Author: Priscilla McCelvey

SEOUL, South Korea — Whether their reason is to seek asylum, livelihood, stability or a combination of the three, North Korean refugees have long required significant help starting over in their new home nations. International, national and local organizations all take part in this process. The complex process of migration and resettlement has become a critical issue in the global arena. In addition, discussion has increased over the role that states play in supporting people who are not citizens. Recently, there has been a shift from focusing on humanitarian aid towards development aid when working with refugees. Consequently, organizations that facilitate the integration of migrants…

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar — With the borders of Myanmar (Burma) opened in the summer of 2012, travellers are flocking to this country to witness life from another era. There is minimal influence from Western corporations and chains to impact the culture, making tourism in Myanmar a fascinating experience for any traveller. While the government heavily regulates where travellers can go because of civil wars and ethnic conflict, the recent election of Aung San Suu Kyi in November may have a positive impact on the country as a whole. At present, most travellers follow a triangle-style route, stopping in Yangon (Rangoon), Mandalay…

SIEM REAP — In Cambodia, while there have been some improvements since the genocide and subsequent famine of the late 1970s under the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot regime, economic inequality is high, gender inequality is normalized, and poverty is rampant throughout the nation. Rachna Satrei, a local non-governmental organization (NGO), is trying to change that. Located in the city of Siem Reap, this small organization is situated less than five miles from the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat, for which the city is most well known. Now 10 years old, the NGO is run out of the house of its…

SEATTLE — Politicians who allocate funds for U.S. foreign aid and other programs, must consider a cost-benefit analysis regarding the effectiveness of the program at hand. The country spends billions on maintaining foreign bases, while U.S. foreign aid receives a fraction of that amount. Is it time to reconsider this approach to spending? Generally, American foreign bases are regarded as a means for national security and peace worldwide. These bases were mostly established in the post-World War II and Cold War era. As discussed by American University professor David Vine in his new book, “Garrisoning the Globe,” many bases were…

SEATTLE — The importance of teamwork cannot be overstated with regards to the development world; particularly, the importance of international partnerships between organizations is a critical tool for the success of global development initiatives. While making partnerships between organizations requires significant time, effort and maintenance, the benefits of such connections are significant. International partnerships can be created between organizations of the same level, such as NGOs, national bodies, corporations, philanthropic foundations and local and national civil society organizations. These lateral partnerships can benefit organizations working towards a similar or shared goal. In turn, organizations benefit from an increased fundraising base,…

SEATTLE – International development policies not only seek to solve short-term problems such as famine relief, they also work to provide sustainable solutions to problems that lead to poverty and societal instability. The following are some ways that international development policies focus on strengthening communities and preventing societal collapse: International development aims to be sustainable in order to reduce the negative impact humans have on the environment. Among the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, there is a focus on reducing human consumption, promoting sustainable development programs, sustainable fishing and clean energy use. Presently, the Clean Development Mechanism, a measure by the…

SEATTLE — Pressure intensifies for the United Nations to add aid worker welfare to the agenda of the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016. A petition started last July by Brendan McDonald, a humanitarian worker with the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva, Switzerland, calls on participants of the Summit to “recognize the physical, emotional and mental suffering aid workers endure during the course of their work and to include staff welfare as a key issue in the Summit.” So far the petition has garnered over 1,300 signatures with a goal of reaching 2,000. Specifically, the…

SEATTLE — While Jared Diamond’s book “Guns, Germs, and Steel” explores the histories of various societies around the world, its findings remain relevant today. As societies grow increasingly connected and power dynamics shift, Diamond’s arguments prove relevant toward globalization, imperialism and food aid reform. For those unfamiliar with the book, “Guns, Germs, and Steel,” it was published in 1997 and explores factors leading to different rates of development around the world. Ultimately, he concludes that domestication of plants and animals enables societies to develop technology and, consequently, gain power. He argues in favor of a concept called “environmental determinism,” meaning…

SEATTLE — Half the Sky, published in 2010 by two journalists, Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, looks at women’s issues worldwide and argues in favor of women’s empowerment as a means to reduce global poverty. Five years after its publication, Half the Sky has become part of a canon of literature for women’s rights and raised much awareness on the state of affairs for women around the world. The inspiration for Half the Sky comes from a Chinese proverb: women hold up half of the sky. By unlocking the potential for women, countries improve drastically. To bring weight to…

SEATTLE — Let’s face it – being an activist and advocate is hard work. The news and skeptics around us serve as constant reminders of how difficult it may be to make progress in the realms of global poverty and human rights. However, it doesn’t make that fight any less worthwhile. Here are ten quotes on the importance of activism and global citizenship: “I’ve always thought that you don’t love a country by turning a blind eye to its crimes and to a problem. The way that you love a country is by seeing everything that it’s done wrong, all…