Poverty is sadly, the most widespread disaster in the world, and yet, we will never be free of its effects. Our population has been growing exponentially over the last century, and the Earth is simply not equipped to take it. Perhaps the 'Western' civilisation, those who maybe don't see poverty every day, has lost touch with what actually goes on in the world. We can be so caught up with our lives, and what's happening in our immediate surroundings that we forget the big picture.

I am not saying that there is no poverty in Western civilisation, because I know that there is. But the difference between the 'poor' in Western civilisation is that they are either in that situation because of their own fault, or they are not as poor as the people starving in Third World countries. But I am not expert.

Someone once said, that if you were on the doll (which is a benifit system in place for the unemployed) in Australia, you were in the top 5% of wage earners in the world. The doll, is not something many Australian's aspire to be on, and is really only enough to keep you surviving in our society. But it means that 95% of people in the world are worse off than them.

Poverty is not being able to look after one's self, not having the means for food, water, shelter or education, and is rampant in Third World countries. The saddest thing is that our society is not doing everything we could do to rid the world of this global disaster. Why? because if we were to give the amount of people living in poverty the same standard of living that we have become accostomed to, we would need four more Earths to accomodate thier basic needs. It cannot be done by building their society up. Therefore, the only way that we as a world community, can make poverty history, is to lower our standard of living. But how many of us rich folk are really willing to do that?

Its funny, people in the United States, the UK, Australia, all over Europe, can enjoy luxuries in life, are educated, and can literally do whatever they want to do. We have so much wealth, and because of our culture and our greediness, we are all unwilling to give this a way. In what kind of world do the rich people give nothing, and the poor people give everything? In this one.

One of my favourite stories is this: a man worked everyday of his life, and at the end of the week, he always had a dollar and a nickel. At church on Sundays, he would always give one of these two coins, if he was feeling generous, he would give the dollar, if he needed the money, he would give the nickle. One day, he was so strapped for cash, he decided to give none, but the preacher preached on giving, and he was so touched he gave both, and placed his financial situation in God's hands. Two years later, he was a millionare. He went accross the country telling people his story, and encouraging them to give everything they had, and telling them how much God had blessed them. Then in one church, an elderly lady was sitting in the front row, and the man noticed she had a small smile on her face. After he had shared his story, this woman came up to him, and said, 'What a wonderful story! Truly amazing how you gave everything....but I dare you to do it again.' The man didn't.

This is an illustration of our need to hold on to our wealth. So many people give speeches about making poverty history, but the truth is, it can't be achieved unless we sacrifice some of our own wealth. What is poverty? It is the cruel reality that millions are forced to suffer, because we are too selfish to do anything about it.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Cheetham.
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