The beginnings of a discussion of poverty and the release of REI’s 2011 calendar

Christmas can be a time of great greed. It’s easy for even the most pious among us to get pulled into the trap of consumerism, filling up our houses with things we just don’t use or even need.

Yet, lately, there has been a trend to give Christmas gifts with purpose– gifts that point the giver and receiver to a broader picture and help take the focus off of “me.”

We applaud that trend at REI, and we have now jumped on the band wagon. If you are looking to give Christmas gifts with a purpose this year, then consider giving REI’s 2011 calendar to friends and family: REI’s latest 2011 calendar. As an organization that works in countries that are often mired in extreme poverty, we are humbled and challenged as we think about the gifts under our own Christmas trees. We are by no means poor ourselves. In fact, the World Bank ranked the USA as the fifth richest nation in the world in 2009 with a GDP per capita of $46,436, above Canada, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.

We applaud that trend at REI, and we have now jumped on the band wagon. If you are looking to give Christmas gifts with a purpose this year, then consider giving REI’s 2011 calendar to friends and family: REI’s latest 2011 calendar.

What about the nations where REI works? Where do they rank on the scale?

Kazakhstan is ranked 62, with a GDP of $11,526. That means that while the average American makes $46,436 a year, the average Kazakh person makes $11,526 a year.

Cuba is ranked 67, with a GDP of $9,700. The People’s Republic of China is ranked 83 at $6,838. Following China, Jordan is ranked at 88 with a GDP of $5,691, and Egypt follows at 89 with a GDP of $5,680. Indonesia is ranked 106, Vietnam is 113, Djibouti is 122, Kyrgyzstan is 123, and Laos is 125 with a GDP of $2,259.

When you compare an American’s salary of $46,436 a year to a Laotian salary of $2,259 a year—which is about 1/20th of the average American’s yearly wage—it is hard to reconcile these facts with receiving mounds of presents of expendable things at Christmas when all your needs are met.

In America, we never wonder if we will have water in the faucet, or if we will have a place to sleep at night. Yet in the countries with the lowest GDPs in the world, for those in the bottom rungs of these societies, these questions are realities. (And truly, these questions are relevant even in the bottom rung of American society– but for our discussion, we’ll focus on the average working person.)

In the words of REI’s CEO and President, Roderick Beidler, “The battle against corruption, injustice, and poverty must be fought on both personal and corporate fronts. [As REI staff], we work personally to address personal corruption, injustice, and poverty as we encounter it; and we must also work corporately to reform the systems that create, encourage, or and allow those these conditions. We cannot overlook the immediate need, but neither can we ignore the need to address the systems that shape the issues. We must have bi-focal vision.”

In the next few posts, we will explore the topic of poverty further. It is relevant for this age, and will continue to be a relevant issue until the end of time. For REI, this issue is particularly relevant, as many of our staff live and work in countries where true poverty is normal. Join us as we discuss these important issues and allow yourself to be impacted by the true nature of poverty.

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As a side note, REI has now joined in the trend of creating a gift of purpose for you, supporters and friends of REI, to give to others.

If you believe in what REI does and want to give gifts that are meaningful and go beyond the object that you purchase for loved ones, then consider buying an REI 2011 Calendar this year as Christmas gifts. It is filled with photos and stories of REI’s work around the world, and it highlights some of REI’s staff members and the excellent, faithful work that they’re doing.

If you buy a calendar through clicking on the link below, $12.49 goes to printing the calendar and $2 is donated to REI to continue allowing us to run things from the USA for our staff overseas.
Plus, you can share REI with friends who would be interested in learning about our work. We are impacting individuals and communities by building people to build nations. Join us in this work and spread the word about REI!