I am hopeful that, as we reached 2025, it will bring a meaningful revival of EA, not just as a movement but as a platform for fresh ideas and impactful solutions. Very excited to see you guys still keepin it up, pushing EA forward with renewed energy.
awang mridhzuan
Karma: 5
Very insightful, and what I would like to add, is that I always believe a good leader is always a good follower, who values learning from others, respects diverse perspectives, adapts based on feedback and ensuring decisions are grounded in collective inputs, rather than personal authority.
Hi everyone, I’m Awang, 43 year old from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
I’m drawn to Effective Altruism because it offers a practical, thoughtful way to tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. I’m inspired by its commitment to using reason and compassion to make meaningful change, ensuring that every effort is grounded in fairness, transparency, and tangible outcomes.
This year, my experiences working with marginalised communities in Borneo, who still struggle with basic necessities like electricity, clean water, and proper roads, have deeply shaped my perspective.
That reality hit harder when I saw how the three factors of framework of high-impact causes; scale, neglectedness, and tractability, perfectly encapsulate the challenges they face.
For years, I was a silent reader on the EA forum, quietly absorbing ideas as part of my favourite pastime. But it was only after spending time in East Malaysia that their significance truly hit me. Seeing the resilience of these communities while facing systemic neglect made me realise that I have to do more.
It’s remarkable to think that, despite being less than a thousand kilometres apart and divided only by the South China Sea, I could truly understand and feel the depth of empathy only after setting foot in East Malaysia.
We share the same national songs, watch the same TV shows, and belong to the same country, yet the weight of their struggles became tangible to me only now.
I may have gathered some of the information needed to prepare myself for the world’s pressing problems that may come knocking, but for many, the language barrier leaves them unprepared and unaware.
So the question then arises: is ignorance truly bliss, or is it the opposite?
So here I am, possibly late to the party, but finally ready to swap my digital anonymity for a spot in the metaphorical standing room only (or at least the comments section).
This isn spot on..having been active for many years in following, observing, and participating in climate change discussions, I see that too many resources are directed towards that much emphasis is placed on individual actions like reducing plastic use or switching to reusable products, which do not address the systemic changes needed to combat the climate crisis.
Unverified carbon offset projects, often fail to provide measurable or lasting environmental benefits. This misallocation of resources detracts from more impactful solutions, such as investing in renewable energy infrastructure, protecting vulnerable ecosystems, and advocating for robust climate policies that hold industries accountable. That’s what I believe.
Thanks for providing this platform and I hope that 2025 would continue to carry the hope that guide us toward creating a more impactful and compassionate world for all of us.