Archive for category: Global Poverty

Key articles and information on global poverty.

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Protecting the Rights of Syrian Children

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On January 22, the Geneva II Middle East Peace Conference opened in Montreux, Switzerland. One of the major focuses of the conference is an attempt to curb the civil war in Syria.

Since the beginning of Syria’s civil war in spring 2011, over 100,000 people have been killed. The Oxford Research Group posted an independent study estimating that 11,420 of civilian casualties, over 10 percent have been children.

While the majority of casualties have resulted from explosive weapons or Syrian army assaults on civilian neighborhoods, there have also been targeted attacks on children, with 112 recorded cases of torture leading to death.The situation for Syrian children is dire. In many cases, the children are forced to flee Syria as refugees. As refugees, the situation is not much better, with limited access to food and water.

World Vision has released its January report on the crisis in Syria focusing on bringing the conditions of the regions children to light. The report, “Stand With Me – Children’s Rights, Wronged” emphasizes the conditions in which Syrian children live and outlines what is needed to support them.

The report discusses the violations against Syrian children’s basic human rights. Affected children in Syria endure child labor at as young as 4 years old, with 10 percent of refugees replacing education with work.

This inability to access education is emphasized as one of the greatest misfortunes of the war. World Vision’s report explains how important it is to keep Syrian children in school not just to educate them, but also to keep them safe from dangerous situations on the streets and in the workplace.

Additionally, many Syrian children are being exploited to smuggle goods, perform sexual acts and to work and fight on the front lines of the civil war.

In addition to highlighting the conditions that Syrian children face, World Vision calls for three demands regarding the safety of these children to be met:

1. “All parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and come together to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict, with support from the international community.

2. All parties to do everything within their power to respect and ensure the protection of children and their rights by immediately ceasing all violence, exploitation, and abuse against children.

3. Donors to meet the $1 billion call to fund education and child protection programming for children affected by the crisis…”

In light of the Geneva II Middle East Peace Conference, World Vision’s January report calls for action on the part of the global community in order to curtail further violence against the children of Syria.

– Cameron Barney

Sources: World Vision, NBC News, NPR, NPR, BBC
Photo: The Big Story

Portrayals of Poverty in Film and Television

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Global issues such as homelessness, hunger and addiction have long inspired captivating portrayals of poverty in film and television characters.

 

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins depicts an alternate universe in which 12 districts are controlled by a single malevolent leader. Each year all twelve districts must offer up tributes to compete in the annual Hunger Games.

Most of the districts live in poverty with barely enough to eat while the rich citizens of the ‘capitol’ live in luxury and wealth. Hunger, desperation and violent leadership all contribute to the ultimate uprising of the districts in order to overthrow the capitol and evil President Snow.

It is not far- fetched to relate this alternate reality to that of a dictatorship or corrupt government of some foreign nation. There are leaders and factions that use violence to rule among citizens struggling with poverty and trying to make ends meet on less than two dollars a day.

Political scandals and power struggles invite more violence and instability to any group of people, and The Hunger Games is an example of a worst-case scenario when people living in poverty do not have good leadership, education and a stable economy.

 

“Bubbles,” The Wire

Another great example of fictional poverty on screen is the character “Bubbles” from the HBO drama series, The Wire. Bubbles is introduced to audiences as a homeless heroin addict. His story depicts how drug addiction can run rampant without help and ruin the lives and relationships of people around them.

The plotline of Bubbles ranges from problems with family to a cautious truce with the police as an informant. HBO uses Bubble’s charm and intelligence to challenge common poverty stereotypes like laziness and lack of motivation. The plot instead points to unforeseeable circumstances, like fighting a disease, rather than indulging in drugs for fun.

Stereotypes of the homeless, poor, addicted and other unfortunate souls, have persisted for many years. Such misperceptions of those struggling with poverty lead others to make unfair assumptions about the value and potential of these people. The more money one has, the more respect one gains and vice versa.

 

Harry Potter

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, famous all over the world for its magical universe and equally magical characters, shows how the stigma of poverty can affect even a wizarding family. The Weasley’s are known for having a large family but less money than most, and many of the children are often made fun of in school — even the adults are looked down on by their employers at the Ministry of Magic.

Film and television storylines and characters like these do more than just entertain; they send a message and encourage people to think more compassionately about one another. Addressing these issues makes audiences and critics alike re-think the way they see the the poor, the homeless and the addicted.

– Kaitlin Sutherby

Sources: Flavorwire, Scholastic, The Hunger Games
Photo: joshuaongys

3 Poverty Myths Addressed in Gates Annual Letter


1. Poor Countries Will Remain Poor

“Poor countries are not doomed to stay poor,” Bill Gates says, “By 2035, there will be almost no poor countries left in the world. Almost all countries will be what we now call lower-middle income or richer”

Botswana, Cape Verde and the Maldive Islands graduated from the UN’s Least Developed Countries (LDC) list in 1994, 2007 and 2011, respectively. Cambodia, Laos and Bangladesh have included graduation from LDC status as a strategic objective in their National Development Plans.

While many poor countries have enjoyed advancements in technology, health and education, there is still a long way to go. The evidence that some developing countries have already developed is enough to prove this myth wrong.

2. Foreign Aid is a Waste of Money

“I worry about the myth that aid doesn’t work,” Gates says. “It gives political leaders an excuse to try to cut back on it—and that would mean fewer lives are saved, and more time before countries can become self-sufficient.”

The U.S. spends less than one percent of its budget on foreign aid – that’s about $30 billion a year. Of that, about $11 billion is spent on health, with the remainder going to education and infrastructure.

If children are healthy, they can go to school and eventually work and even give back to their society, making their country more self-sufficient.

The myth that “aid fosters dependence” can be quickly put to rest by examining the countries who formerly received aid but have grown so much that they hardly receive aid today: Botswana, Morocco, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, Peru, Thailand, Mauritius, Singapore and Malaysia. In his letter, Gates also states that even in Sub-Saharan Africa, the share of the economy that comes from aid a third lower now than it was 20 years ago.

“Broadly speaking, aid is a fantastic investment, and we should be doing more,” Gates says. “It saves and improves lives very effectively, laying the groundwork for long-term economic progress.”

3. Saving Lives Leads to Overpopulation

Gates argues that as child mortality rates decline, so does birth rate. When children survive in higher numbers, families decide to have smaller families. If mothers are not sure whether their children will live, they tend to have more children. However, when children are well-nourished, fully vaccinated and treated for diseases, their future becomes more predictable and parents begin to make decisions based on the assumption that their child will live.

“We all have the chance to create a world where extreme poverty is the exception rather than the rule, and where all children have the same chance to thrive, no matter where they’re born. For those of us who believe in the value of every human life, there isn’t any more inspiring work under way in the world today.”

– Haley Sklut

Sources: Gates Foundation, The UN
Photo: Gates Foundation

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10 Statistics on Slavery Today

Slavery Today
“Elementary students across America are taught that slavery ended in the 19th Century. But, sadly, nearly 150 years later, the fight to end this global scourge is far from over.”

Hillary Clinton wrote these words in an op-ed she penned as Secretary of State. Her words were calling the world’s attention to the hideous prevalence of modern slavery. Slave owners often hide the practice behind words and phrases such as “bonded labor,” “human trafficking” and “forced labor,” yet nothing changes the fact that human beings are being enslaved.

Calling for people, organizations and governments to “redouble our efforts to fight modern slavery,” Secretary Clinton advocated for using “every available tool” to set the international community on a course toward the eradication of modern slavery.

 

Slavery Statistics

 

1. An estimated 29.8 million people live in modern slavery today

2. Slavery generates $32 billion for traffickers globally each year

3. Approximately 78% of victims are enslaved for labor, 22% of victims are enslaved for sex

4. 55% of slavery victims are women and girls

5. 26% of slaves today are children under the age of 18

6. An estimated 60,000 victims of slavery are enslaved in the United States.

  •  The 2013 Walk Free Global Slavery Index places U.S. at 134th out of 162 countries
  •  Rankings were determined based on three factors: a country’s estimated slavery prevalence by population, a measure of child marriage and a measure of human trafficking.

7. Iceland, Ireland and the United Kingdom tied for the ranking of 160 in the 2013 Global Slavery Index. However, even with the top ranking in the survey, these countries are not free from slavery. In the United Kingdom alone, there are an estimated 4,200 to 4,600 victims of slavery.

8. The country with the highest percentage of of its population in slavery is Mauritania with approximately 4% of the total population enslaved. This amounts to roughly 140,000 to 160,000 people enslaved — Mauritania’s total population is only a mere 3.8 million.

9. India has the largest number of slavery victims at a horrifying 14 million.

10. The top 10 per-capita slavery hot spots are:

Mauritania
Haiti
Pakistan
India
Nepal
Moldova
Benin
Cote d’Ivoire
Gambia
Gabon

– Kelley Calkins 

Sources: Free the Slaves, Walk Free Foundation, US State Department
Photo: Exposing the Truth

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Guinea Worm Almost Gone

Guinea Worm
There were only 148 cases of Guinea Worm infestations reported worldwide last year, which is a leap forward compared to the 3.5 million cases less than two decades ago. This disease is known to many as “dracunculiasis” which means, “affliction with little dragons,” due to the pain the worm causes on the skin. Hope remains for the few countries left on the Guinea worm-endemic list as complete eradication of the parasite may come at a faster rate than that of the polio virus.

The number of countries on the Guinea worm endemic list dropped from 21 to four. Ethiopia, Chad, Mali and South Sudan remain on the list, but there are now less than 200 cases compared to the millions that reported in 1986. South Sudan currently has the highest number of cases due to a resurgence that occurred last month when health workers were removed from the main eradication center due to fighting in the villages.

People acquire the worm by drinking contaminated water. When individuals drink the contaminated water, the pathogen enters the body where it remains for almost a month. During this time it matures into a worm that can grow up to 3 feet long. When it is ready, the Guinea worm exits from a blister on the individual’s skin inch by inch.  In most cases, the exiting worm has contact with water, where it releases its larvae and the pathogen is able to spread to several people if they continue to drink from these shallow ponds. This microscopic parasite usually appears in isolated villages marked by these shallow water ponds.

Family economies also suffer as victims are unable to work or farm. The process is painful and as it emerges it cripples a person for several weeks. Young children who acquire the worm also miss school for several weeks.

Wiping out the Guinea worm has been quite the obstacle since there is no vaccine or medicine against the parasite.  Health advocates usually visit various villages to educate families about the dangers of drinking contaminated water. They also explain how the water becomes contaminated when villagers place their infected limbs in shallow water ponds.

So far efforts to eliminate the Guinea Worm have cost around $350 million since 1986. This amount has almost solved the problem, while fighting off polio will cost upwards of $5.5 billion. Health workers note that eradication efforts are low-tech but can be easily implemented since the only strategy is to drink clean water and keep infections monitored. Officials from the Carter Center, the main operation center against Guinea Worm cases, are confident about eliminating the parasite if they continue their same efficient methods.

– Maybelline Martez

Sources: NY Times, NPR, Guinea Worms, NPR, Slaying Dragons
Photo: TrialX

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Zuckerberg $1 Billion to Silicon Valley Community Foundation

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Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook and inspiration for Jesse Eisenberg’s role  in The Social Network, has committed $1 billion  to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVC). Audiences who remember the movie might be surprised by this contribution, considering the depiction of Zuckerberg in the film was essentially that of a ruthless and self-serving young man. The technology industry in general is often considered greed-oriented and profit-driven, rather than beneficial to humanity.  Chief Executive of the SVC fund, Emmet Carson, says the money will go to health and education.

The SVC Foundation helps identify organizations that are most effective with their aid, both in the US and internationally. Their mission, listed on their official website states, “We provide visionary community leadership by identifying emerging challenges in our region. We address those challenges through our grantmaking programs, our research and our ability to bring together diverse groups of problem-solvers. We build and energize a community of philanthropists who strengthen the common good.”

The organizations that the SVC funds have been studied in order to confirm that their work is making a tangible difference with the money they are given.

Featured on the SVC homepage is a spotlight section that is currently linking viewers to the top charities helping Typhoon Haiyan victims. The Silicon Valley Community Foundation partners with and researches these organizations to track what their relief funds actually do so that donors know their money is really making an impact. Much of what the foundation does revolves around investment management, and matching potential donors with charities that are involved with specific lines of aid ,disaster relief and medical research.

Zuckerberg’s donation to the foundation will be his second large donation in the past six months.

In December 2013, Zuckerberg donated almost $1 billion in Facebook stock to charity, and his 2014 donation makes him responsible for the largest cash or stock donation of anyone under 30 years of age. Wealth and technology have been criticized for their power to corrupt, but donations like these to organizations that do legitimate good for others definitely speak for themselves.

– Kaitlin Sutherby

Photo: CNN Money
Sources: Philanthropy, Silicon Valley, Business Insider

Poverty in Cote D’Ivoire

Poverty in Cote D’Ivoire
Cote D’Ivoire, French for “Ivory Coast”, was once the paradigm of economic prosperity and stability for the African continent. Located in West Africa, Cote D’lvoire is one of the world’s leading exporters of coffee and palm oil and once held the title of most prosperous country in West Africa.

However, after the death of the nation’s first president, Houphouët-Boigny, the prized economy of Cote D’Lovire was riddled by insurgencies. Due to internal strife, such as a toll-taking civil war, the nation is now gripped by severe poverty. According to the World Bank, the proportion of the population experiencing poverty skyrocketed between 1983 and 1993, with the poverty ratio increasing from 10.1% to 34.6%. Poverty in Cote D’Ivoire has since steadily increased, with the poverty ratio peaking at 42.7% in 2008.

The extreme poverty in Cote D’Ivoire  is compounded by insufficient resources, leaving Cote D’Ivoire unable to deal with inadequate housing and a growing population. According to Habitat for Humanity, housing in Cote D’lovire has a scarcity of nearly 10,000 houses each year. A significant contributor to this crisis is the process of urbanization- a progression that has lured over half of the population into urban areas such as a towns and cities.

The housing shortage is particularly severe in the rural, underdeveloped areas of the country. These locales lack the necessary tools and infrastructure to provide adequate housing for the residents of Cote D’lvoire. For instance, many residents dwell in traditional edifices composed of vulnerable materials and unsound construction, such as mud, wooden frames, and thatch-roofs. These houses are extremely susceptible to fire and disease, particularly since thatch-roofs attract mosquitos and tsetse flies aggrandize the chances of locals contracting malaria and other lethal and debilitating diseases. Additionally, these frail abodes are typically overpopulated – housing far too many individuals for what the structure itself can naturally support. Over-occupancy of these cramped quarters restricts proper ventilation, promoting a host of other illnesses.

Furthermore, where poverty rears its formidable head, so too does HIV/AIDs. The rate of HIV/AIDs in Cote D’lvoire is among the highest rate of the disease in West Africa. Therefore, by helping to restabilize and rebuild the economy of the Cote D’Lvoire, not only would residents receive proper infrastructure, they would also receive life-saving healthcare measures. The beautiful Cote D’lvoire had once been the gem of the African world, and with adequate support and awareness, the Ivory Coast can someday be restored.

– Phoebe Pradhan

Sources: Lonely Planet, Habitat for Humanity, World Bank
Photo: Africa Up Close

Poverty Reduction Success Stories in South Asia

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South Asia has experienced about six percent economic growth per year over the past 20 years. The proportion of poor people in the region is lower now than any time since 1981. The region is making strides in poverty reduction with improvements in health, food security and education.

Health Care

In Afghanistan, child mortality dropped from 257 to 97 per 1,000 live births between 2002-2012. Maternal health and contraceptive use have also increased, with a 20% usage rate in 2011, up from five percent in 2003. The Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund was established in 2002 to provide assistance to the Government of Afghanistan for national investment projects. The Fund supports health projects in Afghanistan, increasing the number of health facilities more than fourfold, from 496 in 2004 to 2,047 in 2012.

Food Security

In Nepal, one million people received support through the Food Crisis Response Program, which is funded by the International Development Association (IDA). The landlocked country is one of the most malnourished in South Asia. The program supported a partnership between the Government of Nepal and the World Food Programme to provide food and cash in areas facing immediate risks. Benefits of the program include restored short-term food security, increased local employment opportunities and higher income, rural road construction and rehabilitation of community assets.

Education

In Bangladesh, secondary school graduation rate increased from 30% to 39% from 2008-2011. The Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project and the Secondary Education Quality and Access Enhancement Project support the government of Bangladesh in their effort to improve education in the country. Primary education is free for all children in Bangladesh with attendance between the ages of six and ten mandated by law. As one of the world’s most densely populated countries, it is one of the world’s greatest human resources for the future. An education for children in Bangladesh means employment opportunities and eventually, self-sufficiency for the country and its people.

– Haley Sklut

Sources: World Bank, Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, UNICEF

Qatar Food Security: A Rich State in a Poor Place

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In 1940, about 11,000 people lived in Qatar. Today, nearly two million men and women of every ethnicity and income reside in this state, living at the mercy of imported food.

However, Qatar sits comfortably as the largest global exporter of liquefied natural gas. A majority of residents are foreign workers, with no more than 13% native Qataris. As a result, this 13% – fewer than 300,000 – became very wealthy in the past two decades.

Justin Gengler, an American professor at Qatar University, calculated the annual income for each citizen at $180,000.

Skyscrapers now dominate the Qatar skyline – monuments to Qatar’s rapid economic growth. This rising urbanization, however, contrasts sharply with the declining food supply.

The arid region cannot support the recent influx of foreign workers. Limited land and chronic water scarcity restricts agricultural growth and heightens fear of food insecurity. Qatar imports more than 90% of its food and desalinates nearly 100% of its water. Today, it faces an agricultural trade deficient of $1.2 billion.

Dependence on wealth from natural oil and gas cannot sustain the state, as it combats degraded soil, difficult climate, and a lack of irrigation water.

Robert Siegel of NPR reports, “The way the Qataris see it, it’s a fair match, paying for the best technology to triumph over the most adverse natural environment.”

The government established the Qatar National Food Security Program (QNFSP) in 2008. This initiative aims to promote self-sufficiency, by investing in agricultural technology. Ideally, this technology makes “optimal usage of scare resources.”

Technology ties the principles of growth and sustainability together. At the Ministry of Environment, Fahad Al-Attiya hopes to transform Qatar from a hydrocarbon-based economy to a knowledge-based one.

A seven acre farm sits 12 millimeters from Doha. Trees and several greenhouses form a protective ring around the farm, as harsh winds threaten the crops. The farm rests on the very limited source of fresh groundwater.

Nearly 60% of residents live in Doha, relying on desalinated water. Farmers, however, depend on aquifers. More than a century ago, water flowed freely. Today, farmers and consumers have overdrawn their aquifers and exhausted the water supply.

The QNFSP intends to equip farmers with more efficient irrigation technology, placing Qatari farms on par with those in more favorable climates. At this time, only one percent of total land is cultivated and farms declined by 30% in the past five years. However, by 2030, the state aims to produce 40% of its food domestically.

Around 50,000,000 cubic meters of water from rain and underground channels remains and though this can sustain the state for two or three years, it needs more long-term solutions.

The state continues to grow by 15% annually and consumes more water than any nation in the world. However, rainfall in Doha totals a mere 74 millimeters per year. Consequently, it must rely heavily on energy for the desalination for water.

With 300 days of sun, Qatar holds a competitive advantage: renewable energy.

Though the global economy values gas and oil, Qatar serves as a reminder to all: without access to water, the threat of food insecurity and poverty persists.

– Ellery Spahr 

Sources: NPR, Ted Talks
Photo: QNFSP

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Ukraine Protests Turn Violent

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Since November, Ukraine has been rocked by intense public protests over the government’s apparent rejection of the West in favor of closer ties to neighboring Russia. The protests have taken a violent turn as many demonstrators clashed with riot police over new anti-protest legislation that was recently passed this week.

The new legislation aims to quell the public’s right to protest against government officials. The specifics of the law ban the placement of tents, stages and loud speakers in public spaces.

The law also puts in place hefty jail sentences for those deemed to have played a part in “mass disorder.” Other points in the law state that wearing face masks or helmets is prohibited, threatening violators with long sentences.

Probably the law’s most egregious violation pertains to journalist’s ability to report on government officials. Any criticism of officials by the media is deemed illegal under the new legislation.

Tensions boiled over on Sunday as protesters resorted to violence against police forces. Demonstrators beat officers with sticks and attempted to turn over a bus blocking access to parliament. Fireworks and smoke bombs hurled through the air, injuring many.

A total of thirty police officers were injured during the protests. Later that night, police fired upon protesters with large water cannons in an attempt to disperse them.

A central figure in the middle of the public outrage over recent anti-western moves by the government is former professional boxer Vitaly Klitschko. He has made repeated calls for protests to remain peaceful despite the government overreach.

Recently, Klitschko was joined by his fiancé, American actress Hayden Panettiere, in a show of solidarity with the protesters.

Despite his efforts, Klistchko’s repeated calls for restraint fell on deaf ears, as tensions proved too much for many involved in the protests.

The country’s recent pivot away from a proposed joint economic partnership with the European Union toward Russia leads many to see Russia’s influence in the new anti-protest legislation. Heather McGill of Amnesty International reports the new law is almost an exact copy of existing Russian legislation that dealt a severe blow to the civil society in Russia.

The new economic partnership with Russia aims to reverse the decline of trade among the respective nations. Under the new deal, Russia will buy up $15 billion of Ukraine debt and cut natural gas prices.

The new prices will be slashed to $268.50 per 1,000 cubic meters of gas from $400.

The proposed partnership will reach across many economic sectors including industry, agriculture, defense, construction and transport.

This new partnership has created a split among the citizenry throughout Ukraine. The eastern section of the country desires increased relations with Russia, while the West favors closer ties with the E.U.

As Ukraine moves closer to Russia, many fear the nation will emulate the authoritarian tactics associated with the Russian government. The brazen passage of anti-protest legislation with complete disregard for the public’s disapproval is a clear sign Ukraine is moving in that direction.

– Zack Lindberg

Sources: CNN, Amnesty International, Reuters
Photo: TPM