Are We Really About to End World Poverty?
The UN thinks ending extreme poverty is possible within a generation. But it is a claim we have heard before.
鈥淢ore than half the people of the world are living in conditions approaching misery,鈥 declared President Truman at his second inauguration. 鈥淔or the first time in history, humanity possesses the knowledge and skill to relieve the suffering of these people.鈥 That was 1949.
It is a claim we have heard many times since - that ending poverty is within our grasp. But it is a dream which has - despite decades of effort - eluded us. Now the United Nations has set a new target - to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030. Will it be different this time?
We have already come a long way. For the first time in history fewer than 1 in 10 people are poor around the world. A billion people have been lifted out of extreme poverty since 1990. But achieving the UN's new goal means reaching another 836 million people in the next 14 years. And that will be tough.
Are we really about to end world poverty? Our experts include an economics professor who was himself born into poverty in China, and Helen Clark, who hopes to be the next leader of the United Nations.
Last on
More episodes
Clips
-
'If Ethiopia can do it, anybody can do it鈥
Duration: 01:33
-
What Africa needs to end poverty
Duration: 01:01
Broadcasts
- Tue 14 Jun 2016 01:06GMT麻豆官网首页入口 World Service Americas and the Caribbean
- Tue 14 Jun 2016 02:06GMT麻豆官网首页入口 World Service Online & UK DAB/Freeview only
- Tue 14 Jun 2016 03:06GMT麻豆官网首页入口 World Service East Asia
- Tue 14 Jun 2016 04:06GMT麻豆官网首页入口 World Service Australasia & South Asia only
- Tue 14 Jun 2016 06:06GMT麻豆官网首页入口 World Service East and Southern Africa
- Tue 14 Jun 2016 14:06GMT麻豆官网首页入口 World Service except News Internet
- Tue 14 Jun 2016 21:06GMT麻豆官网首页入口 World Service except East and Southern Africa & News Internet
- Sun 19 Jun 2016 02:06GMT麻豆官网首页入口 World Service Australasia & South Asia only
- Sun 19 Jun 2016 04:06GMT麻豆官网首页入口 World Service except Australasia, News Internet & South Asia
Podcast
-
The Inquiry
Getting beyond the headlines to explore the forces and ideas shaping the world