The Risk Of Terror Is Higher When People Live In Poverty
By Kamala Sarup
Even Annan called today the decision taken earlier this month by the G8 finance ministers to write of the staggering
debt of some developing countries "very encouraging," and noted the European Union has agreed to a clear timetable for
reaching the 0.7 percent target for official development assistance (ODA) by 2015.
"Let us work together for a successful World Summit. Let us grasp this opportunity to advance the cause of development,
as well as the security and human rights agendas that are so closely bound up with it. Let us show that needless,
senseless human misery shall have no place in our world," Mr. Annan said.
As we know, violent terrorism disrupts lives and reduces people's access to basic services. The risks of terrorism are
higher when people live in poverty where they are marginalised economically and it affects business' operational and
investment interests. Political stability is essential to effectively implement poverty related programs.
The present terrorism is gradually pushing World's political future into uncertainty. It has made it all the more
difficult. So a resolution of the ongoing terrorism and violence and economic infrastructure were the most critical
requirements for reducing poverty and improving the lives of all people. Poverty is a cause and a consequence of
terrorism. Terrorism is a major cause of poverty and human rights abuses, and it has destroyed the lives of thousands of
people.
The world should seek to help to defuse tensions and build sustainable peace through promoting the targeted war
reduction strategies like through good governance programmes, encouraging protection of the rights of minority groups
expanding the use of the media to provide objective information, promoting international co-operation to curb illicit
trafficking in small arms.
World should work closely with humanitarian organisations, should seek to rebuild livelihoods and communities, and build
capacity so that communities will be less vulnerable to future crises. Faced with chaos in the market has caused
grumbling among the people.
Terrorism, made people more frustrated. Social inequality stands as a major stumbling block of economic equality.
A world has failed to cope with the rise in demand for food grains. More than half of the world's people still live
under poverty. Because terrorism has drastically reduced economic development.
Government of the nation should understand how they can stimulate further growth in labor productivity. The efficiency
and integrity of tax collection must be improved. Hospitals and schools must be established immediately. Without such
infrastructure development, the development and functioning of the private sector will not be possible.
The provision of cheap and reliable efficient transportation, adequate power, water management and sanitation, to the
entirety of the land-area of a nation, is the absolute precondition for successful economic growth of the private sector
as a whole.
World should not forget how to achieve economic sustainability, urban-rural linkage and their sustainability of incomes,
community-based tourism and eco-tourism, shifting from agriculture-based economy to industry-based economy,
sustainability of livelihood.
Terrorism and instability has pushed the world back to the 15th century. Every nation must demonstrate its ability to
achieve public purpose and address the poverty problems because many people are poor because of social and cultural
factors, inequalities in the distribution of social and economical power.
World is passing through a critical socio-economic and political crisis. Most development projects have been stalled and
basic rural infrastructures are badly damaged by war and terrorism.
I believe, attainment of sustainable peace, security and economic prosperity, which largely depends on the resolution of
the current political impasse, requires consensus and commitment among all the government.
Economic development is essential but it requires economic reconstruction and appropriate mechanism to ensure higher
economic growth rate. To achieve this goal, investment should increase in social sectors like education, drinking water,
health, vocational training, infrastructural expansion.
Unemployment, poverty, inequality, and social exclusion are at the heart of the explosive social terrorism. Through the
government has brought a number of programmes aimed at reviving the economy lately, it can bring no positive impact as
long as internal security situation remains frail.
Terrorism and violence is a major constraint to development with critical impact on physical, economic, and social
conditions.
People want political stability, development, human security. No more terrorism and war please.
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(Kamala Sarup is an editor of http://peacejournalism.com/ )