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.
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.