While this is being read 450 million people are starving to death and do not know here there next meal shall come from. So why should celebrities be earning millions of pounds and are having their meals in expensive restaurants like “Harrods” when some people can not even have a clean drink of water never mind a meal. Although many people in this country do not think they are rich, they are absolutely content compared to the likes of families in Africa and other undeveloped countries.
The estimated amount that would be spent in a year to provide food, water, health and housing for everyone in the world would be $15- 20 billion but over $900 billion was spent on military equipment in 1992. I question that so much money can be spent on equipment that will cause devastation, destruction and death and then there are people dying from starvation, disease and the lack of hospitals which are basic things to us.
Many people would not be able to live without a newspaper which normally gets thrown out after being read and yet people in other countries would thankfully use that paper to write on for their education. Another example of this is when people receive gifts which they do not like and then gets thrown in the bin. Any person in an undeveloped country would jump at the chance to use that horrid woolly jumper or that awful pair of socks. It really makes us realize how much we take for granted and that we should give these things to charity where great use of these “unattractive” things we can not possible use!
Christians believe:
- God created the world for all people to share and he created all humans equal.
- The first priority for the world’s resources is to ensure that everyone’s basic needs are met.
- No individual, group or country has the right to control or waste resources when there are other people suffering for the lack of those resources.
- Christians should work to promote a more equal distribution of resources.
Small problems could be solved by the giving of small amounts from rich people.
If the rich countries of the world dropped the debt owed buy the developing countries they could spend more money on developing. Just the interest that occurs while borrowing from other countries puts the undeveloped countries in more debt. Christians believe that they should give away to the poor because they are given God’s money therefore they should do what God wants with the money which is to give it to the poor. The bible also says “God loves a happy giver”.
I also recognize why some people disagree with this statement. Some people believe that being rich does not make other people poor. If they work hard enough and earn without harming other people then there is not problem. In the bible there is no teaching that says that making money is bad. They believe that by working they provide services for other people which is good and that people repay them with money for doing the deed.
Although people in developing countries need help with developing their country they should try and help themselves and not have to rely on others to give them money. If they rely on handouts all the time then they will just carry on taking from the rich and not be able to help themselves. If rich people carry on giving the money then eventually the rich will become poorer.
Money can not be held completely responsible for other countries being poor; it is also because of natural disasters that happen. Another reason that is not to do with money is the way that the government is run. The government may have unreasonable tax rates or may not help the poorer parts of the country.
In my final opinion I believe that both arguments are reasonable but for someone not to help another person when they are in a bad situation would make me feel greedy and undeserved for what I have really achieved. I also believe that as long as people have earned their money then they should be able to keep it but I think that celebrity’s that can afford to have their doors French polished should give money out especially when they earn over the average wage limit for how much effort they actually put into their work. I also think that a lot of the developed countries need help in more ways than by given handouts repeatedly. Most of all the poorer people need to learn how to help themselves and not rely on others. They need to learn more about health, education, building etc. If they know these things then they can pass their knowledge on to other members of their families and other villages.
