“The poverty of our century is unlike that of any other. It is not, as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but of a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by the rich. Consequently, the modern poor are not pitied…but written off as trash. The twentieth-century consumer economy has produced the first culture for which a beggar is a reminder of nothing.”
~John Berger
With Christmas approaching there is not a better time to consider those on the earth who are in need; those who are faced with insurmountable poverty, starvation, disease and strife. Now more than ever our world is a place where so many millions of people are faced each day with the stark reality of poverty. Where they cannot earn a living off their own land, where they are trodden down by exploitation, government policy or warmongering, where greed has stolen their lively hood and their lives.
- Nearly half of the world’s population lives on less than US$2 a day.
- 1 billion people live in abject poverty on less that US$1 a day.
- 50,000 people die from poverty-related causes every day.
- Every three seconds a child dies from poverty-related causes.
- 800 million people go to bed hungry every night.
Source Make Poverty History
These are staggering statistics, but so often these numbers do little to compel us to action. There is a sense of hopelessness for many of us lucky ones, other than donating to aid organisations how can we have a positive effect on the lives of these people? How, can we, in developed countries make a difference to the poverty that exists around the world?
First we need to acknowledge the role of greed, the greed of governing bodies, organisations and corporations; the people who have the power to inflate markets and steal land and resources and exploit people and nations for money. And then we need to acknowledge that we play a role in this by buying into the products offered by these greedy manufacturers.
While governments on the one hand are giving aid to developing countries they are with the other taking away their lively hood. Through farming subsidies, trade injustice and no true governance to protect those affected by exploitation.
I know this is a very complex and multisided argument and that our very world economy is built on this kind of infrastructure; but there are ways you and I can make positive choices that opt out, to some degree, of this greedy and exploitive doctrine.
There is hope for all people of the world and it starts with freedom and equal rights and a true desire for all nations to work together for the benefit of all people not just the rich and powerful.
When governments and corporations are making gross profits, someone, somewhere has paid the price and sometimes it is the ultimate price. The loss of their livelihood, their home or even their child; these are the costs of poverty.
So how can we have some small positive effect on the lives of others and support communities and manufactures who are working towards sustainable and workable solutions to poverty?
Buy Fair Trade
Fairly traded and certified Fairtrade products are becoming more readily available in many countries and are a great way we as consumers can support small farmers and communities by putting our money into sustainable and ethical farming and manufacturing process. Fair trade protects farmers and manufacturers by paying a fair price for their product, promoting better working conditions and better equipping small producers and communities to take control of their own future.
By purchasing fair trade products we are not putting money into the pockets of companies who have a monopoly and who often economically disadvantage producers to make big profits. Keep an eye out for fair-trade certified coffee, tea, chocolate, dried fruit, honey, nuts, oil, rice and sugar. To learn more about Fair Trade have a read of the article here.
Buy Union Made
Our shopping centres and malls are filled to the brim with cheap but also overpriced luxury consumer items and many of these are made in some of the poorest countries where many workers are exploited to turn big profits. Although you may think it is cheaper to live in developing countries it still does not give the manufacturing corporations the right to pay their workers less than a living wage and demanding unethical working conditions. Many of these workers are denied the right to form unions which means they have no power to defend their rights and work towards resolving many of the exploitive conditions under which they work.
It can be difficult to find out exactly under what conditions many of our consumer products have been manufactured and there is still not a lot of endorsement for union made products. However they are becoming available especially in clothing and foot ware. Keep an eye out for Union Made, reconsider buying cheap, throw away items, buy pre-loved or research companies online. For more information check out the article here.
Support our own communities
When we support our own community and purchase products and services provided by small, local manufacturers we are not only having a positive and sustaining impact on our communities but avoid supporting big manufacturers and corporations who may be exploiting people and communities for profit.
Think local and always consider buying locally produced, farmed or manufactured goods over mass produced items. By visiting local markets and fairs, supporting local business and restaurants and encouraging our supermarkets to stock more locally produced products we can start to promote and sustain our own community over the wealth and greed of big corporations. This in turn provides growth and economic stability for the people in our own communities and gives back to small scale producers and families.
Support Aid Organisations
There are many wonderful aid organisations that are performing a service to all mankind by working with people and governments to ease the suffering and support the freedom and rights of people who live in poverty around the world. Many of these organisations are working with the people to promote a sustaining livelihood and helping communities to work together. Without the support of aid many millions more would die each year of starvation and disease. Consider donating time or money or organising or participating in a fund raiser to help these organisations to continue their crucial work.
Speak Out
Nearly all of us are aware of the poverty that exists around the world but how many of us talk about it. We see it and hear about it on the television but it is rarely discussed. Is this because we feel so helpless?
But we as consumers play a very big and fundamental role to the survival of greedy and unethical practices. We can, through voicing our concern and demanding equal rights, better working conditions, fair trade and an end to exploitation, let these greedy “big guns” know how we feel and that we will speak out with our voice and with our dollar.
Start talking about poverty within your own community, talk to your friends and family, talk to your supermarkets and manufactures, your local government and your governmental leaders. We need to speak out against poverty and support those who are taking steps to work towards a better future for all people.
Send emails or letters to manufactures to find out where they stand on human rights and working conditions. Write to your government leaders and ask them how they are helping to work towards a sustainable and better future for developing countries and people living in poverty.
Oxfam is a great organisation that provides help and support for communities and people. They also provide great information and guidelines for contacting manufactures and government agencies. You can visit their site here.
This Christmas and always consider the things you can do to reduce the impact of greed on all people and communities. We can make a difference by supporting those who are creating real opportunities and offering true sustainable and workable solutions to help end the grip of poverty on so many people and places around the world.
Poverty is more than ever a result of our wasteful and greedy lifestyle; we need to reassess our choices and make ones that reflect a true desire to no longer support greed and exploitation.
Where we can we should choose to make a difference by supporting fair trade, union made, local produce and aid organisations. And speak out against poverty it is up to all of us to work towards better future for all people.
For more information visit Make Poverty History
Related posts:
- Stand Up Against Poverty and Inequality
- Discovering the Heart of our Environmental Conscience : Blog Action Day
- Carbon is a real problem but is it the only one? : addressing positive change for the future
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"I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." ~Hellen Keller
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
The world is blessed to have someone like you who speak up about the greatest tragedy of our time. In my own little way I extend my luck to the less fortunate by means of giving food, clothing and a little money. I believe if we could act on ourselves by giving, poverty will be solved.
Walter, thank you so much for your kind words!! The poverty and inequality that prevails in our time is truly a tragedy. Yet, I find it so heartening there are many people out there like yourself who give of themselves, small actions are meaningful and powerful. We need to believe that each one of us can make a difference!! : )
We make positive change when practicing permaculture. I have been plating native perennials and trees for just five years in my city lot. At last count, twenty five food crops thrive that help to nourish me throughout the seasons. Nature flourishes when the give-back to Mother Nature is practiced. Recreating Eden is not as hard as it might sound.
Plant, give away your surplus, and enjoy!