|
|
Past Forums
Climate Change
Disability & Development
Food & Nutrition
Gender Equality
Human Rights
International Development
Water & Sanitation
Global Health
Climate Change
In countries all over the world, people living in poverty are already suffering from the effects of climate change. Extreme weather and an increase in natural disasters are jeopardising the ability of poor communities to grow crops, access water, and house and feed themselves. It is the poor who are the least able to protect themselves and the most likely to suffer from climate disasters. They are the most vulnerable to disease and are more likely to have to leave their homes in search of water during droughts or to escape flooding.
Climate change is not simply an environmental problem, but a fundamental development problem. There is widespread agreement that climate change has been caused by the past development of today’s rich countries. Unless greenhouse gas emissions are cut drastically, climate-related poverty will be exacerbated.
Can the developing world survive Climate Change?
Wednesday, 30 July 2008, Melbourne VIC
Carbon Trading Exposed: the impacts of carbon trading on the world's poor.
Wednesday, 15 July 2009, Adelaide SA
The Human Face of Climate Change
Thursday, 20 August 2009, Sydney NSW
top
Disability & Development
Poor people are disproportionately disabled, and people with disabilities are disproportionately poor." – Robert Holzmann, Director of the World Bank's Social Protection Department, 2001.
People with a disability are among the poorest of the poor, while people living in poverty are more at risk of becoming disabled. Of the 600 million people with a disability worldwide, about 450 million live in the developing world. Of the one billion people living on under $1 per day, 260 million have a disability.
Some 150 million children with a disability lack access to child care services, schools, recreation and other social services, and are likely to remain illiterate and untrained. Disabled women and girls face triple discrimination because they are female, carry impairment and are amongst the poorest of the poor. Disability and poverty reinforce one another, intensifying marginalisation and insecurity.
Inclusion: World Development & Disability
Tuesday, 7 April 2009, Melbourne VIC
top
Food & Nutrition
Almost one billion people don't get enough food to eat. When crops fail due to weather or disease poor rural communities, who have no other resources to pay for food, go hungry. Another major cause of hunger is conflict. Wars destroy agricultural fields, kill farmers and displace millions of people around the world.
This means less food is produced and families who flee and become refugees lose their incomes and livelihoods. In regions like southern Africa, food production is being affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic, which has left many farmers sick and unable to grow food. The Global Food Crisis brought other major causes of hunger into sharp focus. These include climate change, and a rapid rise in food prices linked to high oil prices, increased biofuel production and export restrictions.
Is food only for those who can affort it?
Tuesday 3rd March 2009, Geelong VIC
We all need food - but do we all get it?
Tuesday 3rd March 2009, Geelong VIC
Will the world be able to feed itself in 2050?
Wednesday, 10 September 2008, Adelaide SA
top
Gender Equality
Gender equality is a key ingredient in reducing poverty and is a basic human right. Gender inequality restricts a country's economic growth, yet currently:
- 500,000 women die each year from complications during pregnancy – 99% of them in developing countries.
- Two-thirds of the 800 million people in the world who lack basic literacy skills are female.
- Women hold just 3% of seats in the parliaments of the Pacific Islands, 19% in East Asia.
When women and men have relative equality economies grow faster, children's health improves and there is less corruption. Investment in women's and girls' education and health yields some of the highest returns of all development investments, including reduced rates of maternal mortality, better educated and healthier children, and increased household incomes. Gender equality means access to economic resources, participation and leadership in decision making, respect for the human rights of women, and an increased capacity to tackle gender inequalities.
What needs to change for women to get a fair go?
Wednesday, 6 August 2008, Sydney NSW
Women of the world
Sunday, 8 March 2009, Adelaide SA
How women can change the world
Wednesday, 10 March 2010, Melbourne VIC
top
Global Health
Too many people in developing countries suffer from debilitating diseases that are preventable.
Investing in health helps lay the groundwork for skilled and productive societies, and ensures that the poor can expand their range of choices, improve their opportunities and living standards.
Despite advances in the availability of health care, technology and medicine in many developing countries, there are a number of areas – such as women's and children's health, domestic violence, HIV and AIDS, malaria and the quality of health education – in which progress is either often slow or negative and the need for action is compelling.
- Half the world’s population is at risk from malaria
- 33 million people live with HIV
- In developing countries, less than 50% of people have access to adequate sanitation facilities
Many Australian organisations are working to develop better health care in developing countries so that the poor can have more opportunities, be more productive and lead better lives. Find out more ...
Why are the most vulnerable forgotten?
Wednesday, 25 November 2009, Melbourne VIC
Coughs and Sneezes go Global - The race against the spread of infectious disease
Thursday, 20 May 2010, Brisbane QLD
Human Rights
Human rights recognise and respect the inherent value and dignity of all people, whatever their nationality, place of residence, gender, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, language, or any other status. We are all equally entitled to our human rights without discrimination. Human rights are often expressed and guaranteed by law which lays down obligations for governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect the rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups.
In the context of international development, human rights can encapsulate the concepts of participation, empowerment, accountability and rights, or specific rights issues such as human trafficking, the safety and repatriation of refugees, and the right to safe drinking water, food, good sanitation, gender equality and education.
Beyond Charity: Incorporating Human Rights into Development
Thursday, 21 August 2008, Perth WA
Workers or Slaves? Human Trafficking and World Poverty
Monday, 11 May 2009, Brisbane QLD
top
International Development
This topic covers a range of subjects and issues, such as New Partnerships in Development, the Millennium Development Goals, Does Aid Work? and others under the umbrella of alleviating poverty worldwide.
Why does Australia give aid?
Australia gives aid because we want to help those less fortunate than ourselves. Nearly one billion people live on less than $1 a day. Two billion people have no access to clean water, while 150 million children never get the chance to go to school. Australians believe that giving aid is the right thing to do; it makes a real difference to other people's lives.
Australia gives aid because it improves our regional security. Australia helps countries improve law and order, prevent and recover from conflict, and manage a range of transnational threats such as people trafficking, illicit drugs and communicable diseases. By helping to build stronger communities and more stable governments, we improve our own economic and security interests.
New Partnerships in Development
Tuesday, 7 October 2008, Canberra ACT
The Millennium Development Goals - where are we up to?
Monday, 17 November 2008, Brisbane QLD
Does aid work?
Tuesday, 17 March 2009, Sydney NSW
Growing Cities = Growing Slums?
Wednesday, 29 April 2009, Perth WA
Beyond Paradise - Securing the future of the Pacific
Wednesday, 22 July 2009, Brisbane QLD
Ending poverty in Africa - what can Australia do?
Tuesday, 22 September 2009, Perth WA
Stand Up Against Poverty
Wednesday, 14 October 2009, Sydney NSW
What responsibilities do Australians owe the global poor?
Tuesday, 16 February 2010, Melbourne VIC
What does it mean to be secure? Human security in our region
Wednesday, 5 May 2010, Sydney NSW
Australia the Peace Builder, Post-Conflict Issues in our Region: What can Australia do?
Wednesday, 9 June 2010, Perth WA
top
Water & Sanitation
The lack of clean water, basic sanitation and good hygiene are at crisis point in poorer countries. It's a situation that traps people in a vicious cycle of poverty because it spreads disease and infection, costs lives, increases infant mortality, deprives people of their dignity, forces women into strenuous labour (walking long distances carrying heavy vessels to collect water) and prevents children from going to school (due to illness and spending time collecting water). These are also basic human rights, yet:
- 900 million people live without access to safe water
- 2.5 billion people lack adequate sanitation
- 1.8 million people die every year from diarrhoeal/gastrointestinal diseases.
If we are to make headway in the fight against poverty, water, sanitation and hygiene need to improve first and foremost.
If water is life, what do we do when it runs out?
Wednesday, 29 October 2008, Melbourne VIC
|