Why Are Poor Countries Poor?

In which John looks at the vicious cycles of poverty and poor health in Sierra Leone, including how the ebola crisis happened and why a center of diamond mining has become one of the poorest regions in the world.
For the last year and a half, Hank and I have been working on a big, long-term project with Partners in Health Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world, and one of the highest child mortality rates, and we believe that can change with long-term investments in Sierra Leone's healthcare system. The project will be announced later this month, and this video explores some of the why.
Thanks to Jon Lascher at Partners in Health for the pictures of the Koidu Government Hospital before PIH arrived, and for taking a look at this script. Thanks also to Rosianna Halse Rojas for her help with images and editorial guidance. Any mistakes are mine alone.
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[@justgrigorthings]

I half expected this video to end with "I give systemic poverty one star"

[@vlogbrothers]

hahaha everything I make sounds like TAR now! -John

[@justgrigorthings]

@@vlogbrothers to be clear, I wasn't complaining

[@mariewikiwaka3851]

“I give systematic poverty no stars.”

[@justgrigorthings]

@@mariewikiwaka3851 oh is that an option? Yeah that sounds closer

[@jasonpost913]

@@justgrigorthings I think meningitis and cholera both got one star. I don't think no stars is allowed.

[@stevegeorge6880]

John Green is the best substitute teacher ever.

[@adamwelch4336]

He's the teacher I want to become!

[@r.b.ratieta6111]

Need a zany Science teacher to inspire your next mad scientist lab? Call Hank Green. Need a philosophical teacher who helps you think larger about the world and makes you want to love humanity more? Call John Green.

[@TKUA11]

Steve George did John Green Say in this video that him and vlog brothers traded in slaves in Africa and got wealthy from it? Why is he assigning blame to irrelevant parties ?

[@r13hd22]

To everyone that doesnt actually know anything. If you actually had knowledge you would see Green for the bias spreader of mis-information that he is. The nation was poor BEFORE colonization and that information was left out to "blame white people" again, as this channel always does. It runs on the far left propaganda that poverty is not the natural state of the world which is why no one on the far left understands how wealth is created...because it NEEDS TO BE CREATED, it is not natural. Wealth is what needs to be explained.

[@markgordon2660]

Uptop stuff what you said you so awesome

[@vlogbrothers]

Hi. This video is not going to be seen by as many people as most vlogbrothers vids because its subject matter is not the kind of thing people click on, which the KZbin algorithm notices and punishes. So if you liked the video, it's a huge help to share it. EDIT: This actually worked. The video went from 45% behind our normal views to slightly ahead of our normal views after I posted this comment. KZbin is weird. So thank you! I may ask you to do this again for the announcement video at the end of the month! Also, you can learn more about Partners in Health here: pih.org. Thanks. -John

[@moiradarling97]

About to share in a nerd fighter group that has thousands of people. I hope it helps.

[@callawalsh8094]

vlogbrothers. John. Philanthropic work in poor and impovwrished countries like what your describing right now is what I want to dedicate my life to doing. Im about to apply for colleges for a global health degree because i want to educate myself and be apart of these solutions. This video was super informative, any more resources or advice??

[@bishopofapples]

Awesome.

[@rayk01]

You hit a lot of words in KZbin's demonitzation words list - like the word "health" - as well so i guess it doesn't help making more people seen it.

[@cambriolage778]

I've shared it with my whole family cheers!

[@arbitraryimagines]

"I don't want to be part of an "us" that makes a "them" of the world's most vulnerable people." 👏👏👏👏

[@MiaKhalifa-mj5xz]

So what can an individual do. Just move far away from the largest military the human race has ever known?

[@simonbishop4827]

Amen

[@elinoamrichter162]

I agree strongly

[@abcdefzhij]

FLickies

[@gaspersnakes]

?

[@katelyn_7509]

i remember hearing a quote in history class that kind of stuck with me, “poor countries are not underdeveloped, they are overexploited”

[@jjjjj4222]

Michael Parenti! Fantastic author and speaker.

[@sharizzle09]

“I don’t want to be part of an ‘us’ that makes a ‘them’ of the world’s most vulnerable.” I love those words. Thank you. This video was incredibly moving, profound, important and well-made. Thank you John for all you do and the good you inspire others to do.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks :) -John

[@jimmyshrimbe9361]

Right? Wonderfully inspiring

[@darkfire090]

+

[@zombieat]

They will never consider you part of them though.

[@r13hd22]

Explain why they were poor and under developed BEFORE Europe ever stepped foot in them...

[@hweigel528]

Reminds me a lot of CGPGrey's "Rules for Rulers" video. "If the wealth of a nation is mostly dug out of the ground, it's a terrible place to live... Resource-rich dictators build roads only from their ports to their resources, and from their palace to the airport."

[@vlogbrothers]

That is largely true, I think. It's often called "the resource curse." But it even applies to democracies like Sierra Leone, at least democracies that were colonized. It's very, very difficult to reorient an economy--not just for Sierra Leoneans but also for Brazilians and Russians and Americans (see, for instance, the way we've oriented economies in resource-rich places like Alaska). -John

[@hweigel528]

@@vlogbrothers Good point. I can definitely see how resource-extraction could affect democracies and dictatorships, rich or poor. Change is hard, since there are still companies with money+resources who still benefit from the status quo. Unfortunately, diamond-mining companies don't have much incentive to help reorient the economy. I'm excited to hear some optimistic solutions in followup videos! P.S. sorry to be *that* internet commenter, but what are your thoughts on Andrew Yang? Could UBI help solve these problems?

[@LeoStaley]

@@vlogbrothers for Alaska, all citizens are considered co-owner of the physical resources, so everyone gets a check every year from the proceeds of the oil extraction.

[@evanjohnson4559]

This video also reminded me of CGP Grey’s video which brought me back to my economics days. Specifically, how hard it is to achieve goals in the macro when you’re being rational and well-intended in the micro. Market failure is prone in close-to-single resource nations and is incredibly hard to adjust for given the microeconomic forces acting upon government officials. In short: *economics is complicated* and limited resources really doesn’t help

[@maksuree]

This is what Australia is collapsing towards under the liberal government

[@aidaofearth]

Wow. I don't think I can use my words to express how touched I am by how well done, well researched and sensitively presented this video is. I'm from Uganda and I'm always weary about a Westerner's take on poverty in Africa, but you did this amazingly John. Definitely definitely sharing!

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks, Aidah! -John

[@ElZilchoYo]

For a deeper look I highly suggest watching Why Do Poor Countries Stay Poor? (Unequal Exchange and Imperialism) by Hakim. It goes into detail about the actual figures of the unequal exchange and how much is wealth is extracted.

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

I love you, John. I often feel overwhelmed by big systemic issues like this, but you’ve got this ability to not trivialize it while also making it seem more than plausible that things can improve. I think the world really needs that right now. I’m glad you exist and post.

[@montelo555]

I've been watching videos on poverty an studuying poverty. You're the first one to mention colonialism and my eyes just started streaming. I'm from India. Thank you for validating our pain. Yes, it's not past. We still live the consequances of colonialism that on the surface might seem like institutional failure of corruption but the real cause is the deeply ingrained pain of being colonised.

[@MrAwesomeSaucem]

Well put. Poverty has many causes and it is usually more than one, but colonialism is a massive factor and needs to be discussed, especially in places like india and africa

[@nicolascolchero726]

@@schrodingerssnuffleupagus1008 Corporate taxes are the same in Africa and the US to put an example, most countries have free trade agreements and there is an African Economic Zone that creates a unified market. The idea that they have not embraced the free market is wrong. Some people would dare to argue that the constant civil war and political instability (mainly a product of colonialism) has something to do with poverty. Last point you cannot have a free market if you're not competitive. The US and Europe do not have a free market on food for that reason, and the Asian economic miracle came after huge public investment in specific sectors.

[@kstar1489]

@Schrödinger's Snuffleupagus wow, way to be so confidently and epically wrong. No hard hard to see how willfully uneducated you are on the topic you comment on

[@susanritter6412]

​@Schrödinger's Snuffleupagus by default by name the name

[@susanritter6412]

​@Schrödinger's Snuffleupagus by default by name the name

[@berrybread7215]

I love when John comes in with the nuanced facts about complex issues. Dare I say, he addresses them complexly.

[@berrybread7215]

I recently listened to several episodes of the pod and therefore I’m 0% sorry for how bad this comment is. Thanks for the good and important work John!

[@Discostew2]

Michigan Sunde would you be able to mention these more important pints because I’m really curious!

[@MinecraftEAT]

@@Discostew2 Michigan Sunde kindly left those out as an exercise for the reader, just as he claimed John to have done. Hypocritical faux rebuttal at its finest.

[@MinecraftEAT]

@@MichiganSunde Which points in this video were not accurate? Which conclusions were bad ones? You call it a progressive lens. Am I supposed to take this to mean that a conservative lens sees the issue as Sierra Leone was, in fact, not set up by colonists as a resource extraction colony? Or perhaps it is the conservative lens that Sierra Leone does in fact have adequate healthcare? What precisely is incorrect within this video? Give a real counter-argument and maybe you'll be taken seriously.

[@zyaicob]

@@MichiganSunde please counter his arguments this is an important discussion we should be having

[@dominickzangara8881]

Hearing real people talk about how these issues have affected them personally hits harder than any statistic could. Thanks, John, for lessening the gap between me and the rest of the world.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks for the reminder that statistics are important, but letting people speak for themselves is most important. -John

[@cedrickulacz8468]

Well a big part of why is ironically the statistics can separate one from your empathy towards the people in question.

[@NocturnalNick]

t. anecdotal andy

[@theboxygenie]

@@NocturnalNick What's "t."?

[@LeighDandy]

In 2009, when I 11 years old, I found this channel, and i enjoyed the silliness, and the community. As I have grown, this channel too, has grown. There is something honest and important in a community of people who we grow with. Thank you, John, and Hank, and Esther, and everyone here, for giving me the willingness to grow. And the willingness to love a world that has a lot of growing left to do.

[@vlogbrothers]

This means a lot to me. Thanks for growing with us. I am glad that we've grown in some of the same directions over the last ten years! If you end up growing in other directions, that's okay! I will always be grateful for the time we've shared. But yeah, thanks for sticking with us all these years. -John

[@stephen0793]

As an anthropologist, I was bracing myself for oversimplification, blaming the victim, and capitalist quick fixes. I was proven wrong. Good video. And this exemplifies what is called the "resource curse" in the anthropology literature!

[@saliexplore3094]

"The past is never dead. It's not even past". Beautifully said!

[@irenedavo3768]

Salar arbabi please watch 8 videos of Jim Nduruchi

[@chirazbenabdelkader7294]

I second that!

[@abcdefzhij]

what does that even mean

[@clairelim7109]

as someone from singapore, another colony that was granted independence around the same time as sierra leone, this video really made me wonder how differently things would have turned out for my country if it had also been a resource-driven colony. of course, colonisation is not the sole factor defining the development of a country, but it certainly plays a big role. singapore was and is lucrative because its location made it an excellent trading port, and the infrastructure built during its era of colonisation laid the groundwork for even better trading infrastructure to be set up post-independence. had the british been concerned only with resource extraction, i don’t think singapore would be what it is today. the thing that is difficult about helping poorer, less developed countries is that it can come across as hypocritical. developed countries that owe their success in part to the exploitation of less developed nations coming in to say, “this is how we became successful and you need to follow our model” is troublesome in more ways than one. i think it’s a delicate balance between assisting development and dictating development, and it’s one that also raises the question of whether poorer countries can ever break the cycle of poverty if they’re reliant on aid from richer countries. how can we help poorer nations in a way that, in the long term, will enable them to become strong and self-sufficient countries? i don’t know, but i think partners in health is a great start.

[@anthonynorman7545]

I'm not convinced that the cycle can be broken given the current system. The dependence seems ingrained due to the history that lead to the nations' current statuses.

[@megangass5316]

The only way a cycle can be broken is if the people providing the resources listen to the actual needs of the community. The second requirement is that it educates and empowers the local community. You can come in and build a building but buy your supplies there and use it as a trade school so that when you leave they have a building along with electricians, plumbers, construction workers and local people to staff the jobs housed in that building.

[@anthonynorman7545]

@@megangass5316 right, but they need resources from somewhere else to have industry. Wouldn't they cycle continue by them exploiting another country or they be dependent on a richer country (that exploits another country)?

[@xponen]

@@anthonynorman7545 exploiting rare resource is mostly elite stuff and should be avoided... they should start with something that make sense like grows food, poultry, and construction. The rest come naturally as people start to tinker with their tools & food and become mechanics & cooks, and so on and on, ect.

[@anthonynorman7545]

@@xponen construction takes resources, agriculture on the industry level takes machinery, and everything takes capital. We're still in the cycle.

[@jimeactua]

"Despair is not the right response to big problems, even existential problems." -John Green

[@lanethomas812]

Ella Sandoval that’s the worst quote I’ve ever heard

[@Alitheone6618]

@@lanethomas812 I like it

[@pitchrich5893]

So this channel in a nutshell is throwing around famous quotes and back padding each other.

[@dustrider9306]

He said it, but it's not his thought. So we ne to quote that on the Sierra Leonian People...

[@KnockManJo]

@@lanethomas812 Despair is useless in the long run so I don't really have a problem with that quote

[@mariewikiwaka3851]

I’ve never thought about the fact that both Hank and John say “good morning” despite it almost never being morning. I’ve been a Nerdfighter for over a decade, how has this never crossed my mind?

[@Aabil11]

They record the video in the morning, and by the time they upload it it's night

[@amirsur2750]

Always keep in mind time zones. It's 3 am for me for example, almost morning

[@mariewikiwaka3851]

Amir Fromage Time zones are absolutely a thing, but Hank is only two hours behind John and I feel like they usually upload around 3:00pm John’s (my) time.

[@nerdfightercommenter6969]

I think that they are doing it as an homage to a general radio shows

[@vlogbrothers]

It was morning when I said good morning, but when I finished editing this monster 14 hours later, it was definitely not morning. (It's a callout to Ze Frank, whose show back in 2006 began with "Good morning.") -John

[@dantespekken3549]

People like you and your brother give me faith in humanity even when it all feel impossible to overcome, thank you

[@akshatachonkar3257]

I come back to this video a lot. It sparked my interest in public health, and I'm currently on the cusp of making a decision to study a master's degree in Public Health, and start working in my home country of India. Thanks John and Hank.

[@kathlynarchibald-drew4395]

I come back to this video a lot too! It reminds me when I’m sad that Nerdfighteria is doing good things: educating, donating, sharing. And it’s comforting to know that we’ve had an impact. This video has been super important in helping me find what I want to study too! I’m from the Caribbean and when he said that rich countries industrialized off of west African slaves my attention was piqued!

[@danielbalgobin3115]

@@kathlynarchibald-drew4395 hey, i'm from the caribbean too and i also come back to watch this video, it just gives me hope, i'm from Trinidad and Tobago, which country are you from?

[@lijohnyoutube101]

This needs an update:)

[@Lauren-hinrichsen]

*"Good morning Hank, it's Tuesday"* How am I just now realizing that these are almost never in the morning???

[@andrewknorpp9415]

Two people realized this on the same video... interesting.

[@MissDFitz]

Given that I'm on the other side of the world, they're always released in my morning

[@MilitanT07]

@@andrewknorpp9415 He usually upload sometime in the afternoon, today it was well after sunset.

[@taniapandia4264]

It's morning tho in Indonesia lol

[@vlogbrothers]

@@taniapandia4264 I'm just saying good morning to the Indonesians and Australians! -John

[@moiradarling97]

My favorite things about Partners in Health is that they don’t just throw money at problems. They go and find out what’s needed and how these things can be sustained in the future. Can’t wait for P4A!

[@qwertykid18]

Moira H throw *

[@darkfire090]

+

[@moiradarling97]

Dang it John liked this but then I fixed my spelling and it’s gone now:(

[@TheGreatGray]

I'm so excited to hear more about the project with Partners in Health! Once again, thank you for the reminder that despair is not the proper response to horrific situations

[@rosiethemoo]

I'm never going to stop valuing your calm, thoughtful takes on situations that feel huge and unprocessable. Thank you for doing this work. 💛

[@spidermanandsnape]

I'm rewatching this video after having watched your most recent update on the hospital PIH is building, and it is so hopeful and positive to see the real changes and hope continuing to happen. It isn't changing the entire world nor suddenly making this country richer, but it is saving thousands of children and their mothers, both literally with their lives but also saving from more difficulty and heartache and stress. I am so hopeful and continuously bolstered by the changes we can make.

[@emlynhoyt]

I love how you see the future optimistically but solutions realistically.

[@jerotoro2021]

It's a nice distraction... because an optimistic view of the future is becoming more and more unlikely...

[@melonlord1414]

There is reason for optimism. Humans may be good in destroying stuff, but we are also really good in solving problems. The vast majority of problems in human history where solft in one way or another. It wasn't always the best solution but especially in the last 300 years we improved human live in an almost unbelievable way. We will get through our current problems. We won't vanish in the dark. At least not any time soon.

[@MonaHerSelfM]

This is really something for me. I am so pessimistic and always told myself I'm just realistic. Nothing will change as long as there are people who own massive amounts of wealth and they always try to keep that and increase that. As long as the test of the world uses Africa's resources like they use it now, nothing will change. I hope there will always be donors and investors who never stop their work.

[@lyreparadox]

+

[@guilhermetonon7267]

Melon Lord the ideas are good but a fell people do that

[@isabelsong21]

"The Ebola crisis was caused by a fragile health care system, and it led to a more fragile health care system." Next February, I will be departing for Peace Corps service in Sierra Leone's neighbor, Liberia. This statement is true for Liberia, as well. I will be working as a Health Extension Volunteer for 2 years in a rural community, and the group of us leaving in February 2020 will mark the first return of the Peace Corps' health sector in Liberia since the Ebola crisis. The primary long-term goal of the PC's health project is to end preventable maternal and child mortality. A big part of that is assisting community health providers in rebuilding their capacity to provide health care services, which is why your statement about more fragile healthcare systems resonated with me. I first became interested in this work through your videos about the healthcare system in Ethiopia when you visited in 2014 (I was in high school back then), and now I'm getting ready to leave for Liberia, pending medical clearance (I already got legal clearance). I am so grateful and thankful for your continued work and for the vast ways in which you have inspired an entire community of people, including myself.

[@vlogbrothers]

Isabel, this is such great news! Your comment made me cry a little! I hope you will keep us informed of your work in Liberia. I'm sure it will be challenging to be part of the first Peace Corps group to return to Liberia after the ebola crisis, but it is such important work, and I am so happy to know that you'll be working to provide better healthcare options to people in West Africa! -John

[@isabelsong21]

@@vlogbrothers Aww thanks, and will do! The Peace Corps has had education volunteers return to Liberia already, so it's a little comforting to know we won't be the only group there. It's still overwhelming to realize that there's no guide for what we'll be doing as the first health group back, though. But like I told my parents, I'm committed to this work precisely because I know it will be hard and challenging and because I know that this work is important and worth doing. ♥️♥️

[@thugasaurusrex6004]

Stay safe you legend

[@naomilovenpeace]

My mother was a Peace Corp volunteer in Liberia, Tanzania, and Lesotho in the 1980's. Her stories led me to refuse to ever buy a natural diamond or non recycled gold. It was dangerous, but well worth it to her. Peace Corp volunteers should be honored the same way as those in the military. Good luck and stay safe.

[@briangarrow448]

YOU are my hero!!!! Thank you for your time and help with our human family. There is hope as long as we can care about each other.

[@scpg142]

I’m hopeful that the future is generations growing up with larger and larger definitions of ´us’.

[@jadedalton2662]

+

[@Black_CoreyNFin]

It is and will be. However, it seems more and more the defining political battle of our day is "nationalism" vs "globalism" with the older, mostly white generations in the nationalism camp and the younger more diverse generations in the globalist camp.

[@LeighDandy]

+

[@jerotoro2021]

@@Black_CoreyNFin And how exactly does that racist viewpoint make things any better? You sound like part of the problem. "nationalism vs globalism" is also the problem. There is only one human race, regardless of generational distinction, age, or melanin concentration. Get past the so-called debate, because the debate is the problem. Just be a person, and respect everyone else as an equal person.

[@asthmatictuna]

+

[@bluceree7312]

Some of the smartest Doctors and Nurses I once worked with were Sierra Leoneans. Gifted and hard working.

[@barbiegirl4224]

Andry Sqverill The nurses are the laziest nurse in the hospital I work. It’s all about money for them and no compassion for there patients

[@eternalreign2313]

Lol you're so full of shit, or you haven't met many doctors/nurses outside Sierra Leone.

[@bobbiecat8000]

@@Silver54342 you're shit is full

[@AsteroidEssence]

Thank you for being such a profoundly human person. You always make me think critically and question the status quo. Why isn't this our problem? It's so simple. It is. I felt chills when you said I dont want to be part of an "us" that makes a "them" of the worlds most vulnerable people. Thank you John.

[@spoilsofthedead]

Why have I learned more in these 8 minute videos about the world than in 13 years of schooling? It pisses me off to no end, and makes me sooo greatest for the kind of people to put effort in educating and discussing. Anyone else?

[@jenisedai]

On behalf of the educators who aren't phoning it in, please be aware that we would LOVE to talk about this stuff and have real, serious discussions about it, but we are limited by standards and the fear of losing our job if a child either misunderstands or tells their parent who misunderstands, and then the parent complains to the school or the local news that the teacher is racist and the teacher ends up getting suspended during an investigation and possibly fired. When you get to college things are a bit better (which is part of why I chose to teach in college), and those of us who aren't phoning it in do try to bring this information to light for our students.

[@a13xR75]

"we live in a house made of each other and if that sounds strange, that's because it is." -watsky ❤️

[@trudeus-old]

I never really understood that line until now

[@perineum6]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4S6i2qnjKqdi9U For anyone wondering...

[@potatocupgaming1164]

Did not expect to find a watsky quote at the top of the comment section, but I'm pleasantly surprised

[@AllTimeAmberx]

"The past is never dead. It's not even past."

[@joelle4662]

This is one of the best videos on poverty I've watched. My health promotion professor woud give you a mountain of golden stars for every word of that video. you truly hit all the key terms she insists on and i feel like i should be taking notes lol. Structural sensibility and historical sensibility at its best. A++++

[@unrefusableoffer4412]

if you are an Indian, next time your friend says "well brits built railways" you share him this video.

[@ishitaananya8649]

@ILuvGlue European apologists do

[@Yourantsally]

@ILuvGlue a lot of conservatives use it as justification for empires

[@sebastienvondoom8615]

@Fire Heart Tellingly none of those countries were occupied by Britian for the better part of a century. Also, while the Indian government has it's problems obviously, India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and score higher on several "Freedom indexes" than both the United Kingdom and the United States.

[@Omer1996E.C]

@Fire Heart you're just speaking about naredra modi. Maybe things will change after another party is elected

[@secretsecret1713]

Indians were either assimilated or destroyed, and in American continent there were settlers, while Africans were used as slaves. And South Africa is one of the richest countries in Africa because there were whites.

[@cortadokid]

Hi, John! I'd love to see an Art Assignment or a Anthropocene Reviewed on Sierra Leonian artists, specifically Alphonso Lisk-Carew. He was present to photograph all sides of the complex narratives that were unfolding in Sierra Leone in the early 20th century. His photographs are fascinating, and I'd love to hear you speak on his photography. I recommend reading Julie Crooks' 2014 University of London thesis on the subject, containing a biography of Lisk-Carew-- it's available online for free! I don't want to be a part of that "us" either, John. Thank you for the work you do to decrease world suck :)

[@vlogbrothers]

Great suggestion! Thank you! I'll read up on Lisk-Carew. -John

[@ljmastertroll]

The definition of "us" has become disturbingly narrow in recent years, or maybe it has always been that way and we just didn't see it.

[@malikjackson9337]

Well yeah it's because humans are fundamentally always going to disagree and form factions based our beliefs. You do it whether you know it or not. So do I. I think the important thing is the type of discourse we have rather than if there is discourse. Us vs Them mentality will likely always be around and to be honest that isn't a bad thing because not everyone has our best interest in mind and sometimes altruism isn't an option.

[@ljmastertroll]

@@malikjackson9337 I guess tribalism and prejudice are ancient structures in the social makeup of humans. A breeding ground for greed and manipulation.

[@malikjackson9337]

@@ljmastertroll I mean yeah. Tribalism is human nature. I don't think it's completely unwarranted because some people want to genuinely cause you harm and teaming up can help squash certain threats. It's just one of the main consequences of tribalism is an especially hard time telling friend from foe. Just be aware of your primal nature and when these senses are driving your better judgement. If you are looking for the time when mankind holds hands and sings kombuyah then I'm sorry dude it's not coming.

[@ljmastertroll]

@@malikjackson9337 good because I hate that song

[@malikjackson9337]

@@ljmastertroll I like that song but I wouldn't want to sing with a bunch of Jack asses. 😂😂

[@NateandNoahTryLife]

I’m always excited to see a vlogbrothers video this long, I know I’m going to learn something.

[@untappedinkwell]

same!

[@shaheenbeeharry9710]

As someone who works at an African university, I really appreciate this video and I'm going to include it in one of our new modules called Introduction to Global Challenges where we will introduce students to systems thinking.

[@karanykaan]

You inspire me . Thank you ☺️. I’m a young lecturer at the public University of Mexico, and when I feel exhausted, frustrated and sad because our education system and low salaries I come back home and I watch your videos and get some hope back. Thanks for that! Hugs from Mexico !

[@greyl1]

To roughly quote Micheal Parenti: These countries are not poor. You don’t go to poor countries to make money. Only the people are poor.

[@IvanSN]

Finally another commie in these comments. Parenti is great.

[@draconisthewyvern3664]

@@IvanSN quoting someone doesn't make you a communist.

[@MrSchumisingh]

What I absolutely love about PIH is that they are working WITH the local workers in improving. I am a firm believer in Individual action, and nothing can help us, until we each take concerted responsibility in making our world a better place.

[@skylerwitherspoon]

Your work with Partners in Health is one of the biggest reasons I'm proud to be a nerdfighter

[@mr.potato4599]

Thank you, thank you. I'm so glad comments exist for times like this, when I feel like i couldn't move on without saying something even in KZbin's intense content consumption pushing and like all the social media. At the end of a long year and a stream of tragedies and problems and global news, reflecting only really made me feel an immense despair and kind of disappointment in myself for not trying anything to help, for not being able to do anything, but your words helped so much, not just for learning about the systemic history of poverty in Sierra Leone and the improvements organizations like PIH can make but for giving me hope for the world and its future, seeing all the people who are doing good work and work that maybe I can try to follow. I know you won't see this but Vlogbrothers is like a comfort channel to me and it must be so much work but it's such inspiring and valuable work for kids like me. honestly when I grow up I want to be like John Green and hope my science-y little brother can be like Hank and that I'll meet someone as cool and smart as Sarah. thank you!!

[@frickinfrick8488]

This is a really important video to make, thank you. I hear so many people talk about poor countries in a way where it’s obvious they’ve never understood anything past the region they were born in. Just like when people who were born in the middle/upper class and never fell into poverty simply lack an understanding of what it’s like to be that isolated. Starting on the small things, on the little problems we never stop to consider because they don’t affect us, and showing how they build up to create barriers to progress is so important for people to learn.

[@krissymillard1823]

Wow... “Going in and seeing like, maybe fifty patients, and then coming in the next day and only twenty alive?” Horrible, indeed.

[@vlogbrothers]

Dr. Barrie is a genuinely extraordinary person. I've never met anyone like him. Just a relentless desire to make people's lives better. -John

[@IlliaDoroshenko]

He said 20 or 12?

[@krissymillard1823]

GameFlexx I had it paused when I typed it, and went back for it just now to make sure it was correct. He said twenty. 30 people dead in a day. 💔

[@Starry_Night_Sky7455]

Those were the lucky few that even had medical access at all. That's life without modern medicine. Its the way it is. Truth be told, a lot of Americans cannot get medical access either.

[@darkfire090]

Great perspective on the whole problem, and always nice to hear these kind of videos with a hopeful message that things can get better.

[@enlathestrange]

Edit: Wow, a lot of hate from keyboard warriors who don’t know me and the fact they are also here commenting on a KZbin video means they aren’t taking their own advice and moving to a war zone. No I’m not perfect, yes I know all the things you’re telling me. This is the last time I’m commenting on this. Go do one and if you give as much of a crap as you’re accusing me of not giving you’ll sort out the worlds problems in no time. Peace out. DFTBA. “I don’t want to be part of an us who makes a them out of the worlds most vulnerable people” Can I have this on a postcard, poster, shirt, anything? K, thank you.

[@scottanderson8167]

Enjoying your iPhone?

[@OyvindBjorgo]

This sums it up for me. If I could give this video about 700 more thumbs directed upwards (without using mildly or severely unethical actions), I would.

[@Katask0p0]

He has amazing lines in all his videos, he should be a writer or something!

[@1peeptom]

Never thought empathy could sound so powerful! Privileged to just hear ur views. I endorse it a 100%.

[@lyreparadox]

Even better if proceeds from these items went to help the Partners in Health projects...

[@samuelgiraudo8748]

I gotta say, I love the framing device of each of these vlogs just being a simple communication between brothers. It helps to humanize the whole thing

[@radiofrog]

I believe this kind of knowledge and awareness is incredibly important for people to have, and I wish it were more commonly taught. Thank you, John.

[@jakehickox8928]

My mom is working with PIH in Sierra Leone until December. This video gave me so much context for her work. Awesome video, can't wait to hear more!

[@sebster100]

Hey John, I work researching the systems of mining and conflict in Africa and I just want to commend this video, it's so much better than most public analysis of poverty in Africa.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks! But that is a low bar to jump over ;) And thanks for doing the important work of researching those systems. You're paving the trail of understanding for the rest of us. -John

[@The-Grey-Area]

Waiting for this all day! You guys are one of the best youtube channels out there.

[@lexih5268]

Another awesome video that decreases world suck. Thank you, John! ...and here's hoping that many more people come to appreciate these videos by letting KZbin know it's important by adding a comment and improving algorithms or something.

[@eruno_]

"The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much, it is whether we provide enough for those who have little." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

[@johnnyh9483]

ユーネ / Yuune or the test of our progress is if we can stop robbing people and countries who have much and exploiting countries (namely Africa)with many minerals gold and other valuable resources .

[@johnnyh9483]

@gary o'leary first of all your implying that they weren't doing this to begin w/. If you actually research history you would realize Afticans were extracting ores and minerals, and gold long before Europeans came to Africa and started beguiling them into trading w/ them for slaves. They were trading there own natural resources w/ people in the middle east and Asia. Europeans knew this. Why do you think they went to Africa in the first place

[@johnnyh9483]

@gary o'leary and what right does one inhabitant of one country have the right to go to another mans country and kill colonize that country for their minerals, gold etc all because this man assumes that they don't know how to extract their own minerals? Your argument doesn't make any sense. The reason the Europeans went to Africa in the first place is because they heard about the minerals, gold, and salt that was being extracted and traded w/ middle eastern countries. There were many kingdoms in Africa that had great civilizations besides Egypt south of the Sudan. But again, this would require you to do some research and learning.

[@FatemaLiya]

I wish more people had compassion and understanding like John

[@april147]

Listening to you always makes me feel that the smallest kind of change is also a change. And there is still hope for a better world.

[@o0Avalon0o]

*I want to give a big THANK YOU to the community for sharing this; without your boost of support, I would have never seen this video.*

[@MT-ul7yl]

I sincerely hope their healthcare system starts looking up. As a med student I can’t help but want to reach out when it’s time. 💙

[@Urinpfuetze]

[@irenedavo3768]

Maggie Lebowski please watch 8 videos of Jim Nduruchi

[@ShadiVox]

This continues to be one of the most hopeful and thought provoking videos I think John has ever made. This video made me invested in PIH and their work. I will continue to support in any way I can!

[@jauxro]

"I don't want to be part of an 'us' that makes a 'them' of the world's most vulnerable people" I wish more people had that mindset

[@milky_wayan]

it makes no sense to me that we are the only sentient living things we know of in our entire universe and people can be nationalists

[@deproissant]

@@milky_wayan I really like this quote from Matt Damon's character in Interstellar that "our empathy rarely extends beyond our line of sight". Think about it, you love you close relatives than you do the further ones, and that decline in intensity of affection gets larger and larger as you cross town borders, then state borders, then country borders. Don't get me wrong, John's words resonate deeply with me and I'd go as far as calling myself a globalist. But to expect all people to share similar degree of altruism as John's is quite naive.

[@tedmccarron]

The mindset we need is a free market promoting one. Like Haiti, Sierra Leone is now responsible for its own problems.

[@tn4234]

@@tedmccarron well that's certainly not a very altruistic mindset, especially when sierra leone is just a victim of british imperialism

[@tedmccarron]

@@tn4234 well to me the most altruistic, decent thing to do for a country is the allow it to have free enterprise so it can prosper and boom. They've been independence from the British for many decades now and they should have been on their feet long ago. Lack of free enterprise has the reason why they're so damn poor, not infrastructure or health care or education.

[@ferkin1874]

You know you’re early when there’s no thumbnail

[@jays2551]

hey, thanks for this, man. too many people see "third world" poverty as entirely the fault of said nations, which is an incredibly myopic view, if not entirely ahistorical. this video is pretty clear and concise in refuting that.

[@jeffbrunswick5511]

His argument didn't refute anything. He's blaming poverty on colonialism, even though there are numerous examples of former colonies that are both rich and poor. His argument makes no sense.

[@hwgoblin]

@@jeffbrunswick5511 Colonialism definitely played a part in Sierra Leone and many other countries' cases, though. Obviously it's not the only factor, but it definitely is a factor. Like obviously draining another country's resources to use almost entirely for yourself isn't going to make the other country very rich, will it?

[@jeffbrunswick5511]

@@hwgoblin 60 years have passed since then. It is not in the interests of Sierra Leone to ruminate on a past they cannot change. They must focus on what is happening now. Why talk about the past when John is talking about people exploiting them in 2023?

[@lucyandecember2843]

@@jeffbrunswick5511 because the exploitation is a result that has come about because of the past, these things are interconnected, its nonsensical to talk about one without the other.

[@jeffbrunswick5511]

@@lucyandecember2843 The British empire's involvement in Sierra Leone is insignificant relative to the Sierra Leone civil war a decade ago and the ongoing corruption within their government. Malaysia did not create a vibrant economy by taking a victim mentality about their colonial past. They focused on improving the lives of the poorest members of their society through access to education and healthcare. They have also invested heavily in the construction of modern infrastructure that allows free market business and trade to flourish.

[@ngiurato]

What an amazing cause to be a part of. I've long admired your channel (for 6 years and counting 😊), but this is my first comment. This work is so important and so needed. I support a group called MedShare that has helped supply hospitals in Sierra Leone -- and is now helping to set up an eye clinic. This clinic is vital in the wake of the Ebola epidemic because we're now discovering that Ebola causes longterm damage to the eye, which can only be treated with surgery ... something that is inaccessible and unaffordable to most in Sierra Leone. Several amazing doctors from Emory Hospital in Atlanta (the U.S. hospital that treated the Sierra Leone aid workers who contracted Ebola) are setting up the eye clinic so that they can offer these services for free to people in need. The world is full of incredible people.

[@d14551]

"Despair is not the right response to big problems." Valuable reminder, thanks so much!

[@gillyweed00]

Thank you so much for mentioning the role of the rich countries on the poverty and loss of resources of poorer countries. Until now, the effects of colonization (especially Spain and USA) in the Philippines is evident in various aspects. Some people think that colonization ends once independence is achieved, but its effects are actually long-lasting.

[@deborahhayesstone9165]

This is so beautifully said. Thank you John.

[@vlogbrothers]

Thanks Deb! :) -John

[@seopark7467]

"i dont want to be part of an 'us' that makes a 'them' of the worlds most vulnerable people."

[@seopark7467]

@jay why does there have to be a them?

[@Dora-uk1mf]

Jjkjspñññ 4 bbgnxxxxduob f fcxxfz:*9 )7

[@r13hd22]

Explain why they were poor and under developed BEFORE Europe ever stepped foot in them...

[@tn4234]

@@r13hd22 because sierra Leona was founded mainly to establish freed slaves, who founded the country's capital, Freetown, in 1791. In 1808, Freetown became a British Crown colony...

[@kevindanielpg]

I'm in love with John Greene, 4 real, If you put yourself in his place he is not even obliged to talk about these issues because he has no direct connection with Sierra Leone and not only speaks of the precarious situation in another country but also visibly and financially helps those in need. It sets a high standard for the rest of us as human beings. Greetings from Venezuela.

[@johndoh1000]

Back to back inspiring quotes. Two incredible perspectives perfectly integrated into his thesis, yet completely distinct in intellectual value: I don’t want to be a part of an “us” that makes a “them” out of the world’s most vulnerable people. -John Green The idea that Sierra Leone can solve its own problems in isolation wrongly imagines that its problems exist in isolation. -John Green My god it’s inspiring to see the quality of thought promoted by this man.

[@bananasdoingthetwist]

"I don't want ti be a part if "us" that makes a "them" out of the world's most vulnerable people." John, you and you brother continue to inspire. As I was listening to those words, I thought how for many years you have been my moral compass and have truly helped me become a more caring and compassionate person.

[@barbaral3302]

I’m really excited for the announcement :)

[@untappedinkwell]

Me too! I wonder if it's going to coincide with Pizzamas this year.

[@nilandax0]

I love that you and Hank make these kinds of videos. I’ve been watching you guys for a decade, and I’m 100% sure that they have affected the way I perceive the world/society for the better.

[@nathanblake3647]

You and Hank are both the most incredible people. Thank you so much for being the person you are. Thank you for sharing your ideas in your writing, thank you for helping to educate the masses and thank you so much for being a kind voice in a world that needs to hear it.

[@MiaKhalifa-mj5xz]

I just realized they’re two separate ppl

[@gimperdaniel]

“Despair is not the right response to big problems”. Inspirational and encouraging video. Thank you!

[@ToyKeeper]

"Because its systems have for centuries been structured around resource extraction ..." and 45 second later, KZbin showed me an ad for a fracking company called "Extraction Oil & Gas". Dammit. :(

[@Korhal23]

Partial solutions save whole lives.

[@6zeekoe9]

I’ve seen so many people explain poverty as a natural, unavoidable part of many African nations, ignoring its colonial “past” and neo-colonial present. I’ve also seen many people talking about colonialism, ignoring the resilience that thrives in colonised communities. It helps me stay informed when people like John don’t fall for those ingorisms (not a word, but don’t care).

[@MT-ul7yl]

This video ended with me feeling a certain way. Different. And so moving. I always cherish the finality of impact with which you sign off all your videos but this one especially hit right where it hurts.

[@Chilukar]

'No Man is an Island' John Donne No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

[@jojojorisjhjosef]

"ebola", ow my sweet summer child.

[@kellycrawley4861]

I hope your break goes well. Don’t put to much pressure on yourself.

[@emf263]

One of the nurses I work with is from Sierra Leone and after a visit home she worked with our exec at the hospital to donate a bunch of healthcare machinery to a local hospital there!

[@erniemassri6919]

Very compassionate and logic, glad to remember this world has people like you.

[@n0tgabs]

oh my god, John. You can't just ask people why they're poor.

[@sayonara288]

Why are you poor

[@GweenPenguin]

+

[@nanoguy-ob2tb]

@@sayonara288 Why are you stupid?

[@irenedavo3768]

gabriel murowaniecki please watch 8 videos of Jim Nduruchi

[@jccusell]

Anoter way to look at it is: Hong Kong was extremely poor up till 70 years ago. Untill very recently it was one of the richest places on earth with broad economic development and distrubution of wealth. Why? China used to be the poster child of poverty and hunger. Before Live Aid it was China that popped in your mind if you thought about starving children. tens of millions starved to death in the 50's 60' and 70's. Have you been to Shanghai lately? What changed in the span of a few decades? How is it Hong Kong Singapore and/or China have climbed from a situation poorer than today's Sierra Leone to wealth in 30 or 40 years? This video does not answer these kinds of questions and ultimately gives political answers rather than a scientific ones, albeit unknowingly or unintentionally so.

[@MrCmon113]

Both the left and the right have generic non-explanations for the varying success of different countries.

[@jccusell]

@@MrCmon113 Could you summarize these non-explanations you speak of? And what is in you opinion the reason China was extremely poor and is experiencing economic boom since the 80's and why Hong Kong is now one of the richest places in the world being a tiny piece of land woth no natural resources? Opposed to a country like Venezuala or Nigeria that have gogantic natural wealth but are still relatively poor? Or a tiny country like The Netherlands. Why was it at one point one of the wealthiest coutries in the world while previously been a swamp infested inconsequential piece of land? What is so special about countries that prosper and vountries that don't?

[@camerondye6108]

Chrizzie 78 Two words: free markets

[@jccusell]

@@camerondye6108 I concur, mr non-explanation over here, however, seems to disagree. It's a non-explanation you see...

[@jccusell]

@Sasha Da Masta So small countries aren't poor? And you ARE saying less rather than more regulation led to more economic prosperity?

[@krissymillard1823]

I thought we might not get a video today. Hope the sabbatical is going well, John ✨

[@MushroomInk13]

Thank you for showing that caring is such a powerful trait. I felt deeply moved and it shows that there is good in the world and people want to help and do help. Thank you for making the world a better place and inspire other to keep up their good work.

[@Abhishek17_knight]

Man this video was awesome 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Much love brother ❤❤

[@sayantanmukherjee8074]

I've learned more than my entire college life through this channel.

[@fluffymonkeys5]

Sayantan Mukherjee Sounds like you picked a useless major then.

[@r13hd22]

Then you have learned how to not think for yourself and just accept falsehoods. Those nations were poor before colonization.

[@ZacharyXAE]

"I dont want to be part of an us that makes a them of the world's most vulnerable people"

[@henriconfucius5559]

They are poor by their own fault.

[@ThePilot3332]

savior complex

[@bethanyfield6035]

Thank you for this video John. I live in the UK and was never taught about Sierra Leone other than hearing it is a poor country. So awful that we went in to extract minerals and destroy lives and got all the benefit and none of the locals did. There must be so many rich people still profiting off the money they made during colonialism, they should contribute to repair some of the damage

[@thoperSought]

7:45 _"... despair is not the right response to problems, even existential problems." having spent large chunks of the past few weeks, and most of yesterday, struggling with despair, this was a good thing for me to hear, today.

[@TheNotSoFakeNews]

"Why nations fail" and "a narrow corridor" are fantastic books to understand global poverty imo.

[@Seth9809]

I'm scared to find out what Covid did to this country.

[@drlemon7729]

I'm a Nigerian, but for some reason this video makes me feel sorry for you guys instead of myself?

[@johannageisel5390]

What do you mean? Whom do you mean by "you guys"?

[@lijohnyoutube101]

Johanna Geisel My assumption would be sorry for the countries that were the colonizers for they now have guilt ( or certainly should) for what they created.

[@mr.knowitall5019]

You all can still solve the problems that you created.

[@PetarStamenkovic]

Don't forget that "corruption" isn't in the ether and nebulous. It is in the very way people act and behave as individuals. To root out corruption you have to change what the people believe in, what to pursue and how to act. Also, blaming colonialism is very limited if not false statement. How is Hong Kong, China or India different? Poor people aren't poor because rich take stuff away form them. They don't have anything to be taken away. It is what they produce and what value they share with each other, and the wider world. It is foolish to think that countries become rich because they are not exploited. This is clearly not the case. Countries become rich once they work as individuals for their collective betterment by trying to serve ever increasing number of people by providing value others want or need.

[@mememeisterrawdog1680]

he talks about resource extraction infrastructure and dismisses it but then complains about diamond resource extraction, this dude didn't think out his argument very well. Also I think the whole civil war meme caused infinitely more damage than colonialism lol.

[@pitchrich5893]

You cant build a functioning state with an average IQ of 70.

[@mememeisterrawdog1680]

@@pitchrich5893 I mean you can it just necessitates a more autocratic style of governance with some luck in the selection of benevolent leaders.

[@Eaode]

"Poor people aren't poor because rich take stuff away form them. They don't have anything to be taken away. " ....diamonds? Diamonds, Oil, Gold, Land, Slaves....

[@tiphainemonroe3898]

This is some of the most effective, human, and succinct messaging on development and public health I've ever seen. Thank you for being so life affirming and empowering in your analysis. I wish everyone would watch this video at least once.

[@sundayscheming]

I studied international development at Cambridge and I'm so impressed by this video. In such a succinct and easy to understand manner, you capture so many of the key issues in development and explain it so clear. This is excellent

[@aznmn83]

Two books that do a better job at explaining this: “Guns, Germs & Steel” and “Why Nations Fail”. This explanation focuses to narrowly on colonization and Sierra Leone. The preceding question should be, why were some nations colonized and others the colonizers. Both recommended books do a great job answering that.

[@sopitaramenconapio2285]

Mary Mary Quite Contrary I’m pretty sure any book on the subject would explain it better. This was a KZbin video.

[@bhangrafan4480]

"Guns, Germs & Steel' is the most moronic claptrap written by any qualified person. It is typical of liberal & right-centre thinker's desperation to find simplistic answers economic and social problems which avoid all the real issues. I haven't read "Why Nations Fail" but it's blurb suggests it will be another approach to the same liberal economics championing over-simplification.

Gun, germs, and steel is dogshit

[@henriconfucius5559]

Poor countries tend to grow faster according to current economic models. They are poor by their own fault: civil wars, military and socialist dictatorships, closed marked and politics.

@Babes & Board Games because his kind "diverse" means no whites