Bunker Roy, the Indian activist who founded the Barefoot College (see also Jana's post) wrote an opinion piece in the New York Times on September 14, 2005, after the publication of the MDG report of 2005, that, according to him, "reflects a naïve and gullible attitude about poverty".

In this piece, he also argues:

"The virtual reality in which its authors live, full of action plans, road maps and fact sheets, is frightening."

"Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger (MDG No. 1) does not need indicators and databases. Only intellectual activists who have no idea how to reach the very poor need that."

et cetera.

He conludes by suggesting to change the nature of "global partnership" (MDG 8):

"If the primary focus is really ending poverty, the partnerships we need to strengthen are of a sort other than trade (MDG No. 8): partnerships between poor communities so that they learn from one another and share traditional, practical knowledge and skills."

I wonder if Bunker Roy will come to the MDG summit in New York. But his words are worth thinking about. They certainly weigh more than mine. That's why I don't want to finish this competition with my own opinion. I rather reproduce a wise guys' words. Maybe that's lame, but I th!nk they are worth reading!

Thanks for all the reads and comments on my posts, and thank you, other Thinkers for sharing your thoughts. And now let's get the hell out of the blogosphere and let's do something!

Bunker Roy in 2008. Pop!Tech via Flickr