I am a practicing veterinary surgeon with extensive experience in research and systems building and thinking. I am interested in finding the best ways of doing the most good.
Lutebemberwa Isa
Karma: 8
Navigating Uncertainty: My Path to Effective Altruism
Based on the readings in previous sessions, which global problems do you think are most pressing and why? (Remember, experts are quite uncertain about this question!)
Artificial Intelligence: A High-Stakes Global Challenge
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving, with advancements being made at an unprecedented pace. Despite its potential to revolutionize industries, improve efficiency, and solve complex problems, AI remains largely unregulated, raising ethical and safety concerns. AI’s scalability allows it to influence nearly every aspect of human life, from healthcare and finance to warfare and governance. However, this immense power also comes with risks. The lack of oversight increases the chances of AI being misused, reinforcing biases, exacerbating inequality, and even posing security threats. Moreover, AI safety is a neglected area of research, with far less investment in risk mitigation compared to AI development. If left unchecked, the rapid deployment of advanced AI systems could lead to unintended consequences, including job displacement, loss of human autonomy, and in extreme scenarios, existential risks where AI systems surpass human control
Factory Farming: A Growing Ethical and Environmental Crisis
As the global human population continues to rise, so does the demand for food, particularly protein sources such as meat, eggs, and dairy. With limited land available for traditional farming, industrialized factory farming has become the dominant method of production. However, this shift comes at a significant cost to animal welfare, public health, and the environment.
Factory farming prioritizes efficiency and profit, often at the expense of the animals it exploits. Millions of animals are confined in overcrowded, stressful, and unsanitary conditions, deprived of natural behaviors, and subjected to inhumane treatment. Beyond ethical concerns, intensive animal agriculture contributes to environmental degradation, including deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it increases the risk of zoonotic disease outbreaks and antibiotic resistance, posing threats to both human and animal populations.
Yet, all lives human and non-human are intrinsically valuable. As we strive to meet global food demands, we must prioritize ethical, sustainable, and humane solutions, such as improving welfare standards, investing in plant-based and alternative proteins, and promoting responsible consumption. The future of food production must balance human needs with compassion and respect for all living beings.
Existential Risks: Humanity’s Greatest but Most Neglected Threats
The world faces numerous existential risks and catastrophic events that could wipe out humanity or permanently derail civilization. These risks range from nuclear war, engineered pandemics, and runaway artificial intelligence to climate collapse and asteroid impacts. Despite their potentially devastating consequences, they remain critically underfunded and understudied, with only a handful of experts and organizations dedicated to mitigating them.
Many of these risks are not just theoretical but have a significant probability of occurring within this century. Advancements in technology, geopolitical tensions, and environmental degradation are accelerating some of these threats, making proactive prevention more urgent than ever. Yet, governments, institutions, and society at large often prioritize short-term concerns over long-term survival. If we fail to take these threats seriously, we risk losing everything, not just human civilization, but the potential future of life on Earth.
2. What are your 3-5 biggest uncertainties about the above?
Artificial intelligence
How soon will AI reach a point where it poses a serious existential risk?
Will AI safety research advance quickly enough to keep up with AI development?
Can governments and institutions create effective regulations without stifling innovation
How will societies adapt to mass automation, and will economic inequality worsen?
Will AI lead to an arms race between nations, and can international agreements prevent misuse?
If AI surpasses human intelligence, will we be able to maintain control over it, or will it act unpredictably?
Factory farming
How feasible is a large-scale transition to plant-based and alternative proteins, especially in low- and middle-income countries where animal products are a key part of diets and livelihoods?
Will innovations like lab-grown meat and plant-based proteins become affordable and widely accepted by consumers in time to significantly reduce factory farming?
How can global cooperation be achieved to standardize animal welfare laws across different countries?
What support systems will be necessary to help farmers transition to more sustainable practices without losing their income?
Will public perception of animal welfare and sustainability issues shift significantly enough to drive changes in consumer behavior?
Will technological solutions like precision fermentation, cultured meat, or genetically modified animals improve sustainability without introducing new ethical or environmental risks?
Existential risks
Some existential risks are hard to quantify, how likely are these risks to occur within this century, and which are most urgent?
Are we capable of designing robust safeguards against AI, pandemics, and geopolitical conflicts, or are some risks inherently uncontrollable
Can countries and institutions put aside differences to work on long-term survival, or will bureaucracy and self-interest hinder progress?
Will public opinion shift in time to demand serious action, or will these issues remain ignored until it’s too late?
What are the existential threats we haven’t even considered yet, and how do we prepare for the unknown?
3. What could you do over the next few weeks to explore those uncertainties? (For example, do more reading, talk things through with a friend, or write an EA Forum post on your key uncertainties to get feedback.)
Over the next few weeks, I plan to explore my key uncertainties through a combination of reading, writing, and discussions:
Deepening My Knowledge: I will read more on effective altruism, existential risks, AI safety, and factory farming to better understand the complexities of these issues.
Engaging with the EA Community: I will write posts on the EA Forum to articulate my uncertainties and seek feedback from experienced members.
Discussing with Peers: I will have conversations with knowledgeable friends, mentors, or EA community members to challenge my assumptions and gain new perspectives.
Tracking My Thoughts: I will take structured notes on key insights, open questions, and areas where my views evolve, helping me refine my thinking over time.
4. What aptitudes are you most interested in exploring or using next? You might want to think about what you’re unusually good at, what activities make you feel energized, and what skills seem especially useful for addressing the problems you listed above.
Conceptual and empirical research on core longtermist topics aptitudes
Entrepreneur aptitude
Community building aptitudes
Academia
5. How could you begin to test out those aptitudes over the next few weeks?
Over the next few weeks, I plan to start writing and sharing posts on Effective Altruism (EA), exploring various topics that interest me. This will help me develop my writing and critical thinking skills while also refining my niche. Additionally, I am actively building a career in high-impact research, leveraging my skills and background to contribute meaningfully to this field. Unless otherwise as a veterinarian, I intend to focus on addressing factory farming, examining its ethical, environmental, and public health implications. Through writing, research, and engagement with relevant communities, I hope to deepen my expertise, connect with like-minded individuals, and identify actionable solutions to improve animal welfare in industrial agriculture.
6. While you’re figuring out your uncertainties, are there any actions to improve the world that you want to do now? (E.g. make a donation, or do things that make it more likely that you remember to apply these ideas in your life (like signing up for newsletters, committing to discuss your career with a friend, or making a task to apply for high-impact jobs/internships).
I plan to take several concrete steps to improve the world while refining my understanding of high-impact work:
Applying for High-Impact Jobs : I will actively seek job opportunities that align with effective altruism principles, allowing me to contribute meaningfully to global challenges.
Attending EA Conferences: Engaging with the Effective Altruism community through general conferences will help me learn from experts, expand my network, and refine my approach to making a difference.
Pursuing High-Impact Research: Since research is one of my strengths, I am exploring ways to initiate or contribute to research projects that address pressing global issues.
Reading The Precipice: This book will deepen my understanding of existential risks and long-termist thinking, providing valuable insights into how I can contribute effectively.
Taking the In-Depth EA Course: Enrolling in this course will help me systematically explore EA principles, sharpen my decision-making skills, and develop a more structured approach to doing good.
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 16th 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 ?
it reaches the highest number of beneficiaries
It has the highest number of lives saved.
it has the lowest cost per child
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
Animal welfare has been neglected by governments and funding and yet with every growth in the human population, there is an increase in the compromise of the welfare of animals.
Thank you for this very insightful line of thought.