10. Reduced Inequalities

SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities

Earth year 4,492,056,017
Mother Earth / Gaia‘s Blog

Mankind, My children

In my first blog post I asked that you commit to following my blog for the next few weeks to give me a chance to explain the most important issues affecting our joint survival. Subsequent Blogs have started to give you some facts about the biggest and most important Global issues that need to be addressed. In today’s Blog post I want to talk about the need to Reduce Inequalities. 

The Problem

Photo Courtesy: Expresso.pt

Income inequality has increased in recent decades. More than 75% of population now lives in societies where income distribution is now more unequal than it was 29 years ago in 1990. The richest 1%now own 45% of the world’s wealth and the rich continue to get richer while the poor get poorer. Inequality harms growth, poverty reduction and relations between persons and is a threat to long term social and economic development. Children in the poorest 20% of populations are 3 times more likely to die before their 5th birthday than the children of richest 20%. Persons with disabilities are up to 5 times more likely than the average person to incur catastrophic health costs. Income inequality can only be tackled if inequality of opportunity is addressed.

Do you feel guilty about the struggles of the poor in developing countries trying to feed their families and the inequality and unfairness that denies opportunities to hundreds of millions in much of the world? Are you frustrated at the lack of progress in helping the poor? Now is your chance to do something to change the world!

The facts

  1. 75% of persons now live in societies where income distribution is more unequal
  2. 736 million live in extreme poverty and live on less than US$ 1.90 per day
  3. Children of the poorest 20% are 3 times more likely to die before age of 5 than those of richest
  4. Disabled persons are 5 times more likely to incur catastrophic health costs

WCYDo (wich-ee-do – What Can You Do?)

 Buy fair trade fruit and products to help poor suppliers achieve more income

  1. Support use of official aid to promote fairness and equality in developing world
  2. Support charities such as www.epi.org
  3. Write to your politicians to increase aid and trade with developing world
  4. Share the facts about inequalities with family and friends.

Encourage others to join us and to visit our Facebook Page to sign up for our newsletter and information about our proposed WCYDo APP.  See you next week on a new blog post!

 

12. Responsible Consumption and Production

SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production

Earth year 4,492,056,017
Mother Earth/ Gaia‘s Blog

Mankind, My children

In my first blog post I asked that you commit to following my blog few weeks to give me a chance to explain the most important issues affecting our joint survival. In today’s Blog post I want to talk about Responsible Consumption and Production. 

The Problem

Photo Courtesy: Food Navigator

Worldwide, about 3 billion tonnes of food is wasted each year while almost 1 billion people are undernourished and another 1 billion go hungry. Only 0.5% (less than 1/200th ) of the total fresh water in the world is available for all of human consumption and over 1 billion people do not have easy access to fresh water. Despite this mankind is polluting water sources faster than nature can recycle and purify water in rivers and lakes so the problem is getting worse year by year and will result in wars over water resources.

Do you feel guilty about the excessive consumption we do and the food and resources we waste when millions of the poor are undernourished and hungry. Are you angry at an unfair world where inequality and unfairness denies opportunities to hundreds of millions in much of the world? Now is your chance to do something to change the world!

The facts

1. 1 billion people are undernourished and 1 billion go hungry worldwide
2. 1.8 billion people have to drink water that is polluted with human toilet waste
3. Wastage of water contributes to global water stress
4. Pollution affects land productivity and poisons species in the seas
5. Discarded plastic bags contribute to excessive pollution and kill sea life

WCYDo (wich-ee-do What Can You Do?)

1. Buy fair trade products to help poor workers have a living wage
2. Buy ugly / misshapen fruits and vegetables so good food is not thrown away
3. Buy smaller quantities to avoid wasting food and support recycling charities
4. Use reusable water bottles to avoid billions of plastic bottles polluting the oceans
5. Use re usable bags when shopping instead of plastic bag
6. Share the facts about global wastage and consumption with family and friends.

Encourage others to join us and to visit us on Facebook to sign up for our newsletter and information about our proposed WCYDo APP. See you next week on blog post 13.