"The most important aspect of Christianity is not the work we do, but the relationship we maintain and the surrounding influence and qualities produced by that relationship. That is all God asks us to give our attention to, and it is the one thing that is continually under attack.
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- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest
Friday, October 13, 2006
. . . and prosperity into peace?
Tom Peters rejoices that Muhammad Yunus, whom he describes as "the father of microlending," has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. I do wonder a bit: is this the right prize for this guy? The contribution to peace seems indirect here. Perhaps the prize in economics would make more sense, but that's (I think) invariably given to someone who makes an academic contribution, as opposed to this practical innovation. It would probably help loosen the economists up a little bit if someone like this went home with the prize.
Microlending was long dismissed by the powers that be (the World Bank among them) as being a peanuts idea. Big Loans for Big Projects was the ticket. Yup, big loans for big projects was the ticket for a few good things ... and an unimaginable amount of corruption.
Yunus started Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. A typical first loan is $15. After many a trial and many an error, Grameen ended up granting over 90% of its loans to women. (Women = Reliable. Men = Unreliable.) Lending primarily to women in a Muslim country was, to say the least, no mean feat. Yet Yunus persisted.
This quote was priceless:
And this from a Client's husband:
"There is one thing [I don’t like about Grameen]. I used to enjoy beating my wife. But the Group came to me and argued with me and shouted at me. Who gave them the right to shout at me? The borrowing group threatened they will get really mean if I beat my wife again."
Finally, an answer to the infamous question: "When did you stop beating your wife?"
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Comments on "Turning Poverty Into Prosperity":
4. Jonathan
- 10/15/2006 4:38 pm CDT
I think the peace prize is a perfectly appropriate award for Yunus. It is an ancient capitalist contention that a thriving market promotes peace among its members. (Just look at our flourishing relationship with Beijing for an illustration.) Even on an individual level, we can expect a woman's growing economic independence to result in a more secure place for her in society.
5. Alan
- 10/16/2006 9:42 am CDT
I certainly agree that he's worthy, Jonathan-- but on one level, just as it is nice to see the award go to someone other than a politician (in defiance to the assumption we all breathe that the strivings of politicians are the key to peace on earth), it would be nice to see the economics prize go to someone other than an academic economist.
6. Microlending and the Nobel Peace Prize -
- 10/16/2006 10:29 am CDT
[...] (Hat tip to The Thinklings) [...]
7. Cynthia
- 10/16/2006 11:55 pm CDT
Here's the peace, right here: “There is one thing [I don’t like about Grameen]. I used to enjoy beating my wife. But the Group came to me and argued with me and shouted at me. Who gave them the right to shout at me? The borrowing group threatened they will get really mean if I beat my wife again.â€
Very cool, Alan. Thanks for the pointing it out.