by Georgia Stewart

Created on: May 05, 2008   Last Updated: December 13, 2009

The first rule of academia is to begin by asking these questions: Who, what, where, when and why? This is the approach I'll take and summarize it with one question, which I consider to be the most important one anyone can ever ask. There are many big questions I'd like to ask and often do but I'm going to highlight the one with the most urgency.

I could consider important questions such as those about life after death and eternity but I think that seeing as we’re already in eternity, simply wearing the clothing of mortals at the moment and that who we are as human spiritual beings now defines what we are eternally, I’d rather focus on the here and now. Urgent questions require answers and praxis, or action and I can play a part in changing the human situation.

The ‘who’ of my question are those suffering in the world, the hungry and oppressed ones. Though there are many forms of suffering, when it's caused by bad government, businesses, individuals and greed, in other words by people, it can and ought to be avoided. In Bob Geldof's book about Band Aid, when bands the world over got together to raise money for Africa, there's a photograph of a three year old boy taken in the last few days of his life. Geldof watched as his intestines fell out. All it would've taken to avoid his death was a little food each day. How much food does the Western world throw into garbage cans each day?

What is the reason for people living in poverty when the earth provides enough food, water and shelter for everyone? Put simply it's because many people desire more than others, or just too much. It begins by countries attempting to conquer other countries in order to possess their land. Those with businesses and money want larger businesses and more money. The individual desires a more technically equipped car, a larger house or more expensive clothes or perfume. Basically greed causes poverty because to own too much is to take it from another.

Where is poverty and suffering? Though I live in a first world country I see it all around me, in the homeless people begging in the streets and sleeping in doorways. It encompasses the whole world because no country is without its poor and marginalized ones.

When is this occurring? I assume that there have always been poor and underprivileged peoples but it's ironic that in this age of vast wealth and technology poverty is an epidemic, often hidden to us because we feel helpless and when we think of it it hurts so we

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>