This page lists recent changes made to this site. The "Find Out More" links will take you to the changes. If this jumps to the middle of a page, you can easily scroll up to understand the context of the new information a bit further.
Date of Update
Description
September 25, 2000
Ending world hunger will not end world poverty. People are hungry not because of lack of availability of food, but because they are too poor to afford the food. Politics and economic conditions that have led to poverty and dependency around the world would not be alleviated if food production is further increased and provided to more people. Even food aid, which seems noble, is destructive, as it under-sells local farmers and can ultimately affect the entire economy of a poor nation. If the poorer nations are not given the sufficient means to produce their own food, if they are not allowed to use the tools of production for themselves, then poverty and dependency will continue. A new section has been added to introduce the issue of poverty pertaining to land rights, agriculture and hunger with many useful links. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Free Trade and Globalization / Causes of Poverty / Human Population / Genetically Engineered Food / Trade Related Issues
What does an ever increasing number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) mean? NGOs are non-profit organizations filling the gap where governments will not, or cannot function. In the past however, some NGOs from the wealthy nations have received a bad reputation in some developing nations because of things like arrogance, imposition of their views and so on. In recent years though, NGOs have been far more participatory and grassroots oriented which is a positive turn. However, the fact that there are so many NGOs popping up everywhere perhaps points to failures of international systems of politics, economics and rights. A new section has been started to look at this. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Causes of Poverty / Trade Related Issues
The IMF is delaying debt relief. Because some countries are not as aggressive in privatizing as the IMF would like, debt relief is being delayed. These conditionalities that are part of the flawed structural adjustment programs lead to a spiraling race to the bottom for the poor nations. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Causes of Poverty / Debt / Trade Related Issues
September 21, 2000
The current forms of globalization have led to many protests around the world. A new section has been added that provides more information about the media portrayal of the protestors and the issues that are being protested. As more and more people around the world are being negatively affected by the current corporate-led form of globalization, there are an increasing number of protests. While most have heard of the Seattle and Washington D.C. demonstrations against the WTO and the IMF/World Bank, respectively, there have been many around the world. Such protests have in fact been occurring for many years. Media portrayal by the corporate-owned mainstream of course, has been biased against the protestors. In some cases, mainstream media coverage on protests have been non-existant, including protests at the Sydney Olympics. Prague is another example where protests against an IMF and World Bank meeting will draw an estimated 20,000 people this week. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Free Trade and Globalization / Causes of Poverty / Trade Related Issues
How has the United States measured up with regards to international human rights treaties? Being the most powerful and influential nation in the world, combined with the claims of being the premier supporters of human rights and democracy around the world it is worth looking at how the rhetoric has matched the reality -- or not. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Human Rights / Geopolitics
Recently released documents show that as well as the US, Australia knew about the planned invasion of East Timor in 1975, and gave its tacit approval. 200,000 people died during the invasion and subsequent fighting and famine in East Timor. The invasion was with western backing from nations such as the USA, UK and Australia. Australia was the only nation to officially recognize the Indonesian occupation of East Timor as part of Indonesian sovereignty. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): East Timor / Geopolitics
The scale of the debt crisis is such that some countries end up paying far more in interest alone than the original amount borrowed. Nigeria for example, borrowed 5 billion US dollars between 1985 and 1986 and having paid back 16 billion US dollars, still owe around 28 billion US dollars. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Debt / Causes of Poverty / Trade Related Issues
September 11, 2000
Patterns of causes of poverty around the world are seen throughout history. There is a pattern of inequality caused by the powerful subjugating the poor and keeping them dependent. Outside influence is often a large factor and access to trade and resources is the usual cause. It is often asked why the people of these countries do not stand up for themselves. In most cases when they do, they face incredible and often violent oppression from their ruling elites and from outsiders who see their national interests threatened. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Causes of Poverty / Free Trade and Globalization / Trade Related Issues
More evidence is emerging about US and Belgian involvement in the overthrow of the first leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1960. The DRC has had to live with a legacy of violence during its 75 years of colonial rule which ended in 1960. Even since then, due to the vast, rich mineral resources, many nations have been involved both directly and indirectly in the conflicts that have seen millions killed. With little mention from many mainstream media sources. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Conflicts in Africa / Geopolitics
East Timor struggles to build from independence gained last year, while aid workers in West Timor, are murdered by militia. In retaliation of the death of a pro-Indonesian militia leader, three UN aid workers were murdered by militia in West Timor. It has been just over a year since East Timor gained independence from Indonesia, who backed militia that went on a rampage and massacred many East Timorese. A year on and there are still an estimated 100,000 refugees in West Timor. In East Timor, the rebuilding has been slow, with many institutions still to be fully set up. As the Indonesian military and pro Indonesian militia left East Timor last year, they left most buildings and institutions destroyed. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Geopolitics
An additional source of information on the Sierra Leone conflict has been added. This one is to an interesting African portal site called afrol. Sierra Leone has seen violent abuses and deaths of innocent civilians as well as the armed groups. As a fragile peace process is attempted, various national and international politics are at play. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Conflicts in Africa
September 5, 2000
Multinational corporations are able to prevent billions of dollars from being taxed. Through corporate crime, tax havens, transfer pricing and many other policies, both legal and illegal, billions of corporate dollars are avoided from being taxed. The much needed money would help developing (and developed) countries provide important social programs for their populations. Usually, these crimes, which often have far worse effects than individual crimes, go unaccounted. A new section has been added to introduce this issue. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Corporations / Free Trade and Globalization / Causes of Poverty / Trade Related Issues
Australia has recently decided to reduce cooperation with the United Nations on human rights issues because the UN criticized it. Australia has had some human rights problems (like most countries have). However, it seems that because the UN criticized it, it now no longer wants to face further criticism. Australia has also had a negative past in respect to its treatment of Aborigines. A short new section has been added that provides some links to start off from for more information. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Human Rights Issues
Structural Adjustment policies lead to a spiraling race to the bottom and maintain poverty of developing countries and continues their dependencies on the industrialized countries. Of the many effects, one is that commodities are exported more and more. Product-importing and commodity-exporting developing nations face poverty because most of the production moves overseas and reduces opportunities. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Causes of Poverty / Trade Related Issues
As well as mismanaged lending, the debt on developing countries is also due to corruption of the elite in some of those countries. Often, those same regimes that the West had put into power diverted much money into foreign banks. That same money was also loaned back. In some countries, the capital flight has been more than the debt itself. The poor are in effect subsidizing the rich. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Debt / Causes of Poverty / Trade Related Issues
An additional source of information on climate change and global warming has been added. This one is from the Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment. It provides a lot of information, for younger and older users alike, on a range of atmospheric issues, including air quality, acid rain, global warming and ozone depletion. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Global Warming / Environmental Issues
Some African nations refuse an offer from the US to fight AIDS. A US agency offered a billion dollars per year for five years in loans to African nations to help finance US treatments. However, those African nations realized that this would add to their debt traps, while increasing the profits of pharmaceutical companies and hence have refused. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Corporations and AIDS / AIDS around the World / Diseases -- Ignored Global Killers / Corporations and Medical Research
Under NAFTA, Mexico is ordered to pay a US firm 17 million dollars for not allowing it to set up a hazardous waste treatment and disposal site. Whether it is Canada, where it tried to prevent a US company from adding a harmful additive in fuel that affected its citizens, or it is the US where it prevents a Canadian company from doing similar things, all three nations face actions under NAFTA, by corporations whose bottom lines are affected. The corporations are more likely to succeed. This type of free trade is not to the benefit of those citizens. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Free Trade and Globalization / Corporations / Trade Related Issues / Environmental Issues
The US is possibly looking into development of new nuclear weapons. These would be lower yield and earth-penetrating. It would seem more likely that these are for offensive purposes than for defensive purposes. Given that most of the existing nuclear weapons treaties are under strain, this would not help. In fact, it could lead to additional insecurity. Find Out More »
- Related Section(s): Arms Control / Geopolitics
Global Issues
Ending world hunger will not end world poverty. People are hungry not because of lack of availability of food, but because they are too poor to afford the food. Politics and economic conditions that have led to poverty and dependency around the world would not be alleviated if food production is further increased and provided to more people. Even food aid, which seems noble, is destructive, as it under-sells local farmers and can ultimately affect the entire economy of a poor nation. If the poorer nations are not given the sufficient means to produce their own food, if they are not allowed to use the tools of production for themselves, then poverty and dependency will continue. A new section has been added to introduce the issue of poverty pertaining to land rights, agriculture and hunger with many useful links.