I've been there.

Have you seen or experienced poverty? Share your story and opinions about what caused it and what could be done to remove it.

Re: I've been there.

Sure, I've seen poverty (U.S., Russia, Africa, Middle East, Central America). I have worked intimately with families in poverty and presently I'm involved with research projects that examine the impacts of poverty, mostly from educational and human developmental standpoints. If you're interested in exploring this phenomenon there are several models and approaches. It could be argued that in hierarchical societies, the existence of lower and impoverished 'classes' are necessary to maintain the existing hierarchical structures. To remove poverty, it has to be understood and individuals must be educated. I'm drawn to Bronfrenbrenner's bioecological models that consider proximal and distal environments. There are so many factors to consider: the individual, social factors, economic factors, cultural factors, the community level, the national level, and the global level. This is where Wilbur's AQAL framework could be handy for designing an effective approach to eradicate poverty and it's effects.

This work is monumental and I applaud your dedication and efforts.

Some model projects and organizations:
http://www.earth.columbia.edu
http://www.earth.columbia.edu/mvp/
http://www.oxfam.org/

Just some thoughts - hopefully they're helpful. More to come…

Re: I've been there.

Though the system currently in place is in most ways heirarchal, and education will definitely help raise people's awareness and socioeconomic status, I think what really needs to happen is a cultural shift, of which education is a big part. A culture of contributors needs to be fostered, and expanded, where people try to create and contribute rather than consume and profit.

What projects are you involved with Ashante? I'm always looking for ways to actively contribute to helping make the world a better place, and ways to learn more about constructive ways to affect change. It seems like so much of what people do is detached and theoretical.

Re: I've been there.and I'm still here

loveand fearlessness.com is a documentary  I worked on with a person who refuses to use money and as a result spent half of last year in jail.
Without money you have no rights . Rights must start with the necessities of life and if you are poor and cannot pay you are criminalized within system.
I would love to have a real discussion on the defence of necessity.

Re: I've been there.and I'm still here

Someone who has the insight that money is meaningless ought to also realize that a more constructive responce to that revelation would be to figure out how the systems can be played and use them to help their fellow man, perhaps to the inspiration of others and maybe a better system will supercede the monetary system.