Why is there a need for world development?

However, MEDCs are doing very little to ease the situation in LEDCs. Despite the well-intentioned charity efforts of those in MEDCs, short-term charity donations hinder finding a long-term solution to poverty. A dependence on others leads to low self-esteem and a decline in self-reliance, though there are times when charity from other countries is vital. In 2004 an earthquake in the Indian Ocean caused a series of devastating tsunamis along most of its coastline. Altogether more that 225 000 people in 11 countries were killed and despite the huge humanitarian response (worldwide over $7billion was donated) it has only slightly lessened the economic impacts of the natural disaster. In many costal communities, families have lost the main income earner, meaning they cannot support themselves- let alone replace damaged/lost boats and fishing equipment. Even areas unaffected by the tsunami have been affected- like the pacific coast of Thailand- as tourists tend to be reluctant to return. Damage to the infrastructure of the countries affected has been possibly the worst effect of the earthquake, it costs £millions to repair and a lack of hospitals mean people have died when minor injuries have become infected, clean drinking water supplies were also tainted meaning more people died from waterborne diseases such as:  cholera, diphtheria, typhoid and hepatitis A and B. War is another major cause of poverty and detrimental to world development as it also affects neighbouring countries when refugees arrive needing food and shelter. In turn war also increases 3rd World debt as governments spend money on weapons. This places greater strain on an LEDCs as they already have enormous amounts of debt to pay off to MEDCs. Because of the added interest it virtually impossible for LEDCs to pay the debts and money is pulled from education and healthcare programs leaving a meagre amount to spend on development. For the poorest countries $550billion has already been paid back on $540billion of loans; there is still $528billion still to pay. Debt also means taxes in LEDCs are increased meaning people are forced to grow so called cash crops like tea, coffee and tobacco just to keep their land instead of growing food to feed their own people. Overpopulation halts world development in several ways, obviously, as the world population sky-rockets and resources become scarce starvation will be more common, fossil fuels will run out- as we currently have no feasible alternative in place- our reliance on electricity in the current global state could be incredibly dangerous. Carbon emissions are also greatly increased with over-population- and as more people in developing countries can afford cars etc. the world’s climate is heavily fluctuating, in turn causing more natural disasters. Over-crowding in cities where healthcare is poor also means that infections and epidemics soon turn into epidemics- especially in the slums where many people are malnourished and hygiene is bad.

As transport and communication to foreign countries have developed; a global community has been established giving MEDCs even more responsibility to promote global equality. For one thing humans have a moral duty to help each other but MEDCs could also benefit economically from helping underdeveloped countries. The tropical climate in LEDCs is relied on for to feed people in MEDCs. Undeveloped and developing countries would also provide new markets for products sold by companies in MEDCs. A lack of development causes resentment towards MEDCs meaning terrorism is more likely and cycles of depression mean that unless we in MEDCs intervene the situation is never going to get better. In short, world development too many people are suffering from preventable problems: curable diseases, a lack of clean water, overpopulation and low life expectancy, poor health care, and starvation.