Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

Brutal Poverty in Sierra Leone

Poverty in Sierra Leone is alive and well. Freetown, the capital and largest city in Sierra Leone, was founded in 1787. It was known as the “Province of Freedom” because it was a British crown colony and the principal base for the suppression of the slave trade. The Maroons were the original settlers, consisting of 1,200 newly freed slaves from Nova Scotia. In 1800, a rebellion of Jamaican slaves escaped and moved to Freetown.

The British Empire’s abolition of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade was mostly due to the efforts of William Wilberforce, Thomas Clarkson, Granville Sharpe and Lord Mansfield. They founded a naval base in Freetown in order to patrol against the illegal slave ships that still existed, fining every British ship found with a slave onboard.

Sierra Leone was officially named a crown colony in 1808. In 1833 British Parliament passed the Emancipation Act, which abolished slavery. As a result, over 50,000 freed slaves settled in Freetown by 1855. Their descendants, known as the Krios, now live in a multi-ethnic country. Krio is a widely spoken language throughout the country that some ethnic groups speak, though English is the official language.

Since Sierra Leone gained independence from the British in 1961, the country has experienced many economic, political and social challenges. A rebel group called the Revolutionary United Front plotted to overthrow the Joseph Momoh Government, causing a devastating civil war from 1991 to 2002.

The extreme brutality of this conflict caused over two million people to be displaced and resulted in more than 50,000 casualties. The war ended as a result of a U.N. peacekeeping and British military intervention. The country has made tremendous advancements in establishing a good government and keeping peace and security since the war ended.

Three years after the war ended, Sierra Leone was considered the poorest country in the world. Today, it is ranked at 177 out of 184 countries on the Human Development Index. This minor improvement is partly due to the assistance of international donors. Officials say Sierra Leone is on its way toward securing macroeconomic stability through democratization and stabilization, but large populations of youth who are former combatants are still unemployed, threatening the peace and stability of the country.

More than 60 percent of Sierra Leone’s population presently lives in poverty. Many people are living under the poverty line at less than $1.25 per day. The literacy rate is only 41 percent and 70 percent of young people in Sierra Leone are unemployed or underemployed as a result. The poorest people live in the Northern and Southern provinces of the country and consist mostly of landless people, particularly women in rural households.

The civil war and social unrest of previous years caused a severe economic decline that virtually destroyed the physical and social infrastructure of the country, leading to widespread poverty.  Sierra Leone’s development depends on consolidating peace, democracy and increasing its economic growth.

– Kenneth W. Kliesner

Sources: Global Finance, UNDP, Rural Poverty Portal
Photo: Justinsandefur.org

Electrify Africa Act

Electrify Africa
U.S. Congress is introducing concrete legislation that if passed will help bring energy security to over 500 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa. The House Foreign Affairs Committee introduced the Electrify Africa Act of 2013 with the stated goal of forming a “strategic approach to support affordable, reliable electricity in sub-Saharan Africa to unlock the potential for economic growth, job creation, improved health and education, and poverty reduction.” It has garnered sponsors from both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Currently, 68 percent of people in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to electricity. An additional 10% that have electricity still burn wood, shrubs or cow manure to cook their food. This includes people in 30 African countries and comes at an average cost of 2-5% of GDP growth per year. The Electrify Africa Act would make it official U.S. policy to encourage energy capacity gains of 20,000 megawatts by 2020. This would grant first time electricity access to 50 million people.

The Electrify Africa Act also comes as a response to increased Chinese investment in Africa. China has become the single largest director in the area and has drawn attention for providing $2 billion in aid to African energy projects while also supporting Chinese companies in the region.

The bill requires the current Administration to develop a comprehensive multi-year strategy to meet its energy goals. After three years, the president must present progress to Congress. The plan would include lobbying of organizations such as the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the World Bank and the African Development Bank to increase electricity related investment. Additionally, USAID will be encouraged to use loan guarantees and grants to support various energy projects.

Email your congressional representative to show your support for this life-changing piece of legislation today. Urging your representative to act is an effective way to have your opinion heard and make an impact in the fight against global poverty. Congressional staffers will keep track of all the calls, emails and letters that enter their office in support of legislation and report the data in a weekly report to your representative.

Securing commitments from Congress to attack poverty in the form of concrete legislation is an enormous step in helping millions of people. With properly directed aid electrical deficiencies’ in sub-Saharan Africa will cease to exist. The region will take off economically and over 500 million people can enjoy a more prosperous and secure life. The Electrify Africa Act will provide an effective step in eradicating poverty and empowering countless people.

– Martin Levy

Sources: House Foreign Affairs Committee, The Borgen Project, Forbes
Photo: Economist

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Chinese Judicial System Investigated for Corruption

Chinese Judicial System
Following ongoing cases of judicial corruption with commutations to sentences, probations and cases of bribery, Chinese authorities have declared they will establish a strict anti-corruption initiative.

A former board chairman of a Chinese beverage company was able to navigate his way through the judicial system and eventually escape overseas. According to Chinese news agencies, Zhang Hai was able to illegally reduce his sentence by nine years. His release came after he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for embezzling the equivalent of $33.8 million in public funds.

There are 24 people altogether, ranging from police officers to prison and court officials, that are now under investigation for their involvement in the case highlighting judicial corruption from multiple fronts. The Commission for Political and Legal Affairs under the China Central Committee reported that criminals were able to use money and power to escape punishment in the Chinese criminal justice system.

The anti-corruption drive aims to strengthen the framework of the judicial system so there is greater accountability and transparency. In fact, a report from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences revealed that multiple local and regional governments were neglecting the process of publicizing information to allow for transparency in the judiciary.

Cases of corruption within the Chinese judicial system indicate a significant concern for the Chinese people. Similar to the United States judicial system, the Chinese judiciary is only able to operate with the good faith of the people. Problems arise, however, when a lack of transparency obstructs the awareness of corruption. Moreover, in-depth studies of the corruption within the Chinese judicial system indicate that acts of corruption are not rare and isolated occurrences. On the contrary, corruption is embedded within the Chinese judicial system and is even inherently produced by the mechanism of decision-making.

To account for the systemic failures of their judicial system, Chinese authorities plan to take an institutional approach to addressing the problem by amending the system. According to the Central Commission for Discipline Investigation, a total of 182,038 Chinese government officials have been punished for corruption in the last year. Considering the magnitude of the government’s shortcomings in stemming corruption, it is important that authorities begin to seriously address the ongoing problem.

– Jugal Patel

Sources: BBC, Global Times, U.S.-Asia Law Institute
Photo: New York Times

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Uganda Signs Anti-Gay Bill

Anti-gay_bill
Uganda is under massive scrutiny for passing one of the world’s toughest anti-gay laws. The move comes after a similar bill was passed in Nigeria, which gives a 14 year sentence for being convicted of acts of homosexuality. The bill has come under fire from many Western countries as well as a great many activist organizations.

The anti-gay bill in Uganda comes with some of the most weighty punishments in the world. According to NPR, the punishments can include life in prison for some of the perceived harsher offenses. Simply renting an apartment to an lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) person and not telling the authorities can result in five years in prison.  According to variety of sources a group of Evangelical Christians in the United States may be behind the background of the bill. As they see the anti-gay movement as lost in the United States, they are now trying to stem the tide in other countries.

There have been reports that Evangelical Christians have indeed been using money and influence in Uganda to promote anti-LGBT sentiment and get bills such as the one Uganda President Yoweri Museveni signed into law a more common part of African law. Museveni recently said, “ I…encourage the United States government to help us by working with our scientist to study whether indeed, there are people who are born homosexual.” This issue is still being debated.

Beyond the obvious human rights tie, there is a broader issue here: the age old intervening imperialist question. As soon as the bill was signed into law, Western powers and international organizations cut off funding as well as other economic sanctions upon Museveni’s signing of the bill. It is no secret that the majority of the countries in Africa do require foreign aid of some type; and African nations are not usually going to reject large injections of cash.

The stance of President Museveni and Uganda to the delay a $90 million dollar loan from the World Bank has been surprising. Ofwono Opondo, a government spokesman, said, “The West can keep their aid to Uganda over homos, we shall develop without it.” This is a surprising stance from one of the world’s poorest countries with a per capita income of only $170.

The anti-gay bill signed into law by Museveni is one of number of discouraging bills that are coming to fruition which are both extremely anti-development and anti-human rights. For one of the poorest countries in the world, making life even more difficult for some of its citizens is, in the words of Secretary of State John Kerry, “…just morally wrong…”

– Arthur Fuller

Sources: New York Times, NPR, CNN, New York Times, World Bank, The Independent, Business Day Live, BBC

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Human Rights Violations in Somalia for 23 Years

The history of human rights violations against Somali citizens by their government under the rule of Siad Barre contributed to an overthrow that forced him to flee in 1991. The subsequent power vacuum led to the Somali civil war that continues to rage on to this day. For over 23 years, Somalia has been ravaged by human rights abuses, war crimes and the lack of a developed justice system to deal with these issues.

The main players at this moment are the Islamic backed forces, al-Shabaab, and the pro-government forces, the Federal Republic of Somalia, Ethiopian troops and African Union troops operating under the African Union Mission to Somalia. While the faces have changed throughout the 23 year conflict, the main points of contention  remain the same.

The Islamic forces wish for the country to become an Islamic state ruled under Sharia law, while government forces aim for the country to follow through with the constitution that founded the federal republic in 2012. Major human rights violations are committed on both sides of the Civil War, limiting positive change in the country.

Human rights violations include indiscriminate attacks against civilians, displacement of persons, restrictions on humanitarian aid, rape, recruitment and use of child soldiers, unlawful killings and torture by armed groups and armed piracy off the Somali coast. Various treaties including the Geneva Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights forbid the indiscriminate use of force against civilians. According to Amnesty International, “all parties to the conflict use mortars and heavy weapons in areas populated or frequented by civilians, killing and injuring thousands of people, many of which are women and children under the age of 14.”

The killings not only affect those being killed, but they also the education of the Somalis. A report by Amnesty International states that, “in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, many schools have closed down as students and teachers fear being injured and killed on their way to school.” These indiscriminate killings by forces on both sides will lead to the further destruction of the country and its future. The Somalis need to continue their education in order to push the country towards a better path.

The topic of child soldiers has gained popularity in the last few years due to campaigns such as “Kony 2012.” The use of child soldiers is not limited to Uganda, however, and Somalia is a prime example of the horrible atrocities that occur while using them. According to a January 2013 Human Rights Watch report, “al-Shabaab has increasingly targeted children for recruitment, forced marriage, and rape, and has attacked teachers and schools.”

However, government forces have also used child soldiers, as described later in the same article. “In July 2012, the TFG [Transitional Federal Government] signed a plan of action against child recruitment; yet the same month, 15 children were identified among a group of new recruits sent to a European Union-funded training in Uganda.” Abuses are occurring on on both sides of the conflict, and further action may need to be taken by outside parties.

The problems with human rights violations occurring in Somalia do not seem to be getting any better. Unfortunately, humanitarian access to those who need aid is limited at the moment because of restrictions from allies to the conflict, diversion of aid and insecurity. The few humanitarian workers still in the country are being targeted, further limiting access to much needed aid.

– Kenneth W. Kliesner

Sources: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights Watch
Photo: Global Post

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Summer Internships in Seattle

summer internships
As the winter season starts to wind down, students from across the country are beginning their search of summer internships. Summer internships are a great way to gain new experiences, travel to places you’ve always wanted to visit, and meet new people—all while gaining valuable skills that will give you the edge in securing employment in the future.

Landing a summer internship can seem like a daunting task. What am I interested in? How do I apply? If you have arrived at these questions, you are already on the right path! Most companies offer students the chance to play a role in their daily functions and learn about their work environment. For those interested in global poverty reduction, human rights activism, and other service based careers, here are potential summer internship opportunities for you

Political Affairs Internship, The Borgen Project

  • Meet with members of Congress and/or Congressional staffers in your State and District to discuss global poverty issues
  • Represent The Borgen Project and various business, political, and community events
  • Mobilize individuals to contact their members of Congress in support of anti-poverty legislation and assist with fundraising
  • For more information on how to apply please visit Telecommute Internships.

Summer Internship Program, American Red Cross

  • Get introduced to the mission of the American Red Cross with real-world work experience in a non-profit
  • Assist with day-to-day functions building reports, presentations, guides etc.
  • Choose from a diverse selection of positions including human resources, government relations, humanitarian services, public health & safety, biomedical services, disaster services, finance, marketing and more!
  • For more information on how to apply, visit Red Cross.

Community Engagement Intern Program, Feeding Children Everywhere

  • Get hands on experience battling on the front lines of the fight against hunger. Recruit volunteers nationwide for various “Hunger Projects”
  • Build and lead programs while performing community outreach
  • Travel to different “Hunger Projects” and network with various volunteers while preparing and packaging meals to feed hungry children
  • Please visit their Intern Program for more information and locations.

Intern, ONE Campaign

  • ONE offers students a diverse experience working in grassroots mobilization, field organizing, digital projects, communications, ans global operations
  • Interns will have to perform research and fact-checking, trips and events preparation, collection of press clips, database management, and administrative tasks
  • For more information please visit ONE.org.

Student Internship Program, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

  • USAID offers a variety of summer internship positions in the Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs, the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of Transition Initiatives, the Bureau of Africa and more.
  • Interns will be required to conduct research, draft program memoranda and other documents
  • Facilitate meetings and special events, attend program discussions in various government agencies and communicate with stakeholders and public
  • Work in fields like agriculture, education, health, environment, democracy, conflict prevention, and humanitarian assistance

These summer internships offer students from diverse backgrounds with various interests a chance to develop new skills and gain valuable experience working to alleviate social problems of today.

View telecommuting internships at The Borgen Project.

– Sunny Bhatt

Sources: The Borgen Project, Red Cross, Feeding Children Everywhere, Idealist.org
Photo: Wdet

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Hungry Planet: What Does the World Eat?

Hungry_Planet
A project called Hungry Planet depicts what an average family consumes in a week. Ranging from $325 in Germany to $1.23 in Chad, food costs are based on many factors including environment, culture and economy.
What_does_the_world_eat_hungry_planet
An average family in the United States spends about $150 per week on food, according to a 2012 Gallup poll. Hungry Planet depicted a few American families who spent various amounts per week ranging from $341 in North Carolina to $242 in Texas and $159 in California.

The United States Department of Agriculture performed a study in 2011 that revealed what Americans eat. The results include: 632 pounds of dairy products, 415 pounds of vegetables, 273 pounds of fruit and 183 pounds of meat and poultry. Perhaps the most shocking result is that Americans consume 141 of sweeteners and 53 gallons of soda in a year. Of the 415 pounds of vegetables that Americans consume, 29 pounds are french fries.

In Kuwait, the average four-person family spends the equivalent of $221 per week on food. Because most of the land in Kuwait is not well-suited for agriculture due to soil infertility, water scarcity, unfavorable climate or lack of a trained labor force, much of the food comes from the water. Fish and crustaceans are plentiful in the Persian Gulf, but most of the food commodities are imported.

Those in Mali spend the equivalent of $26 per week on food, which consists mainly of rice, millet, sorghum, fish and vegetables. An Emergency Food Security Assessment conducted by the Government of Mali revealed that three out of four households in northern Mali are moderately to severely food insecure.

Chad, a country where people are barely spending the equivalent of one dollar per week on food, is heavily reliant on external assistance. Agriculture and farming is hindered by erratic rains, cyclical droughts and poor farming practices. A 2011 drought left the country in a severe food crisis in 2013.

Food insecurity is connected to education and environment. In Chad, access to basic education is limited, with an enrollment rate of 36 percent and adult literacy rates of 21 percent for women and 43 percent for men.

Improved literacy is one factor in increasing the understanding of agricultural and sustainable practices, which can increase food production. Advanced technologies to control excessive rains or draughts also benefit farming practices. When policies aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity are combined with education and climate control technologies, the effect will be a positive change to create more vibrant markets, employment opportunities and economic growth.

– Haley Sklut

Sources: Time, USDA, GALLUP, Our Africa, World Food Programme, UN-FAO
Photo: Time

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Hillary Clinton: Champion of Women’s Rights

hillary_clinton
In 1995, Hillary Clinton took the stage at the fourth annual United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing. She listed the atrocities and violations committed against women and girls around the world.

Although women comprise half of the human population, they are 70 percent of the world’s poor and two-thirds of women are illiterate. Women in the informal labor economy remain unprotected and at risk of exploitation. Girls around the world are at risk of sexual violence, rape, domestic abuse and child marriage.

Almost 20 years later, Clinton’s speech is still remembered for being a firm declaration of women’s rights on the international stage. Not only was it a message for the Chinese government, but a call to countries around the world to promote women’s rights as human rights.

As a United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton continued to promote women’s rights and empowerment both domestically and internationally. During her four-year tenure, she visited 112 countries, spreading awareness of human rights abuses.

Since leaving the State Department in 2013, she became involved with a new project: the Hillary & Chelsea Clinton Foundation. The Clinton Foundation has partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to further women’s rights.

Although there has been much progression in the 21th century, Clinton warns that there is little data to accurately measure the advancement made in women’s rights globally. This foundation seeks to record and analyze the progress of women by collecting data and figures from traditional and digital sources.

This concrete data will show world leaders how advancing women and human rights is linked with economic development. By empowering and including women in its economic and social life, communities and families are enhanced and can reach their full potential.

On February 25, 2014, Clinton spoke at Georgetown University’s annual Hillary Rodham Clinton Awards for Advancing Women in Peace and Security. The former Secretary of State held that men are also responsible for advancing and protecting women’s rights and that it is not purely a women’s issue. Men, boys, women and girls all suffer from violence and discrimination against females.

Hillary Clinton remains a strong and popular potential candidate for the 2016 Democratic Nomination for presidency. As a woman and potential nomination candidate, she is subjected to greater and unequal focus on her physical appearance, her age, and her hairstyles. And although Clinton has proved her strength, wisdom and determination for decades as a Senator, First Lady of the United States and U.S. Secretary of State, she is still affected by sexism and the widespread notion of what women should and should not aspire to be.

“If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights once and for all. Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely -and the right to be heard,” Clinton said in 1995.

– Sarah Yan

Sources: Eloquent Woman, MSNBC, Huffington Post
Photo: ABC

Thailand: Child Sex Workers

child_labor_sex_workers_thailand
A land that has long been notoriously infamous for as a destination for carnal gratification, many tourists from all around the world visit Thailand not only for its beaches, but also for something more sinister: the tropical country has to offer. But it is not only tourists who do so. Many locals take advantage of the legal loopholes to engage in hiring sex workers as well. However, those who are involved in this illicit business are not limited to adults of the legal age of consent, which, according to the Thai law, is 16 years old.

In addition, other legislation taken into consideration, the legal age to engage in sexual intercourse of the nature of prostitution makes 18 years old the actual legal age of the solicitor. However, the legal prohibition is merely ostensive; punishment against what is essentially a commercialized statutory rape is rarely meted out. Under the ever leniently enforced, often malleable and inconstant law, child prostitution is allowed to thrive.

It is estimated that perhaps as many as 800,000 children under the legal age of consent for sexual intercourse (16 years old) are victims of enslavement for the purpose of coerced prostitution. Often procured to much older men against their will, these victims of pedophilia often consist of young girls trafficked from the uplands of Thailand as well as from neighboring and countries. Forced to work in the touristic cities of the coasts, the most infamous among them being Pattaya, a large number of them have been lured by the promise of other occupations involving tasks of non-venereal descriptions.

The gargantuan pedophiliac sex industry also includes many young boys between the age of 10 to 13-years old. Like their female counterparts, they are forced to engage in coital relations with mainly Western men. UNICEF puts the number of children affected by HIV/AIDS, both having been born with and contracted in Thailand at 300,000.

Not only are children who are forced into prostitution exposed to diseases and violence of unspeakable luridness, they are also deprived of their opportunity to be children and to go to school. The result of this lack of opportunity and qualification is a vicious cycle from which victims of child prostitution find difficult to disentangle themselves. Some become procurers and some continue working in the industry.

One discernible reason for the persistence of child prostitution, at least among those victims who have been obtained domestically, may be the value of filial duty embedded within the culture. This may have made some rural parents to, by indiscretion, believe children should be able to “put bread on the table.” Thus, the parents’ approval to have their children leaving home to work allows traffickers to take advantage and lure these unwitting children with to the cities. Once there, they are not given the works they were promised with.

Lastly, without rendering these victims as mere objects, it is after all the demand that calls for the supply. It is the responsibility, first and foremost of the country’s own government, and secondly, though not any less crucial, the international community’s task to eradicate both the demanders and the suppliers. Upon visiting any city known for its nocturnal entertainment, one cannot help but notice the conspicuousness in which such establishments operate. Thus, might the local authorities then be complicit? Children, regardless of whether or not they were born into penury or luxury, are inalienably entitled to basic rights.

Free public education is provided; it is theirs to make use of it. Finally, the cultural factors promote filial responsibility does not imply that these unknowing parents have consented to their children’s being prostituted. Over the past few decades, prostitution, pedophilia and tourism in Thailand have become words that evoke one another and more serious measures must be taken both by the Thai government itself and the international community.

– Peewara Sapsuwan

Sources: CNN, BBC News, UNICEF, Farnoosh Rezaee Ahan
Photo: Child Labor Photographs

IRRI Identifies 44 Climate Change Resilient Rice Varieties

rice
In order to address the threat of climate change on global food security, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has released 44 varieties of rice that are resilient to some of the effects of climate change. Currently, around half of the entire global population is dependent upon rice as the staple of its meals.

Meanwhile, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report on the adaptations necessary due to climate change impacts and states, “starvation, poverty, flooding, heat waves, droughts, war and disease [are] likely to worsen as the world warms from man-made climate change.” The effects of climate change on agriculture, food security and poverty are particularly distressing; billions of people may face an extreme threat to their food and water security by the year 2050.

Because of the dangers that climate change poses on agriculture, the establishment of climate resilient agricultural sectors is a necessary for nations such as Ghana, where food security is diminishing and poverty is increasing. The rice variations introduced by the IRRI can account for some of the environmental concerns placed upon rice production in many nations that are facing impacts of climate change. The 44 types of rice released include “nine salt-tolerant varieties in the Philippines, three flood-tolerant varieties in South Asia, and six in sub-Saharan Africa.”

Although genetically modified crops, such as the climate resilient rice variations introduced by the IRRI, have faced backlash in developed nations, they are beginning to become a necessity in developing nations. Climate change impacts are expected to worsen, as the global environment is a complex system where much can be left unconsidered. Therefore, resiliency in crops is a necessary avenue for research and development in the very near future.

The 44 rice varieties are expected to bolster the agricultural sectors of nations within Africa and Asia including the Philippines, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nigeria, Tanzania, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar and Rwanda. With the global population on a steep rise and mass cases of socio-economic ascension from poverty to the middle class, food demand is significantly high. Currently, the IRRI is working on a tripartite rice variation that is resilient to droughts, floods and saltiness, all of which are staples of climate change impacts on the agriculture sector.

– Jugal Patel

Sources: Interaksyon, Think Progress
Photo: Golden Diamond