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ISSUES

Poverty

Definitions
Poverty is hard to define. It may relate to a lack of financial means, but it cannot be summed up as just that: access to health services, education and housing are also, for example, important factors. Moreover, what one understands by “poverty” varies considerably from one country, and from period in time, to another.
The notion can be defined in relative terms: for example, as a percentage of the median income of a population – this way it reflects the social inequalities of the country. It can also be defined in absolute terms, but this means establishing a list of basic needs or their monetary equivalent.
The first approach is used more often for studies on rich countries, the second for studies on poor countries. The different definitions of poverty are used by specialists as tools to comprehend the problem and propose solutions. They are often combined with development models and are thus connota...
 

NEWS

Sorry, most of the news are only available in French language for the moment.

23/07/2010

BOTSWANA - Africa's oldest inhabitants pitched against autocratic Botswana government are forced to truck water 300 miles across...

23/07/2010

NETHERLANDS - AMSTERDAM - La multinationale Trafigura a été condamnée vendredi à un million d'euros d'amende dans le procès sur...

21/07/2010

BENIN - Accusations of child witchcraft are on the rise in sub-Saharan Africa - spurred on by urbanization, poverty, conflict...


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DEBATES

World Cup: environmental red card?

Nathalie Durand

What impact does an event like the World Cup have on the environment?International sporting events are increasingly spectacular...  

  The Forgotten Sick

But the poorest people – those who live on less than $2 per...

  As China’s Pollution Toll Grows, Protesters and Media Push Back

Last August, residents of Chongqing town in the central...

INITIATIVE

Macadam: Le magazine coup de pouce

« De la qualité, pas la charité ! » C’est avec une ligne éditoriale dynamique et attrayante que Macadam a été relancé en 2009. Premier journal de rue francophone, ce mensuel a vu le jour, il y a seize ans, sous l’impulsion d’un Belge dont le nom...  

VIDEOS

08/07/2010
Face au problème du prix du café, l'association Ubuntu aide les habitants...
22/06/2010
Dans le nord du Nigeria, plus d'une centaine d'enfants sont morts ces...
21/06/2010
In response to the Dzud which killed almost 20% of livestock in Mongolia,...
09/06/2010
La nouvelle constitution qui sera soumise à référendum en juin 2010 au...


GREEN TIPS

North-South solidarity

Development aid is a transfer of funds and skills to help poor countries and populations towards development....

INDICATORS

GDP per capita
Human Development Index (HDI)
Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)
Ratio of richest 10% to poorest 10%
Drinking water

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