When working on a project with someone, one of the most annoying things possible is that you spend ages working on something, say a poster, only to find the next day that your partner has already done that, and you wasted a huge amount of time an effort. Similarly, when trying to solve global problems, there is little to be gained from multiple people creating the exact same solution to a problem, or simply trying to redo something already done.
That is not to say, however, that people should not work together on something, or both try to solve a problem. In essence, this statement is trying to say that you should not waste your time, effort, and resources trying to do something done already. If something is there, you can use it. If you need a tool, or a method of moving good and services, it is much better and more efficient to use existing systems or items.
This is important in a global sense because we are often inundated with a huge amount of, for example, aid groups. They all work to achieve similar goals, and often its a conflict as to which one we should donate to. The use of existing resources leads to collaboration, another important part of solving problems.
Essentially the point is that if two people do the same things, half of what is possible is done. We want to achieve everything possible, and as such, when achieving something, build on what is already there. Don't start something new if it won't be.
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