Loans to North Korea

[Guest]

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[Oriana]

The people of North Korea are so poor, but the regime that rules this country is considered an axis of evil. The people suffer so much, is it even possible to loan money in this country? My boyfriend's family fled North Korea during the war so it would be very special to him as well as me to be able to loan money to the people in this country. Can anyone let me know if this is possible and also let me know if it is possible to ask Kiva to look into working with MFI's in North Korea? I realize that with what is going on at this moment over there this might not be possible right now, but perhaps later when things calm down?
Oriana

[Dagfinn]

Dear, I am rather puzzled and saddened by that you quote failed prejudice as a fact.  Any person if looking for the axis of evil should look within him or herself and not label a whole nation so just because.  Even to many republicans in the US one today have understood that powerful metaphors backfire when they are not grounded on non-biased facts.

My wish for this site is that we do not occupy ourself with politics but focus on what we can do to help people make a decent living out of poverty.  In that you have my full supoort that loans to North Korea would be very much welcomed.

I suggest you write Kiva with your request, I am sure they keep tabs on what the community here on KivaFriends are looking for.


Let us hope for success, Dagfinn A

[wind5001]

It is highly unlikely that North Korea's regime will allow microlending to take place. In fact, I cannot imagine that "Juche", North Korea's state ideology foresees anything like entrepreneurs. This is not to say that they don't exist, because basically anyone in North Korea that does not belong to higher party hierarchies, has to be inventive to get by. There is a black market of many, many farmers and businessmen, but they will hardly be allowed to access funds. It is just another shameful part of North Korea's oppressive dictatorship.

There are only a few NGOs allowed to work in North Korea, namely the World Food Program (WFP) and UNICEF. You can support them to help them feed the millions and millions of undernourished people in North Korea.

[Oriana]

Dagfinn, Perhaps I wasn't clear enough, my reference to North Korea being considered an axis of evil has nothing to do with me but rather I had read in the news that, a power that be (forgot what power) forbade that any individual or organization could give funds no matter how small to anyone in North Korea because they declared them an axis of evil. I didn't feel I had to go get the source of that statement in order to be able to reference the fact that I read in the news. Honestly, I had not run across the term axis of evil before, and my only reason to restate it was because of individuals or organizations being forbidden to provide any funds. I don't understand what you mean when you say I quoted failed prejiduce as a fact. I am confused. My only wish is to be able to fund loans to people in North Korea someday, and many other countries besides.

Wind, thank you for letting me know that WFP and UNICEF is allowed to work in North Korea. 
Oriana

[wind5001]

Oriana,

the term "axis of evil" is tainted, because George W. Bush used it infamously in his first State of the Union address after 9/11 to divert attention to North Korea, Syria Iran and Iraq (THANK YOU, Judy!). It has a very hollow ring ever since...

It seems that direct donations for Unicef's work in North Korea are no longer possible. Just checked http://www.unicefusa.org/donate/index.html . A few years back, I could do so from Germany at least. And I just checked the German site, and there it is still possible...strange indeed.  And it seems you also cannot earmark funds for North Korea on the World Food Program's website...

But you can via globalgiving at: http://www.globalgiving.com/projects/help-food-crisis-in-north-korea/

Oli

[Oriana]

Oli,
Thank you very much for the clarification and also for the link! I really appreciate that.
Good to know that at least there is still one way to give aid to the people of North Korea. I hope things improve in time.
Oriana