turns out that loans aren't a great way to help the poor, particularly the way many of these systems are managed -- they may actually be more harmful than useful in most cases. Sure, there are touching success stories, but in terms of statistical impact, it's not good.

Look up Kiva criticism, and read a few articles.

Here's one with a summary, and quotes from a longer article (criticism is often quite extensive):
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/2/11 ... Kiva-Story

Are you suggesting that animals have a greater net suffering than humans and / or that the system itself does not help people who need it?

Both. There is no reason to support micro lending as altruism, and there's no reason to support it as good business either, since you don't get any interest (The interest these people pay, and they DO pay huge amounts of interest, goes to these predatory micro lending companies, and all you're doing is subsidizing them).

Animals are easier to help, can be helped more reliably, with less investment, and in a way that doesn't backfire (it's win-win for humanity as well). The problem of human poverty is largely derived from systemic corruption and ignorance, and probably can't be solved by simply throwing money at it.

[Cirion Spellbinder]

I've gone ahead and looked at a few articles from both sides and a paper and now share your view. Thank you for the pointer.

I will be looking into Mercy for Animals next.