The Crisis Caravan by Linda Polman Summary
Overview of The Crisis Caravan
Linda Polman's "The Crisis Caravan" exposes humanitarian aid's dark paradox - how good intentions fuel conflict. Featured on Jon Stewart's show, this provocative expose reveals how aid resources become war commodities, challenging our assumptions about charity's impact in global crisis zones.
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Key takeaways
The Billion-Dollar Industry Built on Good Intentions
A cholera outbreak in 1994 brought bulldozers scraping bodies into mass graves near Goma, Zaire. Television cameras captured the horror, and within days, $1.5 million poured in daily-the best-funded humanitarian operation in history. But here's what donors never saw: these weren't genocide survivors fleeing violence. They were the perpetrators. The camps housed the entire extremist Hutu government that had just orchestrated the slaughter of 800,000 Tutsis, complete with their army, militia, national bank assets, and plans to return to power. Welcome to the crisis caravan-a $11.2 billion global industry where 37,000 international aid organizations operate in a moral minefield that would have appalled the founders of modern humanitarian work. Henri Dunant established the Red Cross on principles of neutrality after witnessing battlefield carnage in 1859. Florence Nightingale vehemently opposed him, arguing that voluntary aid merely lets governments shirk responsibility. Their unresolved debate echoes through every crisis today, because in modern conflicts where 90% of casualties are civilians, humanitarian principles become unenforceable. Expecting armed groups to respect aid neutrality is like asking muggers to follow boxing rules.
When Refugee Camps Become Military Bases
The Business of Compassion
The Tourist Attraction of Suffering
The Aid Lottery
The Unresolved Dilemma and the Path Forward
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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