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Mr. Burns
Mannix/Burns
English IV
13 May 2014
The Puppeteers
Today, there are 1.2 billion people living in extreme poverty but this is nothing new.
There have been examples of poor people and races throughout the history of the world. In fact,
about twenty five years ago, actress Audrey Hepburn gave a speech to the members of the
United Nations staff about the need of assistance for the world’s extreme poor. But, in a world
where the wealth is rapidly increasing, is this speech still relevant today?
The 1.2 billion extreme poor, or people living under the poverty line of $1.25 (U.S.
dollars) a day, is actually down from the 1.9 billion of three decades ago (Olinto and Uematsu 1).
But that number represents about 16% of the world’s people—far too many to dismiss. The
majority (34%) of the extreme poor live in South Africa, an area where the number of poor is
rapidly increasing. This number is up 23% since 1981 (Olinto and Uematsu 2). What makes
South Africa so poor is the government is in debt. While agricultural conditions and national
reforms improved the plight of the South Africans, international economic trends and a drastic
fall in commodity prices doomed the Africans to return four times as much money to its lenders
(Hepburn 2). That, in cooperation with greed, the misuse of funds, and the wealthy controlling
most of Africa’s natural resources, the citizens of South Africa didn’t stand a chance.
What is lost in the statistics and talk of economics is who is hurting… the children. Many
of these children suffer from diseases that have been eradicated in developed countries. Diseases
coupled with malnutrition are attacking these children when they are going through the most
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important developmental stages of their lives. The few that survive carry scars that will plague
them far into the future. And many of the children that do survive must, at a young age, leave
home to not burden their family in an effort to find their way on their own. An estimated 100
million children in the world live on the street to survive (Hepburn 4). How can the citizens of a
struggling nation survive when their youngest have a high mortality rate? And, the ones who
survive must fend for themselves? Along with destroyed family units? How can a country
become self-reliant when its base is so fractured?
UNICEF is a humanitarian organization that does not involve itself with international
economics and politics but travels into impoverished nations in the hopes of helping and
educating its citizens. UNICEF volunteers travel the world to raise funds and awareness for these
nations (Hepburn 1). One of these ambassadors is Oscar winning actress Audrey Hepburn. She
contributed to UNICEF for decades but, remembering UNICEF’s help during her younger, war
ravaged days in Europe, decided to take a more active role by becoming UNICEF’s Goodwill
Ambassador in 1988 (Audrey Hepburn). In this role, Hepburn visited many of the poor regions
throughout the world including the Middle East, South America and South Africa.
In 1989, Hepburn addressed the United Nations staff, outlining the need for social
awareness. Hepburn stated that politics and economies are not the most important things when
setting policy… the most important things are the children. Create policy that gives the extreme
poor medicine, nutrition, and education. Build up the citizens so they can survive on their own
(Hepburn 3). Children should not be born into a society where a death sentence looms just over
the horizon. Furthermore, how can a developing nation survive without a strong youth?
Education is the key to a developing nation’s success but they can’t do it alone. Hepburn states,
“Together there is nothing we cannot do” (5).
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Twenty five years later, this speech is still relevant today. Since the 2008 recession,
government funding for programs is down, philanthropy is down, and people seem to not want to
help each other. In this ‘get rich or die trying’ society, people seem to want others to take care of
these burdens while they handle their own affairs. In the end, the rich are getting richer while the
poor are getting poorer.
In America, for example, the top 1% own 40% of the country’s wealth and earn 24% of
the national income (Politizane). The world’s economy is being controlled by a select few with
little going back to the communities that need it. This results in the demise of the rest of the
country’s economic classes. This leaves the poor without a chance to succeed.
Even though the world’s wealth has ballooned from $3.94 trillion in 2008 to 55 trillion in
2010 (Clark), the poor keep getting poorer. In America, the bottom 40% barely has any of the
wealth (Politizane). The problem is that laws are passed to protect big business and the
wealthiest while the poorest don’t have a say. And, internationally, a select ruling class controls
all of its country’s wealth. It’s up to individuals to initiate change. It’s not just up to UNICEF to
help others or make the world’s population aware of the problems of the poor. It’s up to
everyone. Unless each individual demands change, nothing will get better.
Unfortunately the extreme poor and world hunger are not things of the past. While the
world becomes wealthier, the poor become poorer. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Everyone
can band together and help organizations like UNICEF. With today’s selfish ways, Hepburn’s
speech to the United Nations is increasingly important. Remember, according to Hepburn,
“Together there is nothing we cannot do.”
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Works Cited
Audrey Hepburn. Audrey Hepburn Children’s Fund, 13 May 2014. Web. 13 May 2014.
Clark, Josh and Kathryn Whitbourne. “How Much Actual Money is There in the World?” How Stuff
Works, 08 September 2009. Web. 14 May 2014.
Hepburn, Audrey. “Audrey Hepburn’s Statement to Members of the United Nations Staff.” Mr. Burns
English Class, 13 May 2014. Web. 14 May 2014.
Olinto, Pedro and Hiroki Uematsu. Poverty Reduction and Equity Department. “State of the Poor.”
World Bank. Draft. World Bank, 2014. Web. 21 April 2014.
Politizane. "Wealth Inequality in America." Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 20 November 2012.
Web. 13 May 2014.