Just a Thought

Swine flu has sent the world into a panic. Governments all over the globe are trying to work out what can be done to stop the problem growing. (And rightly so.)

My understanding is that this has the potential to kill thousands of people. So far the most effected area for the virus is Mexico where over 300 people have been confirmed to have swine flu with over a dozen confirmed deaths.

All this has happened over a number of days and something obviously needs to be done to stop the spread of this disease but I’m scratching my head a little.

Today alone, over 25 000 children died of hunger or preventable disease. Every day this happens. Week after week. Month after month. Year after year. 25 000 children a day.

Why have we been so quick to act to stop swine flu yet we refuse to stop poverty and hunger, even though it is within our means and our control to do so? Could it be that those 25 000 children, even though they’re just like the children we tuck into bed each night, are far, far away and yet swine flu has the potential to touch us and those we love?

Surely not. We couldn’t be that selfish could we?

Just a thought.



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About the author

Rodney Olsen

Rodney is a husband, father, cyclist, blogger and podcaster from Perth Western Australia.

He has worked in radio at Perth's media ministry Sonshine for over 25 years and has previously worked at ministries such as Compassion Australia and Bible Society.

The views he expresses here are his own.

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7 Comments

  • Regardless of my feelings on this swine flu (a few cases exist in my small state of Maryland, one of them a member of the President’s team), you have made an excellent point Rodney.

  • Absolutely Rod – I reckon it’s just a good story – an epidemic sells more papers than boring poor people!

  • I agree Rodney that the governments need to do their best to stop the spread worldwide, but that figure of 25,000 certainly puts the swine flu “epidemic” in perspective. Thanks for posting this.

  • Sad but true.
    Here’s the thing I think, swine flu can kill taxpayers and off course every Government out there don’t want to loose out on THAT! The poor children, well they are just a problem that every Government turn a blind eye too.
    Just sad sad sad really to realise the truth.
    Did you hear they now encourage people to stock up for 14 days? Hubby said he wonders if that’s an ‘economy boost’ trick from the Governments too.

  • I read somewhere (might have been on a blog) that something like 1% of global income could put an end to world poverty. 1%! Certainly makes you think….

  • Exactly. It’s good to be careful, but this is pure PANIC! How many people died of swine flu so far – 50? 100? I bet that during this period 10x more people died of normal flu, as usually. And nobody cares. But swine flu is trendy, so let’s put it everywhere newspaper, TV, internet…

    • Thanks for dropping in Jay.

      Panic is certainly the word. I reckon I’ve got more chance of the ceiling falling in on me and killing me than I have of getting swine flu.

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