Thursday, September 11, 2008
Poverty Reduction
I read today that the World Bank estimates that 1.4 billion people – a quarter of the ‘developing’ world – live in extreme poverty, defined as living on less than $1.25/day. Yet, according to World Bank data, the number of people in poverty in China fell from 835 million in 1981 to 207 million in 2008. China has experienced the largest and fastest poverty reduction in the history of the measurement used. Way to go, China! (Connie)
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"Poverty Reduction" makes it sound like just one more government program. But what they've accomplished really amounts to the greatest humanitarian accomplishment in history. From my perspective as a board member of Loaves and Fishes and as the person at Dakota County responsible for ending homelessness, I'm aware of what a big deal it is to make even a little change in these issues, and in the lives of many people. Whatever other criticisms we may have of Chinese government over the last few decades must be put in this perspective. They have done a really, really great thing for their people.
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