The Poverty Cycle

The cycle of poverty has been described as a phenomenon where poor families become trapped in poverty for generations.

Because they have no or limited access to critical resources, such as:

·         education and

·         financial services,

Subsequent generations are also improvised.

There are multiple cycles of poverty- based on, among other things,

·         economic,

·         social,

·         spiritual and

·         geographical factors.

Many cycles overlap or perpetuate new cycles and therefore any attempt to depict the cycle of poverty will be far more simplistic than realistic.

The figure below shoes- in very simplistic terms- how a cycle of poverty related to hunger keeps a person or household poor in one of the world’s developing countries.

Poverty

Poverty is the struggle for survival without anything. It means you have no access to clean water or medical help, no food, no shelter, no education, no job, no power and no hope. National poverty is when a whole country does not have enough of the resources needed for human survival, and is often defined by region, age or social group.

Absolute poverty measures the number of people living below certain income threshold or the number of households unable to afford certain basic goods and services.

Relative poverty measures the extent to which a household’s financial resources falls below an average income threshold for the economy. Although living standards and real incomes have grown because of higher employment and sustained economic growth over recent years, the gains in income and wealth have been unevenly distributed across the population.

Social Justice- Catholic Themes

Social Justice- Catholic Themes

Social Justice

Social Justice concerns itself with our responsibility to ensure that all people are given a ‘fair go’.

Some issues that social justice aims to cover are:

·         Poverty

·         Child Labour

·         Refugees

·         Homelessness

·         Hunger

Dignity of the Human Person

Human dignity (pride; self respect) is the foundation of Catholic social teaching.

In your own words explain what is meant by human dignity.

Human dignity is one’s own ability to respect themselves, to be proud of who they are and to feel valued by other people.

Common good and community

Humans are sacred and social, live and achieve together, and all must be valued in the wider community.

Option for the poor

Society must consider and help the poor, and so, especially, must governments.

What communities are you part of?

Stella Maris College, my suburb, tennis club and team, church, youth group, surf club.

How may these communities be both sacred and social?

Create a sense of belonging; feel as though you are part of something; create belonging; and become educated.

What is the major test of a moral society?

A democratic society; attention to the poor/ special needs; and equal distribution of wealth.

In what ways do communities look after the poor?

Giving donations, providing dole (social security) and public housing.

Rights and Responsibilities

Everybody has certain rights and responsibilities -to each other, their families and society as a whole- that protect human dignity and ensure a healthy community.

Role of Government

The government needs support from everyone to achieve their goals or promoting human dignity, protecting human rights and building common good.

The Fundamental Rights of all Human Beings

These include life itself, food, shelter and clothing, employment, health care and education.

Economic Justice

Productive work, decent and fair wages, safe working conditions, ability to organise and join unions, economic initiative and private property are all rights of people, especially workers, in the economy.

Stewardship of God’s Creation

As people of this earth, we have the responsibility to care for the creation which God has made so wonderfully and blessed us with, and how we treat the environment around us symbolises our respect for God.

Promotion of Peace and Disarmament

In Catholic teaching peace involves respect and confidence and flourishes from justice, which we are called to make.

Pope John Paul II once said:

“Peace is not just the absence of war. It involves mutual respect and confidence between peoples and nations. It involves collaboration and binding agreements.”

Participation

As a requirement of human dignity and to provide justice, everyone should be included in the economic, political and cultural life of society, not excluded from it.

Global Solidarity and Development

Differences should never stand in the way of working together as a family for justice in the world. Rights of nations and the people within should always be respected so development in the world can occur to promote social, economic and political rights of every human being.

Water

Water is vital for survival. It is needed to maintain a good health and prevent diseases and illnesses. Once affected by these diseases people may be unable to attend school or work, where they need the money to obtain the necessities of life. Water is also needed to grow crops and food and to keep the land thriving. Exclusion from water and sanitation services is a violation of the human right to water.

Where people live deeply affects their ability to acquire water they need. Land forms, soil types, and climate can change the amount of water that is available in certain areas. In places where many people have to share the same water, the amount each person receives is less, and in places where rainfall is common, people receive more water.

In the next 2 decades, it is estimated that a 40% increase on water use will occur, and that 2 thirds of the worlds population will be struggling to get the amount of water they need by 2025.

Water related diseases around the world are increasing and may be caused by drinking water in which is contaminated by human or animal waste or insects which breed in water. Injuries are also formed through women and children who often suffer neck, knee and shoulder injuries or long term spinal damage from carting water long distances in countries such as Africa. Improved access to safe water and knowledge of hygiene and management practices leads to improved health and needs to be taken aboard.

The Australian government's aid program aims to reduce poverty and raise living standards in developing countries. Their work promotes two main focuses including:

• Water governance – managing the sustainable use of water
• Delivery systems – improving the efficiency of existing water systems while increasing the access to water and sanitation services

Australia's approach to creating a sustainable water supply for countries in poverty has been to involve local communities in project design as well as providing projects that serve in broadening the communities knowledge of sanitation and maintenance skills. Community involvement, including the roles of women and men focuses on the real needs of communities and builds skills, understanding and commitment which will assist long-term maintenance of services.

Lady Justice

The time- honoured symbol of justice in the west is the Lady Justice (adapted from Greek and Roman mythology) depicted as a blind- folded woman with a scale in one hand and a sword in the other.

In the woman's left hand she is holding a set of scales, which shows that everyone is equal, no matter what their race, beliefs or the people they are connected with. It implies that in a perfect world where nobody was judgemental everybody would be on the same level as everybody else.

The blindfold that Lady Justice is wearing symbolises the fact that to be truly just she doesn't even need to look at a person, for fear of judging them due to their colour or appearance.

The sword that the lady holds in her right hand represents the power that reason and justice holds.

Introduction to Social Justice

The protection of the rights of all human beings, irrespective of:

• race,
• colour,
• creed,
• nationality, or
• language,

is central to the conception of justice.

Justice can be defined as

'the morally correct state of persons and their affairs.'

From a practical point of view, justice demands:

• equality,
• objectivity, and
• fair dealing.