Blog Action Day 2008 — Poverty
Blog Action Day 2008 — Poverty
Today, 15th October, is the day that many bloggers from around the world will unite to talk about a single subject on their blogs — “poverty”. Blog Action Day is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters. You will probably (hopefully) see subjects like this on many of the blogs you visit today.
While I was wondering how I might address this important issue, here on this blog, I spent some time doing a little research. And some of what I read surprised, and upset, me. Despite all the campaigns over the last few years, particularly those like Make Poverty History, I hadn’t fully grasped some of the facts and figures involved. I’m sure that’s down to me, and not a lack of effort on the part of those campaigning.
Here are some of the things I discovered:
- Almost half the world — over 3 billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.
- The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the 41 Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (567 million people) is less than the wealth of the world’s 7 richest people combined.
- Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
- Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.
- 1 billion children live in poverty (1 in 2 children in the world). 640 million live without adequate shelter, 400 million have no access to safe water, 270 million have no access to health services. 10.6 million died in 2003 before they reached the age of 5 (or roughly 29,000 children per day).
This is where I found this information, Global Issues website: do, please, explore more of the site — it’s a website that talks about, “social, political, economic and environmental issues that affect us all”.
With such big issues, it feels as though there is little that one person can do to help to alleviate the problems. But there are in fact a range of things that anyone can do. One of the ways most of us could help, is through microloans. Microloans are small loans, as little as $25, that help entrepreneurs in developing areas lift themselves out of poverty.
Kiva is one of the world’s first person-to-person micro-lending websites, empowering individuals to lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world. These entrepreneurs use their loans to start businesses that lift them and their communities out of poverty. It doesn’t take much and the majority of loans are fully repaid!
There are some more suggestions for individuals on the Blog Action Day website.
Do, please, think and pray about the issues. And see if there is anything, however small, that you feel you can do to help the world’s poorest people. Together, we can make a difference.
Good post Paul! I had no idea what today was! We support a Christian childrens home in eastern europe and it is humbling to be able to do this. It can be overwhelming at times.
I agree, Steve, it really can seem overwhelming sometimes. When we feel overwhelmed by anything it’s easy to end up doing nothing. I think one of the good things to come from events such as this Blog Action Day, is that it reminds us that we’re not alone. And every little we do, added to the little many many others do, amounts to something very worthwhile.
I’ve just checked on the Blog Action Day website, and the stats for yesterday are pretty amazing.
12,685 sites registered as participants.
13,411,991 is the estimated audience.
That’s a lot of participation, but is still small in comparison to the numbers living in poverty.
Paul, thank you for sharing these sobering stats. They remind us that, no matter how bad we think our situation is, millions of people are much worse off. And, it doesn’t take much to make a difference in someone else’s life.
Glenda, thanks for stopping by, and welcome to the blog.
I think that’s the thing to hang on to, it doesn’t have to be big things to make a difference, it can be small, and sometimes very small.
For instance, thinking about days like this Blog Action Day. Not everyone who has got involved in any way through their blogs is going to be in a position to do much financially. But helping with raising the awareness of the issues — in our home countries as well as the developing world — could be as important at this time for someone.
While I am glad you are among who joined, I was sadden while reading the data you presented. Looking back, I am so happy that now, I have somehow escaped my dark past of being among them. Although it was really hard to remove myself from severe poverty, I did NOT make it alone as I was fortunate to meet kind people who helped and trusted me along the way.
This is the reason why I included in my entry the essence of treating each other as members of a big family.
And definitely, prayers played an important role.
Thanks!
Angel, thanks for stopping by, and welcome to the blog.
Your story is truly inspirational. My prayer is that more people will meet “kind people” as you did. Perhaps if more could treat others as family, as you have done, they just might.