Despite the prevalence of media censorship and manipulation, North Korea carries a reputation for widespread poverty and a less than competitive economy compared to the rest of the world. The growth domestic product (GDP), or market value of all final goods and service from a nation in a given year, is ranked at 197 in the world, and the country’s focus on military showmanship is contrasted with its desperate need for food aid and other forms of economic assistance.
Given such circumstances, the cost of living in North Korea is far below other regions of the world. According to the Korea Institute for National Unification, “the standard of living has deteriorated to extreme levels of deprivation in which the right to food security, health and other minimum needs for human survival are denied…” With more than half of North Korea’s population living in extreme poverty, resources to sustain a basic quality of life are nearly impossible to access.
Indeed, the cost of living in North Korea is unrepresentative of the economic hardship faced by most citizens. Workers typically earn between two and three dollars a month from the government, and mismanagement in currency caused inflation to rise to figures as high as 100%. The Public Distribution System (PDS) continues to be the main source of food for more than 18 million people, approximately 70% of the population as of 2016, and unreliable electric power and water supply is also common.
Prevalent starvation in the countryside is contrasted with seemingly higher quality life in Pyongyang, the country’s capital. There is a plethora of new high-rise apartments, cheap plastic surgery costing as little as two dollars, and foreign fashion trends. Beneath this lies forced labor as a cheap means to polish the external appearance of the city.
This past year, living conditions worsened as a dry spell from April to late June severely damaged the production of rice, maize, potatoes and soybeans, potentially leading to added food shortages. It was determined to be the worst drought the country has faced since 2001. The call for international intervention draws many complications, particularly in regard to the country’s recent activity in nuclear weapons development.
Although North Korea earns foreign currency from the trade of millions of tons of coal with China every year, accounting for a third of all its official exports in 2015, military expenditures remain high, worsening the cost of living in North Korea and suppressing overall quality of life. Ongoing nuclear weapons testing made several countries question whether or not to continue its foreign aid programs in the region. Despite the fact, the United Kingdom and the United States continue sending aid. North Korea received more than £4 million in foreign aid from the U.K. over the past six years, and more than $8 million to assist vulnerable women and children.
Nonetheless, the proliferation of private enterprise, though still officially illegal, made it possible for individuals to generate profit in 2017. Beyond production requirements given directly to the state, farmers and factories are able to seek customers of their own. Six taxi companies now operate in Pyongyang, and Minis, a home-goods store, became the first foreign chain to open in North Korea this past April.
This recent economic growth has broader implications for the North Korean government, potentially undermining arguments supporting socialist superiority over capitalist systems. Information combating widespread propaganda already started slipping in with foreign goods and products. The potential for a better cost of living in North Korea and higher quality of life is increasing, suggesting that the future may just hold fewer poverty constraints and broader human rights opportunities for the country’s citizens.
– Katherine Wang
Photo: Flickr
Increasing Renewable Energy in China
In June 2017, the world witnessed a feat in the energy industry unlike any other. For an entire week, the five million citizens in the Qinghai Province of north-western China relied entirely on renewable energy. According to state media, the week-long run, organized by China’s State Grid Corporation, illustrated the potential of renewable energy in China as well as the rest of the world.
June’s event is an emblem of the increasing presence of renewable energy in China. The government announced that it plans on spending $360 billion on clean energy investments by 2020. This will offset the detrimental and life-threatening pollution, as well as push forward its economy by creating an estimated 13 million new jobs. Numbers released by Greenpeace suggest that one wind turbine was installed every hour in 2015.
Increasingly, China and renewable energy are becoming more intertwined. As an energy behemoth, China’s mass manufacturing of solar panels made widespread, household renewable energy more of a reality. Responsible for manufacturing four out of five solar modules installed presently, China made solar energy cost-competitive against fossil fuel energy.
Pitting China against other nations, its accomplishments become even more glaring. In 2016 alone, China added 35 gigawatts of solar generation, which is almost equal to Germany’s entire capacity. Meanwhile, solar power in the U.S. is not nearly as productive.
Notably, China is the largest consumer of coal consumption responsible for half of global usage. Since domestic coal miners generate 70 percent of its electricity, the Chinese government has strong incentives to continue developing and investing in renewable energy. Domestically, scientists say that China’s pollution, caused by the mass-use of fossil fuels, accounts for 1.1 million deaths a year. Its pledge to the 2014 Paris climate agreement has also been an international push towards more effectively incorporating renewable energies into its state infrastructure.
Particularly venerable is China’s efforts to develop solar panels and applications for renewable energies that can survive in environmentally diverse urban and rural areas. This will make renewable energy viable in varying landscapes around the world.
Have China and renewable energy become the pillars of the future of sustainability? Only time will tell as other nations lean toward incorporating renewable energies to compete against China’s growing market hegemony. China’s remarkable journey towards sustainable future has been an exciting one to watch, but it is far from over.
– Sydney Nam
Photo: Flickr
Common Diseases in Japan
Known as the “Land of the Rising Sun,” Japan is a group of islands off the eastern coast of Asia. In addition to being one of the most educated countries in the world, this nation functions as one of the world’s largest and most successful economies. It is also a hub for pop culture.
Japan boasts the third-highest life expectancy in the world and a universal healthcare system. The healthcare system also ranks as one of the world’s most efficient. However, like many other developed countries, its citizens primarily suffer from unbalanced nutrition and noncommunicable diseases. Additionally, high levels of smoking coupled with a rapidly aging population contribute to many of Japan’s health concerns. Here are some common diseases in Japan:
Cancer
Although cancer remains an increasingly prevalent health concern around the world, Japanese citizens, in particular, suffer heavily from the various forms of this disease. In 2010, over 353,000 people died of cancer in Japan: an incredible one-third of all deaths in the nation. In fact, heart disease led to half as many deaths as cancer did, even though it is the second most prolific killer in Japan today.
More problematic, cancer appears to be striking with most frequency at the prime of life for the Japanese. Cancer is responsible for 30% of all deaths for men in their early fifties. This number increases to 45% for men in their late sixties. Additionally, cancer also causes an astounding 40 percent of all deaths in Japanese women in their late thirties. Moreover, this percentage jumps to 50% for women in their late forties. While there will always be concerns about the frequency of cancer in an aging society like Japan, these statistics depict a nation struggling to battle an often lethal illness. This is one of the common diseases in Japan that a specific cause is difficult to find.
Mental Health Issues
The stigma against mental health has prevented Japanese citizens from receiving quality care. Family members and employers alike see the need for therapy or treatment as a character flaw. Individuals with depression worry about losing their jobs if others find out that they are seeing a psychiatrist.
In Japan, suicide as a result of depression has become a serious issue. In fact, the nation now leads the industrialized world with the most suicides at a rate of 12.8 females and 35.6 males per 100,000. This translates to the suicide of over 30,000 Japanese citizens in the past few years. This may also be influenced by Japanese insurance companies’ surprising willingness to pay out for suicides, as it provides a potential source of money for the families of those who suffer from debilitating depression.
Although people have become more aware of depression, drug treatment remains the most commonly utilized therapy. However, medication doesn’t usually treat the underlying problem and instead focuses on repressing the symptoms. In many cases, patients are simply “kept sedated with large amounts of psychiatric drugs to pacify them,” so there needs to be a change in both the healthcare system and the Japanese perception of mental illness.
The current Japanese health care system rewards high-prescribing doctors and generally discourages physicians from spending too much time with patients. This type of behavior is not an ideal environment for properly addressing mental health. Of the common diseases in Japan, mental health issues receive the worst treatment.
There needs to be a stronger focus on removing the stigma on mental health as well as a push to reform the incentives in the healthcare system. These actions are necessary if Japan wishes to deal with increasing suicide rates and numbers of untreated mentally ill.
– Akhil Reddy
Photo: Flickr
The World Health Organization’s Global Health Goals for 2030
There has always been an unfortunate imbalance in the level of health and health care received around the world. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) health goals for 2030 seeks to change things in 67 countries, both low and middle-income.
These 67 countries make up at least 75 percent of the world’s population. The WHO projections take into account increasing population and increasing health coverage in these 67 countries. When looking forward to 2030, the organization can see the potential costs and effects of such healthcare growth.
The WHO plotted out two scenarios with different levels of progress. The progress scenario entails many of these countries advancing toward their healthcare goals but hindered by various factors. In the progress scenario, the countries manage two-thirds or more of the way to these health goals for 2030.
There is also the ambitious scenario in which these 67 countries meet the healthcare goal. It would include employing at least 23 million health workers and building at least 415,000 new health facilities. If services towards universal health coverage in these countries expand as hoped for, these goals could prevent as many as 97 million premature deaths before 2030, and could add up to 8.4 years to the average life expectancy in some of these countries.
In order to accomplish these health goals for 2030, health services need investment. Most of these countries can afford the necessary investments with strategic planning, priority management, and realistic budgeting, but the poorest nations, as many as 32 countries, need assistance.
The WHO estimates that in order to achieve the ambitious scenario, the investments in global healthcare would need to increase from $134 billion to $371 billion by 2030. However, it calls for more than just funding; it requires respect for human rights and the political will to make it happen.
– Ellen Ray
Photo: Flickr
Leading by Example: Refugees in Monaco
Located between a small strip of the southern French border and the Mediterranean Sea is the Principality of Monaco, the second smallest state in the world. With such a small territory and just 30,581 citizens, one might assume that the principality would be reluctant to host refugees. However, Monaco has gladly accepted some refugees. Here are 10 facts about refugees in Monaco.
In lieu of the Syrian refugee crisis, the Principality of Monaco has chosen to lead by example. Despite the principality’s small size, there are now refugees in Monaco, integrating and on their way to lead happy lives. Hopefully, the rest of the world will follow suit.
– Shannon Golden
Photo: Flickr
The Struggle for Human Rights in Belarus
Belarus, formerly a part of the Soviet Union, has dealt with external and internal oppression for decades. Alexander Lukashenko has been the president for 23 years and has held a tight grip on the country. Widely regarded as Europe’s last dictatorship, the government maintains power through intimidating those who would oppose them. Lukashenko controls a police force that is still referred to as the KGB, and political freedoms are stifled. Human rights in Belarus are often oppressed by the totalitarian government.
Activists working for human rights in Belarus are often arrested on baseless charges, and journalists endure oppressive sanctions and harassment. It is illegal to join an organization that is not formally registered with the government, and it is very difficult for groups not associated with the government to receive permission to register.
Last year, the European Union removed the sanctions meant to improve human rights in Belarus because Lukashenko released several prisoners who had been held unjustly. In October, Belarus created a plan to reduce human rights violations, but many critics say it is not specific enough to adequately improve the situation.
In March 2017, the police arrested almost 1,000 people who were peacefully protesting a law that taxes every citizen not working full-time. The suppression of this protest stands out as the worst human rights violation since the unjust election in 2010.
Belarus has also reinstated the death penalty and has executed several people without permission from the U.N. Human Rights Council. The next time the council meets, the country will endure a thorough evaluation and the U.N. will likely decide to take action to intervene on behalf of human rights in Belarus.
The EU has stated that it will not continue to support Belarus if the country continues to violate human rights. This move is meant to force Belarus to improve conditions, as its economy is largely dependent on imports from other countries.
Belarus does not meet the standards of human rights required for European countries by the U.N., but the events of the past couple years have shone a spotlight on the government’s misdemeanors. This spotlight has renewed the EU and U.N. focus on improving human rights in Belarus, and their work should improve conditions in the next decade.
– Julia Mccartney
Cost of Living in North Korea: Poor Vs Republic
Despite the prevalence of media censorship and manipulation, North Korea carries a reputation for widespread poverty and a less than competitive economy compared to the rest of the world. The growth domestic product (GDP), or market value of all final goods and service from a nation in a given year, is ranked at 197 in the world, and the country’s focus on military showmanship is contrasted with its desperate need for food aid and other forms of economic assistance.
Given such circumstances, the cost of living in North Korea is far below other regions of the world. According to the Korea Institute for National Unification, “the standard of living has deteriorated to extreme levels of deprivation in which the right to food security, health and other minimum needs for human survival are denied…” With more than half of North Korea’s population living in extreme poverty, resources to sustain a basic quality of life are nearly impossible to access.
Indeed, the cost of living in North Korea is unrepresentative of the economic hardship faced by most citizens. Workers typically earn between two and three dollars a month from the government, and mismanagement in currency caused inflation to rise to figures as high as 100%. The Public Distribution System (PDS) continues to be the main source of food for more than 18 million people, approximately 70% of the population as of 2016, and unreliable electric power and water supply is also common.
Prevalent starvation in the countryside is contrasted with seemingly higher quality life in Pyongyang, the country’s capital. There is a plethora of new high-rise apartments, cheap plastic surgery costing as little as two dollars, and foreign fashion trends. Beneath this lies forced labor as a cheap means to polish the external appearance of the city.
This past year, living conditions worsened as a dry spell from April to late June severely damaged the production of rice, maize, potatoes and soybeans, potentially leading to added food shortages. It was determined to be the worst drought the country has faced since 2001. The call for international intervention draws many complications, particularly in regard to the country’s recent activity in nuclear weapons development.
Although North Korea earns foreign currency from the trade of millions of tons of coal with China every year, accounting for a third of all its official exports in 2015, military expenditures remain high, worsening the cost of living in North Korea and suppressing overall quality of life. Ongoing nuclear weapons testing made several countries question whether or not to continue its foreign aid programs in the region. Despite the fact, the United Kingdom and the United States continue sending aid. North Korea received more than £4 million in foreign aid from the U.K. over the past six years, and more than $8 million to assist vulnerable women and children.
Nonetheless, the proliferation of private enterprise, though still officially illegal, made it possible for individuals to generate profit in 2017. Beyond production requirements given directly to the state, farmers and factories are able to seek customers of their own. Six taxi companies now operate in Pyongyang, and Minis, a home-goods store, became the first foreign chain to open in North Korea this past April.
This recent economic growth has broader implications for the North Korean government, potentially undermining arguments supporting socialist superiority over capitalist systems. Information combating widespread propaganda already started slipping in with foreign goods and products. The potential for a better cost of living in North Korea and higher quality of life is increasing, suggesting that the future may just hold fewer poverty constraints and broader human rights opportunities for the country’s citizens.
– Katherine Wang
Photo: Flickr
5 Things to Know About Pakistan’s IDP Problem
In recent years, Pakistan has become home to one of the world’s largest population of internally displaced persons (IDPs). A decade-long militant insurgency; many military operations in the northwest and natural disasters have displaced millions of people from their homes. As a result, Pakistan’s IDP problem is the greatest humanitarian crisis in the country’s history.
According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal (SATP), “a total of 5.3 million people in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) have been displaced as a consequence of counter-terrorism operations since 2008, some of them multiple times.” Of these, 4.8 million to have returned, and the rest have yet to go back to their homes.
The state of Pakistan, with the help of international humanitarian groups, has responded to the crises. However, it has not fully met the post-displacement challenges of the displaced and returnees. Particularly, five things about Pakistan’s IDP problem warrant the immediate attention of national government and international aid agencies:
The good news is that national and provincial authorities, military, civil society and community networks are all involved in Pakistan’s IDP problem. The government has made substantial efforts to address IDPs’ needs over the years. Immediate relief has generally included shelter, relief, cash grants, water, etc., but Pakistan has no national policy or legislation to cope with the recurrent crises of internally displaced persons.
– Aslam Kakar
Photo: Flickr
Increasing Surgical Care for Cleft Conditions
One of every 500-750 children worldwide is born with a facial deformity known as a cleft lip or cleft palate. If left untreated, the condition can result in social isolation and serious health concerns, such as malnutrition and infection. There is a clear need for increasing surgical care for cleft conditions.
While cleft conditions can almost always be reversed, many impoverished and/or rural families are unable to access affordable care in order to get their children the necessary medical attention. Operation Smile believes that all patients deserve exceptional surgical care regardless of where they are born or how much money their families make.
Operation Smile has been executing life-saving surgical procedures for children around the world for over 35 years. Their advocacy efforts expounding the importance of increasing surgical care for cleft conditions have touched millions. Consequently, their donor base continues to grow. In the month of July, the organization has plans to execute several medical missions in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Tame, Columbia and Ambato, Ecuador, to name a few.
Beyond the numbers, Operation Smile prides itself on personable and compassionate care. CEO and founder Dr. Bill Magee asks of his donors, “What if this was your child who needed the surgery?” He notes how this consideration makes people realize that the work he does not only rewarding but absolutely necessary.
Adding to the personal nature of the organization, it focuses on individual stories of patients and their families both before and after the life-altering surgery.
The healing story of Siham, a young girl from Morroco, demonstrates just how difficult overcoming the social obstacles of looking different than your peers can be. Every time she left her house, people tormented her in the streets. After only a few weeks of school, Siham dropped out because of the bullying she had endured. Doctors informed her that surgery was possible, but Siham knew that her family would never be able to afford the travel expenses to reach the hospital, let alone the procedure itself.
Stories like Siham’s touch readers at a personal level and help increase the reach of the organization’s successes.
Powered by its compassionate donors and volunteers, Operation Smile has provided hundreds of thousands of free cleft condition surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries. This care has grown exponentially since its beginning in 1982. One element that makes this organization unique from many other medical nonprofits is that it works within the local community’s health providers and cultural norms rather than independently to provide comfortable care for their patients. Each mission is different. Some require importing medical equipment and others need local expertise.
While the root cause of cleft conditions is not yet clear, Operation Smile and other organizations are researching ways to prevent the deformity. For over 30 years, the nonprofit has grown its donor and volunteer bank exponentially. In addition, it has gained valuable experience in unique areas by teaming up with local medical programs in developing countries.
The success of Operation Smile in increasing surgical care for cleft conditions lies in its sustainable practices. They involve local community volunteers and emphasize the importance of donations to fund the services rather than charging patients. The organization benefits everyone involved and will likely continue to grow.
– Sarah Coiro
Photo: Flickr
Heart Disease Leads Common Diseases in Germany
Germany is historically one of the most powerful nations on the planet, and its healthcare system is universal for all legal residents. They are able to combat many of the common diseases in Germany and continue to break through barriers and make advancements in treatments.
With the universal coverage for all legal residents, 85% of the population is covered by social health insurance and 10% by substitutive private health insurance, and the rest is covered by special programs. Everyone in the country is covered in some form or fashion. Germany is one of the most affected in the world by heart disease; they are ranked eighth in the world for the highest rate of death attributed to heart disease. More than 310 people per year of every 100,000 die from heart disease in Germany. This is higher than the rates of both the United States and the United Kingdom. It is the most common disease and the most common cause of death in Germany.
Germany is one of the most affected in the world by heart disease; it is ranked eighth in the world for the highest rate of death attributed to heart disease. More than 310 people per year of every 100,000 die from heart disease in Germany. This is higher than the rates of both the United States and the United Kingdom. It is the most common disease and the most common cause of death in Germany.
Other common diseases in Germany aside from heart disease are Alzheimer’s disease and various cancers. The majority of the diseases are noncommunicable with only lower respiratory infections as the only major communicable disease in Germany.
Germany has one of the higher frequencies of different types of cancer in the world. Germany ranks eighteenth in the world for both sexes: eighteenth in males, and twentieth in females. There are many high-end cancer hospitals and clinics that offer high-end technology in an effort to combat the severity of cancer.
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia diseases are a major focus in Germany. People are able to receive a diagnosis of dementia diseases thanks to the German Alzheimer’s Association. With the lack of specialists in certain areas in Germany, it can take months to see specialists, and it may be easier for some to get a diagnosis on the spot. The good news is there is research conducted each year and all of the major Alzheimer’s drugs and treatments are available in Germany.
A major push that many in Germany are making is to eliminate the risk factors that plague the country and much of the world. It may reduce some of the problems that some in the country are facing. Risk factors in Germany include dietary risks, high blood pressure and tobacco smoke to round out the top three. Reducing these lifestyle risk factors that may contribute to these diseases can help maintain the downward trend of some diseases.
Germany has some of the best care in the world and there have been steps taken to ensure that the common diseases in Germany decrease as much as possible over the next few years. There is still work to be done, especially with heart disease, but the technology and policy priorities are looking in the right direction and helping the citizens of Germany.
– Brendin Axtman
Photo: Google
On Board With India’s First Solar-Powered Train
As a nation, India has long relied on railroad transport to get from one place to another. With 68,000 kilometers of railroad, India is the country with the fifth-greatest capacity for rail transportation. These rails play a critical role in transporting both passengers and cargo around the country.
Railroads account for 85 percent of India’s passenger traffic and 60 percent of its freight capacity. However, railways in India emit a significant amount of carbon dioxide. As a nation, India contributes four percent of the world’s fossil fuel emissions, posing serious environmental challenges.
The DEMU (diesel electric multiple train) that was launched out of the Safdarjung train station in New Delhi is expected to offset these emissions. The DEMU train is significantly more environmentally friendly than previous train models and counteracts carbon emissions by nine tons per coach per year, with a total of six coaches.
The design for the DEMU train was completed by Jakson engineers after they were awarded this project by Indian Railways Organization for Alternate Fuels, a unit of Indian Railways focused on promoting biodiesel and other alternative fuels for India’s railways.
The solar panels on India’s first solar-powered train have the capacity to power its internal lights, fans, and other electrical systems within the train, generating a total of 7,200 kilowatts per system per year. Additional energy generated during peak hours will be stored in a battery.
Regardless, with India’s expanding economy, it is necessary to address the limitations of current methods of transportation. While a commitment to renewable energy sources like solar power curbs carbon dioxide emissions, India’s current transportation methods pose certain limitations.
Transportation infrastructure is strained and unable to support future economic growth that could help alleviate poverty for many. Trains in India do reach most of the population, but rural areas are often under-served and many of the poor are not connected to India’s main economic centers by road or railway.
While India’s current dependence on rail transportation poses economic and poverty-related problems, the shift toward more environmentally sustainable practices alleviates some of these issues and India’s first solar-powered train is a good step towards this.
– Jennifer Faulkner