Agriculture Overcoming Poverty

Agriculture Opens New Doors for Young Jamaicans

The previous article describes a program started by the Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that involves teaching young Jamaicans methods in order to cultivate their own food. By doing this, young Jamaicans learn valuable skills that allow them to overcome the perils of hunger. Without having to worry about when their next meal will come, Jamaican teenagers can focus on their careers, typically involving agriculture.

After reading this article, I was reminiscent of what was discussed in class pertaining to the Agricultural Revolution. I think that it is outstanding how something that has happened numerous times throughout history can still occur in this modern era. Although most present-day societies are postindustrial societies, certain areas in countries like Jamaica are still in an agricultural revolution "stage." The UNDP is not only helping Jamaican teens struggling to succeed, but also fueling a modern-day agricultural revolution.

As a result, more jobs will come out of this new advance, and, perhaps, steer much of Jamaican society into a more technologically-advanced generation.

Difficulties of Poverty Around the World

The following link will take you to a website filled with statistics about poverty. One of the first things you will see is a map.

World Poverty

Now, when I found this website, at first glance I thought that the map would probably be about countries and their percentage of people living in poverty. But when I took a closer look, I realized that this website was actually counting the number of deaths per HOUR due to poverty. It was horrifying to actually see the pictures of people who died pretty much every second all around the world. This website does not just place people into categories, it turns statistics into a more personal level by letting the audience see the individual faces.

It was an eye-opener to see that poverty causes so much harm, from people dying of hunger, to those dying of pneumonia. This definitely brings to light Herbert Spencer's idea of  "survival of the fittest." It is so primitive in a way to admit that that is true, but it is something that is currently happening in the world, many people die if they are unable to provide for themselves.

As I continued to explore this website, I clicked on International Aid. I was shocked that one of the the few countries that do not have a set schedule to reach an International Aid goal is the United States. Despite that fact, I think it's great to see that European countries are making a difference in the world.

Poverty in Movies

In my previous post, I embedded a video about a young boy describing a day in his life of poverty. In the following scene from the movie the Pursuit of Happiness, based on a true story, a father, played by Will Smith, and his son, played by Jaden Smith, find themselves without a place to spend the night. 

Parents do a lot as it is to protect their children and keep them safe, but imagine trying to provide for your child, but having no means of doing so. People living like this feel helpless, they feel like they have no one and nowhere to turn to. If a parent is worried about when their next meal will be, the child is most certainly not going to get as much attention as a typical child would like to have from its parents. A child may get the impression that the parent is purposefully neglecting them. Even in this emotional movie clip one can see how distraught the father is and how snappy he gets when his son asks where they are going. However, the father thinks of a creative way to distract his son from the harsh reality that they are going through. It is so incredible to see how these characters manage to make it through the night. It is so moving to see the father's desperate attempts at keeping anyone from finding him and his son spending the night in a public bathroom. It is a sad sight to see, but this sort of thing happens everyday and we don't even know it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

A Day in Poverty

What do you think of when you hear the word 'poverty?

When I think of poverty, I think of people suffering, not necessarily physically, but also spiritually. I think of people in tattered clothes, asking for charity. I think of people living life day by day not knowing what will come next. 

But that's just me being stereotypical.

The last thing I would think of is a well-dressed little boy with a big imagination. In the following video, you hear a young German boy recounting the wonderful day he had last week.

After watching this video, I was truly in touched by the way that the little boy described his day with such a positive attitude. He is actually living a life of poverty and makes it seem like such an extravagant lifestyle. I just really think that it is interesting to see poverty from a more innocent and child-like perspective.  Of course, he probably felt the pressure to exaggerate in order to prove himself to the rest of his classmates. Maybe he really wishes to live a life like the one that the describes. It was a bit sad to hear the girl at the end of the video call him a liar because "it is not possible to have such a nice day." The way that she says it makes the girl sound so spiteful, but at the end it almost sounds like she's jealous of his "nice day." This comment visibly upsets the little boy, not only because it makes him feel guilty, but also because it makes him feel like an outcast in his own classroom.

In a much broader perspective, the little boy telling the story symbolizes all the people in this world living in poverty. His classmates are the rest of society and how they are so quick to judge. The fact that this video is from a powerful European country shows the universality of poverty. It comes in many shapes and sizes. In all sorts of different situations.

How did you react to this video? Did your image of poverty change?

Poverty and the 2012 Presidential Election

With the upcoming presidential election, a variety of social and economic issues have been put in the spotlight. Recently, Christian leaders of "The Circle of Protection" asked the two candidates for presidency, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, about their plans to reduced poverty in the U.S.. Poverty is such a serious issue that it is influencing the future outcome of the 2012 presidential election. In the following article, Jim Wallis, a Christian leader, writes about this ever-present moral issue that is playing a part in America's future.

We Asked, They Answered: Obama, Romney on Poverty

First of all, I think that it is great that Obama and Romney are addressing the problem and discussing their ideas to end poverty. After reading the article, I found it interesting how Christian leaders from different groups and associations are brought together by their common concern about poverty. They all responded to the recent statistics from the United States Census Bureau that 15% of people in the U.S. are currently living at or under the poverty line. To put this in monetary terms, the typical income for a family of four living at the poverty line is $23,021, while the annual income of an average American household is $50,054. Can you imagine living on less than half the average income? Can you imagine having to choose between those shoes you've been planning to buy and a week's worth of food for your family? Can you imagine relentlessly searching for work while keeping up with the two other jobs you have so you can take care of your family's needs?

Can you imagine the courage and humility it takes to ask a stranger for food?

That is the cruel reality of 46 million people in our country.

Poverty

Poverty is the state of having little or no money to support oneself. I decided to choose this topic for my research because it is a worldwide issue that I really want to address. Poverty is everywhere. When I was little growing up in Ecuador, I would always see small children selling candy on the streets so that they could afford a meal that would last them the entire day. Even though I saw that sort of thing every day, the real reason for my interest in poverty began when I started volunteering at my church's food pantry. That experience really opened my eyes and made me wonder how difficult their day-to-day lives must be. Therefore, I would like to learn more about it and its effects on society as a whole.