Some parts of the population on earth have been affected by poverty and hunger for thousands of years, and – because of this – many people may think that this is a quite natural phenomenon and that nothing can be done about it. But I believe the problem can be solved by changing the habitual thinking of people, by improving the social structures, and by applying common sense and good will. 

Solving the problem of poverty and hunger is more a matter of helping poor countries, their communities and people to help themselves, and – if the help is focussed on their specific requirements - it shouldn’t be too difficult to make them more productive and to lift their income. This would enable them to buy daily necessities and – above all – enough food! Our planet has still large areas of relatively fertile land for feeding the current world population, provided crops are grown where suitable (e.g. in the right soil and climate) and that supply matches demand as closely as possible with a minimum of waste.

Because of the growing demand and currently static supply for crude oil, a new industry has now been established for converting suitable crops like corn into fuel for motors for vehicle and for other purposes. I think this is the wrong way, since it drives up food prices (particularly for staple food) with the result that now even more poor people cannot afford the higher prices and therefore millions more may starve in the future. Because of this, there is already the prospect of widespread unrest. Instead of increasing the supply we should decrease the demand for oil, which would be possible with the right actions. (See also my web page ‘Crude Oil’.)

Some of the causes for poverty (apart from being underemployed) are:

1. No or only minor assets of the poor
2. Too many children
3. No or only little education
4. Being in permanent financial debt

Naturally, real poverty is mostly found in developing countries. Poverty can also be the result and even the cause of overpopulation. Below I will outline some ideas and concepts as first steps to solve the problem. I would be happy to help anybody with providing more ideas and concepts including preparing a detailed plan as described on my web page World Problems .

Ideas and concepts for solving the problem

1. No or only minor assets

Establish banks as co-ops, owned by the people themselves, one bank in each community or district, depending on the situation. (The banks should get starting money from the World Bank or from foreign aid.) Every poor family or household living in this area can become a member. Each member can open a bank account, gets a small amount of ‘seed money’ and is eligible to elect the bank manager and staff. The people can then set up small businesses, workshops or factories (either on their own or in groups) with additional money, borrowed from their bank under strict guidelines and not to be used for buying consumer goods.

In the country, the co-op bank also lends money to farmers for seed, plants, fertilizer (for improving crops), for tools and machines (to be shared with other farmers), working the land for private and common use. This concept can make the farmers self-sufficient for feeding their families, even enable them to sell surplus products and earn them some money for other living expenses. Non-farmers, living in country communities, can also set up small businesses or even light industries as a common goal. This gives them employment for making enough money and may keep them from moving into slums at the fringes of cities.

It is important not just to ‘throw’ money at communities and leave them to it. In that case this process has to be repeated over and over, once the money is spent. The aim is to help the people help themselves, to work with the communities and initiate with the ‘seed’ money a process for making them independent from further help.

2. Too many children

This problem is dealt with under 'Overpopulation' on the next web page.

3. No or only little education

When people earn a certain wage or can produce enough food on their land (following the concept under 1.), they won’t get hungry any more and can keep a minimum living standard. Where still missing, schools should be established in locations where easily reachable, and each child should get at least an eight-year education, the subjects tailored to their later needs in life. 

Teachers can be recruited from their own community and would need only a basic training, enough for the purpose of teaching the pupils what minimum knowledge they need to escape the poverty trap and to become successful in their life. Gifted students can then be sent to higher schools and some of them can even become teachers themselves. The schools should provide regular health checks and daily meals for the pupils. Having enough to eat now including sufficient proteins in their food will enable them to think more clearly and to learn better.

4. Being in permanent financial debt

In developing countries, many poor families in cities and small farmers in the country are caught in a ‘debt trap’, owing money to someone else with high interest to pay on the debt week by week and month by month and hardly being able to pay just the interest. Because of this, they remain poor their whole life. The help organization, together with the councils, should renegotiate the debts, with the aim to reduce the amounts and then be paid off entirely by the organization. Afterwards the former debtors are only allowed to borrow from their own co-op banks under strict guidelines at low interest rates or interest-free.

Further:  The positive flow-on effect from the above would probably be that the slums in cities can disappear over time. This is because when people can make a living in the country, they won't need to move to cities, looking for work. They might even move back from cities to the country. - Furthermore, with financial help from the co-op banks also in cities, people here can afford to rent or build proper homes for themselves and by working together with a common goal.
If people can achieve getting title to their own property, they will have collateral for borrowing money for an enterprise or other investments, can thereby become independent and don't need any more help.

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