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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2015 The power of hope is real By NICHOLAS KRISTOF New York Times News Service A n awkward truth for bleeding hearts like myself is that there has never been much rigorous evidence that outside aid can sustainably lift people out of poverty. 6XUH HYLGHQFH LV RYHU- whelming that aid can over- come disease, boost literacy and save lives. Nicholas Kristof But raising incomes is trickier — and the evidence in that arena has been squishier. 1RZWKDW¶VFKDQJLQJ$YDVWUDQGRPL]HGWULDO² WKH JROG VWDQGDUG RI HYLGHQFH ² LQYROYLQJ people in six countries suggests that a particular aid package called the graduation program (because it aims to graduate people from poverty) gives very SRRUIDPLOLHVDVLJQL¿FDQWERRVWWKDWFRQWLQXHVDIWHU the program ends. Indeed, it’s an investment. In India, WKHHFRQRPLFUHWXUQZDVDUHPDUNDEOHSHUFHQW The heart of this aid package? A cow. Or a few JRDWV(YHQEHHV Why would a cow have such an effect? This gets interesting: There’s some indication that one mech- anism is hope. Whether in America or India, fami- lies that are stressed and impoverished — trapped in cycles of poverty — can feel a hopelessness that EHFRPHVVHOIIXO¿OOLQJ*LYHSHRSOHUHDVRQWRKRSH that they can achieve a better life, and that, too, can EHVHOIIXO¿OOLQJ In the graduation program, recipients of livestock were inspired to work more hours, even in areas unre- lated to the livestock. They took more odd jobs. Their savings rose. Their mental health improved. “Poverty is not just poverty of money or income,” QRWHG6LU)D]OH$EHGIRXQGHURID%DQJODGHVKLDLG JURXS FDOOHG %5$& WKDW GHYHORSHG WKH JUDGXDWLRQ program. “We also see a poverty of self-esteem, hope, opportunity and freedom. People trapped in a cycle of destitution often don’t realize their lives can be changed for the better through their own activities. Once they understand that, it’s like a light gets turned on.” (VWKHU'XÀRDQHFRQRPLVWDWWKH0DVVDFKXVHWWV Institute of Technology and a co-author of the study, believes that’s right. “The mental health part is abso- lutely critical,” she said. “Poverty causes stress and depression and lack of hope, and stress and depres- sion and lack of hope, in turn, cause poverty.” Could hopelessness and stress create a “poverty WUDS´²DEURDGRUKHUHLQWKH86²LQZKLFKSHR- SOHVXUUHQGHUWRDNLQGRIZKLUOSRRORIGHVSDLU"6RPH HFRQRPLVWVDQGSV\FKRORJLVWVDUH¿QGLQJHYLGHQFHWR support that theory, and experiments are underway to see if raising spirits can lift economic outcomes. 2QHVWXG\IRXQGWKDW(WKLRSLDQVUDQGRPO\DV- signed to watch an hourlong inspirational video ended up saving more and spending more on The their children’s edu- cation, compared with heart of participants random- ly assigned to watch this aid an hour of comedy package? television. The for- ward-leaning behav- A cow. iors persisted in a six- Or a few month follow-up. 5HVHDUFKHUV DUH goats. now studying whether exposure to religion Even might have a similar effect, improving eco- bees. nomic outcomes. If so, Marx had the wrong drug in mind: religion would not be an opiate of the masses but an amphetamine. The graduation program is a bit similar to the model of the well-known group Heifer International, which I’ve written about before and provides “gifts of hope” such as heifers, goats and chickens to impover- ished families. “There was a lot of excitement — with just a hint of smugness! — at Heifer at the published results,” said Pierre Ferrari, the president of Heifer. But the graduation model includes a couple of other elements. The graduation program starts with a cow or other animals, as well as training on how to raise them. It includes months of food or cash support, partly to reduce the need to eat or sell the animal in D¿QDQFLDOFULVLV7KHUH¶VDVDYLQJVDFFRXQWPLFUR- lending has disappointed in randomized trials, but microsaving works very well), health education and regular coaching to reinforce skills and build FRQ¿GHQFH The study, which was just published in the jour- QDO 6FLHQFH IRXQG WKDW WKH JUDGXDWLRQ PRGHO ZDV HQRUPRXVO\VXFFHVVIXOLQ,QGLD(WKLRSLD*KDQDDQG Pakistan, and somewhat less effective in Peru and in Honduras (where some animals died). A follow-up found the effects still strong three years after the do- nation of the animals. 'HDQ.DUODQD<DOHHFRQRPLVWZKRLVFRDXWKRU of the study, said that aid groups focused on very sim- LODUDSSURDFKHVLQFOXGH7ULFNOH8SWKH%RPD3URMHFW 9LOODJH(QWHUSULVHDQG)RQNR]H.DUODQ¶VVWXGHQWVLQ a seminar on philanthropy were given a pool of mon- ey from a foundation and the challenge to donate it where it would do the most good; they spent the term reviewing the evidence and, in the end, voted to do- QDWHLWWR7ULFNOH8S 6REOHHGLQJKHDUWVUHMRLFH Much of the news about global poverty is depress- ing, but this is fabulous: a large-scale experiment showing, with rigorous evidence, what works to lift people out of the most extreme poverty. And it’s ex- hilarating that one of the lessons may be so simple and human: the power of hope. FRIDAY EXCHANGE 5A Support public lands T hanks so much for writing about Vet Voice member and Astoria resident Mat- thew Zedwick and his continuing mission to serve our country by protecting the outdoors (“Veteran on a mission to save outdoor spac- es,” The Daily Astorian, May 1). We both also really appreciate your related editorial calling for full funding for the Land and Water Con- servation Fund. Public lands are important to all Americans, and one of the many reasons I was also proud to serve in the military. The LWCF does, indeed, have bipartisan support in Congress. And I am thankful we KDYH3DFL¿F1RUWKZHVWOHDGHUVOLNH866HQ 0DULD &DQWZHOO DQG 86 6HQ 5RQ :\GHQ working diligently to pass their bill to reau- thorize and fully fund this vital program for public lands. However, I wanted to respectfully clarify one point in the article. We are unfortunately far from the scenario described by the paper (“All indications are the LWCF will be re- instated with bipartisan backing.”). We have PXFKZRUNWRGRLQWKH¿YHPRQWKVOHIWEHIRUH the program expires — we need all hands on deck. The Vet Voice Foundation continues to work in Washington, D.C., alongside leaders like Cantwell and Wyden to educate mem- bers of Congress who are less familiar with WKHEHQH¿WVRIWKLVKLVWRULFSURJUDP)RURQH LWCF helps vets by protecting public lands where they can get into nature, recreate and heal. And it helps our children be healthy and happy, by providing places for them to play DQGH[SORUHIURPQHLJKERUKRRGEDOO¿HOGVWR national parks. Our hearty thanks to The Daily Astorian for also recognizing the value of the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 5,&.+(*'$+/ 3DFL¿F1RUWKZHVWGLUHFWRU9HW9RLFH Foundation. Bellevue, Wash. Letters welcome The Daily Astorian welcomes letters from its readers for publication in the Open Forum. Letters must be signed, include the writer’s address and phone number and are subject to condensation and editing for style, grammar and taste. The Daily Astorian offers two ways to send letters HOHFWURQLFDOO\ (LWKHU HPDLO GLUHFWO\ WR editor@dailyastorian.com or call up the newspaper’s Web page at www.dailyas- torian.com and click on the Letters to the Humbled by help T KH.RFK)LVK)DPLO\ZRXOGOLNHWRWKDQN the community for all your support after RXUKRXVH¿UH:HDUHKXPEOHGE\WKHORYH concern and generosity of the people in this community. We have a sense of awe at how many people have stepped up, in so many ways, to help us get back on our feet. If we could, we would send out personal thank-you letters to each and every one of you, but for the lack of addresses, we will have to express our gratitude this way. Thank \RX DOO IURP WKH ERWWRP RI RXU KHDUWV 1RW just for the donations, but for showing us the goodness of this community. We will never forget your kindness. $1*(/,48(.2&+ Warrenton right of towns and counties to put in place more protective local ordinances is embedded in the federal regulations that govern the land application of sewage sludge, 40 Congressio- QDO )HGHUDO 5HJXODWLRQ &)5 3DUW 1R court should take away that right. It is outrageous that the Department of (FRORJ\ZKRVHPLVVLRQLVWRSURWHFWKXPDQ health and the environment, should actually sue those counties who have done their home- work, and who concur with a growing body of independent experts that spreading biosol- ids on farms is neither safe, sustainable, nor EHQH¿FLDO Processed sewage sludge generated in industrialized urban centers contains much more than human waste. It is probably the PRVW SROOXWDQWULFK PL[WXUH RI WKH VW FHQ- Intervened in dog attack WXU\ 8QGHU D OLWWOH NQRZQ ODZ &)5 unday, while I walked my dog along G DQG H HYHU\ HQWLW\ FRQ- * 6WUHHW LQ *HDUKDUW WZR SLW EXOOV DS- nected to a sewer — every industry, hospital, proached and attacked my dog. At the same and business — can pipe its hazardous waste moment, a car stopped. The man jumped out into sewage treatment plants. Here the pollut- of his car and parted the two pit bulls from my ants, many highly toxic, persistent, and able to dog. This was a very courageous act. He got be absorbed by plants, are removed from the into his car and drove away and I never got waste water and concentrate in the resulting KLVQDPH,ZDQWWRWKDQNWKLVJRRG6DPDULWDQ sludge. whomever you are. Biosolids consists of a complex mixture &/$,5(0&,17<5( of nutrients, toxic metals, polychlorinated *HDUKDUW biphenyls, carcinogens, neurotoxins, pharma- ceuticals and hundreds of other unregulated industrial chemicals that do not belong on the Blame game land where we grow our food and graze our n observing the recent race riots in Balti- live stock. more, I was appalled but not surprised by For more information visit www.sludge- WKH KRUUL¿F VFHQHV GLVSOD\HG RQ WKH WHOHYL- facts.org and www.sludgenews.org sion. After all, that city, as are most major &$52/,1(61<'(5 86 FLWLHV LV FRQWUROOHG SROLWLFDOO\ E\ WKH 1RUWK6DQGZLFK1+ Democrats and has been a one-party city — Editor’s note: Caroline Snyder is emeritus Democratic — for the past 50 years. professor at the Rochester Institute of Tech- The eruption was sparked by the death of nology where she designed, taught, and ad- DEODFNPDQ)UHGGLH*UD\D\HDUROGZLWK ministered interdisciplinary environmental a rap sheet as long as one of his arms, who science courses, and chaired the Department died while in police custody following his ar- of Science, Technology, and Society. rest. The alarm bells rang out for the “usual suspects,” aka thugs — time to go shopping; Proud and strong no cash or credit cards required — just bring have been confused: the people of Clatsop your bricks and torches. Well, you know the County have voted several times to prevent rest: Millions of dollars of destruction includ- ing burning stores, cars, buildings and the OLTXH¿HGQDWXUDOJDVLQRXUFRPPXQLW\+RZ- HYHUWKHHIIRUWVWRLQÀLFWLWRQXVFRQWLQXH usual screaming. After reading The Daily Astorian, I real- One of the nation’s top race demagogues, DV H[SHFWHG HQWHUHG WKH VFHQH 1RQH RWKHU L]HGWKDWLWLVQRWWKDW/1*GRHVQRWKHDUXV WKDQWKH5HY$O&KDUODWDQ,PHDQ6KDUSWRQ it is they believe we do not count (“Oregon a top adviser to the president, who elbowed /1*FRQWHQGVODQGXVHUXOLQJQRWDVHWEDFN´ aside the so-called mayor and the police com- May 7). Peter Hansen, you really do not know the missioner, both Democrats, of course, and WRRNRYHUZLWKWKLVXVXDOOLQHRI³1RMXVWLFH proud and strong people who are Clatsop County. no peace!” 0$5,/<11.12:/621 Then the old blame-game took over. What Astoria caused these riots? The usual: racism, pover- W\5HSXEOLFDQVQRWVKRYHOLQJHQRXJKPRQH\ LQWRWKHFLWLHVPRUHWKDQWULOOLRQKDVEHHQ Good place to be spent since the “War on Poverty” was de- KDYHMXVWPRYHGLQWRWKH6XQVHW/DNH3DUN clared in the mid-1960s) but mainly the police People warmed me that the park was a bad — the racist police. Then of course, the com- munity organizer in the White House added place to live. Against the advice to look some- KLVSDWKHWLFFHQWVZRUWKRIEODPH,QDGGL- where else, we made a home here, anyway. WLRQWRDOORIWKHDERYHWKHDI¿UPDWLYHDFWLRQ We have camped here, and now live in a trail- er, and are very comfortable here. president added slavery as one of the causes. The manager has made us very welcome, 5HPLQGV PH RI DQ ROG DGDJH ³<XK JHWV ZKDW\XKSD\VIRU´RULQWKLVFDVH³<XKJHWV and has made sure we had everything we what yuh votes for.” The liberal Democrats’ needed. From what I have seen or heard, she IDYRULWH ZKLSSLQJ ER\ ² DIWHU WKH 5HSXEOL- has cleaned up the park and made it safe to cans — is the “racist” police, six of whom walk around at night. People who have neg- have been charged in the victim’s death, by DWLYHWKRXJKWVDERXW6XQVHW/DNH3DUN7LPH a rookie state’s attorney, a Democrat puppet will show that this park is good place to be. -2<+$5'0$1 named Marilyn Mosby, who by doing so, has Warrenton apparently ventured far beyond her depth. 6WD\WXQHGIRUDOHQJWK\WUDJHG\WRXQIROG (52%(571$66,.$6 The new Astoria Astoria IRXQG 5- 0DU[¶V DUWLFOH ³:KDW ZRXOG Washington Irving do?” (The Daily Astori- Say no to biosludge an,0D\RISDUWLFXODULQWHUHVWDV,JUHZXS his is in response to “Top state court in Portland, but spent several years living on greenlights using treated human waste as WKH(DVW&RDVWEHIRUHPRYLQJEDFNWR2UHJRQ fertilizer” (The Daily Astorian, May 10): The and settling in Astoria a year ago. While I am S I I I I T (GLWRUEXWWRQ (OHFWURQLF OHWWHUV PXVW LQFOXGH WKH writer’s name, address and phone number IRUYHUL¿FDWLRQ The Daily Astorian welcomes short “in gratitude” notes from readers for pub- OLFDWLRQ7KH\VKRXOGNHHSWRDZRUG maximum and writers are asked to avoid simply listing event sponsors. They must be signed, include the writer’s address, phone number and are subject to conden- sation and editing for style, grammar, etc. still very new to the Astoria community, I be- lieve I can provide at least an Oregon-centric response to some of the questions he asked. 5DLQ 1R LW UHDOO\ GRHVQ¶W UDLQ WKDW KDUG RXW KHUH HYHQ GXULQJ WKH UDLQ\ VHDVRQ<RX can get a steady, driving rain, but not the gully washing torrential downpours that you get on WKH(DVW&RDVW,UHFDOOJHWWLQJFDXJKWLQRQH of those shortly after moving east — the rain was coming down so hard, I couldn’t see the road, and then suddenly I drove out into sun- shine. I was so astonished I had to turn around to verify there was an actual demarcation line RQWKHVWUHHW7KDWGH¿QLWHO\GRHVQRWRFFXURQ the West Coast. ,V$VWRULDWKHQHZ3RUWODQG"1R$VWRULDLV quite proud of the fact that it is the oldest set- WOHPHQWZHVWRIWKH5RFNLHVSUHGDWLQJ3RUW- ODQG6DQ)UDQFLVFRDQG6HDWWOH:KLOHLWPD\ not have grown much in size since its heyday, LWVWLOOGHVHUYHV¿UVWELOOLQJ3HUVRQDOO\,OLNH to think of Portland and the others as “the new Astoria.” (/,6$%(7+.251<$ Astoria Furious I f the salmon are so endangered that it’s necessary to murderously blame other crea- tures, why aren’t the real culprits charged, shot and having their eggs oiled? The birds, or sea lions, or something that can’t stand up IRU LWVHOI DUH WKH VFDSHJRDWV <HW FDQQHULHV UHVWDXUDQWV IDPRXV IRU ¿VK FDQQLQJ PHDOV HWF HQWLFH QRQKXPDQ ¿VKHDWHUV DOO DORQJ WKH ULYHU :H LQYLWHG WKH FULWWHUV ZLWK ¿VK That’s an excuse to kill them? ,ILW¶VQRW2.WRZDVWHLHNLOODQGOHDYH unused) deer, elk, etc., why is wasting inno- cent (or in this case, 10,000 innocent) cormo- rants tolerated? Oh yeah, they’re not such a WDVW\ IHDVW IRU WKH VODXJKWHUHU¶V WDEOH 6RPH would say that’s precisely the dish the Corps RI (QJLQHHUV DQG WKHLU FRQWUDFWHG PLQLRQV QHHGWREHUHTXLUHGWRHDW<XPDQGRLO\HJJV too. If you think this letter is unseemly, consid- er the cormorants being stalked in the dead of night on their home island by mercenaries and shot, then having their eggs, still warm in their nests, painted with oil so they can’t hatch. .$7+/((1$1'(5621 Warrenton A generous food drive E very spring, on Mother’s Day weekend, our local postal workers hold their annu- al food drive for our local food pantries. This \HDU¶VHYHQWZDVRQ6DWXUGD\0D\$OOGD\ long, letter carriers return to the Astoria Post 2I¿FHZLWKWUXFNV¿OOHGZLWKEDJVRIGRQDWHG nonperishable food (as well as mail), and lo- cal food bank volunteers unload, check each item, load banana boxes with product, then reload the boxes of food into trucks, to be de- livered to the local food pantries. 2XU IRRG SDQWU\ WKH &ODWVRS (PHUJHQF\ Food Bank, located in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church, received nearly 1,600 pounds of food from this effort. This food makes it possible for our pantry to con- tinue feeding the 400-plus families we serve HDFKPRQWKZLWKDIRXUWR¿YHGD\VXSSO\RI VXSSOHPHQWDO IRRG 6LQFH RXU DYHUDJH IRRG basket contains about 16 pounds per person, we can serve about 100 more hungry neigh- bors as a result of the postal workers’ food drive. Thank you to the postal workers, and to all our generous neighbors in Astoria who donat- ed food for their neighbors in need this year. This effort would not be possible without your generosity and hard work. 7206&2**,16 &ODWVRS(PHUJHQF\)RRG%DQN Astoria