Conventionally, the bestowal of pride that follows a host nomination for a future World Cup invigorates a country; in Qatar, it has nearly broken it. The working conditions of those preparing for the 2022 event, most of whom are migrant workers, have exceeded the already poor conditions of such labor in the Gulf States, causing shock throughout the world.
In the past few weeks alone, dozens of Nepalese laborers have died, while countless others face terrible abuses on a daily basis. Over the broader span of this past summer, the Nepalese workforce in Qatar averaged one death a day, many of which were due to heart attacks, rare occurrences in young men. Tellingly, the condition of the Nepalese—the largest labor group in Qatar—tells a greater story of all workers: that of modern-day slavery.
In an interview with The Guardian, one worker described the precariousness of his situation: “I’m angry about how this company is treating us, but we’re helpless. I regret coming here, but what to do? We were compelled to come just to make a living, but we’ve had no luck.”
Tellingly, in addition to the continual threat of death, other injustices have characterized their stay in Qatar. For example, many laborers allege that their wages have been withheld for months in order to stop them from running away. Some employers even steal passports and ID cards, making it impossible for workers to obtain the legal or political aid they deserve.
Despite the slyness of many Qatar labor schemes, some are just basic infringements of human rights. Many laborers have recalled being refused water, despite working in some of the world’s most brutal heat. Such cruelty directed at largely Nepalese laborers underscores the broader context of the 2022 World Cup: one in which an extremely wealthy country exploits a vulnerable labor force from an extremely indigent one for material aims.
However, after the recent media attention scrutinizing the World Cup labor scheme, Qatar has responded by promising swift action. Hassan Al Thawadi, the head organizer of Qatar’s World Cup, said his organization was dutifully addressing international concerns.
In a recent interview, he stated with avidity: “It’s not a World Cup being built on the blood of innocents. That is unacceptable to anybody.”
The intended efficacy of labor reform remains, until now, unseen. The world urges Qatar to quickly and adequately address the gross human rights injustices being done in the name of sport and materialism, setting an example by valuing human life, regardless of one’s background or occupation. If these issues are not addressed, the 2022 World Cup will reflect the horrors of Qatar rather than its immense beauty.
– Anna Purcell
Sources: The Guardian, The Huffington Post, BBC
Photo: The Guardian
How the 10 Richest Countries Could End Poverty
At last count, there were 193 independent countries in the world. Let’s start by reviewing the top 10 richest countries. Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. is not the richest country in the world; it comes in at seventh place.
So, how are the wealthiest countries in the world combating global poverty?
In 2002, the world’s leaders got serious about ending world poverty. At the International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico, each country agreed to dedicate 0.7 percent of its national income to international aid. If each of the 22 leading countries were to adhere to this agreement, a total of $200 billion a year would be invested in foreign aid. However, this goal has yet to be reached.
In 2005, the top richest countries in the world committed a total of $106 billion to foreign aid – $119 billion short of the 2002 target. Each country dedicated an average of only 0.33 percent of their national income to international aid. The U.S. ranked second to last, with an investment of only 0.22 percent. The country in last place, Portugal, dedicated 0.21 percent.
However, there are five countries that have already met or surpassed the 0.7 percent goal. Starting with the largest contribution, they are:
What is the big deal about .07 percent?
Why is the U.S. trailing behind the fight against global poverty?
Most Americans believe the U.S. contributes 25 percent of our gross national income (GNI) to international aid. In reality, we contribute less than 1 percent. Moreover, most Americans believe the U.S. should combat world hunger through foreign aid efforts.
Americans support investment in foreign aid. As one of the world’s wealthiest and leading countries, we can do better than second to last. It is time our values as Americans are accurately reflected in our national budget. Contact your congressional leaders today to voice your support in investing in foreign aid. Here’s a place to get started: Call Congress.
– Caressa Kruth
Sources: Forbes, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development, Borgen Project
Photo: The Why of Development
Foreign Aid, Where Does It Go? A Look at USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is a successful program engineered to combat poverty. USAID has focused on diminishing poverty in several aspects. Improving nutrition, assisting in food aid, and advancing water supplies are all important USAID goals. These three issues are connected on a deeper scale, as improving nutrition levels is conjoined with clean water supply and food aid assistance.
Proper nutrition is a basic necessity for every human. Malnutrition leads to approximately 2.6 million deaths per year, deaths that could be prevented if steps were taken to counteract malnutrition. USAID has partnered with Scale Up Nutrition (SUN) to help achieve basic nutritional improvement in impoverished areas throughout the world.
USAID and SUN have laid out a strategic approach to achieve their goal. They plan to prevent malnutrition through a package of maternal, infant, and young children programs. USAID and SUN will also combat malnutrition by targeting supplementation to vulnerable groups, managing malnutrition through community based projects, providing nutritional care for those living with HIV/AIDS, and improving the quality of food in the food assistance programs.
USAID is not only well prepared to handle global malnutrition levels; they are also prepared on the food assistance front. USAID works with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to effectively deliver lifesaving aid to food-barren areas. USAID and WFP have developed a working protocol that efficiently delivers food supplies to shortages worldwide.
USAID and WFP are constantly upgrading their food science programs, allowing them to deliver greater amounts of healthy food to needy areas. USAID is using a supply-chain management system that allows food to be sent out more efficiently. The programs have also combined to implement an emergency food service, which allows USAID and WFP to purchase emergency food in disaster-stricken areas. In addition, USAID also funded the Famine Early Warning System (FEWS), which is highly regarded as one of the best early-warning systems in the world.
Food and nutrition are two basic necessities in life. These epidemics are two of the most common problems known worldwide, yet a third is often overlooked. Lack of clean water supplies is just as important, and it receives a similar amount of attention from USAID. USAID has a specifically laid out plan to implement clean water supplies in needy areas. USAID focuses on increasing access to a sustainable water supply for all communities, finding a way to sanitize the water supplies, and teaching the community key hygiene behaviors to keep the water sanitized.
Through the actions of USAID, positive results can be seen in all of the targeted areas. In 2011, 3.8 million people had better access to clean water. USAID and affiliated programs provided over 1.5 metric tons of food to communities in 2012. The nutrition programs have been equally effective, with predictions that malnutrition will decrease by 20 percent in the next two years in targeted countries. The progress can be easily seen; all of which were made possible by the foreign aid budget that often falls under much criticism.
– Zachary Wright
Sources: USAID, USAID: Food Aid, USAID: Nutrition
Photo: Flickr
Nigeria’s Richest Man to Builds Hospital
While laying the foundation for the Mariya Sansuni Dantata Ulra-Modern Theatre and Diagnostic Complex at Murtala Muhammed Hospital in Kano on October 3, Aliko Dangote announced another construction project for the northern state of Nigeria. Dangote, a cement industrialist, humanitarian, and leader of the Dangote Foundation, also happens to be Nigeria’s richest man.
As reported by Nigeria’s Channels Television, Dangote plans to build a 1000-bed hospital in Kano—projected by officials to be one of the largest and most ambitious healthcare centers in the Kano state.
At the foundation ceremony, Dangote discussed his motivation behind building the medical facility in Kano, his home state. Dangote wants to end the demanding costs of medical tourism — the process in which people travel to another country to receive greater care than they would in their own country for improved affordability, better access to care, and higher quality of care. According to Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Lamido Sanusi, medical tourism in Nigeria costs N80 billion per year.
Dangote further emphasized his dedication to achieve steady health programs for Nigerians. “It is not about creating a modern medical facility in this great city of ours. It is about our commitment to systematically improving health and well being…” He emphasized every Nigerian’s right to high quality health services.
With Dangote Foundation’s support, improved infrastructure, preventive healthcare, and training for skilled health workers can be realized.
Many African officials commended Dangote on his efforts and enthusiasm in helping the Nigerian people and economy. Kano State Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso commended Dangote, noting that the hospital will support surgical operations. Kwankwaso also encouraged other wealthy Africans or philanthropists to follow in Aliko Dangote’s footsteps. The State Commissioner for Health, Labaran Yusuf, praised Dangote for revolutionizing quality of healthcare in the state.
Aliko Dangote has considerably increased his philanthropic efforts over the past twelve months. In addition to infrastructure projects, Aliko Dangote has been influential in funding several operations to empower Nigerian women, as well as starting a program providing grants to poor women and children, to be used as income to meet their family and human needs. Dangote also provided significant monetary donations toward flood relief in Nigeria last November, as well as donating to a number of Nigerian universities.
– Laura Reinacher
Sources: Forbes, Channels, The Guardian
Photo: Forbes
The Labor Injustices Behind Qatar’s World Cup
Conventionally, the bestowal of pride that follows a host nomination for a future World Cup invigorates a country; in Qatar, it has nearly broken it. The working conditions of those preparing for the 2022 event, most of whom are migrant workers, have exceeded the already poor conditions of such labor in the Gulf States, causing shock throughout the world.
In the past few weeks alone, dozens of Nepalese laborers have died, while countless others face terrible abuses on a daily basis. Over the broader span of this past summer, the Nepalese workforce in Qatar averaged one death a day, many of which were due to heart attacks, rare occurrences in young men. Tellingly, the condition of the Nepalese—the largest labor group in Qatar—tells a greater story of all workers: that of modern-day slavery.
In an interview with The Guardian, one worker described the precariousness of his situation: “I’m angry about how this company is treating us, but we’re helpless. I regret coming here, but what to do? We were compelled to come just to make a living, but we’ve had no luck.”
Tellingly, in addition to the continual threat of death, other injustices have characterized their stay in Qatar. For example, many laborers allege that their wages have been withheld for months in order to stop them from running away. Some employers even steal passports and ID cards, making it impossible for workers to obtain the legal or political aid they deserve.
Despite the slyness of many Qatar labor schemes, some are just basic infringements of human rights. Many laborers have recalled being refused water, despite working in some of the world’s most brutal heat. Such cruelty directed at largely Nepalese laborers underscores the broader context of the 2022 World Cup: one in which an extremely wealthy country exploits a vulnerable labor force from an extremely indigent one for material aims.
However, after the recent media attention scrutinizing the World Cup labor scheme, Qatar has responded by promising swift action. Hassan Al Thawadi, the head organizer of Qatar’s World Cup, said his organization was dutifully addressing international concerns.
In a recent interview, he stated with avidity: “It’s not a World Cup being built on the blood of innocents. That is unacceptable to anybody.”
The intended efficacy of labor reform remains, until now, unseen. The world urges Qatar to quickly and adequately address the gross human rights injustices being done in the name of sport and materialism, setting an example by valuing human life, regardless of one’s background or occupation. If these issues are not addressed, the 2022 World Cup will reflect the horrors of Qatar rather than its immense beauty.
– Anna Purcell
Sources: The Guardian, The Huffington Post, BBC
Photo: The Guardian
Child Labor 101
According to the International Labor Organization, approximately 211 million children are working around the world. These children range from ages five to 14, and most are working in order to provide support for their poor families. Nearly 128 products from 70 countries are made through child labor – many cases of which are forced child labor. While some children elect to start working at a young age to help support their families, many are forced into labor and treated as slaves in bondage.
In addition to poor treatment, the work environments children are forced to work in are often dangerous and harmful to their health. When children are sent to scour hazardous lakes filled with toxins in order to search for metals and jewels, the consequences are extremely damaging to their health. Much of the merchandise purchased by Americans is made in other countries, many of which are still developing and relying on labor from children. Children are often forced into labor by their government, or their government simply ignores the fact that companies and factories are forcing children to work for their own profit. Some of the products made by children include clothes, tobacco, metals, jewels, food items, pornography, holiday decorations, and electronic goods. This wide span of merchandise leaves little that child labor has not infiltrated.
In the worst cases of child labor, children are used much like slaves. In these cases, children are trafficked, often times forcing them to deal in illegal activities like drug trafficking, prostitution, and weapon conflict. Binding the children in debt is another method used by companies to ensure that the children will continue to work under their authority.
According to a report conducted by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, India has the highest percentage of child workers. India is followed by China, which is then followed by smaller countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa. In 2008, as many as one in every four children in sub-Saharan Africa were forced into labor, and commonly sent to work in diamond mines and factories. In Ethiopia, an estimated 60 percent of children are forced into labor to help support their families, the child’s income usually amounting to a dollar a month.
In Afghanistan, an increasing number of underage girls are being sold in order to pay off debt, and more than 30 percent of children are working in major industries rather than attending school. Some of the worst forms of child labor occur in Somalia where 40 percent of children under the age of 15 are forced to engage in sex slavery and armed conflict.
Though the statistics concerning child labor may seem bleak, an increasing number of organizations and nations are rising up to help put an end to child labor. The International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) is an advocacy organization that has been fighting for years to redesign working conditions across the world focusing on women in the workforce, sweatshops, and child labor. The U.S. Labor Department has also joined the stand against child labor: one of its recent reports says that Brazil is no longer relying on child labor for coal production, and that India and other countries have started anti-poverty programs to help end child labor.
– Chante Owens
Sources: Fox Business, International Labor Rights Forum, Business Insider
Photo: NYTimes
5 Cool Things Leonardo DiCaprio Has Done for Humanity
Leonardo DiCaprio is a 38-year-old American actor and film producer. He has received three nominations for Academy Awards, as well as nine Golden Globe Awards. DiCaprio has not only received praise regarding his acting career, but also for his efforts in philanthropy.
First and foremost, Leonardo DiCaprio has a strong passion for environmental activism. His longing to protect the environment is one that heavily influences his everyday life. He owns electric and hybrid cars and has even installed solar panels on his home. His personal life is filled with environmentally friendly alternatives to products that would normally cause harm to the earth. His passion also extends into his career – many humanitarian causes can be seen in the movies he’s been in like Blood Diamond and The 11th Hour, for example.
With that being said, here are five things DiCaprio has done for humanity:
– Samantha Davis
Sources: Leonardo DiCaprio, Look To The Stars, CCF
Photo: SOS Children’s Villages
ASIRVAD Serves Indian Communities
Few organizations have a vision as ambitious as “to empower at least one million families by 2013 by providing financial assistance,” but ASIRVAD is determined to do just that. ASIRVAD operates in India and provides economic support to families and communities in rural and urban regions of the vast country.
Founded in 2007, ASIRVAD Microfinance Private LTD has been addressing Indian’s agricultural economic needs. The organization focuses on economic growth and micro-finance to alleviate poverty. With assistance from ASIRVAD, poor clients are able to purchase land, seeds, technology and other business necessities. This assistance empowers the clients to lift themselves out of poverty once their farms begin producing an income.
The company offers two types of products: income generating products and business loans.
The income generating products consist of “micro loans provided to borrowers as per the RBI stipulated norms for income generating purposes.” The business loans range from “Rs. 50,000 (US 800.750) to Rs.1,00,000 (US 1601.50) [and are] provided for persons doing business for improving their existing business.” In addition to ensuring economic aid, ASIRVAD vows to provide excellent customer service.
ASIRVAD boasts the results of a recent study of the company. The study reported superb levels of transparency, governance, services altered to clients’ unique needs, client protection, low costs and high efficiency and a supportive environment for staff members. Through these programs and high standards of operation, ASIRVAD has been offering vital economic assistance to poor Indians for the past six years. This company is playing a crucial role in the fight against poverty in India.
– Mary Penn
Sources: ASIRVAD, Mix Market
Photo: Top Travel Lists
John Kerry Announces Initiative to Fight Gender-Based Violence
This past Monday, Secretary of State John Kerry announced a new U.S. initiative aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies worldwide. Known as “Safe from Start,” the $10 million will be funded to allow the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and other humanitarian organizations to hire specialized staff, start new programs, and “develop innovative methods” to protect women and girls at the onset of emergencies around the world.
“In the face of conflict and disaster, we should strive to protect women and girls from sexual assault and other violence,” Kerry emphasized in a press release. The statement also mentions that the U.S. will coordinate with other donors and stakeholders to develop a framework for action and accountability to ensure that efforts to address gender-based violence are routinely prioritized as a life-saving interference, along with other vital humanitarian help.
The initiative builds on the framework established by the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, and the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally. The Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will be responsible for the initiative.
Most conflict-ridden countries such as Syria, Egypt, or the Democratic Republic of Congo are reporting high rates of rape. Seen as a tool to terrorize villages and break the will of the opposition, rape has been routinely incorporated as a weapon of war during conflicts. According to Save the Children, up to 80 percent of war rape victims are under 18, while an Oxfam report states that rape is the “most extensive form of violence” women and girls are currently facing in Syria.
Although the press release mentions women and girls as the primary victims of gender-based violence, the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally states that this type of aggression can also be directed towards men and boys, as well as sexual and gender minorities.
According to this document, gender-based violence is “violence directed at an individual based on his or her biological sex, gender identity, or perceived adherence to socially defined norms of masculinity and femininity.” It includes physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, as well as threats, coercion, arbitrary loss of liberty, and economic hardship.
– Nayomi Chibana
Feature Writer
Sources: U.S. Department of State, CNS News, Huffington Post
Photo: Cloture Club
“Womenomics:” Japan Integrates Women to Boost GDP
On September 26, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressed the United Nations General Assembly, discussing his initiatives to create Japanese “womenomics,” an economic theory that posits the advancement and success of women in a society as directly correlated to the country’s larger growth rate.
The idea of utilizing Japan’s greatest resource—its women—is not entirely new. In 1999, Kathy Matsui, along with a variety of other employees at Goldman Sachs addressed a similar topic, suggesting that Japan could significantly increase its gross domestic product (GDP) by about 15 percent by better integrating its women.
In order to implement “womenomics,” the Japanese government will contribute over $3 billion by 2016 to increase female participation in society, aid in female healthcare costs, mitigate violence against women, and further empower women in a variety of other realms.
In a country with a rapidly shrinking population and a remarkably low birthrate, a successful implementation of “womenomics” is crucial. By introducing large numbers of women to the workforce, Japan will vastly benefit both economically and demographically. Clearly, women are the key to Japan’s future.
Of course, “womenomics” also exists as a crucial necessity in the rest of the world, particularly in developing regions like Africa. Fortunately, the Japanese government has recognized this and is now providing enormous support to Africa’s women.
Instead of working within the donor culture of international development, Japan is striving to help transform agriculture in Africa, a domain primarily characterized by female laborers. Japanese efforts have already proven successful, as many farmers’ incomes have doubled in regions of Kenya.
Tellingly, African and Japanese women—as well as their female counterparts everywhere—are the key to a thriving economy. Yet, without egalitarian access to governmental resources and support, they cannot be empowered economically. Thus, it is the responsibility of governments everywhere to support their female citizens, and thereby, support themselves.
– Anna Purcell
Sources: United Nations, Wall Street Journal
Sources: Japan Today
Posner Center for International Development
The Posner Center for International Development, located in Denver, Colorado, is an organization that displays the convergence of over 30 companies working together to help create better living conditions for the world’s poor while also addressing environmental issues. These companies work together to come up with creative and innovative solutions that can help those in poverty while also staying environmentally friendly. While these individual companies already create positive impact, their collaboration can only significantly boost the results.
Bridges to Prosperity is one of the organizations that has joined the Posner Center for International Development. Bridges to Prosperity plans and builds bridges over rivers all over the world. While building a bridge over a river may seem like a small development, it can be life altering. In villages with little transportation, most of the world’s poor depend on walking to reach their destinations. Bridges give them a safe means of transport, whether it is to school, a hospital, to work, etc. So far, Bridges to Prosperity has had projects in South America, Asia, Africa, and Central America.
Another such organization is Nokero, short for “no kerosene.” Nokero’s attempt to eliminate kerosene lights that are harmful to the environment is ambitious but possible. They hope to replace these kerosene lamps with solar lights, which are energy efficient and environmentally friendly. Engineers at Nokero have also developed a solar powered cell phone charger. Such valuable technology is affordably priced and cost effective.
Nokero and Bridges to Prosperity are just two of the 35 organizations working at the Posner Center for International Development. Whether it’s with seemingly simple solutions like building bridges to make transportation easier, or with life changing technologies that bring power to a neighborhood, these organizations’ attempts to change the world are indeed powerful and inspiring. Their collaborative efforts will only result in bigger and better ideas and innovations for the future.
– Aalekhya Malladi
Sources: The Denver Post, Posner Center for International Development, Bridges to Prosperity, Nokero
Photo: Hosted