I missed it live yesterday, but today I was able to catch a great segment from al-Jazeera’s “The Stream” featuring TMS “Teddy” Ruge (@tmsruge), Co-Founder of Project Diaspora and Joel Charny, Vice President for Humanitarian Policy at InterAction (@interactionorg). They discussed the often unseen negative counter-effect that well-intentioned but uninformed western aid projects can have. In a sort of parody of TOMS Shoes’ “Day Without Shoes” campaign, Project Diaspora advocates a “Day Without Dignity” campaign (hashtag #Dignity2012) that promotes local heroes rather than western “saviors”.

Please watch the interview and check out the post on Project Diaspora’s page. Then comment here, tweet about it to your friends, talk to your neighbors.

This is a discussion worth having… and as you walk away from your discussions, find a way to act. Help local heroes.

The Stream – African aid: helpful or hazardous?

Project Diaspora – Spring 2012: Introducing Another “Day Without Dignity”