Taylor Roloff
Poverty is an issue that not only affects our homes, communities and our country, but the entire world. According to Websters Dictionary, poverty is defined as the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; a deficiency of necessary or desirable ingredients and qualities.
A recent FAO news release (the food and agricultural organization) stated that 925 million people do not have enough food to eat. To contextualize that number, that is more people than the populations of the USA, Canada and Europe, combined. It is estimated that 1 in 7 people, globally, are malnurished. Something I appreciate about education is the ability to apply knowledge on a global scale. From my perspective, I see that individually we struggle to remove oursleves from our own personal context and apply it to a larger image, or more global perspective. As a whole, I think we can all attest to the fact that people struggle. Some have and some do not and as a child I remember wondering why that is. Why is it that some folks can have "it all", while others barely survive? Recently in class we have been discussing social facts and how that applies to poverty in our own community; Philadelphia, PA. The video that I have posted bascially depicts a complete parallel in struggles we face here at home, but instead in Paris, France. My perspective was completely blown away at the fact that these individuals, these citizens, are fighting a similar battle. Their private troubles are the same; poverty, lack of resources, feelings of isolation, insecurities surrounding ethnicity or social location and the need to find some level of a release or social expression.
If that is the case, and their personal troubles are similar to ours, wouldnt it be safe to say that we have a larger societal issue in front of us? Poverty isnt something that is only happening in the First Congressional District, but yet all over the world. This video brought up an overwhelming feeling of global connection for me. It made me smile, not because people are angry or fighting for life, but that there are others just like me all over the world refusing to give up. These individuals are speaking up and attemting to have their voice heard. They are living in an enviornment that is unacceptable and until we all unite and recognize that we are all in it together, the issue of poverty will persist.
*Make sure to click on the red 'watch video' button. i struggled with the copy and paste.
Posted by Steven L.Pate
ReplyDeleteI agreed there are people all starving globally but as on of the richest countries in the world we as a people need to take these issues to our elected officials and request an accounting of our tax dollars. The U.S spends millions on fighting wars and space shuttle expeditions but what about the people suffering all over the world because of starvation. I remember in 1985 a group of singers got together an created a movement and a song WE ARE THE WORLD and millions was donated to address the issues in AFRicait was a success. This is chronic and needs resolution through appropiate means legislation and intervention