The poor will always be with us-and so will NGOs

Argues that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are not changing the prevailing international order & may even be helping to sustain it. In spite of their dramatic growth, NGOs have been less successful at fulfilling their goals of eliminating poverty & making the world a better place than was hoped. NGO activities in peace & war are examined, along with how these organizations uphold the aims of the UN Charter & the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Although NGOs struggle to eliminate injustices & human rights violations, their current way of working diminishes their chances of doing so & may even be counter-productive. It is contended that poverty, a product of the system, cannot be eradicated within the current system & universal justice will never be realized unless persons in the First World change their lifestyle. Signing petitions or making donations will never be enough. Attention is given to the various ways in which NGOs help to sustain a system which needs them in the same way pressure cookers need valves. References. J. Lindroth