Poverty Flashcards
Explain how Wars cause poverty
Many LEDCs suffer from continual conflicts with different groups trying to gain power
Destroy crops, homes, schools, hospitals, lives
Neighbouring countries that may have been developing have a sudden influx of refugees and then become poor again
Corrupt leaders use aid money to pay for weapons and armies — not feeding the people
Explain how Natural Disasters cause poverty
Many LEDCs are situated in areas where natural disasters are more frequent and more severe than anywhere else
Give evidence on how Natural Disasters cause poverty
An earthquake or a flood can destroy many thousands of homes and the farmland on which the inhabitants depend. Crops will not grow unless people have the wealth to sink wells, install pumps and organise an irrigation system
Nepal Earthquake
Explain how Debt causes poverty
Most LEDCs have to borrow money from the banks of developed countries to survive and begin to develop
the banks charge interest and it is difficult to pay back
Give evidence on how Debt causes poverty
In the early seventies Chile borrowed $3.9 billion. By 1982, the country had paid $12.8 billion in interest, but still owed money. This extra $9 billion could have been used to speed up Chile’s development — instead it went to countries that were rich
e.g. post WW1 Germany
Explain how Unfair Trade causes poverty
Often, rich counties develop the prices paid for products from LEDCs
Most poor people in LEDCs work in agriculture and one way for them to become richer would be for them to grow surplus crops and export them to earn money from rich countries — hard to do this
Rich countries use their wealth to protect their farmers so they pay subsidies to their farmers to grow crops, and put high tariffs on crops from LEDCs so that their products are more expensive
If MEDC farmers produce more crops than are needed they export them at lower prices than the LEDCs cash crops (e.g. tobacco, cotton)
Many people in LEDCs are starving because their land is used to grow cash crops instead of food
Give evidence on how Unfair Trade causes poverty
The price of cotton has fallen by 70% since 1996 costing poor countries $8 billion
Explain how HIV/AIDS cause poverty
Methods of safe sex and drugs to control diseases are too expensive for LEDCs
Give evidence on how HIV/AIDS cause poverty
South Africa has the largest number of people with HIV/AIDS in Africa — estimated that by 2010 one-quarter of all the children in South Africa would have lost their parents
children have no money, cannot get an education = poorer
Explain how Lack of education causes poverty
In poor countries everyone in the family must work or gather food. Children cannot get an education as the families cannot pay and the children must work
It is difficult to get out of poverty without education
What other factors cause poverty?
Poor governance (e.g. El Salvador) Lack of clean water leads to disease = low life expectancy so families have large number of children
How do some countries try to eliminate poverty?
Implementing infrastructures to protect themselves from natural disasters
Introducing schemes to encourage children to go to school
Using fair trade to protect their workers and economy from unfair pay
Relying on organisations to keep them out of poverty
Explain how do some countries try to eliminate poverty by implementing infrastructures to protect themselves from natural disasters
Hong Kong has implemented cyclone warning systems for protection
Explain how do some countries try to eliminate poverty by introducing schemes to encourage children to go to school
The UN provides boys with one cup of food if thy go to school and girls two cups as girls are less likely to receive an education
Explain how do some countries try to eliminate poverty by using fair trade to protect their workers and economy from unfair pay
Companies, such as Cadbury, only buy fair trade products
