Yet, if extreme poverty is fought with global, complex and multi-facet solutions, it can end within the next thirty years. Three solutions proposed in this essay concern the allocation of resources, access to education and gender equality.
In order for poverty to be alleviated within the next thirty years, the world’s allocation of resources must experience a radical paradigm shift. The American population makes up less than 5% of the world’s population yet consumes more than 25% of the world’s natural resources[iv]. Approximately 80% of the world’s wealth is controlled by 10% of the world’s population[v]. The gap between the world’s rich and world’s poor is shocking. How then, can the world’s poor access the wealth of the rich?
The question at stake here is a person’s ability to obtain financing. The world’s richest people have access to financial institutions, government backed banking and investing options that continue to maximize and stabilize their wealth. For extreme poverty to end, it is essential for the world’s poorest to have access to financial resources. In order to start a business, build a well or continue on in education, capital is required. It will be impossible to alleviate poverty without providing access to capital in some capacity. Currently, the American government contributes less than 1% of the federal budget to aid poor countries[vi].
In order for extreme poverty to end, it will be up to individuals to loan their resources, so that others may have access to capital. A great solution already being implemented regarding this matter is micro-financing. Organizations such as Kiva, connect the rich with the poor, allow individuals to loan their wealth to others who would other wise not have access to capital. To date, they have loaned a total of $209,908,050 with almost 99% successful payback[vii].
In order for poverty to be alleviated within thirty years, education must be at the forefront of emerging countries’ policies. One of the underline factors regarding wealth is a person’s level of education, which ultimately is correlated to literacy. Literacy is one of the key variables that will empower others, freeing them from the chains of poverty. The L.A. Times reported, “No skill is more crucial to the future of a child, or to a democratic and prosperous society, than literacy.” [viii] President Clinton stated, “Literacy is not a luxury, it is a right and a responsibility. If our world is to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century we must harness the energy and creativity of all our citizens.” [ix]
It is impossible to access education without having access to schools and teachers. An innovative solution regarding access to education is online learning. Online learning would allow underprivileged children across the world to access some of the greatest teachers remotely. Broadband infrastructure would need to continue to expand, however this is feasible within the next thirty years. It is predicted that by 2015, approximately 3.6 billion people will be able to access broadband services, 50% of the world's population[x].The role of woman in society will need to experience a radical paradigm shift as well in many countries.
In order for poverty to be alleviated within thirty years, men and woman must be given the same liberties, resulting in gender equality. Nobel Peace Prize winner, Kofi Annan, says, “Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance”.[xi] Minister and author, Norman Vincent Peale, profoundly stated, “When every physical and mental resource is focused, one's power to solve a problem multiplies tremendously.”[xii] When woman are part of the solution, societies have then maximized all resources and will be able to defeat extreme poverty in thirty years.
Moving forward, it will be essential that the input of the world’s richest economies not be at the expense of the output of the worlds poorest. The rich cannot continue to prosper at the expensive of cheap labor, inhumane working conditions and in worse case scenarios slavery. Governments, corporations and individuals across the world must strive towards the complete elimination of extreme poverty. When this occurs, education will be at the forefront of policies, woman will be treated with equality and resources will be adequately distributed.
[i] http://www.onedayswages.org/about/what-extreme-global-poverty[ii] http://www.onedayswages.org/about/what-extreme-global-poverty[iii] http://www.onedayswages.org/about/what-extreme-global-poverty[iv] http://www.gizmag.com/go/6571/[v] http://www.gizmag.com/go/6571/[vi] http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/apr/08/us-federal-budget-cuts-aid-certain-casualty[vii] Kiva.org[viii] http://www.readfaster.com/LiteracyQuotes.asp[ix] http://www.readfaster.com/LiteracyQuotes.asp[x] http://www.newmediatrendwatch.com/world-overview/102-broadband-access[xi] http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/gender.html[xii] http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/resources.html#ixzz1Kq5j6mJj
