Australian Fashionista
How To End Poverty
October 19th 2007 06:34
I I was stopped in my tracks to read the following cover of Time Magazine many months ago and would like to share the concept behind the article.
To most of us, the idea is nothing short of miraculous; the reality nothing less than shocking.
For the full article [READ HERE]
Some Moving Pictures accompany this article.
Put simply, if the 'rich' countries gave the international aid that they promised, extreme poverty would be eradicated in our life time
'Make Poverty History' has taken up the challenge and is encouraging citizens not to give money, but instead to petition to increase awareness, and to urge their governments to fulfill the Milenium Development Goals.
Since this article was written, many foundations and charity organisations have taken up the flag and galloped fiercely towards the goal of ending global famine.
Just a couple of these organisations and places where you can read about their work follow:
* World Vision {LINK}
* Make Poverty History {LINK}
* Oxfam Australia {LINK}
* Stir.org {LINK}
Thanks for taking the time to absorb some of the world around us.
To most of us, the idea is nothing short of miraculous; the reality nothing less than shocking.
"This is a story about ending poverty in our time. It is not a forecast. I am not predicting what will happen, only explaining what can happen. Currently, more than 8 million people around the world die each year because they are too poor to stay alive. Every morning our newspapers could report, "More than 20,000 people perished yesterday of extreme poverty." How? The poor die in hospital wards that lack drugs, in villages that lack antimalarial bed nets, in houses that lack safe drinking water. They die namelessly, without public comment. Sadly, such stories rarely get written."Jeffrey D. Sachs
Some Moving Pictures accompany this article.
Put simply, if the 'rich' countries gave the international aid that they promised, extreme poverty would be eradicated in our life time
'Make Poverty History' has taken up the challenge and is encouraging citizens not to give money, but instead to petition to increase awareness, and to urge their governments to fulfill the Milenium Development Goals.
More and better aid is needed to:
Help end extreme poverty
Enable every child to attend primary school
Reduce child mortality rates
Improve maternal health
Create decent jobs
Begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Despite welcome commitments to increase aid, Australia can and should do more. In 2000, Australia ranked 13 out of 22 rich countries for the amount of aid given as a proportion of national income. By 2010 Australia will rank 18th place, giving just 0.35 per cent of our wealth to aid – considerably lower than other nations. We can and should do more.
The Australian Government should join other rich countries by committing to a timetable for overseas aid as a proportion of Gross National Income (GNI) of 0.5% by 2010 and 0.7% by 2015.
Help end extreme poverty
Enable every child to attend primary school
Reduce child mortality rates
Improve maternal health
Create decent jobs
Begin to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Despite welcome commitments to increase aid, Australia can and should do more. In 2000, Australia ranked 13 out of 22 rich countries for the amount of aid given as a proportion of national income. By 2010 Australia will rank 18th place, giving just 0.35 per cent of our wealth to aid – considerably lower than other nations. We can and should do more.
The Australian Government should join other rich countries by committing to a timetable for overseas aid as a proportion of Gross National Income (GNI) of 0.5% by 2010 and 0.7% by 2015.
Since this article was written, many foundations and charity organisations have taken up the flag and galloped fiercely towards the goal of ending global famine.
Just a couple of these organisations and places where you can read about their work follow:
* World Vision {LINK}
* Make Poverty History {LINK}
* Oxfam Australia {LINK}
* Stir.org {LINK}
Thanks for taking the time to absorb some of the world around us.
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Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three
It is more complicated than that but to really end world poverty people have to stop wasting, be generous for the sake of being generous and definitely not turn the issue of charity into a concert.
Comment by Australian Fashionista
Australian Fashionista
Fashion Events
I agree. Only people can help people however those with power can help a whole lot more. I also agree about the concert only awareness has to start somewhere...
Comment by AmyHuang
Sydney Table
Project Job Search
Travel Debate
Travel String
Love Adventures
Thanks for bringing it up and creating more awareness in this world.
Comment by Howard
Real Crash
The "movement against Global Warming" is the new slogan today to increase poverty and death.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
In the production of food there has always be enough to fill mankinds needs but never enough to fill their greed.
Comment by Australian Fashionista
Australian Fashionista
Fashion Events
Surely you'd agree Howard the people who care about sustaining our planet aren't planning for its occupants to starve?
How is it you can believe that exploiting our resources so that a few can live in luxury is a positive - and that supporting and protecting our environment is a 'conspiracy' to send people poor??
I think I am beginning to understand your paranoia.
I do appreciate your interest in my blog and enjoy your unpredictable views
Comment by Australian Fashionista
Australian Fashionista
Fashion Events
Thanks for your comments. I am saddened also that it appears greed outweighs our human nature to nuture. Perhaps if there was greater awareness? If we were forced to watch our brothers and sisters starve it would be a lot more difficult for the exploitation to continue.
I look to our children (of which I have none yet) to whom friendship is more important than material wealth to continue and with education, even reverse the damage that has been caused.
Thanks again for your interest
Comment by Howard
Real Crash
Your nickname gives your game away. Being green, and equating human beings with "the earth" is just a very "in" and fashionable way to say the old Grace Slick (Jefferson Starship) line- "...the human name doesn't mean sh&t to a tree."
I really am not impressed if your opinions (brainwashing) are "sincere and deeply felt." For example, the use of millions of acres of corn as ethanol for gasohol will starve millions. If you say that has nothing to do with the global warming fraud, then you know nothing about the standard con man's "shell game." (also known as bait and switch).
I could compare it to Nazism, but in its effect, it is actually worse, and is part of a group of policies for the financial Anglo-Dutch oligarchy (Al Gore, poster boy) that, unchecked by traditional American legacy policies will eliminate most of the planet's population. If you think that is good, please have the decency to say so. It's OK, we're all grown-ups. Some people just are scared of a lot of people being able to exist.
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three
He actually does, and believes scientists are part of the conspiracy.
Comment by Howard
Real Crash
Comment by Ahmed
techy.Bytes
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Qwerk
Cinema Three
Get over yourself, there is no conspiracy, there is no disagreements in the scientific community except by a few with shady backgrounds. Arguing this is like trying to argue the earth is 6000 years old and claiming that there is disagreement in the scientific community on the age of the earth. It's 6000 years old and only a few with obviously bias backgrounds claim otherwise. Much like this whole issue.
Comment by Australian Fashionista
Australian Fashionista
Fashion Events
Howard - in one 'breath' you admonish my 'name' saying that my beliefs are 'fashionable' and without validity, but my arguments still stand up.
I disagree - we are "of the earth" and the person who tramps all over it thinking how clever and important they are will find out how clever and important they are the hard way.
If you don't even acknowledge the existence of global warming you are living in the dark ages, i.e. the 20th century.
It is fun to meet someone with such different opinions but will have to wait until next topic to joust with you further.
Fashionably minded - Friend of the Earth
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I did a post on this subject post a while ago now and ending poverty and equalising the world affluence is sooo within our reach. But we must rely on gernments making sensible decisions in order for this to happen and THAT is unlikely to happen... well, until it is too late, who knows... I don't like to speculate. However, they say that if you want to predict the future, study the past. I think TIme picked up on Lester's ideas here.
That said, check out a passionate rant about governments not making sensible decisions because of greed.
It's enough to break anyone's heart when you consider that it is all possible... but who will give up there SUV's and affluent lifestyles for it to come about? Let us all hope it ibefore there is no alternative left, because the food has dried up with the water... amongst all our affluence.
Great Post!
Lilla ...
Comment by Australian Fashionista
Australian Fashionista
Fashion Events
Stay postive and remember;
Just about every organisation supporting global sustainable development (i.e. World Vision, Oxfam to name a couple), have 'Action' sections on their websites where they have tailored letters you can send to your local government as well as volunteer opportunities for those inclined to do so etc.
Although neither of us (I assume) are politicians, we along with others can influence their priorities - especially in times leading up to an election!
What the people want - they will get, I just wish more people were aware as we are of what how our society needs to do to sustain life.
We need to open its eyes and that's what I consider our mission