TRANSFORMING NATIONS in the DEVELOPING WORLD
Moving from a TRADITIONAL economy to a MARKET economy
based on traditions, rituals; common ownership of goods. LIMIT the choices for consumers. Small craftsman, farmers, etc.
Selling goods on the global market: raw materials, trying to create industry. Usually need LOANS from "GLOBAL NORTH."
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"Green Revolution" and sustainability
• How can nations industrialize but avoid all the negative effects of the Industrial Revolution we saw in England and America? • New farming methods, new tools...but not all farmers can afford it
• prices for goods dropped, people lose farms, MOVE to CITIES
OBSTACLES blocking Development?
• rising populations; pressure on governments to provide services (water, schools, health care)
• child labor a HUGE problem
• dependence on one crop or on foreign loans leads to economic instability
Lagos, Nigeria: fastest growing city in WORLD
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Other issues and changes?
• Need for more women's rights (family planning, health care, education, etc.)
• Religious fundamentalism can block road to peace
• Shantytowns: cities growing TOO FAST to keep up
Tough Economic Choices
Socialism or Capitalism?
• hopes to end foreign influence
• can be very inefficient
• tries to bridge gap between rich and poor
• market economies
• private ownership of property
• more control by foreigners
Cash crops or food?
• make a profit: coffee, cotton
• rely on IMPORTS for food
• dependent on ONE crop
• can feed your nation
• harder to grow cash crops; less money in nation's treasury!
Buying "Fair Trade" coffee or chocolate might cost more, but it ensures support for small, local farmers and communities in African nations.
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Natural Disasters, disease, and other problems facing the developing world?
• desertification: drought puts a strain on scarce resources
• urbanization: challenge is to KEEP UP with resources (jobs, schools, sanitation, etc.)
• environmental threats: cash crops can ruin land/wildlife, lead to ENDANGERED SPECIES
Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan, leads the drive for SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT in African nations. She created the Green Belt Movement to promote REFORESTATION, as well as jobs for women in Kenya and Tanzania. She's the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize (2004)
The Challenge of the AIDS crisis in Sub­
Saharan Africa
Roots of the problem? Lack of education/prevention programs, social taboo to talk about it, need for women's rights!
Of the orphans in each country, this map shows the percentages as the results of AIDS/HIV
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Positive changes: the rise of cell­phone technology
Power of SOCIAL MEDIA
http://action.worldbicyclerelief.org/page/s/better­than­walking
During May 2012, do the five rides above to enter to win a prize! Tweet your pictures to earn extra entries!
http://worldbicyclerelief.org/programs/withmyowntwowheels
http://worldbicyclerelief.org/pages/mission
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