Negative utilitarianism charities
What charitable foundations would you recommend, with the goal of minimizing suffering? fighting malaria does not make sens, because it only prolongs existence https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/LAuQXwnykrMC73CvW/morality-for-the-radical-pessimist I’m basically repeating this topic because I didn’t get an answer
Animal charities. Most suffering in the world happens in farms. See recommendations for where to donate by Animal Charity Evaluators.
To address extreme suffering in humans then consider:
Mental health charities. See this page the Happier Lives Institute (HLI) recommend Strong Minds. Note there has been a lot of debate on the EA Forum about them. You could also donate to HLI or to other mental health charities like Vida Plena* or Friendship Bench, etc.
Pain prevention charities. I rate Organisation for the Prevention of Intense Suffering (OPIS) although I don’t know of any independent evaluations. (There is also Lifting The Burden on headaches and some anti-torture charities like Aegis although I have not looked into them so cannot vouch for effectiveness so would do your research.)
Violence against women charities. See the reports here and here*. The second of those reports highlights good organisations to consider donating to as: Raising Voices, the Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention, and No Means No Worldwide.
Some caveats:
Bednets do also prevent suffering and are very well evidenced so are still an option. See HLI’s research on this here.
There are reasons to not be a 100% negative utilitarian. See Toby Ord’s essay on this here.
* Indicates where I have been involved in orgs/research. Although honestly I have met folk at most of the orgs listed and so just assume I am bias and do your own research.
Fully endorsed. And I would add that if you don’t mind more speculative, harder to evaluate interventions there are organizations working on risks of future astronomical suffering like the Center for Long-Term Risk, and organizations working on wild animal suffering like Wild Animal Initiative. For more measurable impacts I don’t have much to add to weeatquince’s excellent suggestions.
+1 on OPIS.
You state this like it’s a fact but it’s heavily dependent on how you compare animal and human suffering. I don’t think this is a given. Formal attempts to compare animal and human suffering like Rethink Priorities’ Animal Welfare Estimates have enormous error bars.
Worthy being cautious in a world where ~10% of the world live on <$2 a day.
Preventing malaria stops people from suffering from the sickness, prevents grief from the death of that person (often a child), and boosts economies by decreasing sick days and reducing the burden on health systems
Remember that most malaria cases are not fatal.
It kills ~350,000 people a year. The fatality rate isn’t as important as the total deaths.
You could also minimize existence.
I don’t have particular charity recommendations, but for preventing human suffering:
Preventing ppl from being born: contraceptives, abortion rights, educating and distributing abortion pills for easy abortions. And educating girls, as that means less children.
Viewing life as a right instead of an obligation: Fighting suicide/euthanasia stigma, euthanasia rights, maybe some neater way for DIY euthanasia similar to abortion pills. NOTE: I am definitely AGAINST convincing anyone to end their life. I also think that ppl deserve help for mental suffering, however that help should be optional for them instead of imprisoning in hospital wards etc