Eradicating Poverty essays

Eradicating Poverty essays Poverty is a complex multidimensional problem in which Chapter 3 of Agenda 21 provides the outline for a comprehensive attack. To promote better standards of living in a better global environment, Agenda 21 stresses the need for poverty eradication as the priority among problems hindering sustainable development. The current internationally excepted description of poverty is very clear and specific. Mark Mallock Brown, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Administrator, described the poor as people who are "lacking adequate food, shelter, water and sanitation" (Global Dialogue). More than 1 billion people, or about one fifth of the worlds population live under conditions of extreme poverty. Of the 4.6 billion people in developing countries, almost 800 million are not getting enough food, more than 850 million are illiterate, and over 1 billion people lack access to clean water supplies. The world's poorest countries, most of them in Africa, contain 10 percent of the world's population. Their share in global trade is not even a percent, stressing their dire need for financial and technical assistance on long-term and almost interest free, if not non-refundable, aid (Combating Poverty). Anna Koffi, United Nation Secretary Genreal said, The poor are seldom poor by choice. Very few people in this world enjoy living on handouts. Most poor people know they are quite capable of earning their living by their own efforts, and are eager to do so. But they must be given a fair chance to compete (Statement on the challenge). Most poor people cannot overcome their problems because they do not have access to adequate resources and support. I believe we need to reduce poverty by implementing solutions so that the poor can overcome poverty. The population growth is fastest among the poorest and in the poorest countries; and in the recent years, poverty is among the most significant contributing factor to environm...