Study reveals Chilean insensitivity to one of the country’s main problems, poverty

Tuesday, November 9th 2010 - 01:10 UTC

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A recent study shows Chileans’ low sensitivity to one of the nation’s biggest problems—poverty. Despite that 58.8% of Chileans say they believe poverty to be one of the country’s biggest problems only 15.3% say they feel responsible for the low quality of life of those who have limited resources. Read full article

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Douglas
MercoPress - or the Santiago Times - may require a new translator. Since when did the English language change such that not to feel “responsible” translates to demonstrating “insensitivity”? In no way do I feel responsible for Chilean poverty. But am I sensitive toward it? Certainly. Would I be willing to reallocate some of my resources toward anti-poverty programs? Yes. But am I “responsible” for the poverty? No.
Nov 09th, 2010 - 05:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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xbarilox
When you deny the existence of poverty you are insensible. Most Chileans tend to do this, all the time, to impress people from different countries.
Nov 09th, 2010 - 05:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Think
(1) Douglas

Seems to be that Chile is being “hit” by the “quite peculiar” MercoPress translation style too :-)

PuraVida
Nos Vidrios
Nov 09th, 2010 - 05:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Douglas
@ xbarilox: To “deny” the existence of poverty very well may equate to being “insensitive” toward it (or, as you state, “insensible”). However, to be “insensitive” toward poverty differs from not feeling “responsible.” Word choice matters.
Nov 09th, 2010 - 06:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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El Supremo
The remedy for this inequality is simple - do unto others as ye would have done unto you. Nothing has changed in 2000 years.
Nov 10th, 2010 - 01:13 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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xbarilox
@ Douglas #4
I used “insensible” instead of “insensitive” because I think “insensitive” is close to “I feel nothing at all”, and I don't believe a man/woman feels nothing towards poverty. You feel repulsion or compassion, or the willingness to do something about it, but you definitely feel something. I used “insensible” in the sense of being unaware of the consequences of denying the reality of poverty.
Nov 10th, 2010 - 05:40 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Pheel
Don´t have the big picture but I thank the chilean NGO “Un techo para mi país” to share their experience with us, allowing access to their first house to many marginal families.
The same for Dr. Fernando Mockenberg that founded Conin Chile and deeply influenced Dr. Abel Albino to do the same, first at Mendoza City and later to all Argentina. Our city in PBA has zero malnutrition in babies and toddlers thanks to the network-designed influence of Conin NGO.
Nov 11th, 2010 - 01:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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