Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Water Quality in Ireland: Sustainable Water Services

Water Quality in Ireland

Ireland is a developed country in Europe that has many luxuries such as electricity and gas. When it comes to basic necessities, Ireland is on par with the rest of Europe. Despite its status as a developed country, there has been an unwelcome decline in water quality in Ireland.

Ireland originally aimed for a 13 percent improvement in water quality within a six-year period, but it failed to meet its goal. Unfortunately, water quality in Ireland, even from their most pristine sources, has declined. This includes Ireland’s rivers, lakes, canals, ground waters and coastal waters.

These water sources were originally much cleaner and had a higher water quality, but the Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland has found that these water sources have deteriorated.

There are several different factors that can potentially affect the change in water quality. Some of these factors are soil or rock types, land use practices and pollution. Even heavy rainfall can influence whether or not the water quality will deteriorate or not.

These factors can change different parameters within the water that will affect the quality of water. Some of the parameters, such as bacteria and protozoa, chemicals, and metals, are tested in water. If any of these parameters are in excess, it can decrease the water quality and potentially make it dangerous to drink.

An aging infrastructure also contributed to the decrease in water quality in Ireland. If the pipes have not been changed out since installment or haven’t been maintained every few years, the pipes can begin to rust.

Rust contains iron oxide which can be potentially dangerous if consumed in excess.  Rust from the pipes can peel off into the water and be consumed via drinking water or by cooking with the water.

Although poor infrastructure can end up decreasing the water quality in Ireland, it is possible to fix it. The Irish government must commit to replacing the pipes that have not been maintained throughout its cities. Once the government does that, there will be a significant increase in the water quality and citizens would not have to worry whether or not the water is safe to drink.

Despite the current deterioration of Ireland’s water sources, in past, there have been improvements to water sources that had problems. Water sources that were considered “seriously polluted” have since been upgraded in status. Unfortunately, by neglecting the quality of their pristine water sources, the overall improvements to water quality appear stagnant.

Once Ireland begins changing their infrastructure, as well as cleaning and maintaining all of their water sources, they will be able to reach their 13 percent water quality improvement goal and make all of their water sources usable and pristine. In addition, the participation of citizens in Ireland is necessary to ensure sustainable water services in the future.

– Daniel Borjas

Photo: Pixabay

Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon Sees First Decline in 3 Years

Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon Drops for First the Time in Three YearsThe relationship between deforestation and poverty has long been interlinked and mutually destructive. Forests directly contribute to the livelihood of 90 percent of the world’s poor.

Forests cover one third of the world’s landmass and serve vital purposes around the globe, including regulating the atmosphere and providing shelter, sustenance and survival to millions of people. However, since 1990, the world has lost 1.3 million square kilometers of forest, an area larger than South Africa. When combating this injustice, it is important to note that the world’s forests are very unevenly distributed. Brazil holds the world’s second largest share of forests, with approximately one quarter of the world’s total.

The Brazilian Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest and it is “vital to the well-being of the peoples on our planet,” according to Rodrigo Medeiros, Vice President of CI-Brasil. Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has long plagued the nation’s people, environment and economy.

Seven institutions, including the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and the World Bank, have joined together for the largest restoration effort ever made in Brazilian forests. The efforts to reverse the rampant deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is proving to be effective; the region’s deforestation fell by 16 percent in July 2017 compared to the previous year. This is the first decline in three years.

This decline is an indication that Brazil is making strides towards its climate change targets and towards a more prosperous and sustainable environment, which is essential for the eradication of poverty.

The multifaceted response to deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is “helping Brazil demonstrate that it is possible to preserve the forest, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and at the same time strengthen the local communities,” said Martin Raiser, World Bank Country Director for Brazil.

The harmful relationship between deforestation and poverty requires that both be targeted individually in order to halt the cycle of deprivation across the globe. Forests help us breathe, provide shelter, foster biodiversity, regulate temperatures, influence weather patterns, prevent flooding, refill aquifers, block wind, stabilize Earth’s foundation, purify the air, provide nutrition, supply medicines and create jobs. When any of these life-saving advantages of forests are compromised due to deforestation, it is the world’s poor whose health and livelihood suffers most. It is imperative that the fight to end poverty, as well as the fight to sustainably manage forests, both continue without impeding each other.

– Jamie Enright

Photo: Flickr

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10 Facts About Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone

Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone
From 1991 to 2002, Sierra Leone was embroiled in a devastating civil war, fought primarily between the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and Sierra Leone Army (SLA). This civil war garnered international attention for its blatant use of child soldiers and for the skyrocketing of child soldiers in Sierra Leone.

Child soldiers are children (defined under international law as individuals under the age of 18) who are used for any military purpose. In the Sierra Leonean civil war, children made up between 40 and 50 percent of the RUF’s military force and approximately 20 percent of the government’s military force. In total, approximately 10,000 children were exploited and forced to be child soldiers in Sierra Leone. Discussed below are the leading facts about child soldiers in Sierra Leone.

 

Top 10 Facts About Child Soldiers in Sierra Leone

 

  1. The term child soldier does not only include those who carry a gun and fight. Children also served as messengers and porters, and young girls were conscripted into sexual slavery or forcibly married to generals.
  2. Children are chosen to be soldiers because they are easily manipulated. They are more loyal and obedient than adults and they are far less likely to revolt. They also do not require wages, making them a cheap alternative to traditional soldiers.
  3. Children are more likely to become child soldiers if they are poor, living in a combat zone, displaced from their homes, separated from their families or have limited access to education.
  4. The process of reintegrating child soldiers is called Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR). Compounds were created to reintegrate child soldiers in Sierra Leone by providing them with education, food, shelter and psychiatric services.
  5. DDR is not necessarily 100 percent effective. Children may relapse into violence in adolescence and adulthood. Ishmael Beah, a former child soldier in Sierra Leone, said: “One of my greatest fears in Sierra Leone now is, if you have a large number of disgruntled and idle young people who have nothing to do with themselves, you have the possibility of sparking anything.”
  6. DDR camps were also not completely safe. Rebel soldiers would hang around the camps and convince previously demobilized child soldiers to rejoin the army by promising to reunite them with their families or simply threatening to kill everyone else in the camp if they did not comply.
  7. Children were often forced to use drugs (typically marijuana or crack cocaine) to enable them to commit violence. As a result, they had a reputation among civilians for extreme cruelty. Many boys belonged to the infamous Small Boys Unit.
  8. This reputation for violence was one of the key barriers to reintegration. Child soldiers had lost their childhoods and been traumatized, but many could not return home because they were seen as murderers.
  9. In 2013, Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire founded a nonprofit called the Child Soldier Initiative (CSI). It designed a mandatory training manual and seminar for police and local armed forces to inform them of children’s rights and how to handle child soldiers in the field. This training has also been used in Sudan, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire, though it is not mandatory there.
  10. The second phase of CSI’s project is to have former child soldiers run the program and train other children on their rights and the alternatives to joining the conflict.

Recent innovations in international human rights law, such as the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict (which has been ratified by more than 110 countries) are a reason to have hope for the future of children in conflict, as are nonprofits like the Child Soldier Initiative.

According to Theresa Betancourt, an expert in the field of child psychology in conflict and child soldiers, “We need to devise lasting systems of care, instead of leaving behind a dust cloud that disappears when the humanitarian actors leave.”

– Olivia Bradley

Photo: Flickr

Why Samoa Has Poverty: Ongoing Struggles

Why Samoa Has Poverty

In comparison to some of its neighbors in the Pacific region, the Samoa is largely successful and has a relatively strong economy. However, that is not to say that poverty does not exist in Samoa. There are a number of reasons why Samoa has poverty.

It is true that Samoa does not have extreme poverty. However, it does have large concentrations of working poor. 20 percent of Samoans live below the poverty line.

One of the biggest reasons as to why Samoa has poverty is its geography. Samoa is a small country with limited resources. Its soil is fertile but vulnerable to erosion. Natural disasters, such as volcanic activity and cyclones, have always been a threat to the nation. Samoa is also particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change, including the resulting loss of biodiversity and rising sea levels. The areas most threatened by these phenomena are generally rural and poorer. Furthermore, recovery from cyclones and other disasters can take a long time.

At the same time, fishable marine life is decreasing and the human population is increasing, creating a strain on the economy.

Another explanation for why Samoa has poverty is the high cost of living. Samoan citizens have complained about the fact that one can easily spend $100 in one day for basic necessities, when $100 is often what rural Samoans make in a week. It is not unheard of for Samoans to operate side businesses or do additional work to make ends meet, such as selling coconut oil or selling plates of food.

Despite the apparent inaction of the Samoan government, as well as the multiple possible explanations for why Samoa has poverty, there are some glimmers of hope. Some Samoans have turned to livestock farming, particularly lambs, which until recently was uncommon. Many Samoans turn to their churches not just for spiritual guidance, but for community support.

Additionally, Samoa has made strong progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals set forth by the World Health Organization, having made social progress on a number of fronts and virtually eliminating extreme poverty. Samoa certainly has its ongoing struggles, but if its people and past are any indication, it has the potential to improve.

– Andrew Revord

Photo: Flickr

Corruption: One of the Main Causes of Poverty in Congo

Causes of Poverty in Congo

Despite its vast material wealth, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has long been a very poor nation. Beneath its surface lies about $24 trillion in minerals, but this treasure has so far done nothing to alleviate poverty in this country. Half of the country’s population lives below the poverty line, living on less than $1 a day, especially those in rural communities. There is no single reason, but there are several causes of poverty in Congo that can be identified.

In rural areas, there has often been a lack of investment in basic infrastructure, such as roads, making transportation costs high. Farming methods are often antiquated and inefficient. Finally, there is a general lack of investment on the part of the government and the private sector in rural Congo.

Disease has always been one of the biggest causes of poverty in Congo. There were about 6.7 million reported cases of malaria in 2009, which is especially deadly to children. Cholera outbreaks are frequent. HIV/AIDS affects 5.3 percent of Congolese. Congo’s healthcare system is anemic, with hospitals often understaffed and underequipped.

The mining industry in Congo is particularly corrupt and is one of the largest causes of poverty in Congo. The precious metals mined in the Congo are necessary for a lot of technology taken for granted in the west: smartphones, computers, etc. Many foreign investors in the mining sector end up signing billion-dollar contracts with parties funding armed paramilitary groups, who siphoned some $185 million in 2008 from mining deals. The Congolese army is also dependent on funding from valuable minerals.

There has been some recent pushback against corruption in the Congolese mining industry. #Standwithcongo was launched by activist JD Steir with Robin Wright of House of Cards fame to get mining companies to disclose owners of the offshore shell companies involved with these mining deals.

Additionally, the Congolese army has been successful in pushing back the rebel M23 faction, creating peace in the region and eliminating at least one of the factions that profits from the corrupt mining industry.
The United States has not been silent on the matter either  The U.S. Financial Reform Act, also known as Dodd-Frank, requires companies whose products contain certain minerals to disclose whether or not those minerals came from the Congo, and show what steps they took to ensure such trade was not financing armed groups.  The Department of State has cooperated with Congo’s government and mining sector to establish supply chains for conflict-free minerals being mined in the eastern part of the country.
The causes of poverty in Congo are myriad, but there have been signs of improvement, thanks in part to the actions of the United States, unlikely activists and Congo’s own desire to see a new day.

– Andrew Revord
Photo: Flickr

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Protect Drought Vital to End Hunger in Uganda

Hunger in UgandaLocated between South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while also struggling against the Lord’s Resistance Army, hunger in Uganda is a major issue that the country, as well as 800,000 refugees, are facing every day. Uganda as a whole produces more food than it consumes, but because of the prevalence of poverty in the country, many of its 39 million people cannot afford to buy all of the food they need.

Only 4 percent of households in Uganda have had food security over the past six years. This is related to the food shortages and destitute diets that have also come from dealing with climate change, urbanization, the inconsistencies of Ugandan policies and poor public financing.

Hunger in Uganda has also been caused by the lack of water. A growing population has led to stresses on water and sanitation services. 24 million people in rural areas do not have access to water, which has increased the incidence of water-related diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery. Each week, 30,000 deaths are caused by unsafe water.

The lack of food has led to malnutrition among children, including refugees. It has been estimated that 33 percent of children under five are enduring chronic undernourishment and stunted growth. Only one in three children actually have food to eat during the day, while stunting affects 29 percent of children and rises to 40 percent in certain areas and among refugees.

Organizations like Action Against Hunger have made efforts to help Uganda. They focus on nutrition, health and care practices, and have helped 148,420 people. They have been able to reach some of the most vulnerable children in refugee settlements and treat life-threatening malnutrition. Action Against Hunger has helped strengthen the local capacity while training locals to be able to provide treatment. They have plans to help prevent malnutrition as well as to gather more information on malnutrition in order to prevent it in the future.

The World Food Programme also helps Uganda by providing cash and food assistance to people in need. They have also set up the “cash/food-for-work” program to ensure there is food during the lean seasons. This program helps communities build tree farms, orchards, irrigation systems, water ponds and dams to help them better endure droughts.

While the poverty rate in Uganda has declined from 31 to 19.7 percent, the fact that the population is still growing means that the number of poor people has not decreased. To combat this, the work the aforementioned groups are doing is vital to help Ugandans become self-sufficient in growing food and end hunger in Uganda.

– Chavez Spicer

Photo: Flickr

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Education in Dominica: The Fight for Accessibility

Education in DominicaEducation in Dominica is continuing to improve. The country is a part of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), which has contributed to the success of education. The OECS 2012-2021 Education Sector provided a plan for the education in Dominica and other countries and “recognizes the importance of improving education as a part of the solution to improving social and economic development in the region.”

However, there are challenges outlined in the OECS Education Sector plan. Inadequacies in access are greatest at the pre-primary and tertiary levels. Net enrollment at the pre-primary level for the region averages just over 66 percent. Fewer than 15 percent of graduates from secondary school are able to access higher education, while fewer than 10 percent of adults in the OECS have completed tertiary level education.

Inequality has become more obvious and there are increasing concerns that in some areas, the most disadvantaged economically and socially may not be enjoying the benefits of the education system. Gender disparities in performance are evident at all levels of the school system, and there is declining participation of males at the upper secondary and tertiary levels.

These challenges are obstacles that many countries face, including Dominica. However, education in Dominica has improved over the years. The World Bank data shows an improvement in the gross enrollment rate from 95 percent in 1986 to 116 percent in 2015. One reason for the rise in education enrollment is because of the Global Partnership for Education’s grant of $2 million in 2014.

The objectives of this grant have contributed to “quality learning standards, improvement of teacher practices, strengthening primary school leadership and accountability and initiated the strengthening of sector monitoring and evaluation capacity.” By continuing to focus on these areas, education in Dominica can continue its upward trend. Additional attention on making education accessible to all is another key part of addressing these issues.

– Ashley Howard

Photo: Flickr

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Hunger in New Caledonia Tied to Unemployment Rates

New Caledonia is a group of islands situated in the South Pacific Ocean. Although it is a part of French territory, it enjoys a considerable degree of autonomy. In recent years, unrest in the region has negatively impacted the economy, leading to increased poverty and hunger in New Caledonia.

Current Realities

Dissatisfaction among various factions due to societal disparities intensified after the 2021 referendum, leading to significant turmoil and widespread protests. This unrest had a detrimental effect on the economy, pushing New Caledonia to the brink of bankruptcy. Consequently, many people have lost their jobs, businesses have shut down and incomes have declined. As a result, poverty levels have increased and food insecurity has become a pressing issue throughout the region, especially among the Indigenous Kanak population. 

  • The poverty rate in the region is approximately 19.1%, with a significantly higher rate of 45.8% in rural areas. 
  • The national unemployment rate stands at 11.2%, but it reaches around 38% for the Indigenous population.  
  • Undernourishment is prevalent in 6% of the population.

Drivers of Hunger and Poverty

The pandemic and the political turmoil are the main drivers for rising poverty, unemployment and hunger in New Caledonia, severely impacting the economy and the population in various ways.

  1. Nickel Mining– Protests, riots and blockades have led to a reduced workforce, disruptions in supply chains, and the destruction of equipment and infrastructure, resulting in financial losses and unemployment.
  2. Tourism Decline– COVID-19, along with the subsequent riots and protests, has negatively impacted the tourism industry, leading to a significant decline in the number of tourists and the loss of thousands of jobs.
  3. Reduced Investment– The security situation has led to a lack of trust among foreign companies, which has decreased foreign investments. Consequently, the GDP has dropped by 20% since early 2024. 
  4. Dependence on France- New Caledonia receives substantial aid from France, accounting for 15% of its GDP. However, this assistance hinders the government from implementing its own policies to reduce poverty among the vulnerable population. 
  5. Destruction of Businesses- The riots and violence have damaged infrastructure and businesses, resulting in the loss of investments and income for the common man in the region. 
  6. High cost of living– The high cost of living in the region has adversely impacted the population, with the Kanaks suffering the most. This situation has further exacerbated poverty and hunger among the vulnerable population in New Caledonia.

Path to Progress

Despite the challenges, the local government, international organizations and the French government are working to improve the situation in the region. The French government has provided an additional $136 million to help revive local businesses. Additionally, the United Nations is supporting the Indigenous population in their fight for equal rights and opportunities. With these combined efforts, there is hope for a better future for the vulnerable population in New Caledonia. 

– Maria Waleed

Photo: Wikemedia
Updated: December 17, 2024

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How to Help Honduras and Keep Its Citizens Safe

How to Help HondurasThe term “refugee crisis” has the implication that a group of individuals is subject to persecution, war and/or systemic violence. In essence, a refugee is someone that is catalyzed by fear to leave his or her homeland. So when a United Nations official surveyed the scope of Honduran migrants outside a shelter in Tapachula, Mexico in 2016 and stated “It’s really a refugee crisis,” he called on the world to answer the question “Why are Hondurans afraid to return home?”

In 2014, the number of unaccompanied Honduran minors apprehended in their attempts to cross the U.S. border increased from 7,000 to 17,500. It might be hard to imagine why children might place themselves in such a vulnerable, dangerous circumstance, but this stark rise in migrants is easier to comprehend given that over 60 percent of Hondurans live below the poverty line. On top of this, unemployment is only increasing—currently resting at 7.4 percent, and projected to rise over the next few years. Families often send their children to find income outside the nation’s borders; statistics show that Honduran immigrants remit 26 percent of their income back to their home countries, second only to Guatemala.

However, youth migration is an issue that extends far beyond average familial income. As of this year, Honduras is recognized as the most violent country in the world, outside of all current war zones. Last year, the murder rate was down to 60 murders per 100,000 people, which—though still the deadliest rate in the world—has dropped drastically since 2012. This is largely due to gang violence that recruits young and influences close to every aspect of Honduran life, from early education onward. As jobs remain inaccessible, gangs and organized crime only expand. So the question we should be asking is how to help Honduras and end this cycle of crime and poverty.

One method for how to help Honduras is by donating and/or serving with Food for the Poor (FFP), an international relief and development organization based in the United States. Since 1999, in the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, FFP has worked to improve the conditions in Honduras in terms of agriculture, community development, housing, enterprise and youth/orphan support. In this time, the growing organization has developed close to 15,000 housing units and 15 schools, mobilizing the Honduran youth to achieve literacy and access primary education.

The largest of their 91 working projects is the La Esperanza Community Development Project, which worked in five phases to build homes and create working communities that thrive off of their capacity to be self-sufficient, with access to their own gardens, water and school/community centers. Essentially, these communities are created as safe spaces for the nation’s desolately underprivileged—preventing the vulnerable from seeking “protection” by way of violence.

One could also find out how to help Honduras by researching HELP Honduras, an organization partnered with Rotary Clubs, The Rotary Foundation and AYO (Alternativas y Opportunidades) to improve the system of education in this Latin American nation.

Standing for Health, Education and Literacy Program, HELP Honduras works to supply students with uniforms, books and school supplies in order to support their education and keep withdrawal rates down. Though education is free, the issue in Honduras is not affording school, but affording everything that a student requires. Though one may have access to a classroom, it costs on average $180 for a primary school student to enter that classroom with the essentials necessary to learn. This is out of the price range of many Honduran families, and stands in the way of the next generation becoming educated, independent adults.

On top of this, HELP Honduras sponsors certain students in Tegucigalpa, Santa Barbara and Danli. Each student is granted the necessary elements to attend school, including uniforms, shoes, books and supplies, as well as a tutor to help with any subject in which the student is struggling. This helps keep the child motivated and wanting to return.

Parents of these children are also benefitting from this sponsorship, each obligated to attend parenting courses where they take part in preventive health, vocational and educational programs. One program in particular, Economic Opportunities Training, teaches mothers the basics of market strategy, mobilizing them to become an entrepreneur and/or improve their already existing business. Not only will children feel safe and confident within the confines of their school, they will feel secure at home as well, fostering a cycle of self-confidence that will breed bright and prosperous futures.

Programs like these exist as investments in the future of Latin America and attack the roots of global poverty. Contributing your time or money to aid these programs is a huge help to them and the people of Honduras.

– Briana Fernald

Photo: Flickr

Access to Secondary Schooling Key to Education in Paraguay

Education in ParaguayParaguay is a country located in South America, situated between the northern border of Argentina and the southern border of Brazil. Education in Paraguay is very structurally similar to that of the United States, in which children advance through primary and secondary school before moving on to advanced studies at a university or vocational training facility. Similar to the United States, the education system starts children in primary school at age six, and the children complete grades one through 12.

According to the World Factbook, 95 percent of males and 94 percent of females in Paraguay are defined as being literate. However, literacy is typically not achieved until the final years of primary education, which is normally completed at age 14.

Classbase has reported that education in Paraguay is unique due to the government’s historical political instability. In 2014, the government regained stability after a period of disorganization following the impeachment of President Fernando Lugo.

Following primary school, children have the choice to enter secondary school, as it is not required by law. However, a lot of families typically do not have the money to afford continuing education, and so the families often send their children across the border to Chile. It can be a large hassle for such families to send their children far away in order to attend school, especially if the families do not have the funds to allow their children to learn locally.

Tertiary schools, which are universities or vocational training facilities, exist in Paraguay, but, as mentioned, many children do not have the opportunity to advance greatly in the education system. A reformed education system would potentially greatly help the children Paraguay be able to learn a variety of useful skills, which will help them be able to attend university or vocational training.

– Emily Santora

Photo: Flickr