perspective
In light of everything that is filling up the news lately I wanted to remind myself what real poverty is and just how fortunate we are. We have nothing to fear, if we become sick we can go to a hospital. If we are thirsty we can turn on a tap. If we lose our jobs we have family that we can lean on. I don't live in a refugee camp, or in a war zone, I live in a house that has heat and electricity. I remember when I drew a picture of a typical Canadian house with a young child in the Philippines and he asked me how many rooms were in my house. He then asked me who lives in my garage. I had to tell him that that is where we keep our car, I will never forget his face. I felt so ashamed.
What is poverty?
Absolute poverty is based on subsistence, a minimum standard needed to live. Seebohm Rowntree's research identified a 'poverty line' on the basis of minimum needs. The Copenhagen Declaration defines absolute poverty as "a condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to social services."
Relative poverty is based on a comparison of poor people with others in society. Peter Townsend defines poverty as "the absence or inadequacy of those diets, amenities, standards, services and activities which are common or customary in society."
(mother with child during the famine in Ethiopia this past June)
Here are some more statistics to give you some perspective:
Ethiopia
Population: 82 million
Life expectancy at birth: 52 years
Maternal Mortality ratio (per 100,000 births): 720
Population Access to water source: 42%
Population Access to saniation facilities: 11%
% of Population Aged 0-14 years: 44%
Gross National Income per capita: $630
CANADA
Population: 33 million
Life expectancy at birth: 80 years
Maternal Mortality ratio (per 100,000 births): 7
Population Access to water source: 100%
Population Access to saniation facilities: 100%
% of Population Aged 0-14 years: 18%
Gross National Income per capita: $36,280
"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4
What is poverty?
Absolute poverty is based on subsistence, a minimum standard needed to live. Seebohm Rowntree's research identified a 'poverty line' on the basis of minimum needs. The Copenhagen Declaration defines absolute poverty as "a condition characterised by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to social services."
Relative poverty is based on a comparison of poor people with others in society. Peter Townsend defines poverty as "the absence or inadequacy of those diets, amenities, standards, services and activities which are common or customary in society."
(mother with child during the famine in Ethiopia this past June)
Here are some more statistics to give you some perspective:
Ethiopia
Population: 82 million
Life expectancy at birth: 52 years
Maternal Mortality ratio (per 100,000 births): 720
Population Access to water source: 42%
Population Access to saniation facilities: 11%
% of Population Aged 0-14 years: 44%
Gross National Income per capita: $630
CANADA
Population: 33 million
Life expectancy at birth: 80 years
Maternal Mortality ratio (per 100,000 births): 7
Population Access to water source: 100%
Population Access to saniation facilities: 100%
% of Population Aged 0-14 years: 18%
Gross National Income per capita: $36,280
"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4
posted by emily at
10:16 PM
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