Something to make you feel really good

[China_cat]

after all the crap that's been pushed trying to kill the season. Read the interview with this guy. It'll give you some hope.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_52/b3965025.htm

Can Technology Eliminate Poverty?
Grameen Bank Founder Muhammad Yunus thinks so. And he explains why changing the world is a lot more fun than just making money

As a leading microfinance pioneer and advocate for the world's poor, Muhammad Yunus has continued developing innovative approaches to alleviating poverty since granting his first loan in 1976. Since 1983, Grameen Bank, of which Yunus is founder and managing director, has lent $5.3 million to borrowers in Bangladesh, spawning replicated programs in more than 100 countries.
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Even as his ideas spread around the world, Yunus has remained firmly dedicated to alleviating the burden of poverty in his home country through a growing variety of means. For example, in 1997, Yunus helped found two companies: GrameenPhone (for profit) and Grameen Telecom (nonprofit), which brought mobile-phone technology to the villages of Bangladesh. Out of those companies Yunus developed the Village Phone Project, where women borrowers would take a loan to buy a handset and solar-powered charger and function as their village pay phone, providing the women with substantially increased income.

Yunus recently spoke with BusinessWeek Online reporter Jeffrey Gangemi about his purpose in life, how technology can be used for ramping up microfinance, and his next challenge in helping the poor. Edited excerpts of their conversation follow:

[hfojvt]

1. I am not a big believer on technology as a solution

particularly our western idea of electrifying and mechanizing everything, but he does seem to be working on a small scale ala Schumacher, and I have heard good things about microfinance. :thumbsup:

[China_cat]

2. Just the idea, after all we've been seeing in this country

of the idea that the more poor the better, it is just so nice to read about somebody actually working to give the poor a shot. Not later when they can maybe afford it, but NOW.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

3. If you have not read "Banker to the Poor" by Yunus, you must.

it is one of the finest most hopeful works I have ever read regarding capitalism, globalization, and poverty. Its an amazing case study of his micro-lending bank in Bangladesh. hes a genius and a great writer!

[hippywife]

4. There was a great series

aired on PBS a while back that was hosted by Robert Redford about social entrepreneurs. Yunus was covered in episode 3 of the 4. Was very uplifting.

http://www.pbs.org/opb/thenewheroes/about/

Since then we helped work and contributed to a FINCA fundraiser. And have made purchases from several fair trade groups bringing goods in here locally. We can't do much because we don't have much ourselves but every little bit helps those that have even less.

http://www.villagebanking.org/