Final Essay- Poverty

Kari Kukkonen
Mrs. Boresen
Expository Writing, Period: 4
Final Essay
19 May 2011

   In 2010, there were 925 million empty mouths in the world (www.worldhunger.org). There are 25,000 people, generally children, who die everyday because of hunger-related causes (www.poverty.com). Why? Poverty. It is a word that is heard much too often in the world today. It is, more often than not, tied to third world countries in Africa or South America. Poverty, however, has made its way into the lives of people in all corners of the globe, and it can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. Not only does it strike with hunger, but also those living in poor living conditions, with disease, contaminated water, too, live in poverty. Poverty is a problem that can be easily eliminated if people would be willing to do their part in stopping it.
   According to Peter Singer, it is our responsibility as decent human beings to help those who suffer do to poverty. In Singer's hypothetical situation, Bob spared his car on the train tracks by sacrificing the life of a child (Singer). When we decide to spend our money on unnecessary things, we are making the same decision that Bob made, by sacrificing the lives of children, and adults across the globe, rather than aid those who live in poverty. It is also Singer's belief that it is our duty to give to charity as much as we are able. By calculation, it is possible to help one child survive for only 200 dollars (Singer). If everyone in the world who is able sent 200 dollars to a charity such as UNICEF, the countries living in The main point of Singer's argument and idea for the solution to poverty is giving as much as we are able, to charities, rather than spending the excess money on ourselves (Singer). The solution to poverty is as easy as not eating out for a month, but instead, giving it to charity.
   Thomas Pogge, like Singer, is a philosopher that speaks out about the poverty issue. He, unlike Singer, believes that the reason that third world countries deal with poverty is the fault of the rich, and that it cannot be solved. It is Pogge's belief that rich people, and the rich countries keep the poor poor, and the rich rich, similar to an oligarchy. Likewise, he believes that the rich take advantage of countries lacking resources, which is the direct cause of poverty. The bottom 50% of the population holds 1.1% of the global wealth, whereas the top 10% of the population holds 85.1% (Pogge). Singer addressed this issue in his piece when talked about those who turn a blind eye to the atrocities taking place in underdeveloped countries. He believes that the reason the rich don't donate their money is because they feel that there is no need for them to do so, so long as others will (Singer). Pogge also believes that by inheriting the money from past generations, the rich also bring upon themselves the burden of their sin (Pogge). They do not understand the burden that they now carry, and, as Singer says, are ignorant to the needy and helpless. They are numb to it. They do not understand that the children of poverty are their children. Though Pogge may disagree, there are many who take Singer's stance, and believe that solving the issue of poverty is simple, as long as everyone does their part.
  Both Singer and Pogge make convincing and sound arguments about the now circulating topic of poverty. Singer believes that the only way to end poverty in the world is for everyone to donate to charity. Pogge, on the other hand, believes that there is no solution to poverty, because the rich will always be rich, and the poor will always remain poor. The poverty problem in the world is turning into a crisis, but it is possible to put a stop to it, as long as each person does their part in stopping it. Whether one sides with Pogge or Singer, every able person should do what they can to help make the world a better place, because all it takes is one raindrop to create a wave.

Work Cited

Pogge, Thomas. "Poverty and Human Rights."

Singer, Peter. ""Peter Singer's Solution to World Poverty," New York Times Sunday Magazine." UNet  Users' Home Pages. Web. 12 May 2011.
http://people.brandeis.edu/~teuber/singermag1.html. http://www.poverty.com/ http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/poverty/expert/docs/Thomas_Pogge_Summ ary.pdf