Humanitarianism
From Free net encyclopedia
Humanitarianism is an informal ideology of practice, whereby people practice humane treatment and provide assistance to others.
Humanitarianism is based on a view that all human beings deserve respect and dignity and should be treated as such. Therefore, humanitarians work towards advancing the well-being of humanity as a whole. Humanitarianism is the antithesis of the "us vs. them" mentality that characterizes tribalism and ethnic nationalism. Humanitarians abhor slavery, cannibalism, and discrimination on the basis of features such as color of skin, ancestry, place of birth, etc. Humanitarianism is embraced by movements and people across the political spectrum, and particularly (but not exclusively) by leftists.
Humanitarianism was probably most publicly seen in the social reforms of the late 1800s and early 1900s, following the economic turmoil of the Industrial Revolution in England. Many of the women in Great Britain who were involved with feminism during the 1900s also pushed humanitarianism. The atrocious hours and working conditions of children and unskilled laborers were made illegal by pressure on Parliament by humanitarians. The Factory Act of 1833 and the Factory Act of 1844 were some of the most significant humanitarian bills passed in Parliament following the Industrial Revolution.
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Notable humanitarians of modern times
- Bono - Rock star activist involved in lobbying for poverty reduction.
- Clint Borgen - One of the world's leading figures in poverty reduction and president of The Borgen Project.
- Jeffrey Sachs - Economist and leading figure in poverty reduction.
- Romeo Dallaire - Served as Lieutenant General for the ill-fated UN peace keeping force during the Rwanadan Genocide.
Notable humanitarians of ancient times
- Jesus Christ - Religious leader who advocated for peaceful resolution to conflict (Matthew 5:44) and for the re-humanization of lepers and prostitutes.
- The Buddha - An Eastern Philosopher who believed all individuals were intrinsically equal.