Scandinavian countries are the only nations according to the UN reports who give .7% of GNP toward foreign aid, yet all nations agreed to this threshold of giving in 1970. (1)
In the case of the United States private donations can be tracked which amount to approximately double the amount through direct financial aid agreed upon in 1970. (2)
Although in the case of the United States or any other nation for that matter, private donations are recognized as an indication of generosity, a nation should rightfully be the most important source of donations, at least within the UN agreement that all nations signed in 1970.
Private donations originating from USA entities are traceable because most are creatures of "the state" either as 501 standing, private foundations, charitable organizations, individual, partnership or corporation donations reportable under the Tax Code. A caution is in order since the most current levels of donations are not available because of delays in reporting and gathering of information. (3) Yet despite these difficulties we can get a general idea of the level of donations or aid from both the private and national level and evaluate whether the giving is going up or down and to which specific nations or regions of the world.
Not "traceable" is what would be commonly referred to as "faith based giving." For instance, in Christian denominations located within the USA, the act of giving funds toward missionary work or same detonations in another country and so forth is really an introduction to our Muslim brothers and sisters of the methodology of giving. Rather than giving from a "Muslim nation" individuals make contributions which are suggested as 2.5 percent of income, compared to a tithe by "Christian" which is suggested as 10% of income.
Some not so simple calculations which assume that either religious group does in fact "give accordingly" would be based upon income averages and "stated" populations of either group.
First let us agree upon what is the average "faith based giving" starting with the USA. Assuming that $40,000 is GDP for the USA (4). If we accept that approximately 80% of citizens in the USA who "profess to be Christian" are in fact "Christian" then we might expect average "faith based giving" to average ($40,000x.80x.10) $3,200 or total based upon our current estimated census of 300 million (300,000,000x.80x.10) or 24 billion.
Secondly let us agree upon our Muslim brothers and sisters "faith based giving." But before going further a very different world outlook is contained in the Asia Times in terms of our discussion on "faith based giving" and its future ramifications and the relevance of two world groups.
The UN or CIA estimates are probably on the high side. A current and more reliable estimate of 1.79 billion (5) is used for this discussion. The average income for our Muslim brothers and sisters ranges from an average low of $3,700 (6) but is declining according to a UN based report (7) and I prefer to err on the low side. Therefore the average "faith based giving" by our Muslim brothers and sisters is (1, 790,000,000,000x$3,000x.025) what we might expect to average $75 per person or total $134 billion.
We can therefore reasonably determine that fewer people giving on average more, are not equal to more people on average giving less. Hence the relevance of both income, level of giving and relative populations with respect to "religious faith."
We can also reasonably determine what are the "affects" of displacing those with "religious convictions" in respect to "faith based giving" either by globalization, democratic nation building, the WTO and World Bank to name but a few forces which are radically reshaping our world.
A final note which is entirely personal and completely biased. If you are currently farming, have land suitable for alternative gardening and have within you a remote desire to help others, read the following, otherwise, that's all folks. Except to say among those whom I hold dearest are those who work and toil with their hands, especially in farming.
My expanded reading since retirement has led me to retell in my own words a remarkable story of a very poor and ordinary man who lived in Ireland during the potato famine.
The man never turned a wanting stranger nor villager from his home who was in need. This man gave more than his meager holdings, yet always seemed to have more to give.
Yet his neighbors often commented that in the end he would have less than nothing and would eventually be no more. What they had said did came to pass, he was buried in a pauper's grave.
On his grave site has grown a tree of magnificence, which in the darkness of despair seems to grow in all seasons with such vibrancy, that all take notice.
Citations:
(1) http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp#RichNationsAgreedatUNto07ofGNPToAid
(2) http://www.techcentralstation.com/082102N.html
(3) http://gpr.hudson.org/files/publications/GlobalPhilanthropy.pdf
(4)http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/GK01Aa01.html
(5) http://www.islamicpopulation.com/
(6) http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm
(7) http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/perkins_24_3.htm
Copyright:1986-2008