THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND AID FOR ADDRESSING POVERTY AS A FORCE OF CHANGE
One might think that poverty does not exist in the United Kingdom (UK). But believe it or not, there is no place where there is no poverty. Surveys have shown that from 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, people living in poverty rose up 750,000. With this large number, more than half of this is in the working-age group. There are a number of number of sites that are committed to document the rise, fall, or stalling of poverty over the years. They monitor United Kingdom’s statistics when it comes to poverty and social exclusion.
There are two kinds of poverty in relation to income poverty: Absolute poverty and Relative poverty. Absolute poverty pertains to a standard which is set as the same in all countries. This does not change over time and is a serious issue. This happens in third world countries where there is a fixed income threshold ( or per day). But basing in the United Kingdom, this does not apply because either absolute poverty does not exist in the UK or a higher threshold of income is required. Except for the or per day income threshold, there is no clear way of describing an absolute poverty limit that is based on the least amount necessary for survival. On the other hand, relative poverty pertains to a norm that is described in society terms in which a person survives and which as a result varies over time and between countries. An example would be like that of the UK wherein there exists a standard of higher minimum income below that
which nobody should fall, and these standards must go up if ever and as a certain country grows to be richer.
Relative poverty is an important matter in the UK. Solving this kind of poverty is what the government focuses on. Solving this issue means that no family will be excluded from ordinary living patterns. Some criticize this concept by the government as inequality to those who are in low income households, but the government is doing things than would not demean the reputation of the citizens and the reducing of a total social cohesion in the society.
Indicators of Poverty
Several factors affect the development of poverty in the UK. There are also several types of poverty under these major indicators.
Low Income
This is based on the money of an individual minus the income tax, council tax, and the costs of housing. Instead of using the term poverty, they prefer to use living in low income households, which is less confusing. This low income threshold is identified as 60% less than the present-day domestic median income. Rather than focusing the income amount on a working individual, the main income thresholds of poverty should be centered in household income terms.
Under this category falls the income poverty, in-work poverty, and income poverty by age and gender. Income poverty is already mentioned above. In-work
poverty is concerned with those individuals who regardless of working or at least having one member of the family who is working still consider themselves in poverty (Palmer, McInnes, Kenway 2007). Thus the term. Income poverty by age and gender pertains to a household with two or more adults (based in age and gender) working. There could be a difference in the amount of income between the two adults, wherein one could possibly be in poverty if working alone, but the other adult would not. However, this category is not totally a measurement and definition of poverty.
Work
This indicator was chosen to show the latest trends in the overall number of working age individuals in Britain (Bivand, 2005). The income of these people depend on any one of the following: jobseeker’s allowance, tax/benefits credits, working families’ tax credits/family credit, income support, and disabled person’s tax credit/disability working allowance.
There are also three categories under this subject: workless households, out-of-work-benefits, and unemployed and workless individuals. Workless households are those families that don’t have member/s of working age who is/are in a paid job. Out-of-work-benefits are for pensioners and for the working age. As a part of the anti-poverty policies of the government, the value of this assistance has increased for pensioners and for those families who have children. As contrasted to the first category, the unemployed and workless individuals focus on, obviously, those people who don’t have paid work (Palmer, McInnes, and Kenway 2007).
Low pay
Around the United Kingdom, the young adults are excessively affected by the low wages at work. This indicator traces the quantity of young adults aged 18-21 years old with regard to low salaries. In 2006, the threshold a family should have given that one parent is working full-time and the other part-time with two dependent children, is £ 6.50 an hour or less. This is the amount that they would have to earn so that they would be up the poverty line. Other than low pay, other disadvantages at work are insecurities and lacking support from the management (Palmer, McInnes, and Kenway 2007).
Education
Education plays an important part when it comes to being employed in the future (Grinyer, 2005). This indicator was principally chosen because most of the society agrees that qualification attainment and skills that are good enough make a good requirement for employment. Good education and good practice skills are clearly influenced by the successful attainment of literacy skills and fundamental numeracy at an earlier stage (Palmer, McInnes, and Kenway 2007). The impact to the person who lacks the minimum levels of qualification increases the likelihood of being an employee who is poorly paid, or not getting a job at all.
Health
Along with the right education and right skills, an individual should also have the right health (Evans 2007). Assessing one’s own health has shown to be a dependable mortality style predictor other than the extra measures. The health indicator has to do with people if they consider themselves already at their limit as the consequence of
problems with regard to health or with any disability they possess. The link between being disabled and being poor is that disabled persons are more likely to be in a destitute state, reduces the chance that the individual will be employed, or the out-of-work benefits have fallen far behind (Palmer, McInnes, Kenway 2007).
Housing
Home sweet home. Nothing can ever compare to the feeling of being totally home at last. The condition in which people reside physically have an effect on the wellbeing, relationships between members of the household, and the development of the children (Palmer, McInnes, and Kenway 2007). Furthermore, housing costs that require a high maintenance can cause some households to become poor, which is could also lead to being homeless (Barker 2004). Rather than having no home at all, people tend to bear with the meager housing conditions. Housing also relates to the security of the people in their neighborhood. Older people feel that they are unsafe if they walk outside at night.
Services
With services, we mean households who have and haven’t got an active bank account. It is important for people to have money in the bank in order to obtain benefits from modern financial services. Without a bank account, they have a restricted admittance with regard to credit and people will find it very inconvenient because of the higher prices placed at even the most basic utilities.
Insurance is also important for the protection and safety of yourself, your household, and your belongings. Low income households have difficulty in replacing
their own possessions if they get burgled because of the absence of household insurance.
Social Cohesion
This indicator refers to the relationship between a household with its neighborhood. More often than not, low income households report that they are dissatisfied with their local area. Most of them are social renters who think that as they put up with the unsuitable environment of the neighborhood, it gets worse over time. The most common problem reported is crime. In deprived areas, the rates are higher. Because of this, people are not content to live in that particular area.
These are the indicators that identify places or conditions that identify poverty in the United Kingdom. The trends that have been running over time have either remained or worsened. The government does their best to eliminate the occurrence of poverty by making anti-poverty policies to bring low income households up the poverty line. But the efforts and effects will truly take time and much motivation.
Global interventions toward poverty and climate change
Campaigners committed to the relief of poverty by modifying climate are on the way of raising global awareness. They are moving 24/7 to ensure that actions will be taken by national governments and international communities. Addressing the issue of climate change and its absolute influence on low income households will enable the alleviation of those people who are below and in the poverty level.
A civil society movement called Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) adheres to the approach to establish political motivation by advocating the campaign all throughout the area by way of communication and by initiating united methods of mobilization. The aim of GCAP is to reduce and combat the harmful impacts of environmental actions, issues, and domineering interventions of development in the lives of people.
Climate Change
The world’s forerunner on climate change, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is an independent body which strongly deems that human actions are having an effect on some natural systems already. The climate is continuously varying but scientists are disturbed that global warming that is caused by human beings has gone past beyond fluctuations that are natural in climate and this puts the people and the planet waiting for serious detrimental outcomes.
The Relationship between Poverty and Climate Change
Poverty linked to climate change is at the inherent level and one can’t be discussed without dealing with the other. The impact of climate change affects most precisely the poor. The poorest of the countries are already taking the consequences of drastic change in the climate. Deforestation, flooding, rapid rise in sea levels, and desertification are already putting the people’s homes and livelihoods in danger. If this continues, it will totally have a great effect on the income-generating capacity of the people that might lead to the growing number of people who are experiencing hunger. Donor countries could aid other developing nations by giving their just share of costs to
climate adaptation. By alleviating the land, forest and water pressure, and other natural resources, it serves as a means of justifying the change of climate itself.
Examples of disturbing occurrences that are the result of the dire climate change are the displacement of several people and flooding due to the rise in sea levels related to the melting of glaciers; harvests in the agricultural sector will continue to decrease; and the deficiency in accessing clean water which causes diarrhea.
Suggestions given by the organization to assist in the movement for the environmental change are mitigating greenhouse emissions, improving the global humanitarian system, reducing the risk and vulnerability of disaster, and total support and adaptation from the rich countries.
The fight against poverty
The youth
In 2005, the fight against poverty was led by the largest group ever to be assembled in the UK. More than half a million children are living in poverty, and no less than 100 million children die a year because of hunger and other preventable diseases.
The Make Poverty History Campaign was made to express their sentiments about canceling all the debts that the poorest countries owe the richest countries for. Several people gathered in Edinburgh last July 2, 2005 to tell the leaders of the richest countries of the world (G8 as they were called) to put an end to global poverty.
The youth took the lead on the said event. This event was focused on the actions the G8 might initiate to halt poverty.
The women
In Washington, quite a number of female clergy from Wales and England joined Dawn French, a British comedy actress and writer in delivering a white band card to Downing Street in support for the Make Poverty History Campaign. This campaign sent a message, symbolized by the white band, to the UK government appealing them to change debts, trade, and aid that is keeping poor countries even poorer.
The assembly held prayers for the Asian Tsunami victims which not less than 150,000 persons dead and several people homeless. This disaster served as a wake up call to make it known to the public that poor families really exist all over the world. Being a campaign that has very much highlighted the hidden message of the calamity which is international poverty, it brought 150 unions, charities, and faith groups. This brave move by the people dared Tony Blair and the other leaders in G8 to provide debt cancellation, trade justice, and additional and improved assistance for all around the globe’s poorest countries.
According to Martin Drewry of Christian Aid, ‘The churches have been the backbone of virtually every major campaign against mass poverty over the last eight years or so. This visit to Downing Street is designed to show just how strongly the clergy feel that the millions of people who live in poverty every day should have a chance to improve their lives.”
Furthermore, Andy Atkins of Tearfund stated:
With the British Government at the helm of the G8 club of rich nations and the European Union this year, bringing an end to the indignity and injustice of poverty is within the realms of possibility. Whether it makes it to the realms of probability lies in the hands of our Government but also with us too. We all have a role to
play: by signing a campaign postcard, wearing a white band or joining the masses on Edinburgh’s streets on July 2nd, we all have the opportunity to shape what happens next.
Taking up a religious view, to get together as Christians for a movement like Make Poverty History affirms that God is amongst the society even in the long running poverty that is unreported by the media. As human beings, the willpower to wipe out poverty brought the people in connection across and beyond all boundaries.
Department for International Development (DFID)
This department in the British government leads the state in fighting against global poverty. Poverty causes and makes worse all kinds of problems: crime, conflict, pollution, and contagious diseases like AIDS and HIV. DFID backs up long-term plans to help deal with the primary causes of poverty. The department also acts in response to either natural or man-made emergencies.
The mission statement of the DFID comprises of the work forms as part of the international promise to lower the number of people who are living in extreme hunger and poverty; guarantee that every child be given primary education; support the promotion of sexual equality and empower women more; lessen the rates of child death; develop the improvement of maternal health; fight AIDS and HIV, malaria, and other illnesses; ensure a protected environment; and foster a global partnership for those who are working in advancement.
How they combat poverty
A number of elements are under this category. But first, how do they choose on whom to help? As a group, they want to ensure that every money they spend will have a huge impact to the impoverished people. Before giving aid though, they examine closely the situation of a country. The governments they assist should be able to handle poverty, support human rights, and are strict on keeping finances. The department now focuses on fragile states where most of the world’s poorest individuals live. They expect that governments will make it known to the public their national plan for action in putting a stop to poverty, consulting the poor people first about what they have to say (Palmer, Kenway, and Wilcox. 2006).
Disasters
More often than not, those of the poorest nations are the ones struck by disasters. In fact, Britain is the principal sponsor to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund providing more than £150 million in the duration of four years (2006-2009). They have emergency teams that will quickly respond to disasters. Whenever search and rescue or medical teams are needed, they will be there. Even after the days of the disaster, they will still aid other people with the groundwork. Further making sure that the victims receive clean water, food, and shelter. When the commotion has died down and the people can go back to their usual lives now, money will be provided by the DFID and UK aid agencies to assist the people in rebuilding their homes, livelihood,
and their lives as well. When these are already made, decreasing disaster risk is now
important. The placing of early warning systems, earthquake-proof housing, and other
ways to minimize the impact of forthcoming disasters.
Killer Diseases
Diseases disturb our day-to-day living if we are caught in a serious one. All of us would want to live normally and healthy right? But what about those who are poor? Their options will be limited and the likelihood of living the accepted life span will be cut short.
The diseases that have the highest mortality and morbidity in the world are malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS. More then 3 billion people are in danger of having malaria, and 1/3 of the population of the world has TB. The rates of HIV/AIDS are also rising over time. That is why the British government is spending more than £1.5 billion in three years (2005-2008) to help treat AIDS and promote the availability and use of condoms to more and more people. They are dedicated in promoting health education and information for the youth.
Conflict
When war is mentioned, the impoverished are the ones most affected. Conflict destroys properties and lives, and the progress of an economy is delayed for years. In 2005, the G8 agreed to stop the illegal arms trade, strict rules are implemented on light weapons and small arms, and continued support towards the movement to disarm ex-soldiers and provide work and home for them. Peacekeeping missions are also carried out to support the greater peace and stability in Africa. UK and the UN, together with the rich and poor nations, are working hand in hand to put an end to the violent conflicts all
over the world and foster peace in its stead.
Education
Each and every child in the world has the right to proper education. But until now, 77 million children do not even go to primary school. In Africa, they could do with an extra number of 1.6 million teachers to reach the aim of sending each child to school. In order to hasten the progress, the DFID spends £8.5 billion of the money of the taxpayers to aid in the education programs in countries that are poor in the next ten years.
Mothers
A better care for the health for mothers in the developing countries is what the DFID is also pushing. Not less than half of a million of women die when giving birth to a child or as a consequence of being pregnant. The DFID is encouraging underprivileged mothers to see a midwife or doctor and receiving emergency treatment when they are already in labor. In the course of 2002-2007, the department used up £1.88 billion on improving the healthcare of women. Together with the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), these groups support and are devoted to women’s health.
Women’s Rights
The world’s poorest people are mostly women. The discrimination and injustice of their gender with is what makes them unfortunate. Because of their gender, they are either paid less or they have no job at all. Staying at home, beaten by their husbands, raped by men, and the HIV/AIDS infection: many women are experiencing this.
Education plays a very important role in the uplifting and liberation of women all throughout the world. Educated women have better options and chances to receive better salaries, enabling them to raise themselves and their families away from poverty. The DFID has a program called Gender Equality Action Plan that aims to place justice in the equality of the women’s rights at the core of putting an end to global poverty. Also working with the DFID is the United Nations Development Fund.
Corruption
Corruption is when an elected official or civil servant takes a kickback. It is also when a politician steals from the state. More often than not, the public taxpayer’s money will fall into the hands of a private bank account. Pledging that they will do the following, Britain promised to ensure that help is used for the reasons it was intended for; help the developing combat corruption; promotion of responsible business; and the closing of global loopholes that permits people to make stolen money legal. Furthermore, the UK government has made special police units to examine and explore money laundering and foreign bribery.
Good Government
The point of voting is to elect officials who are worthy of the people’s trust. Having a good government ensures the people that they will be heard and immediate actions will be implemented for the betterment of the society. Politics that are good are fair and open in decision-making. The good causes of fighting poverty won’t succeed if a good government is absent.
Britain gives assistance to other governments who work for the unfortunate and
aid poor people to demand for change. UK has spent £323 million in 2006-2007 just to offer a helping hand to governments to function better. In the local level, the DFID supports free press, human rights, elections, and trade unions.
Trade
Trade matters because it is where ordinary people and their occupations lie. More so, it is simply the chance that they have to work their way out of poverty. Britain urges all countries to release exports from red tape and create a fair trade for everyone (Leitch, 2006). The G8 promised to provide billion on ‘aid for trade’ by the year 2010. This will benefit Africa to boost their share in the world trade. This ‘aid for trade’ will help the people to be trained, the building up of more organizations for trade, the improvement of telecommunications and roads.
Water
The number of people all throughout the world who does not have access to clean water is more than a billion. Every day, 5,000 children die because of poor sanitation and dirty water. Safe tap water can save lives and lessens the incidence of water-borne diseases. The DFID has doubled the aid for sanitation and water for 2007-2008 in Africa, promising to provide £200 million per year until 2011. Basic sanitation and clean water are vital for health and the prevention of hunger. Poverty can’t be possibly beaten without these.
Aid is spent…
Aid is delivered in various ways. This is to increase and ensure the probability of the help offered work in many environments. The DFID frequently monitors how they utilize their money in the purpose of making sure that more aid goes to where it is needed the most. 65% of the UK’s aid is spent to third-world countries in 2006-2007, either though a partner which is an international body or directly to the country. 9% was sent directly to governments, helping them to spend on the set priorities they created for helping their people do away with poverty. With the European Commission, World Bank, UN, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria as the main recipients for 31% of the UK’s aid in 2006-2007, these international bodies receive aid for the development of their own activities such as education, healthcare, and growth in the economy.
UK’s aid was given to the following regions: Africa= 61%, Asia= 22%, Europe= 3%, Central and South America= 2% and 12% has gone to no specific region.
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