One of the most talk-about proposals for using globalization and capitalism to help developing countries is the. This project is led by economist Jeffrey Sachs and supported by institutions such as The World Bank. The Millennium Project has goals to achieve by 2015 (here is an interacive map of goals) and also has named 12 "Millennium Villages" in Africa that will demonstrate how technology and investment can reduce poverty.
Here is a short video of Sachs. Note that he says "Agricultural Revolution," by which he means an end to subsistence farming an the introduction of commercial farming, is essential to development. This reduction of subsistence farming is at the heart of the debate over globalization. Listen in...
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Here, Sachs is emphasizing the need for underdeveloped countries to improve their agricultural conditions. I believe this is necessary for their survival and the health of their people, but it should have been mentioned by Sachs of the cultural sacrifices these people will need to make in order to improve agriculturally. In my opinion, these underdeveloped countries will either sacrifice their culture to improve their chances or survival, or they will maintain their cultural beliefs by refusing modifications to their society, costing them advancements in their standard-of-living.-Randy Ebright
I agree with Sachs, that in order for underdeveloped countries to improve their way of life they need alot of outside funding. And that it is possible to rid the world of poverty. But in the same respect I think that developed countries can aid underdeveloped countries without imposing on them our way of life. It may not be the intentions of developed countries to destroy the culture of the impoverished people but it certainly seem to be the result alot of the times.-Alex Hurley
I noticed this video clip was sponsored by Monsanto. I am not totally sure that I support genetically modified food, and is that the only way to solve Africa's intrinsic poverty??? Sachs pointed to agricultural technology, including disease and insect resistent crops, but I'm not sold on the idea yet. And I do agree that there is a cost to be weighed when helping developing countries the way we do--we pass on our wealth and knowledge, and often our bad habits.
I agreed with the his statement of "an investment opportunity". Only investing where there will be advancement in agriculture and their way of living. The problem is Globalization...or is it? For developed countries to help underdeveloped countries agriculturally will eventually leading to those countries not only adopting our way of agriculture, but other ways of living as well. This may or may not be a bad thing. While their survival skills will increase with becoming more educated of how the developed countries survive, their country may turn in to ours. Ultimately, that may eventually years from now spark a competition between countries, such as China is now.-Nichole Molnar
This whole video just feels like pure propaganda to me. It's just us forcing our way of life onto people who may or may not want us to. After this, I'm inclined to applaud the tribes that refuse our Polio vaccine. What the hell do we know about living "correctly"? Maybe no one in the US is starving, but year after year the breakdown of families and values is a bigger and bigger problem.
Don't get me wrong, feeding people is all fine and dandy, but I think it's more important than we give credit for that people's traditions and culture are preserved. There must be a way to do both.
Education! In order to TEACH someone how to live better, you must educate them. Agricultural farming and technology sounds great, but at what costs? This "great new seed" that is genetically modified, are there any hidden health risks to those that consume it? I think adequate health care, skilled physicians, and Education can go a longer way. I would rather see the Children and the people being educated about how to prevent certain issues within their country or train them how to deal with those issues and keep their cultural identity, rather than using a fancy farming machine that they can't even spell. I always thought that to invest into one's future was through education, not farming. Farming only feeds half the problem. Dietra Pickens
It is important for us as Americans to remember that we need to continue the push for Globalization. Along with that push we need to continue to push for our government to help the dire situations in Africa. We need to make sure that instead of giving money for political reasons our government needs to support the overall infrastructure of these contries and their people. While we should not push certain agendas and ideas on them we need to do all we can to support globalization and the poor econmies in these countries.
-Mike Evans
Sachs really emphasizes the need for agricultural reform in this video. I think that this video helps you better understand Sachs' ideas. In the book it just sounded like we can give these countries more money and they will eventually rise in the economic world. This video really shows that he has a plan and he seems passionate about that plan.
-Geoff Davidson
This little video does a wonderful job of explaining where Sachs is coming from. His position is not just of eliminating poverty, it is also that by helping these areas of the world to pull themselves up, that they will in turn be able to make valuable contributions to the world in the future. He makes his point by mentioning how other countries that have developed and improved are now successfully competeing and contributing in the global economy. Assisting them agriculturally though is only half of the equation. I really think he underestimates the need for education because without that these countries will not be able to fully develop and compete.
If people in developing countries want the assistance from others, then it would be fine to provide it to them. I don't think it would be fair to force a drastic change upon them. Just as Devon said "What the hell do we know about living "correctly"? Maybe no one in the US is starving, but year after year the breakdown of families and values is a bigger and bigger problem." This is very true. These developing countries should have every opportunity given to them, but they shouldn't be forced into it.
I agree with Courtney's last message. That was a very powerful line that Devon said. Knowing that year after year the breakdown of families and values is a bigger problem is very scary to think about. Just as Devon said "What the hell do we know about living correctly"? -Amara
I also agree with Courtney's post, if countries would like help in some sort of way, we should give them that help, otherwise who are we to inforce anything on anyone else. I also agree with what Devon said, there is not a set way of living life and no one has the right to tell anyone the way they live their life is wrong.
-Samantha Larson
I feel American should continue to push for globalization but i feel we should focus more on ourselves. I believe that other countries are benafitting more to globalization than the United State is so i feel we should worry more about ourselves. It would be great to limit poverty but i feel that is not practical and i feel that would hurt the United States
This neo-liberal approach seems to be the way progressive economics is going. Its end seems to be just but the means to this end will undoubtably alter communities. Humanity has many concerns but we must not let a concern become an ultimate concern at the exspence of all other human concerns.
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