Obesity and Starvation: Crazy and Cruel

Will these past several decades be recorded as the time of a horrible exploitation of people's health for the purpose of corporate profit? Will these generations be remembered for the times when thousands of people died daily from malnutrition and hunger - while so many others lived shortened unhealthy lives - from obesity?

It will be difficult to comprehend as it is even now. We in the most affluent countries may be looked upon as belonging to a prosperous society, much of which was frivolous and uncaring... and mean.

Obesity: Wasteful and sickening.
It is now estimated that the number of overweight people rivals the number of underweight people. On the fat side of the worrisome obesity-starvation equation are overly fed bad food consumers.

In our modern world with increasingly cheap, high calorie food (example, fast food — or “junk food”), prepared foods that are high in things like salt, sugars or fat, combined with our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, increasing urbanization and changing modes of transportation, it is no wonder that obesity has rapidly increased in the last few decades, around the world."

Global Issues continues on the obesity epidemic...
Topics discussed:
1. Number of People Overweight or With Obesity Rivals World’s Hungry
2. Obesity on the Increase
3. Obesity Affects Poor as well as Rich
4. Health impacts
5. Various causes of obesity
6. Addressing Obesity Globally, Nationally, Locally, Individually
7. Healthy versus Unhealthy Food Marketing; Who Usually Wins?
1. Talk of banning ads to kids met with resistance from industry
2. Industry attempts at self-regulation not working, sometimes reversing
3. Taxing junk food; a popular idea, but realistic?

Over-eaters can be blamed for their own situation but not totally; because they have been brain soaked with millions of advertisements telling them to eat tasty cheaply produced food. Food that is heavily loaded with additives such as preservatives and taste enhancers that increase shelf life and cravings - and profit margins. And they hooked them young!

Junk food it is appropriately called!
At this point in time the onus to eat healthy is on the consumer who is required to learn about choices and the pitfalls and traps in the marketing of food. There is some health information on food product labels but this usually only consists of that which is specifically required by government legislation. This helps those who understand and care about the benefits of eating wisely. Those who do not will much more likely be swayed by the shrewd advertising.

Unfortunately there is little promotion of the good stuff, at least compared to the propaganda churned out daily enticing all to eat greasy, salty, sugary food. The grand marketing by the big food companies has made it a tradition; pull in for a mess of fries, a burger and pop. Or grab a package of quick to cook stuff off the shelf and contribute to the corporate bottom line.

Government in many ways appears to be on the corporate team as they allow food producers and sellers to tiptoe around insufficient regulations. Consumers are mislead in many ways and are sold some very nasty food often camouflaged as something better. To protect one's own health it is not only necessary learn all about good diets but also how to read and decipher and be aware of the trick ads and food package labels. It is very important as deception is carefully designed and is widespread throughout the food marketing industry.

It is unfortunate that selling sickly processed foods is so common and so profitable. Worse yet is their 'success' in tempting and winning children over to their lucrative eating agenda, perhaps for a lifetime.

Starvation: The sad and inhumane side of the equation.
Hunger is the single gravest threat to the world's public health. According to the World Health Organization malnutrition is by far the biggest contributor to child mortality, present in half of all cases. Underweight births and inter-uterine growth restrictions cause 2.2 million child deaths a year. Poor or non-existent breastfeeding causes another 1.4 million. Other deficiencies, such as lack of vitamin A or zinc, for example, account for 1 million.
Read more on hunger and malnutrition at Wikipedia

World Hunger and Poverty by Anup Shah
We often hear about people’s desire to solve world hunger, or to be able to feed the world and help alleviate the suffering associated with it. However, meaningful long-term alleviation to hunger is rooted in the alleviation of poverty, as poverty leads to hunger. World hunger is a terrible symptom of world poverty. If efforts are only directed at providing food, or improving food production or distribution, then the structural root causes that create hunger, poverty and dependency would still remain. And so while continuous effort, resources and energies are deployed to relieve hunger through these technical measures, the political causes require political solutions as well....

Causes of Hunger are related to Poverty
There are many inter-related issues causing hunger, which are related to economics and other factors that cause poverty. They include land rights and ownership, diversion of land use to non-productive use, increasing emphasis on export-oriented agriculture, inefficient agricultural practices, war, famine, drought, over-fishing, poor crop yields, etc...

Solving World Hunger Means Solving World Poverty
Solving world hunger in the conventional sense (of providing/growing more food etc) will not tackle poverty that leads to hunger in the first place. Further, there is a risk of continuing the poverty and dependency without realizing it, because the act of attempting to provide more food etc can appear so altruistic in motive. To solve world hunger in the long run, poverty alleviation is required....

Food and Agriculture Issues
Food and agriculture goes to the heart of our civilizations. Religions, cultures and even modern civilization have food and agriculture at their core. For an issue that goes to the heart of humanity it also has its ugly side. This issue explores topics ranging from the global food crisis of 2008, to issues of food aid, world hunger, food dumping and wasteful agriculture such as growing tobacco, sugar, beef....

Read the comprehensive articles on World Hunger and Poverty by Anup Shah
Global Issues, Updated: August 22, 2010

Cutting obesity to feed the hungry would be a nice way to balance this grim equation. Unfortunately our world's current social and political environments do not seem capable or do not care.

A revision and extension of an earlier article as per Article Blogs and Re-posting.
Short url link to this article http://goo.gl/TNQ65

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Does Business Govern the World?

Civilization along with our natural world have serious problems.
Planet and social deterioration have accelerated in recent times, fueled by expanding commerce and over consumption. Driven by commerce's need for increased earnings, expansion marches on, sputtering from time to time. The predicament worsens as the buying frenzy spreads into every aspect of our lives.

To what end, our insatiable binge? A generation from now will cars be as big as rooms? Houses as big as castles? Will people act as programmed robots? If the mammoth enterprise machine is derailed will there be widespread social unrest?

Perhaps we will have had enough somewhere along the way and begin living more natural, simpler, and happier lives. But the chances for a peaceful and kinder humanity do not appear to be coming anytime soon.

An addictive 'buy' disease has mutated throughout many cultures orchestrated by creative, forceful and protracted corporate encouragements. There is over-consumption and great waste in one half of the world even while billions do without or are living in desperation elsewhere. Social stress continues to increase as marketing efforts intensify and push us onwards - to desire and acquire yet more - for the good of commerce.

One of the many adverse effects of our lifestyles is that the environment is deteriorating at an ever increasing rate. Unreasonable and expanding consumption of unneeded goods and services is a social affliction that is destroying the planet. This needs correcting before it is too late, and in a sensible and peaceful manner.

The rising emerging economies are increasing the environmental problems but mostly are playing catch-up towards a basic standard of living. While they need to do this in a more sustainable manner than we have demonstrated, better living conditions are long overdue.

Some of the negative consequences of our 'progressive' commerce-consumption social expansion have been increases in corporate crime, family anxieties, consumer mistrust, pollution and a lowering of social values.

The prosperous nations have set the stage for the present scene and they should now set an example with strong commitments to solving these problems. But it will be tough going as companies will always need to maximize profit and need to sell more, not less to do so. How do we get detached from this entrenched lifestyle of always striving to accumulate things, so much of which is wasteful, when we are effectively and strongly persuade to keep it up?

This free enterprise system needs a redesign.
The cure that is in order will eventually occur because there are so many things that we can do as long as we retain and improve on our democratic society. But we must not be complacent and expect positive change to take place on its own.

We need to educate ourselves and be more aware of these existing conditions and the changes that are needed, and to take some positive action. Complaining when things are wrong and discussing them is a basic requirement, and that is easy because there is much to complain about in the increasingly aggressive ways of business. We can talk consumerism with our family and friends and set an example by buying those things that we need, not what we are persuaded to need. Let's express to the corporate world and to our politicians that marketing practices that are harmful to us or our planet are no longer acceptable.

The internet can be a big help in achieving a more just and satisfying society for all citizens of the world, if that does not also come under tight corporate control. Fixing these problems will have great benefits in the end, such as more family and leisure time, happier lifestyles and a preservation of nature.

Of great concern are the reduced manufacturing, marketing, distribution, retailing, and employment if change is not made slowly and is not very carefully thought out. We have dug ourselves into a deep pit.

Yet is there a choice? One way or another, gentler and kinder lifestyles are in the future and will someday be the new trend. If left to run untouched the huge profit-consumption engine will run out of gas and eventually break up. Environmental problems will have grown too huge to fix.

What about ideas?
New paths must be taken under a government that is disconnected from corporate influence.

Legislation to restrict advertising to an ethical and basic form to be used for the introduction of new or truly improved products and services could be a great start. With word of mouth providing the influence for purchases there would be much less consumption of unneeded, unhealthy and anti-environment merchandise.

An active government complaints department would work wonders, not only to accept citizens' input but to actively encourage it, with newsletter, website, and yes - marketing.

I can hear accusations about restricting freedoms coming from those enjoying their benefits from commerce. But free enterprise should not allow the harming of planet and citizens for profit. Immoral methods such as the programming of kids and so many other disgraceful merchandising methods cannot be part of a just society. Unrestricted, corporations will find new ways to capture the minds of citizens for a life of consuming their wares.

A dilemma of our times.
At some time in the future people of the world will live more wisely, happily and justly. But will the change will be harsh or gradual? Business and government are so intertwined it's hard to imagine much improvement at this time. It is only by a swelling of citizens' demand for a better society will this begin in earnest.

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Does Commerce Govern Society?

Social justice is not keeping pace with world wide business expansion. As corporations expand globally the world's natural environment and so many of its people are neglected or abused.

The big question: Where is government?

More questions need answers.
Certain foods contain additives that are known to be harmful to life.
Why is the mass marketing of unhealthy products allowed? To kids?

The cutting of trees is draining the life blood of the natural world.
Is allowing the mass mailing of junk advertising crazy or what?

Deception and other sly business tactics are unjust but widely used.
Traps in advertising and contracts are common, costly and mean.
Where are the lawmakers and enforcers?

Over-production and excessive-consumption are destroying the globe.
Why then, all day, every day the constant brainwashing, BUY MORE?

Sub-contracting production to inhumane and child labor is cruel.
Put the CEO's behind bars, or on the production line?

Gambling is addictive causing much personal distress and suicides.
How can a government greedily market lotteries and casinos?

Sport event tickets are exorbitant while players' salaries are astronomical.
Corporations gobble up season tickets, often to be used for mini bribes.
Can't we make this work better for fans and families?

After years of expanding business prosperity the rich-poor gap widens.
Many are destitute or starving. Many accumulate mountains of money.
What is democratic about this?

Working long hours at tough jobs takes from the family and life in general,
Why aren't we in richer societies living easier, simpler and happier?

Advertising is the engine, everywhere, everyday, training young minds.
Is imposing restrictions on useless or harmful advertising undemocratic?

There is so much wrong happening in our commercialized world with the continually declining corporate ethic. There is deceptive marketing, shock advertising, small print, brand bullying, targeting children, bypassing the needy, environmental destruction... And society trends right along with increasing materialism and artificial lifestyles.

Corporate conscience, true government for the people, and social values seem to have crested in recent years. Perhaps meaningful change lies ahead. Perhaps it is time for a rewrite of democracy and free enterprise, with a more just and humane bias.

But with many politicians rated near the bottom of the trust scale, hoping for positive change any time soon does not seem practical. Is it possible to reverse direction and alter the political environment such that politicians are there, not for themselves but solely for the good of the people? Is a grass roots movement in the future?

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Poor, Hungry and Hopeless

Sickness and starvation in a world of wild consumption and great waste.

What a shameful blot on this rich era in history.
It is astounding and unbelievable; while we constantly strive to excessively accumulate possessions, create massive mountains of garbage, and distribute widespread pollution around the globe - a billion or more people are poor, sick or dying because of deplorable poverty.

Faced with continuing hunger families in desperation will take drastic measures to survive. They may live in small shacks, scour back alleys and garbage dumps for food, submit their children to long days of tough working conditions, or even sell or submit them to prostitution.

The problem is a continuing one. If living conditions are so bad that the children cannot get educated, then they will have no footing on which to begin a better and fairer living standard than their parents had. While compared to these third world countries' young, our kids mostly only require the will and direction to get a basic high school diploma or perhaps a technical or university education.

Poverty is a rut that can be impossible to climb out of without help.
Why must there be this terrible imbalance of a world of overabundance and wastage, and a world of misery and hopelessness?

Everyone knows something of the hardship and inhumane conditions in which so many others live. Some do not, or are just unconcerned; "it's of their own making." But it is not a newborn child's desire to wear rags, live in a shack, go hungry all day, be sickly and perhaps die young.

Yet for most of us who are not poor in well established societies, there is ample money floating around even with the financial setbacks of recent years. We still eat well, have comfortable homes and many frivolous possessions.

There is something seriously lacking in the connection between these two worlds.

Generally we don't relate. Why not?
Popular conversations aren't about the needy and desperate, the slums and the desperation. The talk around the office and with friends and neighbors is about entertainment, sports, politics, and the latest need-to-buy purchases. These topics are interesting and popular as they are encouraged on us by the media which, over many years have been busy designing our social characteristics, in the name of commerce. Very convincing and constant merchandising only encourages us further down a path of self interest.

We are too wrapped up in our own lives of having plenty, and yet still not enough. We are addicted; we want better and more with no end in sight.

Media need fixing with more government funded, commerce independent, public broadcasting. We, and particularly our kids, need to have less of the brainwashing that dilutes our finances and our apathy to all the people of the world.

Is taxation a solution?
In a first world country taxing the rich more and the poor less will alleviate its internal poverty immensely. For a world wide solution tax again may be one solution. So many do not contribute to charities because they have simply not thought much about it, or have not got around to taking a few minutes to help. A general charity tax levied on citizens' incomes would create funds both for their neglected and for those of the world. Aid for the poverty-stricken would then be mandatory and would come from all who were able to contribute in taxes.

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Photo source
Resources: Global Issues Always a comprehensive and enlightening source for poverty and social, political, economic and environmental issues that affect us all.
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Nature, Kids and Family Losing

The world's resources are being used up at an accelerating pace resulting in great waste and massive garbage accumulation. It lies in huge dump sites and is also scattered throughout the globe on land and in seas. It spreads out as a disease, eating away at our natural surroundings.

Much of the globe remains a beautiful, calming and healthy system of natural resources. The enjoyment of this however is no longer easily accessible to many of us, and sadly to today's children who may be missing out altogether. But it is there for so many who have the desire and make the effort. There are simple outdoor activities like hikes in local parks to extended day treks, weekend camping and sports, casual and formal. But it gets more difficult as the social trends back away from nature's fresh and clean outdoor air.

We are being lured down the wrong path with continuing temptations towards lifestyles of eating unhealthy food and avoiding exercise. Negative health effects such as obesity and diabetes have been on a steady increase for many years, brought on by consuming junk food and poor quality packaged products.

There is also the trend to spending free hours indoors, sitting, without fresh air and health building exercise.

It is a serious condition of our times.

Technology is interesting and enjoyable; I know very well having owned a personal computer for 25 years. During an earlier time I found that when I was employed with outside work I would spend considerable after hours inside on my Radio Shack 32K Color Computer. And when working in an office free after hours were spent on home and yard improvements, outdoor sports and gardening.

Good balanced living is so important yet it is not there for much of youth as they arrive home from school and switch on the television or computer, or play video games. Lucky the family where the parents and children get outdoors together and are involved in active sports. With tots, an after dinner walk to the park or to a neighbor's yard for play sets a nice pattern for their future preferences going forward in life. An early introduction to the outdoors, and pastimes like hikes and gardening, will be such a long term benefit to a child in developing a healthful lifestyle. The alternative, with such as the excessive absorption of TV commercials is unfortunate.

Economics has brought about a popular in-the-home lifestyle. It is the result of the always strong business requirement to increase revenue in the home entertainment area, and also with the tremendous advancements in technology. Just as there is greater profit in food containing preservatives, growth hormones and other additives so goes the marketing of widely varied hi-tech gadgets. Much of these latest cool gizmos will be outdated in just a few short years.

There are profits to be made with the promotion of activities that include fresh air and exercise, but this has taken a back seat to the easier and lucrative merchandising of domesticated entertainment.

For so many it isn't easy to change this inactive lifestyle when parent's days are crammed and the kids are surrounded by persuasions and peer influence. It wasn't an issue 70 years ago when there was only radio, cards and board games to play together. Backyards, neighborhoods, parks and playgrounds were busy. And I was there.

The environment has some critical challenges lying ahead but there is still a great and wonderful nature out there that is both healthy and free. Getting children interested in the outdoors with both passive and active activities, starting from when they are first learning to walk, is a lifetime benefit to them. They learn about life from their moms and dads and they will be so thankful.

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Reasons to Give to Charity

Donating to the poor, unhealthy and starving must be included in society's spending binge.

In this world where consumption and waste are extreme while half the people live in poverty and starvation, is there any excuse for being unconcerned? The extent of poverty is not widely broadcast as are sports and entertainment, so there might be a reason for a lack of interest by so many. And other excuses can be used for not getting involved but the fact remains that billions of people live in poverty and do not have sufficient resources to sustain health or life.


The extent is staggering and inhumane in this world where so many have so much.
These are only a few of The Poverty Facts and Stats in a comprehensive report at Global Issues.

• Over 9 million people die worldwide each year because of hunger and malnutrition. 5 million are children.
• 1.4 million die each year from lack of access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.
• 2.2 million children die each year because they are not immunized
• 15 million children orphaned due to HIV/AIDS (similar to the total children population in Germany or United Kingdom)
  

Besides humanitarian reasons for charity there are personal benefits.
It is good for the giver. Saskya Pandita, philisophically, "If you lend money, it is uncertain whether you shall be repaid; but if you bestow alms, although they may be small, your return will be a hundred fold."

If you don't think it feels really good to give, check out the withered old smile on Mother Teresa in a Wikepedia account of her unbelievable life devoted entirely to giving. For over 45 years she ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying, while guiding the Missionaries of Charity's expansion, first throughout India and then in other countries.

Dave Pitchford, Intelligent Giving Managing Editor: Why Bother
A FRIEND WHO DOESN'T GIVE to charity set me a challenge: to convince her, on this site, why she should give. Here goes. I can think of 11 good reasons:

1-It will be good for you
All research on happiness comes to the same conclusion: the more we look outside of ourselves, the happier we get. I'd imagine giving to others is a good start.
2-At the moment, you're freeloading
If you have been to hospital, visited a museum, been to the theatre, walked through a park or along a canal, ... a charity has almost certainly paid to improve your experience. Fair dues?
3-We're lucky...
You live in an immensely lucky country: a soft climate, rich soil, water everywhere, a democracy, no tropical diseases/ lions/ tigers/ earthquakes/ hurricanes/ volcanoes, circled by a moat. This is not through any effort of our own. We have lucked out.
4- ....but not all of us
If every day you saw the problems in this country you wouldn't hesitate to help (which is why poor people who see the problems give more to charity). But you don't see the worst of it. Grueling statistics are available but if you don't have the appetite for them, believe it: there is plenty to fix.
5-Other countries are not lucky
If you visit a poor country you will meet people with brilliance in their eyes and you'll know they'll stay poor forever because they cannot possibly escape their situation. Then you will realize that it's not simply your genius that explains your comfortable lifestyle (see 4).
6-Others have paid for you
Previous generations dug deep to create great things you take for granted. Apart from hospices, helplines and scanners, this includes life-changing laws (equal rights, the vote, free education and healthcare) which charities lobbied for. What wonderful things will you leave behind?
7-You'll be more popular (probably)
Research on schoolchildren shows that the ones who help charities are more respected by their peers, more popular and happier. It isn't much of a stretch to imagine the same applies to adults.
8-It makes a difference
If charities weren't around, the arts would die, the country would get grimier, and people less lucky than you would suffer enormously. Charities provide a third of all social services in the UK. The money clearly makes a difference.
9-You'll be joining everyone else
The most conservative statistics say 65 per cent of Brits give to charity but most put it nearer to 85 per cent. So by not giving, you're in quite a small - some might say, mean - minority.
10-It's not cool not to give
Name a celeb who says s/he won't give to charity because it's a waste of time. Or because they're too busy. Or because it's against their principles. Would you, if the microphone turned to you?
11-You can ignore the rumours now
You can check out virtually all those rumours about fat-cat salaries and huge admin bills at intelligentgiving.com. No more excuses!

THESE SIX ORGANISATIONS specialise in finding good charities. Each has very different interests and ways of choosing - so do read the descriptions before viewing their recommendations.

Sometimes I am concerned about the aggressive tactics of some charities that have relegated their marketing to third parties. There can be a large amount of money wasted on advertising, junk mail and duplication of freebies such as personalized return address labels which I have received too many from various sources and of no use. One organization with a very worthwhile cause continually sent goodies throughout the year and used up most of my small donation. Their federal association did not work this way and also offered an online 'do not contact' option.

Charity Guide is an interesting site on volunteerism and giving in various ways.
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Social Improvement Movement

We have world and social problems.

There is a growing concern regarding the polarized relationships of business-consumer, wealthy-poor, and an increasing commercial bias by governments.

The more commerce that is generated the more we consume unwisely resulting in massive waste. The false prosperity we have enjoyed has created a merry-go-round run amok and a degradation of true social well being.

There is evidence of increasing interest in bringing more attention to these worldly ailments and to make things better. But the voices for positive change have been extremely week compared to the massively funded corporate promotions persuading consumers to buy more. Private broadcasting media and advertising by business are the engines used, along with governments that are apparently content about it all.

There is public broadcasting with programs like Bill Moyers Journal on PBS that work for positive change. Notably in recent years numerous websites and blogs are appearing that are devoted to world issues and advocating change. They bring news and articles on poverty, the environment, corporate influence, human and consumer rights, government and corruption.

As more of us read and get interested in social improvement the better will be the chances of turning this titanic into safe waters.

A few examples of websites devoted to making this a better world.

Global Issues Social, political, economic and environmental issues that affect us all. I respect this site and the huge humanitarian effort Anup Shah has put into this large collection of detailed articles pertaining to our world problems.

Common Dreams A popular powerful online voice for change in America with millions of monthly readers. News and articles. "We are writers. Activists. Everyday citizens. We are hundreds of thousands strong." Read the posts and submit your own comments.

Shaping Youth A forum about media and marketing's effect on kids. Targeting kids is mean and conscripts them for life.. This is an important issue and needing immediate attention.

Democracy Now The web version of Democracy Now! A national, daily, independent, award-winning news program hosted by journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez. Pioneering the largest public media collaboration in the U.S. "For true democracy to work, people need easy access to independent, diverse sources of news and information."

New American Dream Helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice. News articles and blog.

TreeHugger is the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. More than 157,000,000 modern, green pages served! Visit their forum and get in on the discussions.

Green Living Ideas provides ideas, tips, and information to help you improve the environmental sustainability of every aspect of your life.

Care2 An online community: green living, health, human rights, the environment.

Center for Media and Democracy An independent, non-profit, non-partisan, public interest organization. CMD's mission is to promote transparency and an informed debate by exposing corporate spin and government propaganda and by engaging the public in collaborative, fair and accurate reporting.

These are only a handful from a longer list of related resources and in the sidebar of this page check out Grampa Ken Reads Blogs.

But there is still much more out there, so start up your search engine and find those sites, blogs and forums with topics you feel will fix things that matter most to you and yours.

Related posts about our society

World Trade: Fair Trade?

The expanding world trade engineered by large corporations has generated much wealth. Big business has benefited greatly, along with their home countries and their consumers. But the globalization of trade does not always significantly improve the lives of workers in developing countries. Desperately needing income they often work excessively in difficult and unhealthy conditions at very low pay.

And so the rich-poor gap continues to widen as corporate machines, with supportive governments, keep the momentum to improve their economies.

This world's unbalanced distribution of wealth and poverty sorely needs fixing. There are some things we can do as individuals like donating to charities. This is too often put off until later or perhaps forgotten.

Another way we can help those in the developing countries is by getting involved.

Discussions on the social ills associated with commerce and consumption and the hopes and expectations for a more equitable world would include the topic of Fair Trade.


What Is Fair Trade?
The New American Dream: "Fair Trade is an international trade model that aims to build just, equitable and sustainable business practices by linking producers in developing countries directly to purchasers in the global north. Fair Trade purchasers work directly with cooperatives and other small scale producers, eliminating the middlemen present in conventional trading and ensuring that producers receive a higher percentage of the price.

The Fair Trade movement was developed as a means of holistically addressing inequities in conventional development and trade models. In addition to setting a minimum floor price for commodities, which aims to cover the cost of production and cost of living in a local context, Fair Trade aids producers by requiring fair labor conditions, safe environmental practices, and fostering community development. The Fair Trade principles, to which all producers, importers, and exporters must adhere to receive certification, include:

Fair Prices: Democratically organized farmer groups receive a guaranteed minimum floor price, plus a premium for certified organic products. Artisans and producers of non-commodity items are guaranteed a living wage in the local context.
Fair Working Conditions: Laborers are guaranteed safe and healthy working conditions, a living wage, freedom of association, and opportunities for advancement. In particular, women’s leadership and participation in cooperatives is encouraged. Human rights and child labor laws are enforced and upheld to the most stringent standards.
Direct Trade: Fair Trade importers purchase directly from farmer and artisan cooperatives, thereby building long-term relationships and sustainable business practices.
Transparency: All Fair Trade businesses are open to public accountability and must maintain records of their environmental and business practices.
Democratic Organizations: Fair Trade supports cooperative systems in which each producer is a stakeholder in the business, participates democratically in decision-making, and benefits equally from generated revenue.
Community Development: A “social premium,” a set sum given to the cooperative for each Fair Trade item sold, is invested in a business or organization in the local community democratically selected by the cooperative.
Environmental Sustainability: GMOs and certain agrochemicals are strictly prohibited, and organic practices are encouraged and rewarded. Fair Trade producers are also required to adhere to practices that maximize use of raw, sustainable materials, and promote water and soil conservation, reforestation, species diversity, and environmental education."

There's much more to read about Fair Trade practices and products with related resources for the Conscious Consumer Marketplace at The New American Dream.

Poverty and Hunger so Inhumane

It's sad that we don't think more about the poor and starvation and are so wrapped up in our own lives. We are busy with work, commuting, family recreation and shopping. This is our society in the prosperous countries of the world for those with a steady job and sufficient income.

There is media attention to poverty but it is so minute compared to the coverage of events concerning entertainment, sports and our consuming lifestyle. There is constant marketing to ensure that this continues, perhaps directing money away from those of the world swamped in poverty and suffering.

Read some heart wrenching data on this unjust and disgraceful global social issue. If you have the time.

Poverty Facts and Stats by Anup Shah from a page Last Updated Sunday, March 22, 2009

• Almost half the world — over three billion people — live on less than $2.50 a day.
• At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day.
• More than 80 percent of the world’s population lives in countries where income differentials are widening.
• The poorest 40 percent of the world’s population accounts for 5 percent of global income. The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of world income.
• According to UNICEF, 25,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they “die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death.”
• Around 27-28 percent of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted. The two regions that account for the bulk of the deficit are South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
• If current trends continue, the Millennium Development Goals target of halving the proportion of underweight children will be missed by 30 million children, largely because of slow progress in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Based on enrolment data, about 72 million children of primary school age in the developing world were not in school in 2005; 57 per cent of them were girls. And these are regarded as optimistic numbers.
• Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names.
• Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn’t happen.
• Infectious diseases continue to blight the lives of the poor across the world. An estimated 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, with 3 million deaths in 2004. Every year there are 350–500 million cases of malaria, with 1 million fatalities: Africa accounts for 90 percent of malarial deaths and African children account for over 80 percent of malaria victims worldwide.

Water problems affect half of humanity: Some 1.1 billion people in developing countries have inadequate access to water, and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation . . . Some 1.8 million child deaths each year as a result of diarrhea. . . .

There is much more to this report including facts, charts and references. And much more to the comprehensive Global Issues web site which looks into global issues that affect everyone and aims to show how most issues are inter-related.

Photo Source stock.xchng

Water: Conserve Protect Share

Water is such a precious commodity to the world as a whole yet in many areas it is wasted and spoiled, as if a fresh supply will always be here. Pollution has already caused serious damage to much of our ground water, rivers, lakes and oceans.

But there is much we can do to conserve on the water we consume and to prevent damage to our natural water sources.

There is an excellent source of Water Saving Tips brought to you by the water agencies of Santa Cruz County, USA area. It starts with the Top Twelve Water Saving Tips then details 45 more ways to save water indoors and outdoors.

And the EPA's Water Pollution Prevention and Conservation paper asks:
"How do we use water?" - PDF version - - HTML version
Water is a resource that has many uses, including recreational, transportation, hydroelectric power, agricultural, domestic, industrial, and commercial uses. Water also supports all forms of life and affects our health, lifestyle, and economic well being. As individuals, we use water for sanitation, drinking, and many other human needs, and we pay for the public water utilities that provide water. Water pollution is any human-caused contamination of water that reduces its usefulness to humans and other organisms in nature. Pollutants such as herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and hazardous chemicals can make their way into our water supply. When our water supply is contaminated, it is a threat to human, animal, and plant health unless it goes through a costly purification procedure. . .

And then there is the other world. A world where not only do they not have water to waste, but do not have sufficient to sustain health or life for all. Surely the rich countries of the world can conserve more of this valuable commodity and sacrifice some of their expensive excesses to ensure that nobody is denied clean water as a basic necessity.

"Water is one of the most basic of all needs -- we cannot live for more than a few days without it. And yet, most people take water for granted. We waste water needlessly and don't realize that clean water is a very limited resource. More than 1 billion people around the world have no access to safe, clean drinking water, and over 2.5 billion do not have adequate sanitation service. Over 2 million people die each year because of unsafe water - and most of them are children!" - Robert Alan

You can check out the Charity Guide for your choice donation recipient if you wish to help in the cause of poverty and unsafe water.

Democracy Trends

Democracy
by Anup Shah


Democracy (“rule by the people” when translated from its Greek meaning) is seen as one of the ultimate ideals that modern civilizations strive to create, or preserve. Democracy as a system of governance is supposed to allow extensive representation and inclusiveness of as many people and views as possible to feed into the functioning of a fair and just society. Democratic principles run in line with the ideals of universal freedoms such as the right to free speech.

Importantly, democracy supposedly serves to check unaccountable power and manipulation by the few at the expense of the many, because fundamentally democracy is seen as a form of governance by the people, for the people. This is often implemented through elected representatives, which therefore requires free, transparent, and fair elections, in order to achieve legitimacy.

The ideals of democracy are so appealing to citizens around the world, that many have sacrificed their livelihoods, even their lives, to fight for it. Indeed, our era of “civilization” is characterized as much by war and conflict as it is by peace and democracy. The twentieth century alone has often been called “the century of war.”

In a way, the amount of propaganda and repression some non-democratic states set up against their own people is a testament to the people’s desire for more open and democratic forms of government. That is, the more people are perceived to want it, the more extreme a non-democratic state apparatus has to be to hold on to power.

However, even in established democracies, there are pressures that threaten various democratic foundations. A democratic system’s openness also allows it to attract those with vested interests to use the democratic process as a means to attain power and influence, even if they do not hold democratic principles dear. This may also signal a weakness in the way some democracies are set up. In principle, there may be various ways to address this, but in reality once power is attained by those who are not genuinely support democracy, rarely is it easily given up.

This is the intro to a comprehensive article: Democracy (Page Created Friday, July 04, 2008) by Anup Shah at Global Issues. If you are concerned about world social trends of the past decades you will want to visit the website. It looks into global issues that affect everyone and aims to show how most issues are inter-related. 550+ articles on Social, Political, Economic and Environmental Issues. Very impressive social writings on these topics.

Global Children Deaths

In a world of where so many have so much to waste it is difficult to comprehend; there is still deep and widespread poverty, hunger and starvation. As we spend wildly, often on useless desires, there are kids living in sickness and destined to short lives.

Anup Shah from a page created Sunday, May 06, 2007
Today, over 27,000 children died around the world

Around the world, 27–30,000 children die every day.

That is equivalent to:

1 child dying every 3 seconds
20 children dying every minute
A 2004 Asian Tsunami occurring almost every week
An Iraq-scale death toll every 15–35 days
10–11 million children dying every year
Over 50 million children dying between 2000 and 2005
The silent killers are poverty, hunger, easily preventable diseases and illnesses, and other related causes. In spite of the scale of this daily/ongoing catastrophe, it rarely manages to achieve, much less sustain, prime-time, headline coverage.

Why is this tragedy not in the headlines?

Unfortunately, it seems that the world still does not notice. It might be reasonable to expect that death and tragedy on this scale should be prime time headlines news. Yet, these issues only surface when there are global meetings or concerts (such as the various G8 summits, the Make Poverty History campaign in 2005, etc).

Furthermore, year after year, we witness that when those campaigns end and the meetings conclude, so does the mainstream media coverage. It feels as though even when there is some media attention, the ones who suffer are not the ones that compel the mainstream to report, but instead it is the movement of the celebrities and leaders of the wealthy countries that makes this issue newsworthy.

Even rarer in the mainstream media is any thought that wealthy countries may be part of the problem too. The effects of international policies, the current form of globalization, and the influence the wealthy countries have on these processes is rarely looked at.

Instead, promises and pledges from the wealthy, powerful countries, and the corruption of the poorer ones—who receive apparently abundant goodwill—make the headlines; the repeated broken promises, the low quality and quantity of aid, and conditions with unfair strings attached do not.

Read the entire article at Global Issues.

The Global Issues web site looks into issues that affect everyone. There are over 550 articles on poverty, globalization, human rights, geopolitics, and the environment. A nice humane effort here by Anup Shah.

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