1
No Poverty
What’s the Problem? It’s time to sit up and take note of how many people live in poverty today. We all know it. It’s hard to miss appeals asking for support, posters on the train, celebrity-endorsed adverts on TV, and your pals, asking for a few quid towards their charity run. So, what’s the reality of it? The reality is that 700 million people, or 10 per cent of the world population, still live in extreme poverty today. One out of five children live in extreme poverty. This means that they struggle to keep healthy, gain education, and even lack access to water and sanitation. We can see this poverty on our streets, in the increased need for food banks, but poverty is global. We need to support every citizen of the world, especially those for whom a job doesn’t even translate to fair pay or who have lost their livelihoods as a result of conflict or disaster. New research published by the UNU World Institute for Development Economics Research warns that the economic fallout from the global pandemic could increase global poverty by as much as half a billion people, or 8% of the total human population. This would be the first time that poverty has increased globally in thirty years, since 1990.
3 Green Zine 2021
Written by Nuala Clarke Illustration by Jenny Kohler
What can you do? • Speak up! Not everyone has money to donate but we can give our time and voices to help fight poverty. Check government policies and ensure that your vote goes to a party that looks to support the most disadvantaged people. Raise awareness about global poverty – information is power! • Help fund-raise for those in need. AUB has a RAG (Raising & Giving) Team dedicated to raising money for worthy causes through fun events. With RAG, you could find yourself trekking the 3 Peaks or organising a creative event for charity. Find them at @aubsu_rag • Be wise with your spending. Our economy is dependent on supporting businesses so make sure you think about which businesses you are supporting! Are their staff being paid fairly? Do their workers have rights? Could you switch out a regular food item for a Fairtrade one?
Sustainable Development Goals