The Documentary: Poverty, Inc.
While the UN keeps on promoting the sustainable development goals all over the world, we IPSD students are doing research and discussing the goals in the class. As we look on goal 1 which is "End poverty in all its forms everywhere", we watched and discussed a very interesting documentary film called "Poverty, Inc."
The film shows the harsh truth of poverty in the world. It shows how the foreign aid we receive tends to be the main cause of poverty in most of developing countries and produces the effect of Neo-colonialism. For instance, the foreign aid from NGOs like USAID, world relief, and TOMS are making people more dependent because instead of giving people knowledge and opportunities they are just providing things for free. And most of the time the supports and funds from the International Monitory Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) are for their own purposes and targets. Most people, especially those in western countries, don’t believe Africans are capable of supporting themselves and that"s why they make our countries a dumping ground for their goods.
For example, most of African countries are affected by the influx of secondhand clothing and footwear from Western countries like the United States and the United Kingdoms. As I watched the video, I remember seeing secondhand clothes in stores everywhere in Africa. It also reminds me of the real situation and how harmful the secondhand clothing is to my county. Because these clothes are cheaper, they kill our local textile industries and threaten the domestic cotton farmers; they may also cause skin diseases to people.
ACTION TAKEN BY TANZANIA GOVERNMENT
The good thing is Tanzania now is aware of that issue and is in the process of banning and ending the import of the secondhand clothes till 2019. Meanwhile, the Tanzanian government has also started a program to train local tailors to counter the negative effect of the secondhand clothes.
MY OWN VIEWS
It is true that banning the secondhand clothes takes time, since the majority of Tanzanians are used to these clothes and some also depend on the business of selling the secondhand clothes as a way of living. But they have to accept the change for the benefit of the country. I agree with the Tanzanian government in banning the clothes, and my suggestion is: it is better to start with clothes that cost more, such as underwear and brassieres. This will improve our local industries and increase cotton production. In the long run, it may help reduce aid dependence, end poverty, and stimulate economic development in our country.
Fina Martin Massawe (坦尚尼亞)