What is Poverty? Part 2

May 7, 2008 - 11:01am

This is the second installment of our video exploration of poverty. What is is, and how can we counter it?

In the previous video the speaker attempted to boil poverty down to what he thought was its basic essence: lack of relationships. Clearly, his hope is that by stripping it down we can understand it better and successfully overcome it in the world.

This video takes the exact opposite approach, defining poverty in its breadth. Please watch it and contribute your thoughts through the comments:

  • What impacted you most in this video?
  • Did you see anything you disagreed with?
  • Do you think anything is missing from this video definition?


This video was produced by a European organization called tearfund.org. Check them out.

Julie w
says...

I think the thing - *one* of

I think the thing - *one* of the things that impacted me most was the drinking and bathing water. Now, pretty much everything highlighted in this video have been the same highlighted in different areas of the word since the 80's (well, probably sooner than that but that's as far back as *my* 36 year old memory goes on this issue), so it's nothing we haven't seen before. However, it's always good to be reminded of the tragedies that millions of people face every day....and it's not going away.

Getting back on track....they mentioned something about how Europe spends on ice cream a year the money that it would take to clean up the water of these diseases. I don't know how true that is but that's not the point. The point is that with all the money that has been donated to funds and organizations such as these through the years....why is the water still dirty? Obviously, there are many reasons and answers to that question - like government/political red tape and control (which is more than enough to keep these people in poverty). The thing is (and this has been pointed out in many different places by many different people), it's not all about money. Though money is a big factor, It's about *people* who can actually *physically* help actually getting out there and doing it. (Kind of easy for me to say that though considering I can't physically go to these places myself).

Another thing is education. If you have an education you can accomplish pretty much anything. Some obviously have MANY more obstacles than the rest of us (one of many is also corrupt government/politics), but I do agree that's one of the first steps to overcoming poverty AND disease.

Another is how MANY children are sold into the "sex trade" (can't remember exactly how it's worded. I should be in bed right now). I've heard of these evil acts for many years now - as we all have. Thankfully, there are organizations out there dedicated to stopping this. I could continue to say more on this subject but it would all fall under the obvious.

There were others but my memory is falling asleep on me. I think I shall follow suit.

Julie