Poverty is actually beyond ordinary people’s imagination. Even in 21 century, there are many people living in poverty. According to UN’s report, more than 1/10 of the total population still live in severe poverty and has been struggling to fulfil the many basic needs. What’s more over, in 2018, 8% of the laborers were still very poor. Poverty has been laying too much burden and misery on the shoulder of those people for many years. In this case, UN has regarded ending poverty in all its forms everywhere as No.1 sustainable development goal and set targets to achieve by 2030.
In this blog post, I will discuss about several issues related to this UN goal.
Firstly, by 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day (UN sustainable development goal 1 target1.1). This target has shown the overview intension from the highest level and quantified the poverty standard which is living on less than $1.25 a day. However, setting the poverty standard as $1.25 is over-simplified and ideal. In different places, people need different minimal cost to live on. For example, $1.25 a day is definitely not enough for people living in USA but it may be adequate for those living in African continent. So, in this case, setting different poverty standard by different countries is more reasonable. For example, trying to link the quantified poverty standard with this country’s GDP locally may be a good choice.
Secondly, by 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions (UN sustainable development goal 1 target1.2). I agree with this target plan. According to UN’s related introduction, poverty has many dimensions. So, defining those dimensions is too complicated to realize. However, we can separate those dimensions to national definitions locally and this process makes No Poverty Program more practical and easier to accomplish. We can stay optimistic towards it. However, reducing by half the proportion worldwide is never easy to get done. Nowadays, many countries still suffer from warfare and natural disasters. We need more practical plans, financial aid and material support worldwide to realize this target.
Lastly, we can still stay optimistic, according to economist Jeffrey Sachs. He calculated that the total cost would be around $175 billion per year to end poverty and all its forms in 20 years. This represents less than one percent of the combined income of the richest countries in the world. Generally speaking, UN’s goal has pointed out nearly all the forms of poverty everywhere. But as the old saying goes “easily said, hardly done”. We need to unite all power and resources to end poverty. From individual level, dynamic engagement in policymaking process is able to affect a lot in addressing poverty. From governmental level, government can help create more enabling environment to generate productive employment and job opportunities for the poor. And for private companies, it has a significant part to play in deciding if the growth it triggers is inclusive and thus contributes to poverty reduction. Giant companies can provide more and more economic opportunities for those poor people.
References
- UN. “The Sustainable Development Goal1–End poverty in all its forms everywhere”. In: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/poverty/
IEMS 5720 Social Networking 
Eradicating poverty is really a difficult goal. But I agree with you, remain optimistic, so that we can continue to work for this goal. The misfortunes brought about by poverty are truly beyond our imagination. We cannot avoid classification and the poverty gap, but eradicating poverty is worth the effort. In 2030, we can all look forward to witnessing the realization of this goal.
Thanks for your previous comments, maybe you major in CS?(I guess😀) So happy to have chosen the same course, and look forward to your future updates!🧐
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Thanks for coming and commenting on my blog. As a matter of fact, I major in EE. And I am looking forward to our next interactions!
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Your post is great ! I agree with you that many people are still living under the poverty line and the SDG1 is difficult to achieve.Besides, the situation is very distinct between developed country and developing country.Take China for example, the gap between rich and poor is widening.Poverty will bring many problems like robbery. In order to solve this situation and balance the resource allocation, the government advocates people and industries in rich areas to help thoes in poor areas. While in undeveloped countries, the situation can be even worse. But we have confidence to solve these difficulties by 2030 as you mentioned in your blog. I expect you to give more analysis and solutions in this goal.
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Thanks for coming and commenting on my blog! Taking China as a discrete example and making comparison with other undeveloped countries is a good idea. I agree with you. Maybe more analysis and solutions in this goal are needed.
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The logic of this post is quite clear. I like the way you take on the illustrations of truth in poverty by using specific data analytics. The great example dealing with poverty, i think, is China, eliminating a large number of poverty population and still trying their every effort to make the whole country harmonious. Let’s see what will happen in the upcoming 2030.
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I agree with you. Let’s see what is going to happen in 2030.
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The goal of eradicating poverty is completely in line with China’s comprehensive poverty eradication strategy.
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Hahaha. Not all of other countries are like China.
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I’ve already read several blogs about eliminating poverty. I found yours is the best one. You have clear thoughts and collected comprehensive data to support your ideas. Yet, in my opinion, it will be better if you give more detailed information. For example, you mentioned ‘poverty has many dimensions’, so what are they?
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Yeah, I agree with you. That’s one of faults in blog. And let me explain what dimensions mean here. Specifically speaking, poverty causes include unemployment, social exclusion, and high vulnerability of certain populations to disasters, diseases and other phenomena which prevent people from being productive.
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Thanks for enlightening me!
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Indeed, easier said than done. It’s not just about poverty. It’s about all the sustainable development goals proposed by the United Nations. But someone has to do, to think, such a goal will really be achieved. So I think these goals are not only the goals and the plans of the United Nations, but they should be something that everyone can do from a small point of view.
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Hi!~Your article analyzes each of the small goals under No Poverty, which is really great! I agree with your idea about setting poverty standards by region. Different countries have different economic conditions and people’s living standards. It is more practical to solve the problem of poverty in light of national conditions. If everyone is willing to make their own contribution to no poverty, even if they are trying to change their current situation, then the poverty problem will surely make new and considerable progress!
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