Author: Sarah Coiro

SEATTLE — Perhaps the most pernicious characteristic of poverty is its ability to corner families and individuals into a low standard of living for the long term. Without a means of finding employment, or even dinner for that matter, escaping poverty can be an impossible feat. Further, businesses are hesitant to join forces with anti-poverty initiatives as they tend to not generate a great deal of revenue. A cheap initiative to facilitate upward mobility for the poor is necessary in moving towards a solution to poverty. In Paraguay, social entrepreneur and founder of Fundación Paraguaya Martin Burt created a possible…

SEATTLE — Across the developing world, citizens turn to authorities for solutions to their problems ranging anywhere from an economic crisis to civil rights injustices. When traditional democratic processes are not enough, civil protest is often an effective alternative to shed light on areas of concern. Civil protests are especially effective because these movements attack the very nature of authority figures. For successful civil protest in developing countries, activists must directly challenge the cooperation, obedience and loyalty of constituents to undermine the authority’s role as decision-maker in important matters. Rather than merely fighting the cause with force, civil protests change…

CANBERRA — The history of Australian Aboriginals has been one wrought with social injustice and aggression from European immigrants. Of these injustices, food insecurity and lack of nutrition continue to be leading causes of illness and disease among rural Aboriginal communities. The inability to access and afford nourishing food poses an enormous threat to the wellbeing of rural and marginalized communities. To be considered food-secure entails availability of nutritious food, access to adequate amounts and an ability to make use of the food including proper cooking and hygiene practices. The aboriginal community is extremely diverse with a culture deeply rooted…

SEATTLE — Digital literacy in the developing world plays an important role in economic growth, social progress and the expansion of knowledge. The past few decades have marked a huge increase in the use of communication technologies worldwide; however, the benefits of digital technology can only be realized if the user has the skills and competencies that they require. Digital literacy means having the ability to use technology in order find resources, critically evaluate these sources and create information. In fact, UNESCO considers digital literacy a necessary life skill to succeed in this technology-driven era. World leaders must not only…

While China’s autocratic government might not be widely endorsed by other developed countries, its recent poverty reduction tactics warrant international recognition. Globally, recent poverty reduction in China has been the most efficient and effective the world has ever seen. Between 1990 and 2011, China lifted 439 million poor people out of poverty, contributing significantly to global poverty reduction. This feat also made it the first developing country to achieve the first Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty. China’s extreme success in combating poverty can be attributed to a number of different factors, including increased urbanization and economic growth nationally. However,…

SEATTLE — Communicable, or contagious, diseases have plagued developing countries forever, sparking public health efforts to increase vaccinations and prevent infection. However, noncommunicable or chronic diseases are the current leading cause of mortality worldwide and are increasingly making an impact in developing countries. Diseases of long duration and slow progression with no infectious agent can be classified as noncommunicable in nature. The most prevalent of these noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and the biggest killers, are heart disease and stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes. Diabetes alone is responsible for more than 1.6 million deaths annually, hitting both developed countries as…

COPENHAGEN — The small country of Denmark is often viewed as a model society for metrics like gross national happiness and high employment rates. Their poverty reduction tactics are equally successful and foreign governments may be able to pick up a few tips on how Denmark combats poverty rates. Overall employment in a country is one way to measure success of poverty reduction methods as well as minimum wage and wage dispersion statistics. According to an international group called Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Denmark’s employment rates are currently measured at around 72.8 percent placing Denmark 7th highest…

SEATTLE — HIV and AIDs have plagued developing and developed countries for decades; uncurable and often untreatable, these diseases are often viewed as the ultimate in deadly conditions. Despite their severity, it is important that public health initiatives in developing countries also work to eliminate STDs and STIs that are curable and can benefit most from aid. Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases in developing countries is essential to the overall improvement of public health. The global burden of STIs is attributed to eight major infections including syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and human papillomavirus (HPV) among several others. The danger in these…

NEW DELHI — In 2015, about 1.2 million Indian children died before reaching the age of five. This confirmed India as having the highest number of child deaths in the world. Further, infant mortality remains as high as 63 deaths per 1,000 live births. In order to address these startling statistics, government and health officials are taking action to prioritize reducing child mortality in India. Child mortality rates can be attributed to one of two main categories of factors: access to quality medical care before and after birth and social determinants such as financial status and community health education. While…

SEATTLE — The idea of a health care system capable of providing financial support for health services to an entire country’s population may seem idyllic and unattainable at first glance. However, in their newest agenda, the U.N. is developing strategies to work towards a Universal Health Care system in the hopes of doing just that. The U.H.C. In order to understand how the future of Universal Health Care (U.H.C.) will affect both individuals and entire countries, it is important to understand exactly what U.H.C. is and what it is not. According to the W.H.O., Universal Health Care means that all…