In 2015, the United Nations announced a new goal of eliminating poverty across the world by the year 2030. To the ordinary human being, this goal seems impossible to achieve in fifteen years due to ahigh number of people living in extreme poverty globally. However, Professor Hans Rosling shows that this goal is indeed achievable and describes what needs to be done to achieve it
World Quiz Questions
Professor Hans Rosling asks the following questions about the world in relation to poverty:
- How many people out of 10 have electricity at home?
- How many children out of 10 are vaccinated against measles?
- How many girls out of 10 go to primary school?
Myanswers were 4, 6 and 5 respectively. However, I wassurprised to realize from the answers given later in the video that I had completely underrated my entire view of the world. It is surprising to find out that indeed, very few people live in conditions of extreme poverty.
What Shocked Me
I am surprised to learn that the percentage of people living in extreme poverty is less than that of the people who are above the poverty line. I always believed that the percentage of poor people was greater than that of the people who are not living in extreme poverty.
Two Interesting Things I Learned
- A country does not necessarily need economic growth to reduce cases of child mortality.
- The number of poor people is still the same as it was two hundred years ago.
Relationship Between Poverty and Birth Rates
Poor people have high birth rates because they cannot afford contraceptives. In addition, they are not even aware of them because they are preoccupied with surviving and escaping extreme poverty.
My Change of Perception ofWorld Poverty and the Future
The video has made me realize that indeed, complete eradication of poverty is possible if proper systems are put in place. For example, international aid should be objectively addressedto the regions where it is needed the most, such as building a dam for Dunstar and Jenet’s community.
Conclusion
The Cambodian family shown in the video did not go into poverty because they benefited from the government’s funding. However, the family in Malawi is suffering from extreme poverty simply because they lack a dam they can use to water their crops. The difference in these two countries is that the system in Cambodia has empowered itspeople making them depend on themselves. Therefore, with such regulatory aid going to the poor people, eradication of poverty is indeed possible.
Works Cited
Gapminder. Don’t Panic – End Poverty[online] Available at: https://www.gapminder.org/videos/dont-panic-end-poverty/.Accessed 17 March, 2017.