Reflecting upon her novel "Lying Perfectly Still," Laura Fish offers a nuanced and critical perspective on international aid work, drawing from her personal experiences and the themes explored in her book.
Fish acknowledges the importance of aid and development but doesn't shy away from addressing its potential pitfalls. "I think that aid and development is really important, of course, but it can do a lot of damage," she states, setting the tone for a frank discussion about the complexities of humanitarian efforts. Fish believes that care and sensitivity are required in the formulation of aid and development and in its delivery.
Reflecting on her time with Save The Children thirty years ago, Fish describes a lifestyle of privilege. This experience led her to a crucial realization: "It's important to understand that helping people means actually giving something up, not gaining something."
She explains that often, the desire to help might sometimes be better directed closer to home. She believes that if people really want to help, there are circumstances where it would be more effective to visit an elderly person who doesn't have any visitors, rather than visiting somebody in, for example, Tanzania, where you don't speak the language and have no understanding of the culture.
The author raises thought-provoking questions about the true beneficiaries of aid work. "With aid and development, sometimes the donors are the people who benefit as well," Fish points out, highlighting the complex dynamics at play in the industry.
Fish also emphasizes the need for self-reflection and leading by example. She argues that there's significant work to be done in Western countries regarding attitudes and behaviours. "The emphasis could be more on practising what we preach in terms of good behaviour, rather than just pointing the finger at other people and saying, 'you ought to be doing this', 'you ought to be doing that'," she asserts.
Ultimately, Fish's insights challenge us to look inward and consider how we can make a meaningful impact, whether abroad or in our own communities. This perspective adds depth to the themes explored in "Lying Perfectly Still," making it not just a gripping narrative, but also a catalyst for important discussions about global responsibility and ethical engagement with other cultures.
Preorders for Lying Perfectly Still can be found here at Fly on the Wall Press
(Original interview with da Costa, Patricia Neves and Katrijn Van den Bossche)
コメント