Explain why there is a need for world development.
World development is greatly needed and although some aid agency’s i.e. CAFOD, are trying to develop the world economy much more help is needed to end poverty throughout the world and create peace. Over the years the gulf between the rich and poor has vastly widened. Oxfam representatives say globalisation is making the rich richer and plunging developing nations into deeper poverty:
"World trade continues to fail the poorest people," (Katia Maia of Oxfam International)
The distribution of wealth and food is unethically and unevenly distributed. Almost 1/5 of the world’s population is in poverty and even more are affected by it. People in poverty suffer from malnutrition, high infant mortality and low life expectancy, if the world’s wealth was evenly distributed, none of this would occur. People in developing countries, like Ethiopia, have poor drinking water and disease is easily spread through out the water system. After the cold war rich, developed countries turned their backs on developing countries when they needed them most. Although aid agencies did offer support they had very harsh conditions, which many countries couldn’t meet. In the past the governments have lacked the capacity to manage foreign aid coming from multiple sources, resulting in duplicated efforts and wasted resources i.e. The Tsunami disaster.
There is growing concern about the problem with trade; today the richest 20% of the world's population has 60 times the income of the poorest 20%. For a typical jar of coffee (not fair trade) 55% of the profits go to the shippers and roasters, 25% goes to the retailer and 10% goes to the exporter. Leaving only 10% for the coffee farmer, this doesn’t seem fair. Only 0.1% of the global economy is now fair trade, and although it is very small percentage it is a start, but surely more people should get involved.
With a little help developing countries could become more self-sufficient and use their skills and abilities to regain their livelihoods. Many organizations i.e. Christian aid are trying and making a large difference in the fight against poverty, although if the whole world co-coordinated their efforts the possibilities are endless. Globalisation is a major problem because large rich companies want to enhance their profits and don’t care about how they go about it, or who they hurt. (Not all large companies)
Analyse and explain the work of ONE Christian agency working for world development
CAFOD is a catholic organization dedicated to working towards world development, it’s aim is to share out the worlds wealth and work towards ending poverty. It’s motto is “It’s time for justice” showing their passion for the cause. The CAFOD is run and founded by Catholics; it works on over 1,000 projects worldwide. They: work along side the poor regardless of race or religion, build global partnerships for change and campaign for a fairer world.
CAFOD raises funds from the Catholic community in England and Wales, the UK government and the general public so that it can: promote long and short term development, respond to emergencies, raise public awareness of the causes of poverty and try’s to show people a way out of the poverty trap. The CAFOD is like a spokes person for poor communities they promote social justice in regards to Christian faith and gospel values.
CAFOD and other major aid agencies worked together to create the heavily indebted poor country initiative (HIPC), which helps countries work together to relieve their debts. This may seem like the perfect solution but it isn’t, there are too many countries in the HIPC unnecessarily, which puts excess strain on them.
Many CAFOD members believe that if long-lasting poverty alleviation is to be achieved, we need to analyse the underlying causes of poverty and to propose policy changes that will benefit the poor. This is the view of many Christians and other religious organisations worldwide. They believe in targeting the real problems of poverty rather than covering them up. Many people feel there is a need for world development but more people need to take an active role in the fight against poverty.
‘There should be no rich people as long as there is poverty in the world’.
Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion, showing you have considered another point of view.
To a certain extent I agree that there shouldn’t be rich people in the world if there is poverty, although I do think that if you have earned your wealth in a respectable and fair way and deserve it, then being rich shouldn’t be a sin. People who have so much money they don’t know what to do with it all, should share with the poor and only keep enough to be comfortable. I’m not saying rich people should give everything away and become poor, but what I am saying is that they don’t need it all.
In business Christians believe that they should make sure that how they earn their money, doesn’t hurt other people in the process:
‘And thou say in thine heart, my power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.’ (Deuteronomy 8:17)
For example: they shouldn’t be involved in prostitution or be involved in the arms trade. Some also think that Christian doctors and nurses shouldn’t do an abortion. The bible teaches Christians that you should share your wealth amongst the less fortunate.
‘Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.’
This means that rich people ‘hardly’ ever get into heaven, but doesn’t say they never do. Corruption and temptation is all around the wealthy therefore making it more likely they will falter from Christian beliefs and become greedy and dishonest. The bible teaches us that wealth should be shared, (in Acts 4:34-37) the bible talks about a man that converted to Christianity and shortly after sold his field and gave the money to the less fortunate.
Personally I think that wealth is irrelevant in life, as the real riches are your friends and family. I also think that many people spend all there life saving money and when they try to enjoy it they realise that as they’ve spent all their time working they have no one to share the riches with, so in a family sense they are poor. The Christians support this belief as the bible say’s, ‘do not store your treasures…’
On the one hand I think some poor people bring poverty on them selves through: drugs, alcoholism and crime, therefore don’t deserve to be given money by people that have worked hard for it. Although I do think that every alcoholic or drug addict ext, must have a reason for being how they are. Whether it’s a rough childhood or the death of a loved one, so it leaves a dilemma as to whether or not some poor people deserve the money or not. Personally I think that it all depends on whether they want to change for the better or not if they do, then they should be given help if not, the reason why they don’t want to become a better person needs addressing first.
Through out the world there is poverty, not just in developing countries but in all countries even Britain, China and the USA. I think that more should be done to help people in developing countries, to help heighten their economy and inevitably make them independent. I think that money should be given to help develop the countries not given just for food. Although I think that excessive wealth is unnecessary and should be shared. I think that if you’ve earned it fairly and honestly then you shouldn’t have to give it ‘all’ away.
By Sarah cooper
Bibliography:
Internet
- BBC Bitesize website
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online.org.uk
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