USING THE FRAMEWORK ANALYSIS

FOCUS: POVERTY

CONCERNWhy do we care? So what?

• 46 PERCENT OF WORLD POPULATION CANNOT MEET BASIC NEEDS

• FOOD• WATER• SHELTER• HEALTH • EDUCATION • SAFETY AND SECURITY

• POVERTY IS FOUND IN REGIONS WITH HIGH INCIDENCE OF CHILDHOOD DEATH

• WIDENING GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR (UNEQUAL WEATH DISTRIBUTION)

CAUSES

THESE ARE THE GEOGRAPHICAL/ HISTORICAL EVENTS THAT HAVE LEAD TO THE CURRENT CONCERNS THAT WE SEE TODAY.

Can involve hundreds of years of history – ie. Colonialism Can involve a short time frame. – ie. Rise of Al Qeda and 911 / Terrorism

CAUSESGeographical and Historical Roots?

1. THE GEOGRAPHY OF POVERTYThe location of the country or region has direct bearing on wealth and development…

WHERE? AND WHAT IS THERE??

Coastal vs. InlandTemperate vs. TropicalGood soils vs. DesertResources vs. None

Case StudyTHE GEOGRAPHY OF WEALTH:

EUROPE  Location: on the North European Plain with fertile farmland along

the coastline

Proximity to water (rivers and ocean): transportation, trade, fishing power, exploration, and colonization potential (Canada is an example!)

Climate: temperate (not too cold or hot) moderating effect of the water; Atlantic storms encouraged people to be adaptable. Relatively few diseases.

Mountains: settlement in the lower elevation along coastlines and rivers

Peninsulas: it is a point of land surrounded by water – this lead to a longer coastline and forced water travel as ‘short cuts’ between coastal communities

CONSEQUENCES OF GEOGRAPHYGeographical

Characteristics

Wealth and Development Characteristics

mountains Therefore coastal cities developed

coastlines Ship building industry – sea travel developed – skills and technology

fishing Exploration for new fishing grounds ...so new lands and resources

rivers – cheap electricity

coal and oil resources

Power lead to industrial revolution and industrial innovation

ALL THE ABOVE LEAD TO:

military technology map making weapons industrialization labourers educational systems trade and exploitation AND COLONIES WHICH ULTIMATELY SUBJUGATED

PEOPLES AND REMOVED WEALTH AND RESOURCES ENRICHING EUROPE AND IMPOVERISHING COLONIES

Case StudyTHE GEOGRAPHY OF POVERTY:

CHADLocation: Northern African interior – Sahara Desert

Proximity to water (rivers and ocean)- Inland and Landlocked. Lake Chad is drying up and disappearing.

Climate: tropics… hot with little rainfall

Desert: dry with poor soils for agriculture

Peninsulas – Africa has few if any natural harbours. Europe at 1 /5 the size of Africa has twice the coastline of sub Saharan Africa

CAUSESGeographical and Historical Roots?

2. THE POLITICS AND ECONOMICS OF POVERTY

How historical events by countries and companies shaped wealth

• Poorer countries exploited by colonial systems• Developing countries indebted to developed

countries and financial institutions (World Bank, IMF)

• Globalization of the world economy is dominated by wealthy countries

• High population growth in countries who can least afford it

POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS

Poor people often disenfranchised; lack the political power and ability to change their condition

Many poor countries have an illiterate populace and are easily exploited for the gain of corrupt governments and dictators.

IMPLICATIONS

THESE ARE THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF THE CURRENT SITUATION BROKEN DOWN BY TOPIC AREA.

THEY MAY INCLUDE FUTURE IMPLICATIONS NOT YET REALIZED, OR ARE AS OF YET UNKNOWN.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS Lack of sanitation causing higher

incidence of disease Poor people living in squalor along city

margins in slums without any infrastructure

Poor people have less access to safe drinking water.

Desperate people (and lack of gov’t regulation) use poor agricultural, logging, hunting, and mining practices that degrade the environment

SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Poor people have access only to marginal land or pay excessive rent

Poor people migrating to cities and living in squalor leads to desperate decisions – slavery, prostitution, begging

Children have less access to education and literacy – especially girls (gender inequality)

Poor people have larger families as children are viewed as an asset

ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS

Developing countries owing US $2 trillion to richer countries and financial institutions

Meanwhile most citizens earn so little and therefore governments collect so little in tax revenue, that repayment of loans is impossible

(Chronic Debt)

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Create better educational opportunities for poor people

Prioritize empowerment of women Aim for lower birth rates through

investment in education and health care Reduce under 5 mortality rates Aid in the form of micro credits to women

vs. bailouts to governments