Is the international aid a good way to help poor countries?

by. Won so-yeon

 How do you think about the action to help other countries. Do you think it is a economic waste? Here is some summary that include Bill and Melinda Gaes’s opinion about three myths regarding international aid.

 ‘MYTH ONE: Poor countries are doomed to stay poor.’
 Many people think that poverty is a destiny of impoverished countries so they keep their poor state. But in the real world, income has increased in most part of the world. Now, average incomes in Turkey and Chile are similar with those of U.S of 1960. In case of Botswana, they increased income 30 times, Like this, New middle income class was created and they account for over 50% of the world’s population. Moreover, the quality of life has improved. For example, Mexico City was not good at the past. A lot of families don’t have water system, so they walk barefoot and draw water jugs. Also, the workers of Microsoft’s Mexico City office had to send their kids to U.S to check children’s health condition because of the Mexico City’s smog. However, Mexico City was changed now compared to how it was in the past; cleaner air, skyscraper, new road and bridge. Bill and Melinda Gates predict that almost poor countries will get off their poverty by 2035.

 ‘MYTH TWO: Foreign aid is a big waste.’
 Many people think that international aids comprise large proportion of wealthy countries and it lead to the corruption and dependence on other countries of aid-recipient countries. Bill and Melinda Gates acclaim that the international aids is a just small part of the budget of rich countries. For instance, generally, countries spend less than 1 % for foreign aid. In case of U.S, they spend more than 60 times for military. And they concede somewhat the problem of corruption, but, we have to try to reduce the corruption but it is difficult to extinguish. And other many countries have the problem about corrupt government. International aids provide help to make lasting, long-term economic growth and can save a lot of lives. Therefore, it is valuable.

 ‘MYTH THREE: Saving lives leads to overpopulation.’
 Generally, women who live in poor country birth many babies. So, some people worry that if we help the poor country, many children survive so the overpopulation will be a big problem and we will suffer from the shortage of food. This worry brings the idea that we don’t need to save children who will die later. But it is wrong thinking because parents keep small size family if the infant mortality decrease after the poor countries fix economy foundation due to international aid. Therefore, saving lives do not lead to overpopulation.

 We live with some prejudice and misunderstanding by hearing wrong or biased stories. Some stories were distorted deliberately for political or social reasons. We can’t sure that the upper opinion of Bill and Melinda Gates is all right. We should strive continuously to discern and accept real and unbiased facts with subjectivity. For in my case, I agree their idea about first myth. Because Korea, my country, suffered to devastation and lack of the necessities such as food, clothing, shelter because of war. However, Korea has developed rapidly and became a nation that supports other countries even though it was a nation that received help from other countries. Our birth place is not our choice. So, in my opinion, we have to strive to make a world that everybody happy.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304149404579324530112590864?mod=Life_and_Style_newsreel_7