Poverty...

Economy, & Related Issues.

2011-04-24T20:24:00.000-07:00

"One cannot separate economics, political science, and history.

Politics is the control of the economy. History, when accurately

and fully recorded, is that story. In most textbooks and classrooms, not

only are these three fields of study separated, but they are further compartmentalized

into separate subfields, obscuring the close interconnections between them."

- J.W. Smith, The World’s Wasted Wealth-

Social economy institutions and organizations play an important role in promoting livelihoods and job creation in the fight against poverty. Social economy enterprises offer an important source of employment in the face of global unemployment and underemployment problem.

IT'S A BIG PROBLEM

2011-04-19T19:42:00.000-07:00

World Economic Poverty

World economic poverty is a much-talked about subject the world over. It is not a new problem. We have been experiencing this problem from time immemorial. But since of late, it has grown by leaps and bounds to uncontrollable proportions, and now it has become a formidable global predicament. What is more ridiculously ironical about it is that the problem has been aggravated and complicated by man himself.

According to accepted norms and economic indices, some countries and nations have been categorized as being poor. Some of them are placed even below the poverty line. According to this categorization, there are rich and well-to-do countries, but it is a well-known secret that there are very poor people even in these affluent countries. Hence, the problem of global poverty is rather a much complicated and multi-faceted one for which the domineering rich countries are directly responsible.

The whole world is becoming increasingly poor owing to a host of reasons such as wrong economic policies, lack of strategic planning, exploitation, greed for power, selfish ruling systems, disunity among nations, abuse of science and technology, environmental pollution and so on.

When poverty hits a country, it affects education and health and all aspects of social welfare in that country. It gives rise to unemployment, high cost of living, very poor living conditions, social unrest and steep decline in development and production. As a result of undeniable social and political instability, weak and unstable governments come into power. This leads to collapse of successive governments making that country even poorer. Likewise, nations are being rendered poor and helpless. This is the stark reality of the world’s economic crisis whether we like it or not. Rich nations or the so called super powers are not willing to accept this reality. They deliberately ignore the truth and the gravity of the problem. Selfish and vicious economic policies of the rich nations are directly responsible for this crisis. Poverty thus creates thousands of complicated problems in a country and the ruling parties and even the other nations including various world bodies are unable to solve such problems in any way unless the whole political and economic system is restructured for the benefit of mankind.

Some countries are naturally poor as a direct result of the unequal distribution of resources. If the rich countries are ready to share with and help the poor nations, poverty could be alleviated to a greater extent. But it is a pity that they are not ready to do so. When people die of hunger in a certain country, some countries destroy their excess harvest just to secure the market and stabilize the price of their produce. It is more wicked that vast bulks of food crops are being used in some countries to generate fuel when lot of people are dying of starvation in some parts of the world.

Rich nations thoroughly enjoy themselves with all comforts in lavishing affluence. Nevertheless, they have very little or no concern at all towards the poor nations. They exploit the rest of the world directly and indirectly misusing their power and other capabilities to ensure their satisfaction and enjoyment. In so doing, they shamelessly deny the poor nations, the right to live. What an injustice?

The rich or more developed countries destroy the world in the name of so called development abusing scientific and technological advancements. The outcome of this short-sighted folly is destruction of the nature resulting in excessive global warming, intolerable greenhouse effect, drastic climatic changes, large scale environmental pollution and self destruction in the long run. It is the poor nations that are most adversely affected by these merciless and indiscreet high-handed actions. They are made poor and poor for no fault of theirs. What a pity? They pay the highest compensation at the expense of their lives.

Rich nations are overwhelmed by their greed for power. They are being driven by sheer selfishness. They are determined to achieve their target by hook or by crook. Their sole intention is to acquire more and more. To fulfill this, they lie; they steal in secret; they rob in public; they invade; they loot; they grasp; they capture; they attack; they suck the life blood of poor nations and kill them at last. In fact, this is how nations are made poor in the world.

To solve this problem, man should be willing to live and let others live. For that, he should be kind, generous and selfless. He should have a better understanding of his fellow people and admit that they also have an equal right to live in this world. He should be committed to uphold the lives of others.

All the nations should live up to these lofty ideals. Can we possibly be happy and proud as a nation, when in fact some nations are struggling to survive under trying circumstances, as a direct result of our follies, mistakes and faults? If we are determined and really interested as countries, nations and peoples, we can by all means eradicate global poverty and make the world a better and more pleasant place to live. What is necessary is genuine love and respect towards other nations. So, let us change our attitudes and work with strong commitment and determination to live together in harmony as one single nation by mutually helping and sharing what we have with others.

do you know about poverty ?

2011-04-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

WHAT IS POVERTY ?

poverty is lack of basic human needs , such as fresh water , nutrition , health , education , shelter , because of inability to afford them.There are different types of poverty in the world such as, same degree poverty, absolute poverty, relative poverty and subjective poverty.Absolute poverty is the case where people lack basic human needs and it is the worst type of poverty.

CAUSES FOR "POVERTY"

Poverty has many causes; some of them are very basic. The primary factors that may lead to poverty are overpopulation, the unequal distribution in world economy, inability to meet high standards of living or high cost of living, inadequate employment and education opportunities, environmental degradation, certain economic and demographic trends and welfare incentives.

PROBLEMS OF POVERTY

Many of the local citizens faces the problem of famine and lack of lodging, one common example is India. Therefore together with these problems that I have mentioned above, there is also a lack of hygiene and this favors the proliferation of various harmful bacteria which resulting in the development of diseases such as cholera, malaria, etc... . as above because of these reasons I have mentioned many people face even for the death , mostly the children.

Secondly the lack of education can be seen , in my view those who does not even have a shelter, who are facing famine, how will they be able to afford paying for education? Education may also be the last preoccupation and such type of people does not value education mostly.

Furthermore, poverty also leads to violence in the society an even in homes. Poverty is very often the cause of high rates of divorce, family failures and also prostitution. Nowadays we people are forced to live a highly materialistic life and those who are unable to cope with that situation are even ready to kill, to fill their objectives.

TOP 10 POOR COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

Republic of the Congo (GDP – per capita: $300)
Republic of Liberia (GDP – per capita: $500)
Republic of Zimbabwe (GDP – per capita: $500)
The Solomon Islands (GDP – per capita: $600)
Republic of Somalia (GDP – per capita: $600)
Union of the Comoros (GDP – per capita: $600)
Guinea-Bissau (GDP – per capita: $600)
Central African Republic (GDP – per capita: $700)
Niger (GDP – per capita: $700)
Ethiopia (GDP – per capita: $700)

PRESENT POVERTY MAP

HOW TO OVERCOME POVERTY

There are some steps that can be taken to reduce poverty !!!!

Improving supplies of clean water, to reduce time spent gathering often foul water and reduce illness caused by foul water supplies.
Improving the supply of accessible, affordable health care information and services, to reduce the vulnerability to disease of children and the elderly especially.
Improving the training and equipment of farmers in poor countries related to agriculture and natural resource management, to help increase crop yields and conserve the environment.

so I think that we must help people that who suffer with the "poverty" to overcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anything can be changed...

2011-04-18T22:04:00.000-07:00

I thought of composing this article as a feedback for "Story of Three People Who Overcome Poverty" Actually, the society in which we live is full of hard to understand as well hard to believe issues. In our day to day lives we come across various facts which we even can not imagine of. But in this world anything can happen. People who were in the climax of wealth gradually retards; in the mean time people who were in the deep ends of poverty gradually rise. I am also willing to present about a few of those world famous personalities who raised wiping the tears of poverty. They had clearly proved "Anything can be changed on our wish"

Marshall Bruce Marthers

The name may be somewhat unfamiliar to most of you. But I think the figure is much casual. Yes, it is Eminem. Eminem is the stage name used by him while Marshall is his actual name. Today it is pretty much obvious that he leads a luxurious life. But he raised through poverty. His childish memories were based around poverty. His father abandoned the family when he was just 18 months. His mother cared for him only, but they were in serious poverty. He was unable even to gain a proper education. But he understood the person within him. He is now successful and he really proved poverty is something that can be left.

Abraham Lincoln

A world famous personality, Abraham Lincoln, a well mannered American President. He was able to achieve a higher position , a normal person can not even imagine of. But all the same he was also full of the traces of poverty. From his childhood he seriously suffered from poverty. His initial home is known to be as a single log cabin. Which simply means a house with just a one room. He was just able to have an 18 months education, approximately. Furthermore, his mother passed away when he was nine years. His initial carrier was as an axeman building rail fences. But imagine, how he lead his life. How he drove his path from being an axeman to a President.

Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu

Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, or as all know Mother Teresa is also a similar personality. She selected the correct path to gain her spiritual satisfaction and also to help out the poor. She left home for her religious life when she was 18 years and never saw her mother and sister again. Her father died when she was just 9 years. She while emerging out from the poverty, helped the others also to stand on their feet. For over 45 years she was engaged in helping the poor and the sick

The main aspect is anything can be changed. Only the dedication and the hope is required. Distribute this idea; anything can be changed. So, keep moving forward...

Story Of Three People Who Overcome Poverty

2011-04-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

Success and financial prosperity is not just a privilege of the chosen few, nor of those born with a golden spoon in their mouth. Abundance is not limited to just a few people. Ordinary people such as yourself can easily achieve abundance if you believe you can.

Indeed, when you say abundance it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is limited or achievable only by rich and famous people. Ordinary people like you and me can also experience abundance if we actually desire so. Not to mention that if we actually work hard for it, we too can be abundant in so many ways. The starting key to this journey is: TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

Let us talk about the following people who in spite of their situation were able to make themselves rise above it and are now living life full of success and are considered to be wealthy:

J.K. Rowling – Who doesn’t know this remarkable separated single mom once almost desperate? We all know her as the famous Harry Potter series writer. But did you know that she wasn’t always rich? That it took her cafe after another cafe to actually finish her first book? Her book were also rejected, things did not actually turn good for her overnight. It was her faith and belief that what she has written is worth sharing to this world. Now, J. K. Rowling is worth over $1.1 Billion not to mention that she was able to sold over 400 million books across the globe. Sounds incredible and Herculean? No way, you too can follow her footsteps in so many ways.

Chris Gardner – This man’s life is extra commendable! His name may not be familiar to you, but if you have seen the movie “In pursuit of Happiness” you will remember him. Chris basically lost everything, his wife, the money he saved and invested in medical supplies, his home and his everything except for his child. He did not let his situation drown him. Instead he uses that as his motivation to achieve abundance in life. When every one else had turn their backs to getting second chances, Chris strived and struggled to make things right not just for him, but mainly for the sake of his child. Now Chris is a successful businessman, and this can be attributed to his hard work and faith, that something good will come his way as well. Isn’t it great to know ordinary people who are inspired by this very story of Mr. Gardner? Why don’t you follow his great feat!

Oprah Winfrey - Now, who doesn’t know about famous Oprah? Even kids today know about her. But did you know that before she became a big star, that she was actually from a poor family? She was born to teenagers who gave her to her grandmother because of poverty. Her grandmother is poor as well, hence at some point; she was given back to her mother again. Oprah was once a rebel, but she was a good student. She strived hard to achieve where she is now.

Truly, you can never tell what the future may bring to you, yet you can make it as bright as you want it to be. These people are only a dot in the list of successful rags to riches stories. Now, if they were able to achieve abundance despite of their poverty, why can’t we? We actually can bring abundance to our lives, only and if only we will welcome it. Not to mention that if we too work hard and never give up like them, we indeed can achieve greatness and abundance as well.

Moreover, let us always remember this, “life is too short for us to waste it.” Life is too precious for us not make it great. Best of all, we only get to live this life once. So why waste it? Why allow poverty to ruin it for us? When all of us can easily beat poverty with hard work; determination; patience; positive thinking and by believing that you are born great, strive now or never

Info from; Methods of solution web site

Choose Your Way...

2011-04-18T04:03:00.000-07:00

"POVERTY" It is just a single word with seven letters. Anyone who r

efers to find it's meaning will think like that. Definitely it is a s

mall 07 letters word but it cannot be named as a single word. Because word like unemployment, ill- literacy, unhappiness, malnutrition, always accompany the word "poverty". Further more "poverty" ill not be a single word to people whom experiencing the meaning of this word. My friends and I provided lots of articles

with reasons for poverty and how to overcome poverty. Now let's talk about the effects of poverty on subjected persons and on the entire society.

I remember two lines that the Indian novelist Anita Desai has written in her novel "Village by the sea"....

"It was wonderful to earn money..... Money made everything possible" The central issue of that novel is poverty. But at the end of the story the dedication an hard work of the two main characters carry them away from Poverty. On that occasion a main character asserts these lines. It is true that money is the dominant thing which make evry single thing possib

le. That's why we all say, "Money is the brother of God" Although poverty depend on many matters, main point which enhance poverty is money. Any how poverty is a huge issue which can act in both ways; good & Bad on man. We

can get handful of examples for the instances where poverty has effected badly on people's lives. If we conduct a research on thieves and criminals, definitely we will get a big percentage on the side that people, whom suppose to be doctors, engineers & managers are suffering their time in prisons.

If a family endure poverty they will come across handful of difficulties. As they suffer from it day by day, the parents will not in a position to send their children to school. Then they will become adults without the knowledge that other peopl

e of their age have got. Definitely this money & education based society will never supply them jobs to support their day today needs. Then of course when the hunger comes to unbearable position, when their other needs jumps over the tolerable limit they will forced to steal & do anything to earn money. It will produce a thief or a murderer to the society. If we ask from criminal, why did you do that? Some will say that because of hunger, Some may say because of their mother's or father's sickness, some even will say that to earn money to do their sister's or brother's wedding. They have got all the troubles because of Poverty. If their economy level was stable they might never think about doing these kind of crimes.

However poverty doesn't handover bad personalities every time to the society. Sometimes the issue "Poverty" makes great personalities whom we are unable to forget in our lifetime. This happen because even though people who are subjected to poverty let go all the ways of freeing from this issue, Some dedicated persons make their encouraging point as"POVERTY". They are motivated by Poverty. They always think and find ways to challenge poverty because they want to be free from this i

n future. Such personalities always

win & Become popular in the world. So that implies that any person can win the world no matter whether he is in the bottom of poverty.

So poverty can change the life of a person in both ways. Poverty can be the motivating factor of a person to get succession or poverty can be a destructive factor which drag the person towards the evil.

So choosing the correct path is on your hand...........

Homeless, Hopeless.

2011-04-18T00:26:00.000-07:00

Many people who lives in developing countries faces the homeless condition which leads to poverty in deed.

Contributing causes

Major reasons and causes for homelessness.

Unavailability of employment opportunities.
Poverty, caused by many factors including unemployment and underemployment.
Lack of accessible health care. People who have some kind of chronic and weakening disease but cannot get health care either because they don't have money to afford it or because the government will not give it to them are simply too weak to go and work every day so they remain poor and homeless.
Abuse by government or by other people with power.
War or armed conflict.

All these points tends to poverty creating homelessness as a part of it.

Let’s help the children who live in poverty

2011-04-18T00:07:00.000-07:00

Poverty is, undoubtedly, today's most maintained problem. It's very serious because it comprise children too.Many young and smart people are forced to refuse education because they just don't have opportunity to have it.

It includes a lack of access to services like education, markets, health care, lack of decision making ability, and lack of communal facilities like water, sanitation, roads, transportation, and communications. Furthermore, it is a "poverty of spirit," that allows members of that community to believe in and share despair, hopelessness, apathy, and timidity. Poverty, especially the factors that contribute to it, is a social problem, and its solution is social.

Poverty on a world scale has many historical causes: colonialism, slavery, war and conquest.

While we all live a proper and luxury life, a lot of our brothers and sisters are hungry, left on the street, with ruined health and impossibility for education. We all should give a hand to poor people, only when we are all kind to help them, the poverty will be reduced.

I strongly believe that, with the help of all organizations including United Nations and all human people, the poverty will be eradicated and the next generation of children will know this problem just as a history.

‘The future belongs to the youth. We are the youths. And we are the future!’

‘Let’s help the children who live in poverty!’

Cause for poverty - Crime???

2011-04-13T06:23:00.000-07:00

Oops, Not exactly.

There is crime related with both the rich and poor sectors. It depends from person to person whether poverty is a cause for crime. Sometimes it may be, sometimes it may be not. What decides the answer for above question is society and culture. Though people suffer from poverty their moral can be in a higher standard. They may know crime is not accepted by the society and it is non-virtuous to engage in criminal acts. In the mean time some other sufferers from poverty may think, rich always make us worry. They show off to us. In good or bad means they earn but we do not. etc... So some may be compelled from their hearts to engage in crime.

There are certain theories related with poverty and crime. But all of these depend on the mentality, morality of the people. For a moment think of you as poor man. You may see a very rich man with a luxurious house, nice wife, expensive vehicle, quality clothes and so on. Some may feel "if I also can attain such things" and think that the only way for me to do that is being a criminal. On the other hand someone else may think "Useless thinking of those. I can not have such things". The way the person thinks, the way their lives are drawn to.

You may have witnessed some people done crimes using their poverty as the excuse. But all the same there are many noble people who have achieved success in their lives ignoring their poverty. We come across both the types of people in our everyday life. There are many internationally reputed people also who have selected the correct paths in their lives. For an example; Abraham Lincoln. He is a marvelous personality. He was able to have a grade 1 education only. But disregarding all those he made his life good. Mentality affects the way of a persons behavior. But it is the society and culture which affects the mentality.

The fact which I am going to present next is a globally accepted issue; Children develop their values and social culture from the environment within which they are raised. Their emotional intelligence is shaped by the quality of care and attention they receive from a baby to approximately ten years of age. So if we really need to avoid crimes occurring in the interface of poverty, what we have to do is to raise out the people from Psychological Poverty. An absence of strong family values and morals usually lead people to become ruthless.

So what I was in need of mentioning is, in my point of view poverty is not a direct cause for crimes neither an excuse.

2011-04-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about our Country

Poverty in Sri Lanka continues to be a growing problem despite Sri Lanka being an exceptional country with its life expectancy, literacy rate and other social indicators nearly on par with those of developed countries,

and even topping the rankings for the South Asia region. While all these indicate that

Sri Lanka

should be experiencing a high standard of living, it is only ranked in the medium category of the Human Development Index.

Head Count Index (HCI) - commonly used to measure poverty incidence in Sri Lanka . The proportion of poor population to total population is defined as Head Count Index and it is generally represented as a percentage.

Poverty map of Sri Lanka

Unemployment and poverty in Sri Lanka

Even though Sri Lanka is experiencing a high Unemployment rate of 14.4 per cent, according to the World Bank assessment, it is interesting to note that there is lower unemployment rate in the rural sector compared with the urban unemployment rate that has prevailed throughout the past two decades.The survey conducted in the first quarter of 1996 by the Department of Census and Statistics estimated the unemployed population in Sri Lanka (excluding the Northern and Eastern provinces) at 0.71 million, of whom 0.33 million were males and 0.31 million were females. Of the unemployed, 0.11 million resided in the urban sector and 0.6 million resided in the rural sector. The estimated unemployment rates in Sri Lanka by age group also confirm the low incidence of unemployment in the rural sector of Sri Lanka.

Reviewing the income of the poor and the non-poor

The mean household income for poor households in Sri Lanka is reported as Rs.11534 per month and at sectoral level the lowest mean income for poor households is reported from estate sector (Rs. 10640). At district level, the mean income for poor households in Kurunegala district is reported as Rs. 9431 which is the lowest mean income for poor households among districts. Table 9.1 also shows that the median household income per month for poor households in Sri Lanka is Rs. 9539, which means half of the poor households in Sri Lanka received less than Rs 9539 per month per household in the year 2006/07. The lowest median income for poor households is reported from Moneragala district among districts. Any income received by all the members of the household from various sources, either in cash or in kind was collected from all sample households. The main income sources used in this survey were wages and salaries, income from agricultural activities(seasonal and non seasonal crops), income from non agricultural activities, other cash income, windfall income, income in kind ( consumed quantities of home grown fruit and vegetables, firewood etc.) and estimated rental value of owner occupied housing units.

Educational status of poor

reference- http://www.statistics.gov.lk(Department of Census and Statistics Sri Lanka)

poverty cartoons and comics

2011-04-12T06:32:00.001-07:00

Did you feel the same?

2011-04-11T19:05:00.000-07:00

Almost all of us have witnessed people living with poverty. Most often the clothes they wear would be torn or old. Most probably they may have pathetic complexions. Less food and every time nearly suffering from hunger. In the mean time, we may feel that how sorrowful to live like that. Oh! if we had to live like that and go begging everywhere, and so on.

But. there is something really we do not see. It is the aspect which causes the most serious damage and pain to those people. It is their mentality.

What is their mentality? What are their emotions? How terrible is it to feel useless and to feel that they are isolated by most of the ones in the society. Feeling that no one cares about them. Innocence felt when a tinted shutter rolls down and give them a coin or two. Feeling that no one is there to weep on them when they are gone. Also no funeral rituals to them rather than buried underneath the ground by the government. There will be none to visit their graves (or no graves) and place flowers there. To feel completely alone, and not only that but forsaken even.

Most of we, people do not feel the same about them. Our ears are closed, eyes are closed, hearts are forbidden access to the outer environment. Most of us make excuses, "it is there fault to happen like that" But in my opinion it is not an admirable excuse. Some others may think "they spend uselessly the money we give" Such things happen. But all the time don't stick to the same idea. Because, all are not the same; actually one is different from another.

Our life is short. We are not needed to act as dumb, deaf or blind in that short period. So, drink a glass of water, take a deep breath. Then memorize, "is it correct the way I live?" If not you've got time to correct it. Start caring the poor.

Sometimes you also may be not able to do it financial-wise. But don't worry. Still you have many ways to help them. I will give some ways and means. What you can do is help them spiritually. Let me tell you. You may be a teacher, for an example. So you can give some children free education. You may be a bank worker. You can organize a long term loan for them to start a self vocational mean of income. You may be a rehabilitation officer. So you can draw the attention of the government for them. So it means there are various ways. Think practically, then you will definitely find some solutions.

Let’s start doing it today, because it might be late tomorrow.
OK, now go on...

Reference: PersonalityCafe.com

Number of Poverty And Poverty rate (1959-2009)

2011-04-11T06:16:00.000-07:00

Two graphs regarding poverty

2011-04-11T06:08:00.000-07:00

From :

GFBRANDENBURG'S BLOG

Crime And Poverty.

2011-04-11T05:20:00.000-07:00

Crime exists everywhere in the United States – in rural and urban areas, in the East and West, and among all types of people.This has led many government officials,especially those in urban areas, to focus largely on the reduction of crime among their respective constituencies and has led others to speculate on the factors that influence the amount of crime and how those factors can be controlled...

In the US, urban crime is often perceived as a problem amid areas with high poverty levels.This may be the case; however, many other factors,such as unemployment, population density, minority population, age distribution, and locality in the US, are correlated with crime and affect poverty as well.When these factors are controlled for, how much does poverty affect crime?Knowing more accurately how poverty affects crime can help us know if focusing on the reduction of poverty can aid in crime reduction or if money and effort should go to other areas.

Poverty’s effects on crime can be explained through a variety of reasons.“There is a higher rate of mental illness in the poor than in the rich”.Poverty can lead to high levels of stress that in turn may lead individuals to commit theft, robbery, or other violent acts.Moreover, poverty may lead to an actual or perceived inferior education, which would cause youth to count on less access to quality schools, jobs, and role models, decreasing the opportunity costs of crime and increasing the probability of youth spending time on the street associating with gangs, etc.

Human Poverty Index.....

2011-04-11T04:35:00.000-07:00

Ranking	Country	HPI-2	Probability at birth of not surviving to age 60 (%)	People lacking functional literacy skills (%)	Long-term unemployment (%)	Population below 50% of median income (%)
1	Sweden	6.3	6.7	7.5	1.1	6.5
2	Norway	6.8	7.9	7.9	0.5	6.4
3	Netherlands	8.1	8.3	10.5	1.8	7.3
4	Finland	8.1	9.4	10.4	1.8	5.4
5	Denmark	8.2	10.3	9.6	0.8	5.6
6	Germany	10.3	8.6	14.4	5.8	8.4
7	Switzerland	10.7	7.2	15.9	1.5	7.6
8	Canada	10.9	8.1	14.6	0.5	11.4
9	Luxembourg	11.1	9.2	-	1.2	6.0
10	Austria	11.1	8.8	-	1.3	7.7
11	France	11.2	8.9	-	4.1	7.3
12	Japan	11.7	6.9	-	1.3	11.8
13	Australia	12.1	7.3	17.0	0.9	12.2
14	Belgium	12.4	9.3	18.4	4.6	8.0
15	Spain	12.5	7.7	-	2.2	14.2
16	United Kingdom	14.8	8.7	21.8	1.2	12.5
17	United States	15.4	11.6	20.0	0.4	17.0
18	Ireland	16.0	8.7	22.6	1.5	16.2
19	Italy	29.8	7.7	47.0	3.4	12.7

The countries ranked in the top 22 by HDI that are not on this list are Iceland. New Zealand andLiechtenstein

Note that not all countries are included because data for the indicators are not always available. So positions could change if they were. Especially countries at the bottom could drop considerably if the list were extended. For specific values for other countries than the ones on the list.

How to support People to Overcome Poverty?

2011-04-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

For many people, POVERTY is an issue only seen on television from their comfortable homes or to some it is just a lecture given by some knowledgeable authority.

But it is a completely different story to the people who are forced to live with it everyday. Sometimes overcoming poverty is their min difficulty. But there are ways to help and support people to break free from poverty's firm grip. Without discussing solutions to this issue in Air-conditioned rooms, Anti-poverty organizations and other people need to be active.They should move with the people who have been the pray of poverty.

There are some ideas which will be useful for some one who will volunteer to help poor people,

Talk to those people to understand their needs without diminishing their pride. Always make them feel that you are with them.
Basically poverty enhance due to the lack of co-ordination & support by Government bodies. So people all-around the globe have a duty to use their vote to elect a proper party in to the power. Eg: Support legislation that aims to provide education support to people in poverty.
Be a volunteer to help poor people to overcome their basic difficulties. For example help to rebuilt proper house for them or even if you are in a position to increase the level of education of poor children by conducting small classes, it will be a great help for them. At least the issue of poverty will not be transfered in to there next generation.
Share a success story with those who are under the grip of poverty. Tell them bout great persons who began their lives in the bottom of poverty & traveled towards the top of succession. That will increase their courage to face any problem that come to them when they engage in the process of overcoming poverty. This talking ill build up a saying in their hearts as "IF THEY CAN DO IT WE ALSO CAN".
Not only that help them with clothes & other facilities until they come to a stable position. Receiving a worm coat or a comfortable pair of shoes can help lift the spirits of someone in desperate need.

These are some primary level steps that one could follow to help people who re under the firm grip of "POVERTY"

Aspects of Poverty...

2011-04-10T04:48:00.000-07:00

Poverty is a global issue. But most of us know only a certain side of poverty. But not all around aspects. Some may think of poverty in their ideal ways. Most may think, poverty means being unable to buy whatever we want. In the sense it is correct. But any of the others may think poverty means not gaining the education, sanitary and so on. It is also really correct. But then why two addresses for the same thing? Well, keep on reading, then you will realize why is that?

Actually there are two major divisions when considering the term "Poverty" ;

Non - income poverty

Income poverty

Non - Income Poverty

This means the people have a sufficient amount of money to survive. But they do not have the sufficient access to any other basic needs. When people do not have education, sanitary, health, infrastructure facilities, this condition belongs to non - income poverty. People becoming displaced and feeling not secure due to wars and so on also belongs to this condition.

The best way to avoid this type of poverty is to be handled by the government. Provision of good infrastructure and strong laws will work fine under this

Income Poverty

This happens due to a poor economy of a family. Quality of their life is not good under this. No acceptable nourishment, proper clothes and also fine shelter. Simply, noway to buy the essentials. Income poverty is the main asset that deals with hunger. This can result in outgrowths and early deaths.

This also can be avoided. But the means of avoiding is related with non - income poverty. Having proper education to eliminate unemployment is the best remedy for this.

Hands up for eliminating poverty...

HEALTH & POVERTY

2011-04-10T03:50:00.000-07:00

"The biggest enemy of health in the developing world is poverty."

Kofi Annan

Poverty is often defined in absolute terms of low income – less than US$2 a day.As they have a lower income their sole problem is "how to increase the income and how to reduse expenditure".

So their attention for the side of health is very law.therefor the poor has exposes togreater personal and environmental health risks, are less well nourished, have less information and are less able to access health care; they thus have a higher risk of illness and disability.

Some ‘poverty-related’ diseases

Infectious and parasitic diseases
Respiratory infections
Perinatal and maternal conditions
Nutritional deficiencies
Tropical diseases

Some information related to health and poverty:

According to the Global Hunger Index,south asia has the highest child malnutrition rate of the world's regions.
Every year, more than half a million women die in pregnancy or childbirth.
Almost 90% of maternal deaths occur in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, compared to less than 1% in the developed world.
Women who have born children into poverty may not be able to nourish the children efficiently and provide adequate care in infancy. (The children may also suffer from disease that has been passed down to the child through birth. Asthma and rickets are common problems children acquire when born into poverty)

Conclusion For Poverty

2011-04-10T03:20:00.000-07:00

The main problem in the world nowadays is poverty. Many experts made a research on how to solve it. Most in the community of the Philippines are graving. But sad to say that until now it is still in the stage of calamity.

Poverty happens everywhere. They think citiesmay offer them a better-off living. They think they'll be much better off living in the cities than in their own villages, which only offer them natural resources. Being rich and having a great sum of money instantly are often the cause of massive exodus. What happens later is beyond their expectations; they become jobless, homeless, and the worse impact is that they are unable to return to their villages for they don't even have money to return.

Most poor people who battle hunger deal with chronic undernourishment and vitamin or mineral deficiencies, which result in stunted growth, weakness and heightened susceptibility to illness. Poor children are the most prone to this and are often the victims to malnutrition, deficiencies, diseases and ultimately deaths caused by hunger.

The persons who are in the position must have enough knowledge about the solutions on the problem. They should make a step by step process to ensure the proper on the global major problem.

Pathways through Which Poverty Affects Children's Educational Outcomes.....

2011-04-10T01:07:00.001-07:00

Poverty's effect seems to be the strongest when it occurs early in the child's life,when it is persistent, and when children live well below the poverty threshold.

Poverty may influence child development through at least five pathways:

1.Child health and nutrition

2.Parent mental health and affective interactions

3.Provision of a stimulating home environment

4.School and child care quality

5.Neighbor-hood conditions.

Parental mental health and affective interactions.

Parents who are poor or who have a history of welfare receipt are more likely to have worse emotional and physical health than those who are not poor. Researchers such as Rand Conger and colleagues, using the family stress model, have linked parental depressive symptoms to more conflict with adolescent children, which in turn results in less optimal emotional, social, and cognitive outcomes. Poor parental mental health also is associated with less stimulating home environments and more discordant parent-child interactions.

Provision of a stimulating home environment.

Family income directly influences the material resources available to children in their homes. Higher income children benefit from higher levels of cognitively stimulating materials available in their homes compared to low-income children. The provision of a stimulating home environment, in turn, accounts for much of the effect of income on the cognitive development of preschool and elementary school children and may be the most important pathway through which poverty operates.

School and child care quality.

Children from poor families are also exposed to lower quality school and child care settings compared to their non-poor counterparts. Findings from two national child care studies, as described by Deborah Phillips et al. (1994), indicate that up to 60 percent of subsidized and low-income child care centers failed to conform to legal child to staff ratios in toddler classrooms and most (70%) received low ratings on scales of appropriate caregiving and the provision of appropriate activities. Lower quality child care is associated with lower math and language ability, negative peer interactions, and more behavior problems.

Neighborhood conditions.

The neighborhoods in which poor families reside are another pathway through which income poverty may negatively affect children's educational outcomes. Financial strain limits the housing and neighborhood choices available to low-income families, constraining these families to live in neighborhoods characterized by high levels of crime and unemployment, low levels of resources, and a lack of collective efficacy among the residents. Neighborhood residence, in turn, is associated with child and adolescent school outcomes above and beyond the effect of family poverty.

Really Happy :)

2011-04-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

It's one day since we've created the blog. Now we are gaining international attention even. Really happy...

Simply what does it mean?

2011-04-09T18:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks to

www.tearfund.org

Say "BYE"

2011-04-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

     Poverty in the sense is a devil for the human community. So it is our bound duty to do our best in order to eradicate that aspect. At a glance it may seems that it is an impossible effort. But, no, there are many things that can be done to succeed in our target. What we can do may look like sorts of silly things. But think deep. You will realize what I present is not false almost.

     Most of the aspects we have to follow are either of spiritual or social significance. In earlier posts me and my friends have mentioned that an unstable and weak economy are is key factor for causing poverty. So here, almost all the factors deal with economy directly or indirectly.

     Illiteracy causes for unemployment. Unemployment causes for poverty; this poverty cycle continues and it is we who have to stop that. So for the good sake, the initial aspect is to have education when possible. I say so, some people really do not have the opportunity to get the education. But some people do not pay attention into though they really have the opportunity to do it. I mean for them, have the education when you have the chance. So nothing to fear about economy as there is nothing to fear about unemployment and illiteracy.

     Get married Seems to be funny, huh? Well, no it is not. Don't take the funny side. The moral is always two incomes are better than one. So it will furthermore ensure your economy. Both can share their bills, cut off unwanted expenses and so on. This is a significant deterrent for Poverty.

Delay having children until you get a good job (Yea.. I know this isn't a counseling blog ) But the fact is having children too young is the best shortcut for poverty. Children are a very big responsibility. You have to dedicate much of your time as well economy on the welfare of them. So the best thing is to have a strong economic foundation before children.

These facts may seem so simple and sarcastic for some of the readers. But think twice or even more. You will then understand what I meant. If we can follow these things we can surely ensure that no poverty will appear newly. None of these are difficult to do.

Have Education > Get Married > Delay having children till your economy is strong

Work out with intelligence. So you can say "Bye Poverty"

Hey!!!.... Not "See ya"

Reference; "Make Poverty History" Foundation

An effect of Poverty - Hunger

2011-04-09T07:14:00.001-07:00

Poverty is the principal cause of hunger. The causes of poverty include poor people's lack of resources, an extremely unequal income distribution in the world and within specific countries, conflict, and hunger itself. As of 2008 (2005 statistics), the World Bank has estimated that there were an estimated 1,345 million poor people in developing countries who live on $1.25 a day or less.This compares to the later FAO estimate of 1.02 billion undernourished people. Extreme poverty remains an alarming problem in the world’s developing regions, despite some progress that reduced "dollar--now $1.25-- a day" poverty from 1900 million people in 1981, a reduction of 29 percent over the period. Progress in poverty reduction has been concentrated in Asia, and especially, East Asia, with the major improvement occurring in China. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of people in extreme poverty has increased

Number of hungry people in the world

As the figure below shows, the number of hungry people has increased since 1995-97, though the number is down from last year. The increase has been due to three factors:

1) neglect of agriculture relevant to very poor people by governments and international agencies

2) the current worldwide economic crisis

3) the significant increase of food prices in the last several years which has been devastating to those with only a few dollars a day to spend.

925 million people is 13.6 percent of the estimated world population of 6.8 billion. Nearly all of the undernourished are in developing countries.