Ideas and organizations that have exerted important effects on my life and notion of goodness
Against Malaria Foundation - About 400,000 people die annually from malaria, two-thirds of whom are children, 90% in sub-Saharan Africa. AMF is dedicated to interrupt this massive suffering in one of the most efficient ways known: distribution of long-lasting mosquito nets. We have a pretty good idea of what it costs to save a life - a life that would not be saved with one’s own support.
The Center for Effective Altruism - What is the modern bodhisattva? As far as I can tell, something in the vicinity of effective altruism. Although they probably wouldn’t phrase it that way, the EA movement attempts to use the best available evidence and careful thought to alleviate as much suffering as humanly possible.
The Humane League - A very compelling argument can be made for veganism, even though I miss pizza approximately every day.
Obama Foundation - Imperfect but far greater than a country as unserious as this one, deserved.
GiveWell - Brilliant group dedicated to researching the most effective organizations aiming to alleviate human, animal and future suffering.
Center for Humane Technology - We have acclimatized the insanity of technological compulsion, but that doesn’t make the extractive attention economy less pernicious. As connoisseurs of attention, meditators have a special interest in taking a stand.
If we are the only rational beings in the universe, as some recent evidence suggests, it matters even more whether we shall have descendants or successors during the billions of years in which that would be possible. Some of our successors might live lives and create worlds that, though failing to justify past suffering, would give us all, including some of those who have suffered, reasons to be glad that the universe exists. -Derek Parfit