What would it say about humanity if we rise to the challenge of climate change but not third world poverty?

Answer 1

This certainly is a great example of "What's in it for me...?" If climate change becomes a perceived threat to an individual, they want to do something about it. But if the problem does not directly affect them...it goes to the back of the mind.

Global Warming will eliminate poverty, by eliminating mankind. Problem solved - killing two birds with one stone...

Answer 2

We, as a nation, have done so much to aid those in the third world & poverty. We have tried to teach them how to grow their own food, we have sent millions of tons of food to them only to have it end up on the black market, so that not enough goes to those who really need it. Those 3rd world countries take the food but will not allow us to supervise how it is dispersed. We can't even unload it! We have done a great deal but we need the help of those countries that we have given aid. They are corrupt governments; we know it, yet we keep trying.
How can we rise to the challange of global warming when so many refuse to believe that it is happening? The only thing to do is for those who do believe to keep trying to make the others realize that it is happening & do all that can be done by each individule to help stop it before it is too late.

Answer 3

I hate to be a pessimist but we wont rise to either.

Ironically the two do not complement one another- by solving poverty in the third world we will make greenhouse gas emissions far, far worse.

Sad fact: The earth is not capable of sustaining the population it has to a even reasonable semblance of a western lifestyle in an environmentally friendly manner without radical technology advances.

Answer 4

I think Gee Gee has the answer. As someone who has had a look at the third world I find it hard to maintain any sympathy.

As for global warming, don't worry about it. There will be a new fashionable danger / threat / enemy in a couple of years no doubt.

Answer 5

3rd world poverty will always be there somewhere on the planet, but if we don't have a planet, then why worry about the poverty? Besides, its a historical fact that some governments keep their populations impoverished to keep control over them. That's just life, folks, get used to it.

Answer 6

I would say that at least we would have a world left to live in so we can get on to things like bringing up the living status in third world countries...

Answer 7

the flaw here is if we dont tackle climate change then there will be no 3'rd world to worry about. 3rd world countrys seem to be the ones who suffer all the droughts, famines and disease. most caused by their climates.

Answer 8

Sad state of affairs.
Climate change affects us. World poverty affects 'them'.
Why should we care?
What gives you the idea that 'we are going to rise to the challenge', anyway?
You mean give up our luxuries? Fat chance!
'Humanity' sucks.

Answer 9

poverty is not confined to the "third world", there are many many families in the U.S.A. that live below the poverty line.

Answer 10

As far as I'm concerned (which lets face it isnt very far) the challenge to me is to fit airconditioning as my "rise to the challenge" and stuff the rest of the world.

Compulsory sterilisation - now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!