10-09-2004, 09:20 PM
POVERTY, FAMINE, STARVATION…BECAUSE OF GOD OR HUMAN?
Half the world -- nearly three billion people -- live on less than two dollars a day. 1
The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the poorest 48 nations (i.e. a quarter of the world's countries) is less than the wealth of the world's three richest people combined. 2
Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. 3
Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn't happen. 4
51 percent of the world's 100 hundred wealthiest bodies are corporations. 5
The wealthiest nation on Earth has the widest gap between rich and poor of any industrialized nation. 6
The poorer the country, the more likely it is that debt repayments are being extracted directly from people who neither contracted the loans nor received any of the money. 7
20% of the population in the developed nations, consume 86% of the worlds goods. 8
The top fifth of the world's people in the richest countries enjoy 82% of the expanding export trade and 68% of foreign direct investment -- the bottom fifth, barely more than 1%. 9
In 1960, the 20% of the world's people in the richest countries had 30 times the income of the poorest 20% -- in 1997, 74 times as much. 10
An analysis of long-term trends shows the distance between the richest and poorest countries was about:
3 to 1 in 1820
11 to 1 in 1913
35 to 1 in 1950
44 to 1 in 1973
72 to 1 in 1992 11
“The lives of 1.7 million children will be needlessly lost this year [2000] because world governments have failed to reduce poverty levels”12
The developing world now spends $13 on debt repayment for every $1 it receives in grants. 13
A few hundred millionaires now own as much wealth as the world's poorest 2.5 billion people. 14
“The 48 poorest countries account for less than 0.4 per cent of global exports.”15
“The combined wealth of the world's 200 richest people hit $1 trillion in 1999; the combined incomes of the 582 million people living in the 43 least developed countries is $146 billion.”16
“Of all human rights failures today, those in economic and social areas affect by far the larger number and are the most widespread across the world's nations and large numbers of people.”17
“Approximately 790 million people in the developing world are still chronically undernourished, almost two-thirds of whom reside in Asia and the Pacific.”18
“7 Million children die each year as a result of the debt crisis. 8525038 children have died since the start of the year 2000 [as of March 24, 2001].”19
For economic growth and almost all of the other indicators, the last 20 years [of the current form of globalization, from 1980 - 2000] have shown a very clear decline in progress as compared with the previous two decades [1960 - 1980]. For each indicator, countries were divided into five roughly equal groups, according to what level the countries had achieved by the start of the period (1960 or 1980). Among the findings:
Growth: The fall in economic growth rates was most pronounced and across the board for all groups or countries.
Life Expectancy: Progress in life expectancy was also reduced for 4 out of the 5 groups of countries, with the exception of the highest group (life expectancy 69-76 years).
Infant and Child Mortality: Progress in reducing infant mortality was also considerably slower during the period of globalization (1980-1998) than over the previous two decades.
Education and literacy: Progress in education also slowed during the period of globalization. 20
“Today, across the world, 1.3 billion people live on less than one dollar a day; 3 billion live on under two dollars a day; 1.3 billion have no access to clean water; 3 billion have no access to sanitation; 2 billion have no access to electricity.”21
The richest 50 million people in Europe and North America have the same income as 2.7 billion poor people. “The slice of the cake taken by 1% is the same size as that handed to the poorest 57%.”22
The world's 497 billionaires in 2001 registered a combined wealth of $1.54 trillion, well over the combined gross national products of all the nations of sub-Saharan Africa ($929.3 billion) or those of the oil-rich regions of the Middle East and North Africa ($1.34 trillion). It is also greater than the combined incomes of the poorest half of humanity. 23
A mere 12 percent of the world's population uses 85 percent of its water, and these 12 percent do not live in the Third World. 24
What these details describes you. These are because of God or We Human Being?
What behind these solvable inequalities in this world?
If it’s solvable then why they are still exists?
Do you have any guess about the reason behind this evil inequality?
Do you have any?
Yes! It is “Interest Based Economical System” and “Unequal Distribution of Wealth” and “Corrupted Leaders of the Nations” in this world
In Interest Based Economical System, rich grows richer, poor grows poorer. It’s an economical fraud.The developing world now spends $13 on debt repayment for every $1 it receives in grants. 13
Just for $1 they are paying $13 on debt. What a cruel injustice is this. If these countries continued to pay such a big amount as a interest for small amount of debt it borrowed,
Where is the room for development in that country and where is the wellbeing for those people in that country? The result is what we are witnessing silently. Uncountable numbers of death of millions of children, women, people because of hunger, disease, unhealthy environment, tainted water, illiteracy, crime rate, lists goes on and on.
And when you consider the issues of poverty, famine starvation they are deliberate handy work of human to achieve their dirty goals.
“In Somalia, Sudan, Liberia, North Korea, Burma and Afghanistan, governments
and military leaders are holding innocent people hostage and starving them for political ends, sometimes with appalling cruelty” (The politics of hunger, By Ignacio Ramonet)
“Consider, for example, the right to food. Food is not in short supply. In fact, food products have never been so abundant. There is enough available to provide each of the Earth’s inhabitants with at least 2,700 calories a day. But production alone is not enough. The people who need the food must be able to buy it and consume it. And that is precisely the problem. Thirty million people a year die of hunger. And 800 million suffer from chronic malnutrition.” (The politics of hunger, By Ignacio Ramonet)
We human are being letting our fellow human beings starve to death. What a shame full act we are doing. Is these are inevitable? There is nothing inevitable about this. Climatic problems are often predictable. We can often nip a famine in the bud in a matter of weeks. And yet hunger continues to decimate whole populations. Why? Because hunger has become a political weapon. The dirty weapon called “Economical Sanctions”. This cruel weapon killed millions of people around the world for nothing but empty egos in the minds of incapable leaders.
While governments as a whole reason for this cruelty by their economical and foreign policies, we as a individual human being also one among the reason for that injustice.
According to a report (25)
Basic education for everyone in the world 6 Billions U.S. $
Cosmetics in the United States 8 Billions U.S. $
Water and sanitation for everyone in the world 9 Billions U.S. $.
Ice cream in Europe 11 Billions U.S. $.
Reproductive health for all women in the world 12 Billions U.S. $
Perfumes in Europe and the United States 12 Billions U.S. $
Basic health and nutrition for everyone in the world 13 Billions U.S. $
Pet foods in Europe and the United States 17 Billions U.S. $
Business entertainment in Japan 35 Billions U.S. $., Cigarettes in Europe 50 Billions U.S. $
Alcoholic drinks in Europe 105 Billions U.S. $, Narcotics drugs in the world 400 Billions U.S. $
Military spending in the world 780 Billions U.S. $
See the analogy in the above statements, individual people spending more money just for feeding their pet than their fellow soul carrying human beings. Is feeding pet is more important than feeding fellow human? Is perfume is more important for ladies than vital health of their fellow sisters in all over the world? Is cosmetics is more important than the basic education of the children all over the world?
Water and sanitation for healthy life is vital or just ice cream? Cigarettes, Alcohol,
Narcotics drugs, Deadly weapons were ever saved any life?
And is there any order or compulsion from any regimes in any country on the earth to buy this extra, not vital luxury items and life killings things. We, individuals consuming these items just because of our inner desires without considering the needs of others. Even we are ready to buy these luxury items by borrowing debt for interest. If most of the human obeys the commandments of Almighty Allah, avoid extravagances and considers the need of fellow humans, then we can’t eradicate poverty from the earth?
Al-Quran (17:26) “And render to the kindred their due rights, as (also) to those in want, and to the wayfarer: But squander not (your wealth) in the manner of a spendthrift.”
And while considering the contributions of rulers of the nations for this injustice, it is huge.
Corruption, it is the threatening word which jeopardizing the well being of the people and social developments. What actually means corruption? Simply it’s looting the wealth of people. The money allotted for the development of society and individual people is going to the pockets of the persons in the power in dirty ways. Then what is the result? The result is sufferings of the people.
“In one World Bank survey, more than 150 high-ranking public officials and top citizens from over 60 developing nations ranked corruption as the biggest impediment to economic development and growth in their countries.
When corruption enters the higher levels of officialdom, it can have wide-reaching and devastating effects. Corrupt officials in high places may misuse international aid, abandon crucial development projects, or keep living standards impossibly low because of excessive spending.”
(See the “Cost Of Corruption” in http://www.un.org/events/10thcongress/2088b.htm)
yet we see the poverty, famine, starvation, corruption and reasons for those in brief.
It is possible to eradicate poverty, corruption, etc…?
Is there any solution in the face of the planet Earth to eradicate poverty, corruption, etc…?
Is there any?
Yes “ISLAM”.
The wonderful economical system called “ZAKAHT”,the third pillar of Islam.
It was created the economical revolution, social justice. Its is important to note that
All the ways which Islam shows are not mere a hypothesis, every one was implemented by beloved Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) in the society and shown proved result.
If any person has 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver or equivalent amount of savings he or she must to pay 2.5% of the Value from that saving in every year in charity.
Zakat is a symbol of one’s obligation to recognize the rights of others and to be in sympathy with them in pain or in sorrow. This wonderful system will eradicate the poverty from the face of the earth for surety along with Islamic banking system. It’s the interest less banking system.
As listed above that the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the poorest 48 nations (i.e. a quarter of the world's countries) is less than the wealth of the world's three richest people combined. 2
Is these richest people cant pay their contribution?. If they do then where is the place for poverty, starvation or famine related deaths?
As we seen before the interest based economical system mounts money in a small group of people and make others to live in extreme distress. In Islam Allah prohibited all form of interests and interest based money lending system. See what Allah, The Almighty says about usury:
“Those who devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch Hath driven to madness. That is because they say: "Trade is like usury," but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. Those who after receiving direction from their Lord, desist, shall be pardoned for the past; their case is for Allah (to judge); but those who repeat (The offence) are companions of the Fire: They will abide therein (for ever).
Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity: For He loveth not creatures ungrateful and wicked.
O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and give up what remains of your demand for usury, if ye are indeed believers.
If ye do it not, Take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger. But if ye turn back, ye shall have your capital sums: Deal not unjustly, and ye shall not be dealt with unjustly.”
Al-Quran (2:275 – 279)
Allah declared war against those who practice usury, this makes us to have clear picture of deadly consequence of Interest.
Allah says to show mercy on the debtor.
Al-Quran (2:280) “If the debtor is in a difficulty, grant him time Till it is easy for him to repay. But if ye remit it by way of charity, that is best for you if ye only knew.”
And Allah encourages us to give loans in this way
Al-Quran (57:11) “Who is he that will Loan to Allah a beautiful loan? For ((Allah)) will increase it manifold to his credit, and he will have (besides) a liberal Reward.”
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), His heart always wept for poors and needy said
“If your neighbor suffered in hunger you do not eat full stomach”
If each and every one follows this, surely they will consider the needs of fellow human beings, avoid extravagance and will show them mercy.
Allah says in Glorious Quran
Al-Quran (25:67) “Those who, when they spend, are not extravagant and not niggardly, but hold a just (balance) between those (extremes);”
Al-Quran (20:81) “(Saying): "Eat of the good things We have provided for your sustenance, but commit no excess therein, lest My Wrath should justly descend on you: and those on whom descends My Wrath do perish indeed!”
ISLAM is the only powerful tool to fight against the dirty materialistic evil thought and to give justice, peace and prosperity to the world.
Now say
POVERTY, FAMINE, STARVATION… BECAUSE OF GOD OR HUMAN?
Wassalam
Soon I will meet you in another article Inshallah.
Yours brother in faith
M. A. Hashim Munawar, B.Sc., M.C.A
NOTES
1)http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Facts.asp#25
2) Ignacio Ramonet, The politics of hunger, Le Monde Diplomatique, November 1998
3) The State of the World's Children, 1999, UNICEF
4) State of the World, Issue 287 - Feb 1997, New Internationalist
5) Holding Transnationals Accountable, IPS, August 11, 1998
6) The Corporate Planet, Corporate Watch, 1997
7) Debt - The facts, Issue 312 - May 1999, New Internationalist
8) 1998 Human Development Report, United Nations Development Programme
9) 1999 Human Development Report, United Nations Development Programme
10) Ibid
11) Ibid
12) Missing the Target; The price of empty promises, Oxfam, June 2000
13) Global Development Finance, World Bank, 1999
14) Economics forever; Building sustainability into economic policyPANOS Briefing 38, March 2000
15) Human Development Report 2000, p. 82, United Nations Development Programme
16) Ibid, p. 82
17) Ibid, p. 73
18) World Resources Institute Pilot Analysis of Global Ecosystems, February 2001, (in the Food Feed and Fiber section). Note, that dispite the food production rate being better than population growth rate, there is still so much hunger around the world.
19) The home page of the Jubilee 2000 web site, as of March 24, 2001
20) The Scorecard on Globalization 1980-2000: Twenty Years of Diminished Progress, by Mark Weisbrot, Dean Baker, Egor Kraev and Judy Chen, Center for Economic Policy and Research, August 2001.
21) James Wolfenson, The Other Crisis, World Bank, October 1998, quoted from The Reality of Aid 2000, (Earthscan Publications, 2000), p.10
22) Larry Elliott, A cure worse than the disease, The Guardian, January 21, 2002
23) John Cavanagh and Sarah Anderson , World's Billionaires Take a Hit, But Still Soar, The Institute for Policy Studies, March 6, 2002
24) Maude Barlow, Water as Commodity - The Wrong Prescription, The Institute for Food and Development Policy, Backgrounder, Summer 2001, Vol. 7, No. 3
25) Consumerism, Volunteer Now! (undated)