(:00 -0:15) Good Morning,I am going to talk about the dilemmas of poverty and how the detrimental effects are interrelated. I will also discuss some interim solutions. Nelson Mandela said:“Like slavery and apartheid, poverty Is not natural. It is manmade and can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings (Kotler, 2009).
(0:15-0:30)And overcoming poverty Is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the fundamental right-the right to dignity and a decent life. While poverty persists, there is no true freedom”(Kotler, 2009). From Kotler, Philip Book Chapter 6 _________________________________________________________________________________Photo credit: http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.writespirit.net/authors/nelson_mandela/mandela_pic&imgrefurl=http://www.writespirit.net/authors/nelson_mandela&h=381&w=289&sz=29&tbnid=f_-ZrHRsa-j41M:&tbnh=258&tbnw=195&prev=/images%3Fq%3DNelson%2BMandela%2BPhoto&zoom=1&q=Nelson+Mandela+Photo&usg=__j84cl-Qo4D5V4jKAA5bv5SEXgJI=&sa=X&ei=U55ZTcasOJPWtQObm7ySAw&ved=0CCQQ9QEwAA
(0:30 – 0:45)The extremely impoverished are chronically hungry, lack access to health care, safe drinking water and cannot afford education for some or all of their children.There are about 1.4B living in extreme poverty, making less than $1.25 US per day (Kotler, 2009).
(0:45 – 0:60)90% of them live in Sub Saharan Africa, East Asia and South AsiaLiberia has 80% of its population living below poverty lineKenya, South Africa and many other countries are at 50% 41% - India22% - China8% - NigeriaSource: Nation Master 2008
(1:00 – 1:15)The impoverished live in a vicious cycle that is difficult to escape. These deficits are interconnected and collectively perpetuates the downward spiral further into poverty.
(1:15 – 1:30)Dilemma #1 -I recently returned from a rural village in India where the residents were living in appalling conditions. It was winter and extremely cold. Some of us wanted to give them blankets. Others posited that that was simply a band-aid approach and that we needed to teach them to fish NOT give them a fish.
(1:30 – 1:45)One of these deficits is power. Power is messy and unreliable in poor and rural areas. And even when there is power, like in this slum, people don’t always have access. And when they do, it can be precarious!
(1:45 – 2:00)Power in impoverished areas is more scarce and less reliable. Without regular power, children find it hard to study and do other productive activities after dark.
(2:00 – 2:15)Similarly, without access to clean water, intestinal and other diseases flourish, preventing people from gainful employment.Rural areas often lack the municipal infrastructure that provides clean water to city dwellers. Access to clean drinking water can improve life expectancy.___________________________________________________________________________Harvard Economist Edward Glaeser said that 110 years ago men living in the suburbs lived longer thank those living in the city. Now, life expectancy in NY is 2 years longer. This is because cities invest in clean drinking water for their citizens. The NY Aqueduct was a great benefit to the community. Glaeser credits access to clean drinking water, along with life style as the contributing factor to this increase in life expectancy.
(2:15 – 2:30)Whether it is about academics or life skills in the area of health care, sanitation awareness and pre and post natal care, education is necessary to escape poverty. This young boy is teaching his friends who cannot afford books to read (Kotler, 2009).
(2:30 – 2:45) Fortunately, these Indian children who are part of a community development project. They spend time in class every day and then learn a marketable trade like embroidery and art so that they can be gainfully employed as young adults. In fact, they are essentially already employed. But, that’s another story and dilemma.
(2:45 – 3:00)Dilemma #2 -Child Labor – while this program is subsidized by the government, these young children are essentially child laborers. Yet, this program represents a short term solution, a transition to a very difficult problem. And in the meantime, these kids are off of the streets.
(3:15 – 3:30)The poor are most impacted by climate change because the lack of predictability in weather means their crops and livelihoods are constantly at risk. Ironically, as they move out of poverty, and lower their infant mortality rate, they, too, will emit more carbon.
(3:30 – 3:45)Adaptive Housing -These houses are adapted to deal with the rise and fall of the Amazon River. They are built on stilts higher than any water level people can remember, Yet, water levels have become unpredictable and susceptible to flooding. These environmental differences greatly impact poverty (Kotler, 2009) and (ConstanzaOcampo-Reader, 2011)Slide provided by: ConstanzaOcampo-Reader
(3:45 – 4:00)Dilemma #3 – If the 1.4B poor currently consume approximately 1/20 the carbon of an average American, is it fair for them to bear the brunt of reducing their carbon consumption? If so, how can they ever improve their living conditions?
(4:00-4:15)We must remember that quality of life means different things to different people. These dilemmas presented here include temporary or band-aid solutions. But they represent an interim solution that respects the values of the cultures involved (Kotler, 2009).Photo Credit: Peter Menzel Food For thought - http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://photomediaonline.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/PM_CHA104_0001_xxf1rw.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.photomediaonline.com/%3Fp%3D268&usg=__Y6ioJQzkvK0W9VJJPN0ir8Nt_d4=&h=251&w=378&sz=77&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=xiLJth9RCQoYzM:&tbnh=137&tbnw=185&ei=95hZTbXtCoW6sQOF9bm3BQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpeter%2Bmenzel%2Bmaterial%2Bworld%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADSA_en%26biw%3D1895%26bih%3D726%26output%3Dimages_json%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Divnso&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1593&vpy=236&dur=4005&hovh=183&hovw=276&tx=184&ty=208&oei=-JhZTcnsDZO-sQP56sCtBQ&page=1&ndsp=38&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:0http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/features/2005/nov/hungry_planet/usa420.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thebackkitchen.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html&usg=__U5cryd5ukuyKpdzcuR8uX0qHHH0=&h=280&w=420&sz=42&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=PvHQGoyAzput8M:&tbnh=137&tbnw=237&ei=CZpZTcTFLIG6sQPv_8ycDA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpeter%2Bmenzel%2Bmaterial%2Bworld%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7ADSA_en%26biw%3D1069%26bih%3D541%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Divnso&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=310&vpy=238&dur=112&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=134&ty=106&oei=AZpZTe3jB4T2swOon7mpBQ&page=1&ndsp=38&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0
(4:15-4:30)Hope – Fortunately, many are working to solve these problems. Embrace, for example aims to prevent illness in as many as 800,000 babies by 2013. The resulting improved health can lead to an increase in GDP of $1B (Embrace Global Main Page).__________________________________________________________________________Gates Fdn – EducationTrudy Styler–– Water in EcuadorEmbrace – Health care and popluation - PowerGO - employmentExtra: In addition, by 2013 Embrace aims to save the lives of more than 100,000 babies and prevent illness in as many as 800,000 babies.Source: http://www.embraceglobal.org/main/product?section=impacthttp://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/01/23/2009-01-23_sting__trudie_styler_pump_out_crude_tale.htmlCrude follows a trip to Ecuador that Styler – wife of Sting – and Berlinger – director of Metallica'sSome Kind of Monster – took to chronicle the effects that Chevron’s oil production facilities are having on locals. The company has spent the last 30 years contaminating the air, land, and water of the area, and cancer, leukemia, and birth defects have become a major problem.“I saw the most appalling human rights violations I’ve ever witnessed,” said Styler. “I’ve seen some pretty grim sights, but nothing could prepare me for the sight of indigenous people with no access to clean water who have been systematically poisoned.”http://www.looktothestars.org/news/3010-trudie-styler-explores-ecuador-in-crude-filmRead more: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/3010-trudie-styler-explores-ecuador-in-crude-film#ixzz1DtnwoLiu
(4:30-4:45)Solving these dilemmas ultimately requires a multi tiered approach. Giving blankets, employing young children and balancing the responsibility for decreasing carbon consumption may not be ideal but they respect the immediate needs and cultural values (Kotler, 2009).
(4:45- 5:00)There is hope because issues of injustice, are getting increasing worldwide visibility thanks to Social Media. The same can happen for poverty eradication. The call to action is greater than ever before.Thank you.As Mandela said, while poverty persists, there is no freedom. We have to act now.