This is in no way to diminish the tragedy that took place yesterday at Virginia Tech. This cartoon, however, illustrates my frustration with the situation. It is just interesting which global tragedies get more attention than others. The passing of 33 people yesterday is a very sad thing. My thoughts and prayers are with those who are suffering from this loss. What I hope is that the world remains cognizant of all the other human suffering that is currently happening in the world and the mass scale on which it is happening. Furthermore, I hope the media engages in critical thought about where they place air-time value. In other words, my hope is that the media with equally educate our world about other issues that are taking place on our planet--in hopes that this sparks human action--and give less attention to the latest Hollywood hookup/breakup.Here are just a fraction of issues that are taking place in the world, but fail to receive the same amount (if any) media attention:
- In 2006, 4.3 million people become infected with HIV and 2.9 million people died of AIDS.
- AIDS death toll in Africa may reach 100 million by 2025
- Every year more than 10 million children die of hunger and preventable diseases – one every three seconds.
- 100 million children miss out on school completely.
- A child born today in Zambia, one of the very poorest countries, can expect to live until they are 32 years old.
- 20% of the population in the developed nations, consume 86% of the world’s goods.
- It is estimated that 400,000 people have died since March 2003 in the conflict-affected area of Darfur and eastern Chad.
- A team of American and Iraqi epidemiologists estimates that 655,000 more people have died in Iraq since coalition forces arrived in March 2003 than would have died if the invasion had not occurred.
- 30,000 people a day die from poverty.
- The United Nations estimates that unfair trade rules deny poor countries
US$700 billion every year.
4 comments:
So true. Can you imagine what could happen in this world if these other tragedies were as widely publicized.
Genna I made a link to this post from my blog
Hey, my name is Brad and im friends with Curt B. I was directed here from Curt's blog.
I agree with your point that major tragedies dont get a fair share of the spotlight because of where they happen and who they happen to. But that is obvious. People identify more with events that could happen to them. Major natural disasters, mass shootings.. these things are not that far of a stretch for most. They pay special attention because it hits close to home. But that is pretty obvious too.
I dont think that making these tragedies more public will happen, because they will lose viewership to stories that people can identify with. Whether that is a shooting stateside or Britney Spears shaving her head doesnt matter. So the media outlets wont air this kind of stuff because viewers will tune out.
I think the problem is far far deeper than just getting word out there. Most people know aids is ravaging africa or that innocent Iraqi's die all the time. but these are problems far beyond the scope of what the average person is willing to deal with on an average day.
ok im stopping now before i start to talk in circles (known to happen). im sure i would wind up where i always do on these issues. And that is by saying the answer lies in how we socialize our youth.. ok im stopping now.
Hi Brad,
I totally agree with you that the media is just one strand of the problem. My intent on this post was to comment on the cartoon, which I felt dealt with the media's contribution to the problem.
You are absolutely right: isn't it sad that viewers would tune out to things they are lucky enough not to identify with?
Thanks for the comment.
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