What is global poverty and how bad is it?

Your response: We're talking about poverty so extreme that people are forced to live on less than U.S.$1 a day.  This is a daily reality for 1 in 6 people on the planet - that's more than 1 billion people total.  And less than $1 a day doesn't just mean a low income level.  It means little or no access to clean water, sanitation, adequate nutrition an education, and ultimately, hope for a better life. 

 Global poverty, why should I care?  It doesn't impact my life, right? 

Your response: Wrong.  First of all, this kind of extreme poverty not only violates people's fundamental rights, it affects all of us through the spread of global problems like HIV/AIDS, political instability and environmental damage. We now know that instability and lack of opportunity in one part of the world can create problems in all parts of the world. We have to care about global poverty - it's the right thing to do, and it's the smart thing to do.

 We can't end poverty.

You reply: True, some people will probably always be poor relative to others. I'm not talking about making it possible for everyone to have a car or a computer or a TV.  But, extreme poverty – meaning no access to basic necessities like food, water, shelter, health care, education, etc. – can be solved. We have the resources, the technology, and the know-how; we just need the will.

 Aid doesn't work. Poor countries are corrupt and the money doesn't go where it's supposed to.

You reply: Corruption has been a challenge but progress is being made. Today's development aid often encourages recipient countries to implement good governance and reform. The U.S. has set up the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) to work exactly like that: play by the rules and you get support.  In fact, rewarding the countries that implement good governance and sound economic policies is a great way to incentivize other countries to follow their lead.  But if wealthy countries abandon even these good performers, what incentive will there be for others to improve their policies?

 Haven't we been trying to solve poverty for a long time now? Why is it any different now?

Your response: Development can work and timing now is critical. If countries that need help implement good governance and reform, and donor nations support their efforts, poverty can be dramatically reduced. For the first time, the global community has an agreed-upon framework—the Millennium Development Goals—to make this happen. And in some places (Asia in particular), we are already seeing results.   

 Do people even care about the fight against global poverty?

Your response: Yes. Polls show that Americans want their country to be a good neighbor and to lead the fight against extreme poverty. And in responding to the Asian tsunami disaster, we saw that Americans can be extremely generous when they know that others are in need.  The key is to transform this eagerness into political will so that the U.S. can act as a model for other wealthy countries.

 So how much are countries already giving?

Your response: Not enough. Just take a look at one issue:  education.  In 2002, wealthy countries gave only $1.2 billion in aid for basic education. At that rate, we won't achieve universal primary education for another 150 years. To realize universal primary education, donor countries need to give an additional $5.6 billion – that's equivalent to three days of global military spending, and is just slightly more than what the U.S. spends each month on military and reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 Doesn't the U.S. already give more money than other countries to help the world's poor?  Don't we do enough?

Your response: Sure, we give more than other countries in absolute terms but when you look at it in terms of aid per person, you see a different story.  Believe it or not, the U.S. government gives the least of almost all wealthy countries in terms of giving per capita. Think about this:  While the U.S. give 13 cents per person per day in foreign assistance, Norway - a much smaller country and economy - gives $1.02.  We should be a leader on this issue but we're not stepping up.  In fact, the United Kingdom has recently emerged as the leader on this issue by publicly calling for large increases in aid and debt relief.  

Your response: There are many different ways to get people excited and involved. First, you have to realize that we can beat global poverty and that everyone has a role to play. NetAid can help you figure out what your role should be. They make it easy to contact your representatives, write a letter to your editor, fundraise in your community - whatever kind of action makes the most sense to you. Once you have done some of these things, talk with everyone you can and get them to talk with their friends and family. Getting the word out and then translating that into action is the single most important thing you can do to start.