Ashleigh
Thompson
5/8/19
COMP
1302
Global Poverty- The Epidemic Hidden
in Plain Sight
Throughout history, the world has
watched and witnessed as hundreds of epidemics have shaken the world. No matter
what the cause or what kind, these epidemics have held the power to change the
timeline of history. Sometimes, the most destructive types of epidemics have
revolved around worldwide diseases such as the Black Plague or Ebola; however,
this project will focus on an extensive outbreak that is often overlooked even
though it attacks everyday life in all corners of the earth: global poverty.
This issue is defined by Merriam-Webster as the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable
amount of money or material possessions (Poverty). According to The World
Vision Project, 736 million people live in extreme poverty, surviving on less
than $1.90 a day (Peer). Often Americans assume that those kind of statistics
gravitate around foreign and impoverished countries when, really, poverty is also shaking our home
country. In fact, one-fifth of all Americans are living in poverty, lacking
money for proper housing, clothing, and food (Peer). Even though it is defined
by a level of monetary value, poverty runs deep in the hearts and spirit of
those that it has a hold on. It’s time to take a stand and educate ourselves on
the underlying causes of this epidemic; it’s time to rise up and fight for
those who cannot fight poverty for themselves.
From
the beginning of history, poverty has existed as something that was able to
control not only individuals but also national economies and entire countries.
However, starting with such a low standard of living, the world did not yet
seem to have a grasp on the division between rich and poor. Around 1500 AD,
Italy experienced growth and improvements through the Renaissance, making
prosperity and success the mantra of European countries (Peer). From the
Enlightenment to the Industrial Revolution, it became evident that there would
be a divide between the way of life for people who had high and low incomes
(Peer). The mindset of society began to change into thinking that poverty was
necessary for economic advancement and that the constant struggle and work
ethic of the poor people was important for jobs such as farming and factory
working (Peer). No longer were many people seeking a solution to poverty, but
the majority was striving only to increase their own personal wealth. In fact,
at the beginning of the 20th century, 84% of the world’s population continued
to live under the definition of extreme poverty, which at that time was
surviving on less than $1 a day (Matthews). However, through terrible times for
American society such as the Great Depression and the World Wars, it seemed
that people once again began to notice the struggles of the poverty-stricken.
During this period, numerous soup kitchens and bread lines were established
along with countless shantytowns or “Hoovervilles” to accommodate the
record-high number of homeless (1929-1945). In more recent decades, we have
even seen the United States government take action to get involved against
poverty. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared his “War on Poverty”
which created many new opportunities for those in poverty through
Medicare/Medicaid, the Food Stamp Act of 1964, and improved Social Security
(Matthews). In fact, the extreme poverty standard was changed to less than a
$1.90 per day with only 10% of the world still living at that standard in 2015
(Peer). Although these facts show an increasing amount of improvement in richer
countries such as America, one cannot overlook the strong grip that poverty still
has on less developed countries. Currently, the Sub-Saharan countries of the
Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda sit at the top of the list of poorest
countries in the world (Focus Economies). In fact, more than 413 million
people, which is half of the world’s population living in extreme poverty,
reside in Sub-Saharan Africa and have the highest rate of children living in
extreme poverty at 49% (Peer). However, although some people are curious about
the history of poverty, it seems to be more common for people to have current
questions such as “What causes poverty?” and “What does it affect?”. Each of
these questions is important for gaining more knowledge about global poverty
and for seeking after the ultimate termination of it.
To
answer the first question, it is important to look at poverty on a historical
and global level because, throughout time, there have always been poor people.
One of the easiest ways to think about poverty is as a cycle. It usually begins
with many impoverished countries that are suffering from national wars, corrupt
governments, or a high unemployment rate (The Top). All of these factors
contribute to the next step in the cycle which is simply a lack of basic life
necessities such as water, food, clothing, and shelter due to unavailable
funds. Having to live without those things that are usually seen as an everyday
necessity leads to the next section of the cycle which is disease and water
sanitation issues (The Top). This is one of the most horrific realities related
to global poverty because it strongly affects an innumerable amount of people.
Millions of people around the world suffer from diseases such as malaria,
diarrhea, measles, or pneumonia caused by contaminated drinking water, poor
living conditions, and the inability to receive proper treatment (Global). In
fact, over 11% of the 7.7 million deaths of children under five years old per
year are caused by untreated diarrhea obtained through infectious water
(Global). This leads into the last part of the cycle which is the inability to
work or receive an education (The Top). If a family does not have a steady
income and their children are uneducated, then this deadly cycle will usually,
and unfortunately, continue on as the children grow up and have their own
families.
The
next question to consider is “What effect does poverty have on society?”. On a
nationwide scale, poverty strongly influences America’s level of homelessness
which is also prompted by unemployment (The Population). In 2014, data showed
that each year over 2.5 million children experience homelessness in some form
(The Population). There are also numerous other influential variables such as
possible issues of discrimination between ages, genders, disabilities, and
races. In fact, 21% of disabled people in America are currently living in
poverty (The Population). However, on a worldwide scale, humanity has watched
poverty strike hard, fast, and wide. With over 192 million people being
unemployed globally, we have watched as crime and violence have overtaken some
aspect in every country globally along with a lack of education (Kellogg). In
countries such as Niger, where 85% of the adults are illiterate, it is
extremely common to see the uneducated people suffering most from poverty
(Kellogg). If left unchecked, poverty and homelessness will be continue to run
rampant through our streets and lower the quality of economic prosperity around
the world.
Facts
about poverty can be discussed all day long, but it will never really hit home
until you hear or see it personally. One example occurred during my time in
Kibera, which is the second largest slum in the world, when we were given a
tour of the slum by a young man named Eddy who had lived there for his entire
life. We walked on streets made entirely of trash, sewage, and feces due to the
fact that there is no sewage system in the slum; we saw toddlers running around
barefoot and playing with trash with no parents around; we watched as the same
river used as a bathroom was being drank out of by a group of school children;
we stepped into Eddy’s one-room, mud and scrap metal home where his single mom
and four siblings still lived. Eddy gave the following quote about his time in
the slum and how he has been able to reach a better future:
“In
Kibera, favorable living conditions and motivation for the future is all that
most kids need to succeed. Elementary school is not very expensive, but when
the average family lives on $1 per day, paying any amount for adequate school
can be tough. Most finish their education after eighth grade, turning to gang
activity, drug dealing, or prostitution for money. Within a few years, they
have their own children, and the cycle of poverty continues. I was offered a
scholarship to high school where I graduated as the valedictorian of my class.
This has opened up new opportunities, and I have broken the cycle of poverty
for my family.” (Mwangi)
Another
personal example was in one of the poor villages in the Dominican Republic
where I got to meet a young girl named Illena whose body was almost entirely
paralyzed which made her unable to move by herself or talk other than making
noises. She was covered in dirt so we helped wash her off which surprised our
guide who stated that she rarely gets addressed by anyone. It was heartbreaking
to see how much of an effect an impoverished environment and a lack of proper
health care had on one innocent girl.
Every time that we turn on the news,
we are hit with facts giving the depressing appearance that nothing is
improving in our world. We see horrific murders, child abuse, catastrophic
natural disasters, and more. It can begin to wear us down and make us wonder if
anything will ever improve. In fact, one of the biggest examples of the effects
of these broadcasts is shown in global poverty; everyone has seen the
heartbreaking commercials that show starving children around the world with no
food or parent support to help sustain them. They plead with you to donate
because even a minuscule amount makes a difference. It leads people to question
if there are even any solutions to poverty or if there is anything more that we
can do to help. Although many people tend to think that it is something that
can be fixed in the snap of a fundraiser or large donation, poverty within a
community is not something that will easily be eradicated. One must always be
thoughtful of the bigger picture and properly identify ways that we all can
contribute to the solutions within poverty. Although it is easier to sit back
and wait for someone else to do something, poverty can only be fought properly
through individual, local, state, national, and global efforts.
The first
solution to consider is something that has been extensively discussed for many
years within the United States: lowering the unemployment rates. Around the
world, one of the leading causes of poverty is not having a job (Ventura). If a
family does not have a stable source of funds, they will be unable to provide
food, clothing, shelter, and often an education for their children, thus
continuing the poverty cycle. If more jobs were created, even in small
villages, there would be an overall increase in the amount of people who were
stepping out of poverty and striding towards hope. Currently, Northern Africa
has the highest unemployment rate in the world at 11.5% in 2018 while the
United States is at a low of 4% (Ventura). A personal example occurred on a
trip to Kibera, Africa where I was able to witness the power that employment
has in the slum community. We worked with an organization that an American
couple started called Project Biashara, which means business in Swahili, that provides jobs for numerous women in
Kibera (“Partnering with Kenyan Women…”). They hand make jewelry, bags, stuffed
animals, etc. then after it gets sold here in the States, 100% of the money gets
sent back to fund their supplies, facility, and incomes (1). This is just one
example of the possibilities that branch from the dedication and passion of two
people.
The second
solution is one that cannot be explained by a scientific definition or shown
through graphs and charts; it is the simple fact that our world’s perspective
and mindset of poverty must change. To prove this point, one must look no
further than the recent tragedy of the burning Notre Dame. In a matter of one
week, the world was able to raise over $1 billion in donations globally for the
historical Paris cathedral (Samuel). Why is it that for decades, humanity has
watched as millions of children starve to death and young girls are forced into
human slavery, yet such a large amount of funds to fight those issues has never
come close to being raised in such a short time? The problem is not that people
want to support the rebuilding of the Notre Dame; the issue is that our
priorities seem to be skewed. This goes along with the fact that in order to
improve the poverty levels within our nation as well as other countries, the
United States government must re-prioritize their spending and use of
resources. According to the Borgen Project, only about 1% of the US budget is
spent on foreign aid (Babb). Due to the many movies, books, and documentaries
that have been made about poverty, it is easy for an individual to see poverty
through the lens that they present. Instead of seeing those in poverty as
faceless beings, we must begin to see them as individuals who are working to
improve their well-being just like any of us. They are not hopeless creatures
who we should only be feeling sorry for all the time, because having sympathy
without action never saved any lives. If we begin to take small steps such as
fundraising for organizations that support those in poverty or raising
awareness in our communities, jobs, and schools, then we can feel confident
that a difference is being made.
Although it
may not be seen in a very evident way, it is extremely interesting to view
poverty through the perspective of absurdity. The absurdity of poverty is found
in the question that asks “Why fight and try to solve something that may be
irredeemable?” (Fant). The following quote is from Albert Camus who was a renowned
absurdist:
“Basically, at the very bottom of life, which seduces us
all, there is only absurdity, and
more
absurdity. And maybe that's what gives us our joy for living, because the only
thing
that
can defeat absurdity is lucidity. Each generation doubtless feels called upon
to reform
the
world. Mine knows that it will not reform it, but its task is perhaps even
greater. It
consists
in preventing the world from destroying itself.” (Camus)
This whole paper has discussed poverty from a view that seeks
its eradication, but what if there really is no point to doing so? What if
poverty is necessary to our society and the constant struggle to escape it is
actually what keeps us surviving? These questions are all important to the
beliefs of Camus. If he were to observe the poverty epidemic in an absurd way,
Camus might think us silly for putting so much effort, time, and money into
something that we are not entirely certain is even harmful to the general
welfare of society. Instead of asking how to resolve the poverty issue, he
might lead us to question if poverty is instead a simple social construct. He
might challenge us to make a choice; to choose for ourselves whether or not we
believe in the fight for the poor.
In
conclusion, our world is being hit from all corners by epidemics that have the
power to change lives forever. Although it may not be emphasized as an epidemic
very often, global poverty is simply defined as the epidemic hidden in plain
sight. We witness it in numerous forms everyday, from the homeless person on
your neighborhood street to the African children in the commercial on the
television. Even though it would seem that the poverty rates around the world
are being addressed and improved constantly, we cannot overlook the fact that it
is still a huge problem globally. Without the continual persistence and passion
from every tribe and town, poverty will keep striking hard against families and
communities. It will take effort from all of us to give support to the people
who cannot support themselves.
Works Cited
Babb, Chylene. “10
Solutions to Global Poverty That Can Be Implemented Today.” The
Borgen Project,
Clint Borgen , 6 June 2018,
Camus, Albert. “Albert
Camus Quotes.” BrainyQuote, Xplore,
Mwangi, Eddy. “Kibera
Penda Project.” Kibera Penda Project,
www.kiberapendaproject.com/.
Fant, Gene. “The
‘Absurdity’ of Solving Poverty | Gene Fant.” First Things, Institute on
Religion
and Public Life, 28 Jan. 2014, www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2009/11
Focus Economics. “The Poorest Countries in the World .” FocusEconomics | Economic
Forecasts from the World's Leading Economists, Nov. 2018,
“Global WASH Fast Facts
| Global Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | Healthy Water | CDC.”
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention,
11
Apr. 2016, www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/wash_statistics.html.
Kellogg, Naomi. “Top
Effects of Poverty.” The Borgen Project,
13 June 2018,
Matthews, Dylan. “Everything You Need to Know about the War
on Poverty.” The Washington
“Partnering with Kenyan
Women for a Better Future.” Project
Biashara,
Peer, Andrea. “Global Poverty: Facts, FAQs, and How to
Help.” World Vision, 21 Nov. 2018,
Samuel, Sigal. “The
False Choice between Helping Notre Dame and Helping Poor People.”
“The Population of
Poverty USA.” Poverty USA, www.povertyusa.org/facts.
“The Top 9 Causes of Global Poverty.” Concern Worldwide,
Concern Worldwide US INC, 4
Vallas, Rebecca, and
Melissa Boteach. “The Top 10 Solutions to Cut Poverty and Grow the
Middle
Class.” Center for American Progress,
17 Sept. 2014,
Ventura, Luca.
“Unemployment Rates Around the World 2018.” Global
Finance Magazine, 31
1929-1945: Depression & WW2.” US History for Kids, Siteseen Ltd, 1 July 2014,
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