Responsibility of International Community in addressing World Poverty

Responsibility of International Community in addressing World Poverty

Introduction

I am reminded of my first of seventeen foreign mission trip to the world's most impoverished country in the western hemisphere; Haiti. I recall leaving my home, which by most American standards was considered modest, middle class, warm and welcoming. I recall my departing goodbyes, with hugs and kisses to my healthy, well groomed, private Christian school, educated little girls. A warm bear hug from a husband who was gainfully employed on a job that provided well for our family and promised a future retirement. However, within hours I would enter a country where all of these comforts, which I commonly took for granted would not even be a dream in the life of the Haitian people. Hunger and poverty is their common reality. So my thought is why; why is there such poverty in so many counties in the world and what is the responsibility of the international community in seeking to alleviate some of the causes. This issue is significant because:

Over three billion people in world almost half of the world's population earns less than $2.5 daily.

The wealth of world's seven rich people is greater than the GDP of 41 heavily indebted poor countries.

Around one billion people currently are unable to sign their names or read a book.

Less than one percent of what the total world is spending on weapons was required to educate every child in school in the year 2000 (Shah, 2012).

Most significantly, I believe the international community has a much greater responsibility, than does currently exist, in seeking to alleviate world poverty. As I consider the great many basic needs which go unmet within so many impoverished communities nationally, and compare it to the great abundance of resources held and enjoyed by so many other communities worldwide, I am reminded of the statement by famous television character of Star Trek, Dr. Spock, who said, “The needs of the many must always take precedence over the need or comforts of the few.”

My paper will address the common causes of poverty throughout the world, the international community's responsibility and their challenge associated with addressing the need, and finally, potential solutions to help the international community operate more effectively to close the gap that exist internationally between the “haves and have-nots”.

Discussion

At the turn of the century, there is still a long way to go to rid the world of ancient curses of hunger and poverty. Many developing countries are still closer to that goal over the last thirty years. The lives of millions of people have been transformed at an unprecedented rate and with an intensity that would have been unimaginable only a generation ago (Salomon, 2007).

But we must not delude ourselves. Even today, 1.2 billion people, one fifth of the world population, still live in extreme poverty. Nearly 800 million of them suffer from chronic under nourishment. Access to adequate and nutritious food is a fundamental right that some take for granted, ...