Satire Roundup Part 2

Or: D.O.S. (Death of Satire)

Edit: Whoops!  I forgot this hilarious video. I don't know where it came from, but if anyone does, please let me know.

Since my last satire roundup, a lot as changed in the market for humorous blog pieces regarding effective philanthropy and aid. William Easterly was attacked for being too "mean spirited" with his satirical pokes at the aid industry. Easterly took the hint and toned down the snark. Because Easterly is the king of satire and I am merely a jester compiling his writings that fall to the ground, this feature may have limited content from here on out. But, fortunately for myself, some satire has gotten through recently and I thought I'd share it with all of you.  Please note that I am not trying to encourage personal attacks or hurt feelings; merely humor.

• Aid Watch's April Fools joke, "Aid agencies announce they will be accountable to independent evaluators; This blog to permanently close"
• One commentor's response to my stab at satire, titled "Big Corporation Does Less than it Could to Save the World." I think mine was better.
• A whole blog devoted to international aid industry satire, which chronicles the misadventures of one organization, Hand Relief International.
• Funny, and unfortunately true: A time line of celebrity relief to Africa.* 
• This list made me think of "How to Write about Africa" and "How to Write about Poor People," (continued here), two pieces so classic I forgot to post them in the last roundup. 

Needless to say, these were all given to me by Aid Watch. Again, Easterly is king and I but a jester.

*On a side note, this list pokes fun at one Kim Kardashian (I didn't know who that was either) for visiting a diamond mine in Botswana and stating: "I used to assume after watching the movie Blood Diamonds
that diamonds were not acceptable to buy from Africa. However, it is the complete opposite!"

While it is misguided of Ms. Kardashian to assume one diamond mine in Africa is as good as all the others, it is equally naive for Mother Jones, the compiler of the list, to imply that one diamond mine in Africa is as bad as all the others. I visited the same diamond mine as Ms. Kardashian and it was nothing like the stereotyped African diamond mine. Diamonds have done a lot to contribute to Botswana's "African Miracle" and people should not be discouraged from purchasing its diamonds. I only hope Ms. Kardashian realizes the difference between Botswana mines and others, and limits her purchases to conflict-free Botswana diamonds.