Why are there so many people in the world without food, water, schools and doctors?
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For people living in the rich countries talking about “development” usually means feeling sorry for poor people in poor countries, or feeling happy about pop stars or politicians who say they have done something to help . But, if you look at it another way, all of the human race is developing…
Twenty years ago the world was divided into three parts. The “first world” was the rich countries of Western Europe, North America and Japan. The Soviet Union and countries closely connected with it made another different world, and then there was the “Third World” – countries which had to choose which side they were on. The “Third World” did not get its name for being poor but for being outside of the Cold War, or in fact the places where the Cold War could turn into a real .
Then disappeared. This meant that poor countries were only left with one choice if they wanted to get richer – doing business with everyone else on the planet. Many of the poorest countries got professional “help” to do this from the International Monetary Fund, The World Bank and other organisations. These organisations lent them money and told them what kind of political changes to make in their country.
During the same period the economies of the rich countries have been changing. A lot of industries have closed down or been moved abroad, There has been a big increase in the employment of people who provide services – complicated services like investments or insurance and simple ones like sandwiches. It’s clearly not true that that have finished developing, in fact they are changing faster and faster with every new technology and fashion.
Development is happening everywhere around the world and it has started to be called “globalisation”. There is a serious argument that this process is unfair and that is causing a lot of poverty in poor countries and in rich ones.
Some of the “anti-globalists” are really not interested about economics at all. However, the economic parts of the argument go something like this:
International trade is good for a minority of people who receive the profits from big transactions. These rich people tend to spend or save their money in the capitals of rich countries, so don’t do much to help people in their own countries. The worst situation occurs in areas where there are no resources that the rest of the world wants to buy. International trade can’t help these countries at all.
The world’s wealth ends up going to the richest organisations in the richest countries, the banks and the big companies that are involved in international trade. leaves the poor countries either to pay back loans, or to buy expensive luxuries, weapons and other things that only the “First World” produces.
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What is your opinion of development and globalisation? Do you think the developed world does enough to help developing nations? Send us your opinion.
Marcus writes “In my opinion it is a must that rich and developed countries help the poor countries. But help does not only mean money or food. For me as an engineer, help means technology! The most important question is: Can poor people live without the help of others? The answer is: YES! If they have the possibility to use the resources of their home and if they get enough money for their products, they can support themselves. But unfortunately rich countries often rip the poor countries off! This has to be changed.”
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Oliveira Francisco writes “I think that rich countries don’t do enough to help poorest countries in the development process. When I’m talking about the development process I mean development in all areas. For example, in Africa there are many natural resources that the richer countries need, but the poorest countries do not have the technology to turn these natural resources into money. International trade can’t help these countries at all, for example many countries in Africa borrow money from the international monetary fund. Those countries which lent money from the international monetary fund pay more than that they borrowed.”
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CamilleD writes “With globalisation, the world is understanding that all countries and people are interdependent. For example, a new policy in one country will have consequences in other countries. If the USA changes a part of their economic policies, it will impact on the entire world. On the other hand, development policies are still prepared and decided by developed countries, in the same way as liberalism.The most important thing is to act locally, step by step.”
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Gauri writes “Globalization is the good thing which is happening now. We are used to getting opportunities in our country or our surrounding areas. If you have a zeal to grow, you can go anywhere in the world and do your job. I also agree that some help is required for the poor countries, like basic education, food etc for the public. That needs to be taken care by their local politicians and the people who well off.”
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Abdullah writes “My opinion about development is that what is described above is absolutely true and I want to add that when a country has no resources, for example oil, gas, good land for agriculture etc how can it develop? If we look at the countries which have been developing they have all kinds of resources and raw materials so, every one from all over the world who is rich wants the country like this to invest. When investors from other countries come to your country they also bring new changes and new ideas as well. When they bring new ideas the society is forced to make changes and development. The second thing I would like to say is that the main factor for development is education. Nowadays if we observe the countries which are the most developed they have the highest percentage of educated people.”
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Javiera writes “My opinion is that developed countries have to help poor countries by stopping to do good business for themselves that just make the poor countries poorer and poorer.”
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Sunil from India writes “Development and globalisation, every time everbody uses these two words together! I think globalisation does help developing nations, look at India and China. Globalisation has opened the world market to all economies, now it's all up to developing nations about how to grab this opportunity and how to enter into this market with some innovative technology or solutions to real world problems, and deliver competitive quality at least cost.”
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Jessica from England writes “I absolutely believe that the richest countries in the world must help the poorest countries to emerge. But this help must come without any ideas of profit. We have to learn to help other without anything in return, like this I think the development of the third world will be quicker. By helping I mean not only sending them money but going over there or sending people who can teach them how to develop their own country, using their resources.”
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Marta writes “Development is a positive change so it has to bring positive changes in the quality of people's lives. The primary goal of the globalisation is the profit of the multinational companies, which in turn can help local development with taxes, new workplaces, development of infrastructure, new technology, etc. Is enough done to help developing nations? There is a maxim: There is never enough help.”
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Arian writes “Our world needs a balance between poor countries and the developed world. The weak economies of poor nations lead to consequences such as war. This has disastrous results even to countries which are not involved. For instance, the Iraq civil war is a big threat to all middle east countries and this has an effect on industrial ones. Many believe that the first world should help poor countries, but I believe this has not happened yet. Poor nations are going to be poorer and poorer, but at the same time developed countries are wealthier. Maybe big companies and also developed nations just think about their near future and cannot predict what will happen in the next decades.”
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Joseph from Poland writes “My opinion about development is that every rich country has to help poor countries. My idea about help is giving them food or new technology and fashion, not just money or weapons. Also poor countries need political help, not corruption.”
Wikipedia: developing country
Wikipedia: developed country
Wikipedia: sustainable development
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