What can we do to make poverty history?

Question

Because of people like you, leaders of the world’s richest countries met in July 2005 and made a number of historic promises to help end the kind of extreme poverty that is needlessly killing 9,000 people a day in Africa. Millions of lives and the future of a continent are at stake.

Click here to watch Bono’s video message:
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=f3…

Discuss Bono and ONE.org with other fans:
http://action.one.org/blog/comments.jsp?…

Yahoo! Answers staff note: This is the real Bono!
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-d8pH0dcoR…

Additional Details

The winning answer was selected by ONE: the Campaign to Make Poverty History.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I admire Bono for his work on this issue. I think that the ONE campaign, the debt reduction campaign and the work with the G-8 is a very impressive step in the right direction.

However, I think that you have to attack the problem from the top down and the bottom up.

If debt reduction and foreign aid happen to the degree that has been promised the momentum is lost unless the people in Africa are able to capitalize on the opportunity.

It is hard to make a living, provide for your family, or start a new business when you spend your time and energy looking for safe drinking water or your next meal. We in the West take for granted our infrastructure that allows us to focus more of our energy on work and our ability to get ahead, provide for our families, etc. How much time did you spend today looking for water or standing in line for water or food?

My answer is that the next step must be to establish a framework for what basic infrastructure must be present in each community (ie: access to food, water, health facilities, transportation, roads, education, daycare) to allow the people in those communities to work effectively and productively.

Working from the ground up I would suggest that the ONE campaign expand to coordinate the partnering of a sponsoring community/city/town with a similar sized one in Africa. But, unlike sister communities around the world that are strictly symbolic, the communities that adopt a "sister" in Africa must work with them to build their community to the minimum infrastructure framework that is established by the campaign. It could even be a competition in the sense that the people of a city in Norway could be competing with the people of a city in Canada or the USA to meet and exceed the framework standards set out in a given time frame.

Unlike many charities that ask for money, wouldn't it be rewarding to know that your city is working to provide a better life and future for one in Africa. You would know where your money is going, where work is being done, and who is doing it. We all have a certain skill set and in your community there is a group of people who could make a real difference to ONE city/town/community in Africa.

We all tend to sit back and expect our politicians and leaders to fix the problems of the world and then complain that things don't seem to be getting much better.

The people need to take control and be part of the solution.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

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Answer 2

Government commitment to good education, for all people in all countries.

Answer 3

the most obvious answer to increase the number of job that are available that at the same time were backed by enough money to build up and infer structure and economy. Now i know this will sound odd but it is the introduction of corporations that result in this larger divide between rich and poor but the introduction on a bigger scale of large publicly owned industry could be the answer. There are to options one probably more likely to take place and the other would be more of a long shot but fairer for the "people" of Africa.
1. we encourage some migration of our large businesses writing conditions of there transfer i.e. "making homes fully equipped with amenities for all its employees" but also benefits i.e." for every new employee from a poverty stricken part of Africa they taken on they get a reduction of tax in the western countries". I realise we would lose industry taxes even jobs in the western world but this is a problem that is not going to disappear without a great deal of sacrifice

2.we once again raise funds but instead of just giving it to them we create a business and we try to in a sense "create another city" we help set it up but eventually after training give it up to the people living there. every employee can have shares in it and hopefully it will increase the export letting them compete with the outside world

Answer 4

I think to help with proverty, we need to stop all forms of greed worldwide, wether it is in business, entertainmet or sports. Wealth should be equally distributed from the top down. I had a great paying job until 4 years ago when they moved my manufacturing job out of the country. I now struggle myself with working 2 part time jobs, with no benefits, The whole system is broken worldwide. We need to start within our own communties to lift people up out of proverty.

Answer 5

How to end poverty? Unfortunately poverty and a lack of education go hand in hand. One way to minimize poverty and pave a new path for future generations is through education. Building schools will create new job opportunities and a way to enrich and prepare these people for better lives. Schools can become centers of hope, through new found education people living in poverty could commence an era of change. It's a domino effect, one thing will lead to another. Other countries such as Japan value education to be of top importance, and in Italy, after middle school teens are encouraged to attend "liceos", which specify in the academics of their choice. A very Socratic method towards education which has been established through the love of learning, advancing, improving, and heading forward. If we do not study, amongst other subjects, our past and cultures how can we avoid making the same mistakes or hope to make improvements? Just a thought to ponder. :)

Answer 6

I think it's wonderful that actions are being taken to eliminate poverty in Africa but what the poor in Asia and Latin America?

Answer 7

Bono, Maybe every one of you Multi Millionares could give a Million or two.

Answer 8

Bono can give ALL of his money to people less fortunate than himself.

Answer 9

EDUCATE, EDUCATE, EDUCATE..............

Lets start a global fund that finances education in 2 primary categories.
1. Educate people in population dynamics and develop a program for free birth control and planned parenting.
2. Educate people on how to grow sufficient food to feed the people backed by government subsides.

There needs to be funds for teachers, schools, equipment, government subsidized land and tax credits for participating in the program.

Give countries a financial and political incentive to supply land and equipment. Get UNESCO, Hefer, Win-rock, etc to hire experienced farmers and buy the most productive/nutritional crop seeds (ie: soybeans) to grow. After a couple of growing seasons, the crops will most likely financially sustain itself through a food trade or commodity base. Without an overhead cost of land and equipment, there really is no excuse for failure.
Once there is adequate food, put planned parenting centers into the overpopulated areas. Offer free birth control, free medical care, and information on nutrition. Then provide education to the younger generation in schools on the need for a global reduction in population. After 10-15 years you may have a generation that can grow food, plan families, and provide the next generation with the education to do the same.

Humans as a whole need to analyze the global outcome of our existence. We need to review why and how we make decisions based on economics as opposed to sustainability of the species.
We need to break the borders between countries down and start a global community that is symbiotic with the earth. WE NEED MORE EDUCATION........Maybe we should re-think how we are educated. If we educate people to think globally, we may actually end up with just that....

Answer 10

People need to stay informed and vote responsibly. For myself, I plan to combat poverty by helping to break the cycle at a local level in my community. I am an elementary teacher and my duty will be to encourage children living below the poverty line to do their best and give them every opportunity available to have them succeed. I will give them high expectations and never give up on them.

Answer 11

As your article suggests, identifying the sources of the problem may be the first step.

Every person who as a child was taught that it is evil and harmful to have hatred of other people usually also has been taught love, given love, nurtured with love; enough love in them to do whatever is helpful to contribute something to solve the worlds problems; to care and love their fellow human beings enough to help out. On the other hand, those children who have been abused and taught hatred, many of whom live in poverty themselves, need to be protected from what they may become.

We already have many of the "good" people to work on making poverty history. Sure we can always use more good people.

But the key is how to get substantial numbers involved, and their future generations as well. To do this, while we continue to recruit more good people to end poverty, we must get at and attack the source of the problem, which is to end hatred, war(s), and create world peace.

To accomplish worldwide peace, we must have the UN really show that its name means something, regain its respect, "united nations" and all unite all nations to declare that it is child abuse to teach any child under the age of 18 to hate any other human being, and all levels that such hatred can be taught, including the brainwashing and teaching to minors the murder of others the subject of such hatred, including innocent civilians and other children.

A child under age 18 is legally not able to form the brain capacity to make adult decisions. As a result, children under 18 are subject to influence which can permanently develop them for the good or permanently damage them for evil they would not develop were they to have been protected from abuse. Peace starts with the children who grow into loving individuals who care about others. Those are the "new" substantial numbers who can join the cause, the ways, the means, the power, to also make poverty history.

The first step is the declaration for an abolishment of child abuse as a world doctrine to break the generational cycle worldwide that prevents peace and creates wars. This doctrine is no less important, and maybe more important than the level of child abuse that still exists in forms of violent physical domestic abuse to children. We have child abuse laws in our country and in other countries, and we do our best to enforce such laws, but child abuse itself needs to be defined to include the prohibition of teaching hatred to a child of any other human being.

Who is the declaration against child abuse to apply to? Anyone, but especially parents, teachers, religious teachers leaders, political and business figures.

The first step is to get this law "on the books" globally; expand the definition of child abuse. It can't just be a moral code, it must become international law that can be universally accepted. How can the UN and all other countries say no to this law if it stands for the key to a peaceful world.

The second step is the enforcement of the international law, even and especially in countries that do not agree with this universal concept. For example, such enforcement means that if anyone directly teaches a child under 18 to commit murder against another person, that level of child abuse makes the person an accessory to murder, and the teaching is "attempted" murder for which they must be prosecuted in a court of law, with due process, and if found guilty, sentenced to punishment.

If the form of this child abuse is spoken, written, preached, publicized, and can be proven, than the law is violated and if found guilty, the criminal must be prosecuted. Lower levels of the offense go all the way to the enforcement of teaching any child, raising any child, to hate another human being. If any person can prove this against another, there must be punishment, including, as the case warrants, change of custody to caring parents or agencies (if the parents are the violators), removal of teachers, books advocating hatred, etc., with sanctions, against the criminal(s) including jail, forfieture of assets, etc., and in the case of actual murder by a child taught by another to kill, death sentence or life imprisonment without parole to the "co-conspirator" teacher of (the child abuser) of such doctrine.

Third, to intiate the above two steps, we need to start a non-profit organization comprised of international children (with adult representatives) to legislate the law and create the methods of enforcement and oversee enforcement and prosecutions in international courts of law, even in countries that refuse to enact it.

The media, politicians, business leaders and philanthropists around the world, and all good citizens need to promote and contribute money and time to get this organization and its movement started and to develop its success and acceptance as a worldwide phenomena.

Conclusion: Once the historical and generational cycle of child abuse in the form of teaching children under 18 to hate others is broken, wars will eventually end, as will much crime. Once this occurs, we will then have substantial numbers of "new people" who love intead of hate their fellow human being. Then, we can have a whole new "work force" to join the existing movement to make poverty history.

Answer 12

Well knowing that the United States could wipe out this problem with the same amount of money they spend on the war in Iraq or weapons in general or the military which is something in the range of 200-300 billion or somethin, if the military expenditure was cut even in half, this problem and a few others could be wiped out!

Source(s):

A textbook.

Answer 13

Control the population

Answer 14

The problem with foriegn aid is it retards the local markets that Africa needs to prosper. This Kenyan economist explains it all:
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,363663,00.html

Answer 15

In Six Easy Steps:

1) Encourage the development of a transparent, conscious political class in every African nation with dedicated support, financial and logistical, from the UN, EU, AU and the UK. The goal would be to create a workable beaurocracy and social support network by Africans for Africans, one which is free of blanket corruption or regional tribal prejudices.

2) Pay out all monies owed for atrocites, damage or theft caused, or as a result of, the colonization of Africa by European, American, Asian and Arab powers dating back 300 hundred years (There would be a moratorium on events that occurred more than 301 years ago.) with a specific emphasis on the damaged caused by the widespread, immediate European Colonial pullout of Africa during the early 1960's which resulted in complete chaos in many African countries including, but regretfully not limited to, Zaire (Now Congo) and Rwanda.

3) Assemble an equipped and combat-ready multi-national army to fight regional walordism and bring those responsible for war crimes in Africa's multiple limited conflicts to justice publicly for their transgressions. By 'ARMY' I mean dedicated, professional soldiers with a real chain of command that reports to a multi-national governmental body and is free to engage enemy forces if necessary. No ineffective, lets stand around and watch the schools burn, UN Blue Helmets or psychotic ex-SS German mercenaries a la Sigfried 'Kongo-Muller' Muller ALLOWED!!!!

4) Ban all weapons from being imported to or exported from Africa no matter of their source or destination.
Make it illegal for any African under the age of 16 to own, or even hold, a loaded weapon.

5) Introduce micro-loan programs, communal farms and community focused initives to bring dignity to all African peoples in order to build pride and strength in their respective communities. This would also help the diasporia of African peoples.

6) Create more opportunities for non-faith based, non-dominational groups to create cross-cultural exchanges with African peoples of all nationalities and religious beliefs.

Now that Africa's solved... How do we stop starvation in America?

* Please note that certain African countries are doing quite well. My comments reflect mainly the worst excesses of international policy failure in Africa including the cases of Rwanda, DRC, Liberia, Seirra Leone, Somalia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sundan, Zimbabwe most specifically.

Answer 16

L. B. Johnson declared "war on poverty" back in the 60s (Yes, I can remember him doing it) and, like all other "wars" declared on conditions, the U. S. has been losing it ever since. Poverty will not be gone until the Second Coming. If we want poverty to end soon, we'll have to pray that the Second Coming comes soon.

Source(s):

The scriptures

Answer 17

Allow donation on tax returns to be designated for this in the same way we designate for campaign contributions. Reduce the adjusted gross income by this donated amount. Make sure the money is managed with a 5% administration cost cap

Answer 18

Table scraps... it's a small contribution, but every bit helps

Every restaurant has buckets of table scraps left from cleaning plates... Major cities, which have hundreds of restaurants, would have truckloads of scraps if they were collected. Now, we send them to feed aquacultured fish farms, and they in turn will raise fish. So in doing, we will stop depleating the ocean's resources and third world countries should have more to feed themselves. It's a far better use of this otherwise wasted food than feeding bacteria in the landfills!

Answer 19

Donate what you would spend on Christmas to global poverty. Make Christmas a day where everyone gets fed. It's a start!

Answer 20

"THERE WILL ALWAYS BE POOR PEOPLE IN THE LAND. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land." ~ Deuteronomy 15:11

Do NOT doubt the Lord your God.

Answer 21

A good idea to this type of problem lies in the empowerment of the people, if we can provide them with the supplies needed to produce their food crops, they could then feed their families and hopefully be able to produce extra for selling purposes. I am not sure as to what kind of government involvement applies to this situation, but I do know that in some coutnries the governments are the root cause for poverty, in that they hand out limited supplies when they should be giving more. They also keep the farmers from being able to sell their crops for cash by price gauging.

Source(s):

The source of my information stems from my studies as an adult student, World Hunger was the class I took in regards to this topic.

Answer 22

Each person should avail him/herself to assisting others to enjoying their best life possible.

Answer 23

Bono,
First off, get a real job and live paycheck to paycheck like the rest of us before you get all high and mighty, bopping around the world like some new messiah. That must be easy to do when you've got millions in the bank and are well fed for the rest of YOUR life. Second, teach these people who live where nothing grows to stop having eight kids all aged 1-8. Tell them that starvation is natures answer to overpopulation. I know that sounds heartless and cruel, It is. But remember, that's natures rule, not mine.You will find no mercy or forgiveness in nature.
This small Earth only has so much to give. Once it's population goes over the limit, there is no such thing as "an end to starvation",surely even you must understand that.

Answer 24

Have Bono try helping without putting a camera in front of his face to flaunt it. That might help me not have to see his lame face everywhere. What a hozer.

Answer 25

All Countries in the world reduce their miltary budgets by 10% and re-direct that money to the aid and building of poverty stricken countries.

Answer 26

Dear Bono,
There’s a reason that the World’s Richest Nations are the World’s Richest Nations and it has little to do with natural resources or an educated workforce. Speaking in general terms, the world’s richest nations are primarily Democratic Republics with an emphasis on the rights of the individual. They are inclusive and charity is part of the national ethic. If you want to help to World’s Poorest Nations, change the culture of those nations.

Answer 27

The answer is we will never be able to afford the same rights and privelages to all humans: we are after all humans. The same instincts that govern nature govern us as well; thus there will always be those who crave more and receive it. My responsibility is to not help those so distant but to only break down the chains that hinder such action. Is this not, afterall, the reason for the world's desparity?

Answer 28

how about we get all the multi-millionaires/billionaires that have numerous mansions, sports cars and dozens of $600 sunglasses to start donating their money to people who would use a few thousand dollars to put a roof over their heads, rather than fly to china because they like authentic chinese food

Answer 29

Dear Mr. Bono,
I admire the fact that you care so much ! However the extreme poverty is due to Mankinds misuse of the earth, and mankinds greed, It hurts my heart that it's gotten so bad, and if we care so much, and we are made in God's image, than imagine how He must feel, He does care ! And the ultimate answer lies in Jehovah God, Creator of the universe. The ultimate answer is when he ends this corrupt system, and brings in His Kingdom Government, In the Bible at Daniel 2:44 it says " And in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be brought to ruin , and the Kingdom itself will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it itself will never be brought to ruin. "
Under this Kingdom rule, there will be no one starving, or even getting sick any longer ! Revelation 21:4 says " And He will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry, nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away."
This Kingdom rule, God's governmental rule, through Jesus Christ, His Son, will be brought about without destroying the earth as some think, The Bible shows us that God will take out those who defy His kingdom, and leave His humble people who long to live under His Kingdom-Government. Do you Know Prince? Ask Him about this, he knows. Or read further in the Bible at Psalms 37:9-11, and check out: www.watchtower.org to find out the truth that the Bible shows for our lifetime....you'll find your answers!!!
With care, and respect............Ruth Fromme

Answer 30

I think it is very easy to eliminate poverty. My belief is that we (as a global culture) make it too complicated. There is too much paperwork, organization and the like. After everyone is paid for their work to "think" about ending poverty, no one is any closer to actually *ending* poverty.

As "new age" as this may sound, I think Love will end world poverty.

I've got plenty of other ideas knocking around in my noggin - and one day I hope to be that change that we all wish to see in the world. In fact, tonight some friends and I will be doing what we can do end the poverty in our area. Nothing fancy - just open hearts.

Be well. Good question.

Answer 31

Eliminate corporate control of all natural resources, including food!