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| Poor countries face many domestic challenges. One of the biggest challenges is debt. Developing countries are saddled with debt that they cannot pay back. This means that money that is desperately needed for the development of infrastructure such as healthcare systems, clean water, roads and schools, is spent on repaying loans and interest. Every day Sub-Saharan Africa, the poorest region of the world, spends $30 million repaying debts to the world's rich countries and international institutions. |
| No progress can be made without improvements in infrastructure. Without schools or access to healthcare and drinkable water, children cannot thrive. Without access to loans and microcredits, adults cannot invest in the seeds, fertilizers and tools that they need to farm beyond subsistence. Even if farmers are able to grow a surplus, without a functional market structure and adequate roads, they will never earn the income necessary to lift them out endless poverty. |
| Impoverished hungry people are focused on finding food for themselves and their families and rarely have the time or energy to participate politically. This can lead to political instability, corruption and conflicts over limited local resources. |
| Debt relief and investment in infrastructure are essential elements in alleviating the challenges faced by many poor countries. |
For more information about these issues, please follow the links below.
- OECD - CONFLICT AND PEACE
OECD operates on the premise that conflict prevention is central to poverty reduction and sustainable development.
www.oecd.org/dac/conflict
- WORLD WATCH INSTITUTE - GLOBAL SECURITY
This web site provides analysis of how social, economic, demographic, and environmental pressures and the complex interactions among them connect to insecurity, instability, and violence.
www.worldwatch.org/features/security/
- GLOBAL ISSUES - CONFLICTS IN AFRICA
This site provide historical background and analysis for the major conflict areas in Africa.
www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/Africa.asp
- HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH - ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS
This page addresses political and civil rights - free speech, fair trial, and political participation - and economic, social and cultural rights like healthcare and education. Also includes links to the UN International Covenants on Economic, Social and Cultural rights and International Covenant on Civil and political rights.
www.hrw.org/doc/?t=esc
- AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Amnesty International tracks human rights abuses around the world. They have an extensive library of press releases and reports, which can be searched by country and subject.
www.amnesty.org/
- JUBILEE USA
Jubilee lobbies political leaders of the G-8 nations to forgive the debt of the world's impoverished nations.
www.jubileeusa.org/
- MICROCREDIT SUMMIT CAMPAIGN
This campaign seeks to reach 100 million of the world's poorest families, especially the women of those families, with credit for self-employment and other financial and business services by the year 2005.
www.microcreditsummit.org/
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