REASONS AND RESULTS OF POVERTY

INTRODUCTION UN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX (HDI) RANKS COUNTRIES ACCORDING TO: GDP, Life Expectancy, Literacy 200 richest people in the world are as rich as 41% of the world combined.

PROBLEM: WOMEN HAVE LESS RIGHTS THAN MEN Poverty creates different hardships for women and children than for men. Many developing countries have male-dominated societies.

PROBLEM: WOMEN HAVE LESS RIGHTS THAN MEN Poverty creates different hardships for women and children than for men. Women have no legal rights. Women may be killed to satisfy a family’s honour. Women may face malnutrition from eating leftover food. 60% of women are malnourished in some areas… usually in drought-stricken remote areas.

PROBLEM: WOMEN HAVE LESS RIGHTS THAN MEN Women may have to work as long as 12 hours per day. Rate of literacy lower among women than men. * The literacy rate in India is 39% for women and 64% for men illustrating the unequal educational opportunities. * Three times as many girl children die as boys due to malnutrition or murder. * Girls are still given less all occasions of food and health care than their male counterparts. * Female infanticide. * The killing of female fetuses. Average number of children per women in some areas is 7.4 Many families keep women home to look after the young children and help with chores.

SOLUTIONS: WOMEN HAVE LESS RIGHTS OF MEN More rights and freedom for women. (Problem: Who are we to tell other cultures what to think?) Get rid of religious fundamentalism. Eg. France has banned hijab and head scarves. (Problem: This would spark religious wars). UNICEF providing food aid and studying problem.

SOLUTIONS: WOMEN HAVE LESS RIGHTS OF MEN Increase literacy: - Educated women have less children. - Women are primary educators of children.

QUESTION: Should prostitution be legal? PROBLEM: SEX TRADE AND UNSAFE SEX CAUSING AIDS SOLUTIONS: USE PROTECTION, BAN or REGULATE SEX-TRADE MORE HOSPITALS FOR DISEASE QUESTION: Should prostitution be legal?

PROBLEM: CHILDREN IN CRISIS Children catch diseases easier, such as: Measles, malaria

PROBLEM: CHILDREN IN CRISIS Exploited child labour, sex trade High birth rates for the cycle continues. Malnutrition. Poor sanitation and water. Few educational opportunities. Orphanage in India.

Child Labour: 1 of 6 or 7 children world-wide. PROBLEM: CHILD LABOUR Child Labour: 1 of 6 or 7 children world-wide. School is expensive for families. Families need the money. (UNICEF) In 1998, after years of pressure, Nike increased their worker age minimum to 18.

SOLUTIONS: CHILD LABOUR Increased pay: minimum wage Shorter working hours Condoms, abstinence Have child labour laws on an international level PROBLEMS: Capitalist society always wants cheaper goods.

PROBLEM: CHILD SOLDIERS CHILD SOLDIERS Children are kidnapped, drugged forced to fight in wars brainwashed. SOLUTIONS: CHILD SOLDIERS United Nations has banned military recruitment under 18 years old.

PROBLEM: LACK OF CLEAN WATER 1.2 billion people lack clean water. This number expected to double by 2025.

PROBLEM: LACK OF CLEAN WATER 80% of world’s diseases are from contaminated water. E Coli was found in contaminated water in Ontario. WHY? - Rivers being used for human waste & pollution. Eg. Yellow River in China

SOLUTIONS: LACK OF DRINKING WATER Conserve Water Limit population growth Find new sources of clean water Don’t waste water.

SOLUTIONS: LACK OF DRINKING WATER Education of poorer populations: eg. Don’t drink from rivers people bathe in. Build wells Grey water recycling

Role: create a stable monetary system after devastating war. PROBLEM: FOREIGN DEBT World Bank and IMF funded mega projects to “create jobs” in developing nations. HISTORY: FOREIGN DEBT - FOUNDED AFTER WWII Role: create a stable monetary system after devastating war. During the 1950s and 60s, they lent money to Third World countries. In 1970s, recession in the West caused debt to go up in Third World. In order to get money, poor countries must submit to IMF rules. USA is biggest contributor to IMF. USA owns 20% of IMF. IMF Top 10 Members: USA 17% Japan 6% Germany 6% France 5% UK 5% China 4% Italy 4% Saudi Arabia 3% Canada 3% Russia 3%

HISTORY: FOREIGN DEBT Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) tell Third World countries to restructure their economies in the following ways: Create CASH CROPS of primary goods coffee, cotton, rubber, cocoa, copper, tin. PROBLEM: WHAT IF THE PRICES OF THESE THINGS FALL?

HISTORY: FOREIGN DEBT Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs) told countries to sell their nationalized industries, usually to western corporations at discounted prices.

HISTORY: FOREIGN DEBT Mega-projects are created to help “provide jobs.” They lead to problems with the environment, citizens forced to move. Corrupt governments take most of the money.

HISTORY: FOREIGN DEBT Military dictators are supported (usually because they are not communist) Photos of the disappeared in Argentina’s “Dirty War” (1970s)

HISTORY: FOREIGN DEBT Military dictators are supported (usually because they are not communist) Augusto Pinochet Chile (1974-1990) Killed 2,279 Tortured 31,947 Exiled 1,312 Brazil (1964-1979)

SOLUTIONS: FOREIGN DEBT HIPC Agreement to reduce debt load Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative was created following heavy lobbying from NGOs. These poor countries were given low interest loans to help them pay back their debts to sustainable levels.

SOLUTIONS: FOREIGN DEBT Debt reduction plan proposed by countries like Canada Debt forgiveness campaigned for by people like Bono. Bi-lateral aid in the form of GRANTS instead of LOANS. Allow countries to repay debts by investing in environmental or other sustainable projects in their own countries.

PROBLEM: FOREIGN AID TIED AID: Agreements like SAP. Assistance given by one country to another that requires the receiving country to buy goods and/or services from the donor country. Benefits industrialized countries at the expense of the developing world.

SOLUTIONS: FOREIGN AID Switch to Multilateral aid Developing countries receive help from a number of countries or organizations like the United Nations. Form national government agencies like CIDA. Form non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

EXAMPLE: KENYA Shows the cycle of poverty: Low economic opportunities  Low education opportunities  Low employment - ¼ of northern plateau is too dry for farming

EXAMPLE: KENYA Less than ½ the population has access to drinking water. PROBLEM: WHAT STAGE OF POPULATION GROWTH IS KENYA IN?

EXAMPLE: KENYA 30% of children are underweight. Thousands are infected with HIV/AIDS About 7% of adults are infected. In Canada, 0.02% of the population is infected.

EXAMPLE: KENYA In SHANTY TOWNS, people live in wood or cardboard homes with no electricity, running water, or sanitary systems.

SOLUTIONS: KENYA In highland in the west people can produce tea and coffee for export and cut flowers to sell in Europe. Currently 37% of tropical grassland is used for grazing cattle. Many people have moved to cities for cheap labour. PROBLEM: TO WHAT EXTENT IS THE WEST RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE PROBLEMS OF SOVEREIGN NATIONS LIKE KENYA?