The Introduction to Effective Altruism course is well-designed and accessible to participants from all over the world. Its interface is optimized for low data usage, making it easily accessible on mobile phones and other low-spec devices. The content is clear and understandable for anyone with basic reading and writing skills. Additionally, it is well-summarized and enriched with engaging facts, making the learning experience both informative and enjoyable.

Now, on criticisms: EA Everywhere on Slack feels overwhelmingly centered on Europe/ America. It is filled with opportunities that are primarily accessible to people from Europe, along with event announcements that are often restricted to the region. For someone like me, coming from Uganda and seeking a like-minded community to grow and develop my skills while staying committed to my country, this exclusion is disheartening. It creates a sense of isolation and limitation.

A more inclusive approach is needed, EA opportunities should be accessible to everyone, regardless of location. There should be strong support structures to uplift individuals from underrepresented and less developed regions. After all, the essence of EA is to find the most effective ways to do good, using evidence. That mission should extend to creating equal opportunities for all that are worthy it.

Many of the examples presented in the course are heavily focused on Europe. However, if we are truly committed to solving global problems, we must incorporate diverse contexts from different parts of the world. This exposure would help participants understand a broader range of challenges and design interventions that are effective and scalable across various regions. Perhaps an example from Africa could provide valuable solutions in Europe, just as a European example might offer insights applicable to Africa. By incorporating diverse perspectives, we can foster cross-regional learning and design interventions that are more adaptable and effective on a global scale. Africa, for instance, offers valuable insights on moral philosophy and ethical considerations given its diversity, yet it is barely mentioned. The course gives the impression that all interventions are meant for the U.S. or Europe, overlooking the rich perspectives and pressing issues faced in other parts of the world. A more inclusive approach would ensure that effective altruism remains truly global in its impact.

All the personalities highlighted in the course are white and from either Europe or America. (This is not about race, but rather an observation on representation.) Have Black individuals or people from outside Europe and America not contributed to this movement? Have their efforts gone unrecognized, or is this course unintentionally reinforcing the idea that intelligence and philanthropy are primarily Western traits? If effective altruism is truly a global movement, it should acknowledge and celebrate contributions from diverse backgrounds. Representation matters—not just for inclusivity, but for inspiring a broader audience to engage in meaningful change.

Overall, the course feels like it was designed primarily for a European/ American audience, with supporting structures that task them with finding solutions to the world's biggest problems. However, these "global" challenges seem to focus mainly on issues affecting the developed world, which, while important, represent only a small fraction of the broader global landscape. This approach risks overlooking critical problems faced by the majority of the world's population and reinforces a narrow perspective on what truly constitutes the world's most pressing challenges to only what is identified in the first world countries. Try to put this in the ITN framework but from a perspective of someone coming from an underdeveloped world. I acknowledge that my perspective on this has been shaped by a neartermist lens and not a longtermist lens.

Disclaimer: These are simply my observations, and there is a considerable possibility that I may be wrong. Please take them with a pinch of salt.

1. Yes we bury it, if the toxic waste will cause an existential catastrophe.. If it does not, then the answer is no. The 100 people we save today have a moral responsibility toward the thousands who will suffer in 200 years. Additionally, we have certainty about the 100 lives today, but only an estimate about the thousands in the future, a massive risk that cannot be ignored. Ultimately, when lives are at stake, no choice feels morally comfortable. This is a dilemma I would never wish to face.

2. I would have been less excited about the donation if my intention was to save a life in those five years.  However, I would still make the donation because my commitment is to save a life, regardless of when that happens. A life today is just as valuable as a life in 10 or even 100 years.

Becoming a Good Ancestor
As I reflect on life today and the stories of those I admire, I am reminded of the kind of ancestor I hope to become. My grandfather, Rumunyiire, is remembered as a great man, a great ancestor. Though he passed away in the 1970s, the tales of his strength and courage continue to live on.

He was a man of the hills, vast, endless landscapes where he thrived alongside the lions that roamed them. While many feared these wild lands, he embraced them without hesitation. It was on these very hills that he built his home, crafting mud houses and cultivating the land. Yet, he did not seek to tame nature entirely. He left the drinking places and salt licks untouched, allowing the animals to partake in the rhythms of the wild, harmonizing with the landscape he so deeply respected.

To this day, when I walk those lands, I still see the mineral licks, marked by signs that animals continue to use them. He forbade us from ever tampering with them, ensuring that his legacy of coexistence with nature endured long after he was gone.

Conversations with the elders reveal that my grandfather was not only a strong and courageous man but also a kind and honest one. He was known for his generosity, often sharing food from his plantation with the village during times of hunger.

After each harvest, when he returned to the village, he would host grand gatherings, celebrations filled with laughter, food, and a deep sense of community. He ensured that no one left empty-handed. His presence brought warmth and abundance, and people eagerly anticipated his visits, knowing they would be filled with joy and the promise of another unforgettable celebration.

Beyond his generosity, he was a man of principle and justice. Whenever someone in the village committed an immoral act, he was among the first to speak out. He would forbid such behavior, discourage those involved, and ensure that corrective measures were taken within the community. He upheld the values of those around him, not out of self-righteousness, but because he believed in the importance of a strong, moral society.

However, despite the many stories that paint him as a saint, I do not believe he was one. I have walked this earth for 27 years, encountering countless people, yet I have never met anyone who truly fits the description of sainthood. By that logic, my grandfather couldn’t have been one either.

What I do believe is that he was a good man, one who did a great deal of good for his children and his community. His kindness, courage, and generosity left behind stories that have endured through generations, so much so that they have overshadowed any faults he may have had. And perhaps that is the true measure of a life well lived, not the absence of flaws, but the presence of an undeniable and lasting impact.

What Does It Mean to Be a Good Ancestor?
When I am asked this question, my answer is simple:

To be a good ancestor is to do a great deal of good, not just for your immediate generation, but for the generations that follow. True greatness is measured by the lasting impact of one’s actions, shaping a future where others can thrive. The highest form of good is one that prevents existential catastrophe, ensuring that those who come after us inherit a better world.

History offers many examples of such ancestors, figures like Nelson Mandela, who fought for the rights and dignity of South Africans, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire.

In my time, there are individuals whom we believe have the potential to become great ancestors, people like Bobi Wine, Kizza Besigye, and Justice Kisakye. However, history will be their ultimate judge. Time will test their actions, challenge their legacies, and determine whether their impact endures.

If future generations continue to feel the weight of their influence, if their work continues to shape lives long after they are gone, then they will have truly become good ancestors.

And that, above all else, is the legacy I, too, hope to leave behind.

Letter to Slave trader Kassim of the 16^th century

Dear Kassim,

I hope this letter finds you well. I write to you from the 21st century not to condemn, but to open your eyes to something, I believe you may not have fully considered my friend. You are a kind and thoughtful person, and I know you strive to live a good and just life. However, I need to share something that may challenge your beliefs about slavery. 

The idea that one person can own another, simply because of their skin color or their birthplace, goes against the very essence of humanity. Every person, regardless of their circumstances, is born with an inherent dignity. To deny someone their freedom is to deny them their humanity, their dreams, and their right to live as an equal member of society.

I understand that slavery has been practiced for generations and that it may seem like an unchangeable part of life. But let me ask you this: if someone were to enslave your friend Lute, or your big brother, how would it feel? Would it not strike you as the deepest injustice? The truth is, the people you see as property are no different from you in their capacity to feel, to think, and to love.

Consider, too, the evidence all around us: enslaved individuals demonstrate intelligence, resilience, and creativity, despite the horrific conditions they endure. If they were truly “lesser” beings, would they show such remarkable qualities? Look into their eyes, and you will see the same humanity you see in yourself.

As pointed out in something I have been reading, equality is a moral idea, not an assertion of facts. There is no logically compelling reason to assume that a factual difference in ability between two people justifies any difference in the amount of consideration we give to their needs and interests. If it were, then the most intelligent among you would claim the right to dominate and exploit you, a notion that is both absurd and deep flawed.

I urge you to reflect on whether it is fair to build a life of comfort on the suffering of others. History will not look kindly upon those who turn a blind eye to injustice. But you, my friend, have the power to make a different choice. You can be the one to stand for what is right, even when it is difficult.

I believe in your capacity for compassion and change. Let us create a world where every person can live with dignity and freedom.

Yours sincerely

Lutebemberwa Isa

A

Malaria foundation can protect 2,959 children and save 4.14 lives 

Net to prevent malaria can provide nets to 4,143 nets to children and save 3.8 lives 

supplements to prevent vitamin A deficiency (Helen Keller International) can provide 10,357 children with vitamin A and save 4.14 lives. 

B

Supplement to prevent vitamin A (Helen Keller International)

why ?

1. it reaches the highest number of beneficiaries
2. It has the highest number of lives saved.
3. it has the lowest cost per child 

4. it comes last on the list as regards to the first three. This means, it will most likely be neglected by donors given its position on the list. 

   C 

   Interventions of vetconekt 

   My career as a veterinary surgeon 

   animal welfare interventions