Flickr: Aaron Knox

We all have that person in our lives who really knows how to get our blood boiling. That friend, sibling, or relative who no matter what will never see eye to eye with us. They’re convinced climate change is a liberal conspiracy, are suspicious of foreign aid, and believe that poor people choose to be poor… ouch.

So you brave their skepticism and want to talk to them about global poverty and development (which you should!). You should know, first of all, that some of these people are NEVER going to change their views. Lost cause. Take a page from Ron Burgundy and agree to disagree.

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There are others, though, who might be more open to what you have to say. It’s not going to be easy, but with these helpful tips you’ll be up to the challenge.

1. When they say: Developed nations spend too much on foreign aid already.

Respond with a little sass: Hmm, that’s interesting. I bet your country spends far less than you think. The United States, for instance, spends less than 1% of its national budget on foreign aid. Even the most generous nation, Norway, only spends 3%. Still think they spend too much?

2. When they say: Well okay, but relying on aid hurts developing nations in the long run.

Flickr: UNICEF Guinea

Respond with: That may be true- relying on aid forever doesn’t help anyone. But aid that directly saves lives, such as medicine and food, is a real investment in a country’s future. Without a healthy population, there’s no hope for development. We just need to ensure that aid is transparent and builds a sustainable future for the nation.

3. When they say: People living in poverty are poor because they’ve made bad choices.

(Try not to punch them) and say: We don’t live in a world that is fair or equal. People are poor because there are systems in place that keep them poor. It’s our job to change these systems so that everyone gets their fair shot at prosperity.

4. When they say: I’ve worked hard to get to where I am, why should I be punished with steep taxes to support people in developing countries who haven’t worked as hard as me?

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Respond with: We’ve been over this already. Developed nations spend close to nothing on foreign aid, and you wouldn’t be where you are if there weren’t systems in place that empower and support you. Now grow a heart, please.

5. When they say: Yeah, well there’s not even enough food to feed everyone.

Respond with: I can see why you might think that, since so many people are hungry. But there is enough food to feed the planet one and a half times over. The issue isn’t supply, it’s distribution. We need to come up with better, more efficient ways to get food to those who need it. (Side note: more information on this issue to come on Global Citizen in the near future).

6. When they say: Developing nations are all corrupt, any aid just contributes to corruption.

Flickr: Devin Smith

Respond with: Sure, a lot of developing nations are afflicted with corruption. The same can be said of many developed nations. But would you think it’s fair for you to be punished because the Mayor of your town got into some shady business? To ensure that aid doesn’t contribute to corruption, we must demand absolute transparency from both donor and recipient countries. Fortunately, much of the global community agrees.

7. When they say: We should focus on poverty in our own countries first.

Acknowledge this moment of compassion: You’re right, poverty does exist in developed countries too, and we shouldn’t turn a blind eye. But large portions of these countries’ budgets already go towards things like domestic health and infrastructure, where as so little goes to foreign aid. We don’t have to pick one over the other.

8. If they make downright ignorant/ racist/ prejudiced comments about groups of people based on the actions of a few, and say things like: Why should we help those people when they’re determined to hurt us (referring to Muslim extremists, for example), or why should we help them when they refuse to help themselves (citing countries with political unrest).

Screenshot from Fox News

Take a deep breath, and recognize this as the major teaching moment that it is: The vast majority of people living in [insert region] are just like us in that all they want is peace and the chance to live with dignity.They shouldn’t be held responsible for the actions of a few extremists. Don’t let the media fool you into thinking that the extremists are representative of where they come from.

9. When they say: I’m tired of all these crazy liberals spreading lies about “climate change”. There’s no proof global warming actually exists, and you’re not a scientist, so don’t act like you’re some authority.

Let John Oliver make this point for you. Skip ahead to 2:44.

10. When they say: You know, if those people would just stop having so many kids they wouldn’t be so poor.

After you pick your chin off the floor from the disbelief, say: People living in extreme poverty aren’t poor because they have too many kids (which, by the way, is not for us to judge, but I’ll let that one slide); they have many kids because they’re poor. Without access to sex education and contraception, people living in poverty have few options when it comes to family planning. (If your friend lives in the US, you might add that the same can be said domestically, so let’s put the Abstinence education debate to rest, okay?)

11. When they say: If life in developing countries is so hard, why don’t people just leave?

Have a little fun with this one and ask: Would you vote in favor of opening our borders to immigrants? Even if that were not an issue, the reality is that people living in poverty can’t afford to move somewhere else. Nor should they have to. Living with dignity should include being proud of your home community and nation.

12. When they say: Global poverty and problems abroad don’t impact me. Why should I care?

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Reassess if you really want this person in your life. Still do? Fine then. Respond with: Well, actually they do. Global poverty and problems in other countries ultimately create instability, violence and extremism that is felt worldwide. Let’s take a cue from the beloved Bush Presidents who were all about “fighting over there so we don’t have to fight at home”, but flip it around. By addressing issues abroad, we end up helping ourselves in the long run.

13. When they say: Look, people are always going to be poor. That’s just the way it is.

Respond with: HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING? Sure, there will always be poor people. But extreme poverty- people living on less than $1.25 a day- does not need to exist. In fact, if the global community steps up the way it needs to, it can be eradicated by 2030- And this is the year to make sure that plan is in place.

14. When they say: Well that’s great and all, but there’s nothing I can do.

Respond with: There’s so much you can do! Whether you’re using your vote to stand up for people less fortunate than yourself, volunteering at a local organization, researching and supporting products that empower communities, or showing a little kindness to someone who has recently moved to your country, it all counts. Hey, there’s even this platform you might have heard of called Global Citizen. You should check it out ;)


All good? I hope this helps. Now for all you skeptics, if you have any tips on how to not sound like a self-righteous jerk, I’m all ears.

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Christina Nuñez

Editorial

Demand Equity

Don’t lose your cool: how to teach your skeptic friends about poverty

By Christina Nuñez