[chmike]

In my analysis of this "dilemma" I refer to this example: the man who stopped the desert http://blogs.worldwatch.org/nourishingtheplanet/the-man-who-...

The desert progress can be assimilate to poverty, something we beleive to be unstoppable. But the man above stopped the desert progress by planting little trees. In the long run it proved much more efficient than giving some water to the starving plants at the desert border. Kiva is like planting little trees.

On the other hand I also understand that some people want to contribute where urgent help is needed.