Thanks for the link. I've just sent it to a coworker who I was telling about effective altruism the other day.
According to one estimate, the Gates Foundation has already saved 5.8 million lives
Does anyone know where this number comes from? I can find a whole bunch of bloggers repeating the claim, but I can't find an original source.
The blog form for those that prefer reading http://blog.ted.com/2013/03/01/effective-altruism-peter-singer-at-ted2013/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O02-06mdkC4 Lucius and Adrianno on a longer exposition (1 hour).
My short exposition 5 min: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRQJinlkHkc
http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_singer_the_why_and_how_of_effective_altruism.html
If you're lucky enough to live without want, it's a natural impulse to be altruistic to others. But, asks philosopher Peter Singer, what's the most effective way to give? He talks through some surprising thought experiments to help you balance emotion and practicality -- and make the biggest impact with whatever you can share. Sometimes controversial, always practical ethicist Peter Singer stirs public debate about morality, from animal welfare to global poverty.