Wednesday 6 May 2015

Tuesday Thoughts & Talks - The Hunger Games


Yes, I am aware that today is Wednesday - at least for me - and that I already had a Tuesday post yesterday, BUT I wanted to participate in this new meme too.  It's called Tuesday Thoughts & Talks, it's hosted by Sherry @ BloggityBLOG and this is it's first week!  All you have to do to participate is pick a book and talk about something it made you feel or think about.  This week, I'm choosing to talk about The Hunger Games and what it made me think when I first read it and I'm a little nervous to post this!  I apologise in advance if this topic upsets or offends anyone and I hope you know that that is not my intention.

The Hunger Games was the first dystopian book that I ever read, so you can imagine all the things that in itself made me think about.  My main question was, could the world really turn out like this?  The more I thought about it, the more I realised that, in some ways, it already was.  Aren't we all at least a little like the Capitol?  I know that I am.  We have so much.  So many things that maybe aren't all that necessary.  And at the same time, there are people on this planet who are starving, who don't even have the basic necessity of clean water.  We're taught as children how to share, but how can we take it seriously when a lot of those in power refuse to reasonably share their country's wealth with ones that need it?  I could talk about specific examples of this to do with Australia's contributions all day, but I won't.  Instead, I will leave you with a few of articles, so that you can read about this topic more if you want.

1. Budget 2014: Axe falls on foreign aid spending, nearly $8 billion in cuts over next five years
"Australian foreign aid spending is being cut by $7.6 billion over the next five years, in the biggest savings measure in the 2014 budget."

2.  Aid agencies begin to axe programs on back of Government cuts to foreign aid

3.  Australia's aid effort (Oxfam)

I would almost go so far as to compare developing countries receiving foreign aid to Katniss in the sense that giving foreign aid makes Australia (the Capitol, if you like) look good*.  But are we really doing all we can to reduce poverty?

*To clarify, that is not the only reason that Australia gives aid, I know.  And it has actually done a significant amount of good over the years in combination with the rest of the world.  Just imagine what the world could be like if more was done.

I know that I don't want to live and die in a world like this.  And I know that I have to do more if I want anything to change.

Thank you for reading this.  I'm sorry today's topic was gloomy - hopefully next time I will have something more uplifting to share for this meme!

10 comments:

  1. I believe the Hunger Games is based off of reality shows and the Iraq war (so definitely things that are real)
    The topic was gloomy but also interesting to read about. Great Post! :)

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    1. Yes that's true!
      I'm happy to hear that you found it interesting.

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  2. Don't worry about the gloomy topic. It is what it is and whether we like it or not, dystopian books aren't so different from real life which is kinda scary if you start thinking about it. The world is not equal, at all and I do sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had been born in another country rather than my own? It's basically a lottery and you can't really blame yourself for that but it's true it kills me not only seeing other countries suffer like that but seeing how governments do nothing for it, because aiding those countries (truly aiding them) won't benefit them. It's in their best interest to keep them that way and that makes me sick to my stomach. I don't like where the world is going either but what frustrates me the most is that in many ways, we can't stop it

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    1. It is really scary. I agree with everything you've said. The country you're born in makes an enormous amount of difference. You're right - it's like a lottery. It's awful. Individually, we can't fix it. Hopefully one day enough people come together to make a difference.

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  3. What a great topic of discussion! I remember being so captivated by The Hunger Games when I first read it because of it's eerie similarities to our reality! The Capitol I always thought was a play on the idea of CAPITALlism dominating our world and wedging that gap between the rich and the poor. And I really commend Suzanne Collins for putting it into a series catered for the younger generation to educated them or get them aware at least about unjustness.

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  4. I really love that you chose a book, and used that to elaborate on a topic that we don't really think about. Dystopian books are very close to real life, almost to the point where it's almost nerve-wracking, and I appreciate you taking the time to shed some light on what's going on in your country! This is such a great post, I'm definitely going to participate soon :)

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    1. I'm so happy you liked this post! That is probably the creepiest thing about dystopian books. I look forward to seeing you participate! :)

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  5. You're Australian, wow!! I didn't know (well, first time commenting, so that's probably why). But yes, The Hunger Games is SUCH a thought-provoking book, like a lot of good dystopians are (I'm thinking Handmaid's Tale, Fahrenheit 451, etc.). It makes me sad that we're saving money by cutting foreign aid spending :(

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    1. Haha yes, that would be why. I agree - most good dystopians make you think. It is very sad and disappointing too.
      Thanks for stopping by :)

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