In last week’s post, I said I’d announce the March 2011 Charity of the Month this morning. Well, this month’s charity isn’t actually a charity. Turns out, it’s more like a micro-loan program. In fact, it’s exactly like a micro-loan program.
I’m a big fan of spreading love, prosperity, and help around to those who aren’t as fortunate as I am. It helps me feel good. It helps other people feel good. It helps to make the world a better place. That doesn’t make me roses-and-sunshine optimist, however. I’ve seen too many people who simply want a handout so that they can continue to live with the least amount of effort possible. (I’m related to a few of those types.)
And yet the world is not actually made up of bottom-feeders and lazy types, despite what the news media and Scrooge-like curmudgeons would have us believe. There are quite literally millions of people who would love to improve their lot in life and who are willing to work for it. All they need is a little help. Not a handout, but a hand up.
Shortly after publishing last week’s post, another blogger turned me on to Kiva, a program that provides small loans to entrepreneurs around the world. Site members donate $25 to whatever project strikes their fancy. That money gets combined with funds from other donors. When a project becomes funded, then boom!, it’s off and running. Some industrious person, somewhere in the world, gets an opportunity to improve their lives, their business, or to chase their dream.
The whole program seems to be set up a lot like Kickstarter, which I blogged about here.
So, pursuant to my stated policy of donating sizable chunk of my affiliate marketing profits to charities, non-profits, and other worthy causes, I will make a donation to Kiva on 1 April 2011, representing either 20% of March’s earnings or $25, whichever is greater.
And that’s about it. Last week I sent off a check to help fight Shariah madness and abuses against Muslim women. Next month, I’ll help fund a loan to some enterprising , uh, entrepreneur. And in the meantime, I’ll keep on blogging about sex, sex, and sex, all with my usual spin toward positivity, acceptance, open-mindedness, and so on and so forth.
What will you be doing to help make the world a better place? Will you be doing anything? Leave a comment to let me know.
Cheers!
JMB
Jim Black
Jim Black is the driving force behind this blog. He's also a personal safety advocate who's been teaching martial arts and/or self-defense since 1997. (No, they're not the same, and you shouldn't ask Jim about the difference unless you're prepared for a long-winded lecture.)
Because many people believe that porn is evil—and that all people who watch porn are child molesters and rapists—Jim uses a pen name when he's writing about porn, sex, and politics. (It helps to keep the raging morons away.)
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