Author: Rafael Santa Maria

NUKU’ALOFA — The Kingdom of Tonga is an island nation in the south Pacific, east of Australia. It is a sparsely populated country that consists of numerous islands far removed from many communicable diseases that can spread in other regions of the world. Nevertheless, certain common diseases in Tonga disproportionately affect the population as a whole. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn travelers that they can contract diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid from contaminated food and water. A less prevalent disease that is present in Tonga is Zika virus, a virus that can…

VALETTA — Malta is a European country made up of a small cluster of islands in the center of the Mediterranean Sea. With a total area smaller than most major cities, Malta is one of the smallest and least inhabited countries in the world. State of the Economy and Human Rights Despite Malta’s miniscule size, the country is well-developed and in possession of a strong trade economy. Malta’s impressive per capita GDP, unemployment rate and other fiscal indicators demonstrate the island nation’s economic prosperity. Thanks to these economic triumphs, the population and human rights in Malta do not suffer from…

WELLINGTON — New Zealand, a remote and picturesque island nation, is one of the world’s most highly developed countries. It is classified as a high-income country by the World Bank and boasts a strong, diverse economy. In addition to its admirable economic success, New Zealand’s government is one of the most stable in the world. It is tied with Denmark as the least corrupt country in the world, with an incredible corruption perceptions score of 90 out of 100. In comparison, the U.S. score of 74 places it 17 spots behind New Zealand in terms of corruption perceptions. With such…

SANA’A — Political instability and economic growth are connected. The strong implications that politics can have for a country’s GDP and consumption help explain why politically unstable regions of the world tend to suffer from higher rates of poverty. Nowhere is this more apparent than countries in the midst of war and worsening poverty. Several countries in the Middle East strongly demonstrate the negative effects that political corruption or violence may have on the prosperity of the people. However, few countries in the region exhibit the connection between political and economic suffering as prominently as Yemen. Yemen is no stranger to…

SEATTLE — Laos, officially known as the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is a lower-middle income country with a small annual GDP of roughly $16 billion. According to the Asian Development Bank’s latest data from 2015, 23.2 percent of Laotians live below the poverty line, the second-highest poverty rate in Southeast Asia. Only Myanmar’s poverty is more prominent. Why is Laos poor? Like many of its Southeast Asian neighbors, European colonial rule and a disturbing lack of freedom makes Laos poor. Laos was a colony of France until 1953, and since then has…

SEATTLE — Foreign aid makes a real difference in the world. Money and resources going toward international development have the potential to save millions of lives. In the last few decades alone, global poverty has been significantly reduced. U.S. foreign aid can deter crime both internationally and domestically. Much of the success in the fight against global poverty is attributed to the U.S. government’s foreign aid spending and development agencies. Regardless, domestic politicians and everyday Americans often deride foreign aid spending as a naive and inconsequential form of charity. However, criticism of foreign aid fails to take into account the…

DODOMA — Tanzania is a country located in East Africa renown for its biodiversity, flourishing megafauna and sprawling serengeti plains. However, offsetting Tanzania’s luscious landscape is the country’s debilitating poverty, which stifles economic development in Tanzanian communities. Nearly half of Tanzania’s roughly 53 million residents suffer from poverty, and live off of less than $1.90 a day. Although poverty-related statistics are improving very slowly, the country will continue to require assistance now and in the foreseeable future. In addition to poverty, the country suffers from overall lack of development in political and economic sectors. Like many impoverished African countries, corruption,…

OTTAWA — Last month, Canada’s international development minister Marie-Claude Bibeau revealed the country’s new foreign aid spending budget, known as the International Assistance Policy. Similar to the women-oriented foreign policy programs implemented by Sweden and the Netherlands, Canada’s International Assistance Policy utilizes a feminist approach towards international development. The International Assistance Policy simultaneously focuses on promoting economic development in underprivileged countries worldwide and furthering gender equality. Using this policy, Canada hopes to spread its progressive values of inclusion and equality while making tangible advancements in international economic prosperity. According to the Canadian government, 15 percent of Canada’s bilateral international development…

SEATTLE — The Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) is an annual report compiled by the State Department that assesses the prevalence of human trafficking in foreign countries. Each year, the TIP Report analyzes the state of human trafficking and foreign aid problems in different countries internationally and measures the extent to which each country’s respective government works to end human trafficking. With the TIP Report, the U.S. government can better deliberate on action involving human trafficking and foreign aid. Countries are organized into one of three tiers based on their adherence to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, a law passed in…

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia, a Southeast Asian country bordered by Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, is one of the poorest countries on the continent. As of 2015, 14 percent of the population lives in poverty. In Southeast Asia, only Myanmar, Laos and the Philippines have higher poverty rates. Unfortunately, economic, social and political growth face a steep uphill battle in Cambodia. Like many other countries suffering from a high poverty rate, Cambodia bears scars from a deeply traumatic history which inhibit the country’s overall development. Similar to neighboring Laos and Vietnam, Cambodia was a colonial territory of France that became independent…