Peter’s AIDS Fund: A brief answer to “Why?”

I’ve begun to spend a bit of my time tackling two projects, one of which is with my friend, Peter Amico. As simply as I can put it the AIDS Fund project is an effort to raise $1 million to help fight AIDS in South Africa, particularly through 6 small, local, community-oriented organizations that Peter worked with while there for a month. Now some answers to the question “Why?”

“Why AIDS, South Africa, and these organizations?”

This one is fairly simple. As I said Peter just spent a month there and was really touched by what he saw, as well as became aware of a very tangible and current need of more resources for these small organizations.
In 2001 I was in Gambia working with a couple that runs a YWAM facility there. They expressed a desire to set up a child sponsorship program to help pay kids school fees. I tried setting up a website, but it was hard work long distance at that time, and it never happened. But ever since then I’ve had a desire to work on a very local project that would allow people to give and see the impact. Peter’s AIDS Fund is becoming this opportunity.

“Why $1 million?”

Well, to be honest that number is probably a little too low. I think we sell ourselves short far too often. We pick tangible numbers that are big enough to make us feel good, but not so big that we’ll be dissappointed. When you look at the HUGE crisis and you look also at the already billions of dollars that are being handed over to deal with it, this amount might still seem insignificant. But, as you hear the stories of these organizations, and the stories of the people that are being helped, I think you will see why your $1 or more will go a long way, and why it is SO important that you give.
$1 million bucks is not that much; it’s a dollar from $1 million people that hear about this need; It’s $10 from the 100,000 people that Peter might have the opportunity to speak to in churches in Florida; It’s $100 from 10,000 committed friends and family, or $1000 from 1000 people who have realized the importance of addressing this crisis; maybe it’s just $1 million dollars from someone with the money and the compassion to address these needs.

“Why Peter?”

You should probably ask him that one, but I’ll venture a small bit of input. Peter is someone who has seen with his eyes, and been moved to action. We need more people like Peter in the world; willing to stand up and take a stand against the injustice that he has seen and is ready to encourage others to do the same.

[Peter’s AIDS Fund]

I’ve hesitated to write about my own choices as it relates to important moral issues that I have brought up for a couple of reasons. One, in the areas that I feel I have made good progress, I fear sounding self-promoting and condemning and judging. My intent has always been to share with others what has been put on and moved my heart. Never to condemn others, but to find others who will walk with me on this journey.
Second, I hesitate to write about my own progress because I still have a ways to go, and if I admit areas where I do not have it right, I fear there are those who might throw out the message with the messenger. I wonder if there are those who might have been convicted by something I said I about buying things in a just way that will read about my own shortcomings and say, “see, even he can’t do it. I’m not going to bother with that anymore.” I would hope that having read that, that those folks might instead take this opportunity to challenge me even further to live out my convictions in my life and would help me along in that. Now, let me share with you how I grocery shop.
When it comes to most of my purchasing, price is a major factor. In the same way that I wouldn’t go pick the most expensive designer jeans and assume they are the best, ethically and quality, I don’t go for the most expensive groceries and consider it ethical. Currently, we (my wife and I) do our main shopping at ALDI. I’ve tried as much as possible to find out more about the ethics of ALDI’s and compare it to other grocer’s but never with much luck. I did recently find out that ALDI’s is owned by the same company that owns Trader Joe’s from whom there is a little more information. I also occasionally shop at Kroger. Kroger as a company has done some fairly unethical stuff in the past, as far as worker right’s in their stores, and for about 6 months we joined in a boycott of their stores. From what I know the strike and boycott was a victory and some good agreements where made. ALDI’s is Extremely reasonably priced, but the savings are mostly in how they run the store, not in short changing their workers and producers (From what I can tell).
If you shop at a place like Kroger or other major retail chain you’ll also encounter having to choose what brand products to buy. It’ll take you a little while to read through, but I’d highly recommend reading the notes at ResponsibleShopper.org about FOOD brands. The goal is not for you to read all the bad stuff and lament ever eating again, but rather for you to become more aware and educated about some of the situations stores have been in. Like I suggested in a Fair Trade article I wrote, I would suggest picking one product (coffee, chocolate, tea) and choosing to buy it ONLY Fair Trade.
In addition, I personally know I want to shop at the local Farmer’s Market more. Nashville has a year-round Farmer’s market that carries plenty of produce, and I would recommend anyone I know to shop there first. Also, if you could become part of a CSA (Community Shared Agriculture) I would encourage you doing that. We were part of a local CSA in the fall and plan to continue come spring time. Basically each week we would get a bin of food. Always a dozen eggs and a whole chicken, and then an assortment of fruits and vegetables. We had to learn how to cook new items and discovered many different peppers and squashes. I would HIGHLY recommend you get involved in a CSA if you can find one.
Last but not least, for you radical few out there, I would recommend you find a local Food Not Bombs group, hang out, and learn a little bit about the art of dumpster diving.