Man : Slack In Life (Poverty in Humanity)

Poverty In Humanity

Poverty can be understood as a lack of money, or more broadly in terms of barriers to everyday life. Poverty occurs when people could not satisfy their basic need and this lead to deprivation of food, shelter, money and clothing.

 Absolute poverty or destitution refers to severe handicapped of the basic human needs, which commonly includes food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care, education and information. Relative poverty is defined as an economic inequality in the location or society in which people live.
 

Characteristics

The effects of poverty may cause a "poverty cycle" cutting through all levels and it affect individual, local, national and global.

a.       Health

        Poverty forces more than a billion people to live in environments that are vulnerable to health risks, lacking shelter, food, water, sanitation or access to medical attention. Lack of clean water causing diarrhea and cholera is one of the biggest killers worldwide, alongside malaria and HIV which are all more likely to occur in developing communities.

       The effects of living in poverty have a dramatic impact on health, putting developing communities at risk through the increased sharing of limited space, lack of education on health issues, lack of healthcare, lack of housing, inadequate food and clean water and exposure to human and animal wastes that spread bacteria.

b.      Hunger

       In 2010, it is estimated that 925 million people suffer from hunger. This is due to a sudden spike in global food prices and the onset of a world-wide economic crisis.  Poverty and hunger are inextricably linked.

      In 2008, nearly 9 million children died before they reached their fifth birthday. One third of these deaths are due directly or indirectly to hunger and malnutrition. Malnutrition is not having enough nourishing food, with adequate amounts of protein, vitamins, minerals and calories to support physical and mental growth and development. Children who survive early childhood malnutrition suffer irreversible harm—including poor physical growth, compromised immune function, and impaired cognitive ability.

c.       Education

Globally, more than a hundred million children still don't have any access to schooling, mostly in poor countries. Around 60% of them are girls. This lack of basic education means that young people have fewer choices and opportunities and is also making it harder for countries in the developing world to tackle poverty. Twenty years ago, eight out of 10 children in the world went to primary school. Today its nine out of 10, but getting to 100% will be a big challenge.

Education is not just a good thing in itself. The evidence shows that it is crucial to reducing poverty, improving general health, halting the spread of HIV and AIDS, and enabling people to play a full part in their communities and nations.

d.      Housing

Poverty increases the risk of homelessness.  Slum-dwellers, who make up a third of the world's urban population, live in poverty.

Housing is a basic human need, yet the statistics of United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 2005 notes that, an estimated 100 million people -one-quarter of the world's population- live without shelter or in unhealthy and unacceptable conditions. Over 100 million people around the world have no shelter whatsoever. The health consequences of this level of homelessness are profound. The Action Aid in 2003 had found out that there were 78 million homeless people in India alone. CRY (Child Relief and You) in 2006 estimated that there are 11 million homeless children live on the street. The statistics are grim. What is worse is that very little is known of what it means to be part of such horrific numbers.

e.      Violence

Afghanistan, Congo, violence, it seems, is always with us, like poverty. And that might seem all there is to be said: violence is bad, it is worse in poor countries and it makes them poorer.

Poor and underemployed youth can be found at the hearts of riots, revolutions, civil wars, and petty and organized crime. In post-conflict countries, where state capacity is weak, frustrations are many, and jobs are few, policymakers are particularly concerned about these youth’s potential to destabilize society

Causes of Poverty

a.      Social

i.   Overpopulation

  Overpopulation refers to the relationship between the human population  and its environment, having large numbers of people with too few resources  and too little space.

A high population density pressures the availability of resources in the country: agriculture productivity. For example, Bangladesh having the world's highest population density with 1,147 persons per sq km (2,970 persons per sq mi). Engaging in low-productivity manual farming.

High birth rates also contribute to overpopulation in many developing countries. an increase in births, a decline in mortality rates, an increase in immigration, or an unsustainable biome  and depletion of resources.

ii.   Distribution of resources:

In many developing countries, the problems of poverty are massive and pervasive. In recent decades most of these countries have tried to develop their economies with industry and technology with varying levels of success. Many developing countries, however, lack essential raw materials and the knowledge and skills gained through formal education and training. Because these things are necessary for the development of industry, developing countries generally must rely on trade with developed countries for manufactured goods, but they cannot afford much. Developed nations may have more wealth and resources than those in developing countries; their standard of living is also generally higher. Thus, people who have what would be considered adequate wealth and resources in developing countries may be considered poor in developed countries.

iii.   Lack of education:

        Illiteracy and lack of education are common in poor countries. Governments of developing countries ill afford to provide for good public schools, especially in rural areas. About 60 percent of children in sub-Saharan Africa attended elementary school. Foregoing schooling to make a minimal living. In addition, developing countries tend to have few employment opportunities, especially for women. As a result, people may see little reason to go to be educated.

In countries with high populations, unemployment levels reached a high level pointing that millions of working-age people cannot find work and earn an adequate income. And this contributes to poverty.

iv. Environmental degradation:

A deterioration and depletion of the natural environment, including the atmosphere, bodies of water, soil, and forests — is an important cause of poverty. Environmental problems have led to shortages of food, clean water, materials for shelter, and other essential resources.

In developing countries, deforestation has had particularly devastating environmental effects. Many rural people, particularly in tropical regions, depend on forests as a source of food and other resources, and deforestation damages or minimize these supplies. Forests also absorb many pollutants and water from extended rains; without forests, pollution increases and massive flooding further decreases the usability of the deforested areas.

b.      Economic
Economic trends:

Poverty in many developed countries can be linked to economic trends.
Changes in labor markets in developed countries have also contributed to increased poverty levels. For instance, the number of relatively manual manufacturing jobs has declined, while the demand for workers in service- and technology-related industries has increased.

Jobs related by service- and technology-related jobs—require skills which primarily taught at the college level— for the destitute and poor people these education and skill ill afford to attend and thus forgiving a decent income.

High rate of unemployment  

        Unemployment is now rampant as the global financial crisis has ravaged the world's economy. World export demand has decrease thus effecting industries and manufacturing sectors, which contribute a slowdown in export. The cycle ripples to industries, a cut down in labor workforce and unemployment. With a higher number of unemployed people, crime rates in these cities will increase as people grow desperate to survive. It is also believed, however, that some governments of the world intentionally keep a "sufficient" number of people out of work as a replacement batch when the need arrives.
Unfair trade

High subsidies and protective tariffs for agriculture in the developed world drains the taxed money and increases prices for consumers in the developed world, decreasing competition and efficiency and preventing exports by more competitive agricultural and other sectors in the developed world due to retaliatory trade barriers and undermining the very type of industry in which developing countries do.

Corruption (Economically)

Corruption, both in government and business, places heavy cost on society. Corruption is both a major cause and a result of poverty around the world. It occurs at all levels of society, from local and national governments, civil society, judiciary functions, large and small businesses, military and other services and so on. Corruption affects the poorest the most, whether in rich or poor nations. The impact of corruption effects of inequalities that are structured into law, such as unequal trade agreements, structural adjustment policies,” free” trade agreements and so on.

 
 Food For Thought

Fact 1: Poverty Kills with Astonishing Speed.

In the next hour about 1,250 human beings will die from extreme poverty. They will die continuously at this rate, and does not slow down be it on weekends or on holidays. Death has no concern for age, race, religion or gender. It is a relentless grinding machine that is partially fueled by our indifference, selfishness and intolerance. We are pretending in the pretext that it isn’t happening to the oblivious of this death on this world.

Fact 2: Poverty Physically & Intellectually Vulnerable Human Beings on Earth.

a.      Courageous Human

We admire courage and considered bravery as one of the finest qualities an individual can possess. Medals and reward re rewarded for those courages persons. Fearless and honorable human quality.

However, the level of courage we typically witness less in comparison to the courage demonstrated by those struggling in extreme poverty.  Brave in the face of such constant misery, death and enduring levels of pain that we cannot comprehend.

*** A 8-year-old orphan living alone in the squalid and dirty backstreets. Parents died from HIV/AIDS. Illiterate, sick, hungry and abused – physically and emotionally.

*** Digging a grave for your precious little girl who lost her battle with malaria… without monetary nor human support

***  Pregnant and about to deliver in a slump area without help. Your babies die in your arm due to complications during delivery. You are utterly alone and helpless.

The human beings who are trapped in the despair and deprivation of extreme poverty show unbelievable courage as they face each new day. Each day, filled with heartache,

                                 i.            burying the 25,000 innocent children.

                               ii.            thousands die from treatable illnesses and preventable diseases

                              iii.            millions suffer from hunger and malnutrition while we update our wardrobes to bigger sizes because of our propensity to overeat.

Have courage to introspect and viewed the entire world calamity. Have a thought of courage:

a.    woman who walks half day for five miles to get clean water for her family.

b.   the man who struggles continually to feed his 3 children in a desolate draught stricken area plagued by war.

c.    the determination, endurance and faith shown by those who continue to love and hope in the face of insurmountable odds.

They have no choice. Their very survival demands that they be heroes to their families and loved ones. They live on next to nothing with little prospect of a brighter future and yet they carry on. Day after day they bravely face the unending challenges that no human being should have to endure.

TRUE COURAGE IS FACING LIFE AND DEATH EVERYDAY IN EXTREME POVERTY.

b.      Vulnerability of a Defenseless Child.

Childhood is a time for learning. A young mind is eager to soak up information and knowledge. A child’s personality is in a constant state of growth. Even for children who are trapped in the deprivation of extreme poverty there is still the awakening of a human being finding itself in the world.

For a child who is physically or mentally challenged in life (poverty), the basic opportunity is not available easily.  Cast out of world communities, they have to fend for themselves. Medical attention and guidance are none, thanks to the “care-less" world.  “It is their problem not ours” attitude which reigned man nowadays have make the poverty stricken world society physical and emotions “less care”. Neglected without their basic needs of food, water and home make their life miserable.

Although a poor child may be denied many of the physical needs that go with a healthy young life they are no less curious or imaginative in their discovery of the world around them. They have the same need to be loved and accepted for who they are that any child has as they are growing up. The economic conditions may be different but the human need to belong is the same for children everywhere.

Fact 3: Extreme Poverty Is The Direct Result Of Injustice.

Injustice takes many forms, but the end result is always the same: innocent people suffer and die. Unfortunately, most injustice occurs simply because of people’s attitudes. Racial intolerance, bigotry, prejudice and discrimination all result in injustice. The idea of inequality, which makes some believe that they are superior while others are inferior, also leads to injustice. Lack of respect for an individual’s worth allows injustice to influence how people are treated. Injustice demeans, degrades, neglects, injures and kills. Injustice must be fought at all times if we are to live in a world that is safe for everyone’s children.

When you are so poor that trying to keep the  family alive on one dollar surely is a victim of injustice. 
a. When you cannot read or write and you will never have the opportunity to learn those skills you are a victim of injustice. 
b. When your child screams in the night as they slowly die from an easily preventable disease you are a victim of injustice. 
c. When your baby dies during your delivery because there is no medical help available to you are a victim of injustice. 
d. When you are trapped in a refugee camp and they cannot dig graves fast enough because people are starving to death you are a victim of injustice. 
e. When your little girl is blown to pieces because she steps on landmine you are a victim of injustice. 
f. When your ethnic group is slaughtered as the entire world silently watches the genocide you are a victim of injustice.

Fact 4: We Must Teach Acceptance, Compassion And Respect.

Today is a day like any other…or is it? Stop and think for a few moments. This day is absolutely filled with opportunities to save human lives. 
Through your 
1. donations to humanitarian relief agencies, or 
2. by using your time to raise awareness about extreme poverty, or 
3. by volunteering with an international aid organization, you could have an impact in countless ways. 
This could be the day you save a child’s life, but if you treat the next 24 hours just like any other day the results will be exactly the same. You will not have accomplished anything of significance and the most vulnerable will die waiting for the help that never comes. 

If you are young and your life is stretching out before you, try to understand how quickly the time will pass. 
If you are older, please feel a sense of urgency to make every moment count. Whatever your age, don’t just exist day after day; LIVE. Make a difference by doing something special with your life. Use your time to improve the lives of other human beings. Save a child so that they have the same chance in life as your children. This could be such an important day for you in so many ways. The next 24 hours could change your life forever if you will only take the first step. 

A new day is another opportunity to try to change the world. If you have read this far you can no longer plead ignorance about the death toll of extreme poverty. From this day forward you will now have to consciously make the decision to ignore tens of thousands of dying children. 
You will have to turn your back on those who need food, clean water and medications. You will have look away from refugees, orphans and the victims of rape. You will have to turn a blind eye to catastrophic illnesses, epidemics of disease and genocide. For however many days remain in your life you are going to have to choose to not care. Please don’t make that mistake. Don’t let another day go by without making the decision to begin helping others. For someone in extreme poverty you represent hope. Don’t let them down.

WHO CAN AFFORD TO HELP?

*Those who take expensive vacations to get away from the pressures of “success”.

*Those who shop at new car dealerships because their current car is last year’s model.

*Those who think that being “powerful” is more important than helping the “powerless”.

*Those who buy season tickets for their favorite professional team so they can watch millionaires.

*Those who can afford coats made from dead animals.

*Those who own a home with more than 2 bathrooms.

*Those who can afford to contribute to political campaigns.

*Those who pay ridiculous prices at shopping malls because the stores there are considered cool.

*Those who never have to go to the “bad parts of town”.

*Those who order expensive wine with dinner.

*Those who worry about “flow” and “space” in a 5,000 square foot house.

*Those who can afford to tithe at church.

*Those who feel free to waste anything.

*Those who can afford to fill up their gas guzzling SUVs.

*Those who live in gated communities.

*Those who can afford the best medical care in the world.

*Those who own any type of home “with a view”.

*Those who actually pay to get a tan.

*Those who spend a small fortune on their lawn.

*Those who get anything “custom-made”.

*Those who prefer “fashionable” over “functional”.

*Those who choose to move from place to place just because of “the climate”.

*Those who attempt to “buy happiness”.

*Those who belong to a country club.

*Those who can make reservations anywhere for anything at anytime.

*Those who sit on a board of directors.

*Those who have income to waste on cosmetic surgery.

*Those who can afford to eat just to relieve stress.

*Those who measure their self-worth by their material possessions.

*Those who collect rent from other people.

*Those who use their purchasing power to impress others.

*Those who must have the “biggest” and the “best”.

*Those whose wealth makes them feel superior to those without money.

*Those who think that “owning” the world is more important than “saving” the world.

Excerpt with thanks  taken from :

Wikipedia

Michealmfc.wordpress.com