Saving the world: You're doing it wrong

[rant mode ON]

In my internetular travels, I happened upon Mother Bear Project.

The Mother Bear Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing comfort and hope to children, primarily those affected by HIV/AIDS in emerging nations, by giving them a gift of love in the form of hand-knit and crocheted bears.

The simple gift of a hand-knit bear with a tag signed by the knitter has touched children who have nearly nothing in the world with the message that they are loved by someone halfway around the world.

Certain they couldn't actually be so callous as to honestly believe that what kids in these nations needed most was teddy bears and love, I searched the site to see if they provided any other services.

They do not.

Listen carefully, because I'm only going to say this once...

These people need clean water, food, freedom, and opportunity.
In that order.

They don't need those things like we need fast food, they need those things like we need to breathe.

Offering mere tokens to these people, who are in life-threatening need, is so elitist as to be morally repugnant.

Much like the people who chastise Nike for employing child labor. Once their country has a basic economy, and people are not walking miles for fresh water to survive, we can start talking about child labor. Until then, companies like Nike are providing opportunity, and money to these people. Think Nike is horrible for employing all those poor, unfortunate people? Why don't you make Nike close their doors, take those paychecks away from those needy people, and force them into unemployment with no money or other opportunity. Who's the dick now?
"Those poor children making shoes! Those poor children with their money, vaccinations, and food in their stomachs."

Can it.

Get your heads out of your asses, and get fucking real. These people are dying of real needs. Don't make them fucking teddy bears. Go sing "All you need is love" to the children dying of malaria.