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Human destruction ends millions of lives each day. Currently, dozens of countries fight
one another because of differing ideologies. Crisis such as Warfare, ISIS, and nuclear weapons
affect the world in a catastrophic way. Rebels and terrorist use weapons and threaten life as
means of control. For example, ISIS uses their wealth to threaten lives and murder people.
Nuclear weapons use ammunition to fear citizens worldwide. All types of confrontation impacts
countries and the civilians living within them. These pressing issues can prove fatal, however,
poverty detriments and consumes a large portion of the world. A country classified as first,
second or third world countries, based on their poverty population, economic stance, and
government. Destitution (poverty) impacts individuals deprived of basic human needs, which
commonly includes food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care and education. Poverty
exists as a prevalent issue within first, second and third world countries, affecting thousands of
lives worldwide through starvation and disease.
The issues associated with poverty occur all around the world. Throughout the world, 795
million suffer from homelessness or extreme poverty. Also, poverty exists most in the underdeveloped countries. In second and third world countries, homelessness and near homeless
affects one in eight needy individuals. With a multitude of people living within the country, India
reaches a population of 1.2 billion people. Extreme famine, hunger, homelessness, and low
incomes exist within India, more so than any other country. Although Asia follows closely
behind, the country's poverty level stands at a staggering 33 percent, which makes up about 50
percent of the world's poverty (Chan). America has roughly a total of 300 million people living
in the country. Compared to America, India has an astonishing population of 360 million people
living in poverty. Whereas poverty consumes about 45 million people which live in poverty in

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America (West). These third world countries, in comparison to first world countries, have an
extreme magnitude of impoverished, leading to negative bodily conditions.
The poverty level globally causes malnutrition. Malnutrition and overnutrition represents
the leading causes of death and obesity, which can lead to illness and later death. Malnutrition
occurs when an individual lacks calories and protein (Chan). Food converts into energy, which
measures daily intake of calories. For functions of the human body, food provides necessary
proteins but without the calories, growth failure will occur across all ages. Growth failure such as
nutrition edema and marasmus results with rapid weight loss later leading to death. In contrast,
overnutrition occurs when the human body intakes too many calories, not having the proper
nutrition for body function. As a result from both of these diseases, cystic fibrosis, chronic
kidney failure, chronic heart failure, and cancer can occur (Nordqvist). The numerous diseases
associated with malnutrition can affect adults and especially children.
Throughout the world, malnutrition and famine impacts children the most. Children
require the most nutrients for brain development and muscle growth, slow behavioral
development and mental retardation can occur from a lack from food. Even when treated,
malnutrition may cause long-term negative effects in children, with impairments in mental
function and digestive problems persisting for the rest of their lives (Manalo). For example, in
Russia and China, thousands of orphan children obtain annual diagnosis of brain development
and muscle development. The diagnosis in the developing countries (second and third world
countries) usually result in children death, because the countries lack the necessary tools for
surgery. In these foreign countries, The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), a non-profit
organization, help children receive food and live a normal life (Van Der Jan). Organizations like
UNICEF raise money for surgeries and food received for children suffering.

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Poverty still exists in some first-world countries, such as America. Specifically Rhode
Island, hunger and unemployment issues continue to be detrimental. In a below average Rhode
Island household one or more adults are unemployed. With such a low employment rate, 70%
report choosing between paying for food or utilities, 62% report choosing between paying for
food or rent...(2016 World Hunger and
Facts). These low-income families face
unfortunate circumstances, earning an
average of $19,073. A family of three
requires an income of $51,492 for the
basic necessities. Displayed in Figure 1,
the family income from 1995 to 2010 has
had a steady increase, yet in the past 10
Figure 1: US. Bureau of the Census, Real
Median Household Income in the United States

years the household income shows

declination. Many adolescents live in

households with incomes below the federal poverty threshold. In 2013, within Rhode Island, 21
percent, or 44,833 of Rhode Islands 213,152 children under 18 had a known poverty status
(Manalo). In this first world country, Rhode Islands unemployment rate poses a major concern.
More specifically, the town of Westerly suffers from low income. The poverty level in
Westerly is 7.8 percent in comparison to 18.9 percent for the whole state. Of the 7.8 percent, 50
percent live in poverty. Compared to the rest of the state, the town suffers from low incomes
resulting in an unemployment rate of 6.3 percent (Theis). Such an average is high for incomes in
Westerly, the average resident makes $85,699, according to a study in 2014. This high average
makes the housing market and the sustainment of a home difficult. Because of these difficulties,

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low income parents lack money for lunches, thus the hundreds of free lunches in schools for
breakfast and lunch (Westerly RI Poverty Rate). Even though Westerly poverty seems
sustainable, the majority lives in local shelters. These organizations include the Warm shelter, the
End Hunger organization, Jonnycake Center, and Blue Mitten.
Throughout the world, hundreds of organizations recognize the prevalent issue of
poverty. Shelters, organizations, food banks, and fundraisers all impact the lives of those less
financially fortunate. Global nonprofits work to eradicate poverty and hunger through
sustainable, values based on community development. Many international organizations work to
help transform agriculture, which then in return helps the needy individuals (Hunger and World
Poverty). Heifer International, for example, recognizing people can provide food for themselves
in a sustainable way. Many depleted countries which do not rely on aid from foreign countries
can create their own steady, supply of food through the help of these organizations. Heifer
distributes animals, along with agricultural and values-based training, to families in need around
the world as a means of providing self-sufficiency. Since 1944, this organization shipped
thousands of animals, such as, goats, bees, water buffaloes. These resources are given to 20.7
million families, or more than 105.1 million people in more than 125 countries (West).
Organizations such as these, impact the second and third world countries, helping to eradicate
poverty.
Locally, Rhode Island food banks help rural and low income populations teach life skills
and other sustaining behaviors to help hunger issues. With such a starvation phenomenon, more
than one in eight households have an inadequate amount of food. The Hunger Project is a global
organization working to end hunger issues across the world by empowering people to lead lives
of self-reliance. The shelters across Rhode Island help those suffering with finances, food issues,

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and unemployment (Manalo). In 2015, a study performed on the Rhode Island Food bank,
revealed that the organization donated 200,000 pounds of food donated to Rhode Islanders in
need. The healthy food donated helped the impoverished individual in the state of Rhode island,
by the Rhode Island people, not necessarily the organization, Of the 9.7 million pounds of food
distributed by the Food Bank last year, over 2 million pounds was fresh produce(Hunger Facts
and Resources). With such healthy foods, the needy receives the proper source of energy and
nutrients. Rhode Island Organizations, shelters, food banks, all work for the same outcome; to
help the low income individuals.
Although market reforms play a crucial role in helping to bring wealth to impoverished
nations, vast regions of the world remain extremely poor because of their government. When
sent overseas, large amounts of foreign aid cause the receiving countrys currency to rise. It
becomes more expensive for foreigners to purchase exports coming out of a poorer country. This
fact is proven through African communities, who use foreign aid money to achieve selfsustaining economic growth. In this way, foreign aid undermines foreign investment (The
Foreign Aid Debate). Aid has successfully eradicated many serious illnesses in developing
countries. Donations and organizations help the impoverished who lack an ability to take care of
themselves. Thus, countries assisting developing nations impacts the citizens positively, taking
them out of poverty.
Poverty kills thousands of lives each year through economic difficulty which impacts the
entire world. Detrimental to all affected, hundreds of organizations and shelters worldwide work
to eradicate poverty. With the help from organizations, donations, and volunteer workers, poverty
will decrease. Their disease burden, chronic civil conflict, overpopulation, lack of infrastructure,
and bad governance prevents the poor from getting the supplies they need, and so they continue

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dying in enormous numbers from preventable diseases and severe malnutrition. As most
impoverished individuals attempt to hide their financial troubles, it can be difficult to recognize
an individual suffering from poverty. Therefore, treating everyone with kindness ensures support
for those in need. Civilians should treat all individuals equally, no matter if they are rich or poor.

Works Cited
"2016 World Hunger and Poverty Facts. Hunger Notes, Fight Hunger with Knowledge,
01 Oct. 2016,
http://www.worldhunger.org/2015-world-hunger-and-poverty-facts-and-statistics/
Chan, Margaret. WHO | WHO, Nutrition Experts Take Action on Malnutrition. WHO |
WHO, Nutrition Experts Take Action on Malnutrition, World Health Organization,
http://www.who.int/nutrition/pressnote_action_on_malnutrition/en/.
The Foreign Aid Debate. PovertyEducation.org, 2015,
http://www.povertyeducation.org/the-foreign-aid-debate.html.

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The Future of Food. Back to the Roots, 2016, https://backtotheroots.com/.
Van Der Gan, Jan and Van Der Gan, Martinus . What Is Disease-Related Malnutrition?
What Is Disease-Related Malnutrition? - Www.nutricia.ie, Nutricia 2016, 2014,
http://www.nutricia.ie/articles/what_is_disease-related_malnutrition.
Hunger and World Poverty. Poverty.com -, UNICEF, Oct. 2016,
http://www.poverty.com/.
Hunger Facts and Resources. Rhode Island Community Food Bank, RI Committee
Food Bank. 2016,
http://rifoodbank.org/what-we-do/hunger-facts-resources/.
Manalo, Margaret. American Poverty Statistics 2015." Ebooks-Gratuits.Me
.pdf : 10000 Rsultats 1/20,
http://www.rikidscount.org/Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/Factbook
%202015/2015Factbook-NoArt.pdf.
Nordqvist, Christian. Malnutrition; Causes, Symptoms and Treatments.Medical News Today,
MediLexicon International, 13 Jan. 2016,
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179316.php.
US. Bureau of the Census, Real Median Household Income in the United States FRED,
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, October 27, 2016,
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEHOINUSA672N
U.S. Real Median Household Income through 2014. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2016,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/household_income_in_the_united_states#/media/file:us_rea
l_household_median_income_thru_2014.png.
Theis, David. Remarkable Declines in Global Poverty, But Major Challenges Remain. World

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Bank, 17 Apr. 2014, http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/pressrelease/2013/04/17/remarkable-declines-in-global-poverty-but-major-challenges-remain.
West, Dan. Heifer International. World Hunger and Poverty, Lifeblue,
https://www.heifer.org/.

Westerly, Rhode Island (RI) Poverty Rate Data Information about Poor and Low Income
Residents. Westerly, Rhode Island (RI) Poverty Rate Data, Advameg Inc, 2016,
http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-westerly-rhode-island.html