Post #8: What Role Should the Wealthy Nations of the World, like Canada and the United States, Play in Easing the Suffering of the World's Poorest People? What Responsibility do the Wealthiest People Have in Tackling Global Poverty?

Wealthy nations play a difficult role in easing the suffering of the world’s poorest people. If Canada and the United States were to simply provide monetary relief to those who are starving and poverty-stricken they could provide momentary aid, however, would not reverse the cycle in the long run. To truly relieve those who are suffering from poverty the wealthy nations must target the root of the problem and attempt to get the poorest nations on par with North American standards. In complete honesty, I do not know nor understand the root cause of poverty. It’s a mystery to me how the wealthiest nations, such as Canada and the United States, have advanced to where we are today, while leaving behind developing countries such as Zimbabwe. Disparity is the most significant factor leading to poverty, in my opinion, and the only way to reduce the cycle of poverty is to decrease disparity. In order for the gap between the richest and the poorest to shrink, the wealthiest must trade their qualities of greed for selflessness and generosity. If Canadians and Americans both experienced a change in state of mind from one of power-hungry, technology-obsessed, workaholics, to focusing on the needs of others, substantial improvements could be made. In the words of Marc Kielburger, “it’s not just our right as fortunate youth, it’s our responsibility to take action.”