YUGA: Global inequality

YEA enewsletter: January 2009

In This Issue
YUGA poetry
Child exploitation
Gender discrimination
HIV and AIDS
Global poverty
Natural disaster
What is Plan doing?
What can YOU do?

YUGA poetry

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the recent presidential inauguration, YUGA New England members created their own global “We Have a Dream” Speech, based on selected excerpts from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech in Washington , DC , on August 28, 1963. During the January meeting an exercise was designed to raise awareness about Dr. King’s contributions to America and it turned out to be very successful. Please read from the excerpts below to see the YUGA members interpretation.

Selected excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

YUGA : “We Have a Dream”

"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.' "I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. "I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. "I have a dream today. "I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. "I have a dream today. "I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together . . . "Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! "Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California! "But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! "Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! "Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the hearts of every global citizen. I have a dream that one day this group will rise up and live out the true meaning of its purpose: “To promote global unity, understanding, and change.” I have a dream that one day past discrimination will not haunt the minds of today, and unity and prosperity will rule across the world. I have a dream that one day our earth will be a world of equality and justice, sweltering with the compassion of all who inhabit it, and will be an oasis of peace for all. I have a dream that all children will one day live in a world where they will not have to struggle for their basic needs. I have a dream now! I have a dream that one day, around the world, its corrupt political leaders, with their lips dripping with lies and false promises, will change their ways and will be able to join hands and listen to the brothers and sisters of the world. I have a dream now! I have a dream that one day every child should have a home, every child will be fed, all governments will rule fairly, and people will view each other equally. Let freedom ring from coast to coast. Let awareness spread throughout all age groups. Let hope arise from the war-stricken nations. Let peace flourish from the snow-capped mountains to the deep blue sea. Let the world be united and let freedom ring.

This should serve as another reminder of YUGA ’s (Youth United for Global Action and Awareness) overall commitment to involve youth in a positive dialogue to foster educational development and awareness of the world that we live in. For more information on this activity or to hear more about YUGA, please contact us at yuga@planusa.org.

While our global society continues to make great strides against discrimination, many types of inequality persist. Inequality expresses itself in many ways, including gender discrimination, child exploitation, global poverty, access to medical treatment, prevention of disease, and vulnerability to natural disasters.

Child exploitation
Millions of children engage in child labor. These children often forfeit the opportunity to continue their education because they have no choice. Families affected by war, HIV and AIDS, and other factors struggle to bring food to the table. An estimated 218 million children work in child labor. Of those, almost 126 million work in hazardous conditions. These children contend with chemicals and pesticides in agriculture, mines, or work with dangerous machinery. (Info from Plan and UNICEF International Labour Union. Learn more with our toolkit)

Gender discrimination

Gender discrimination is rampant in our world. Of the 1.5 billion people that live on less than $1 a day, 70% are female! Gender inequality pervades many parts of society. Discrimination affects girls’ access to education, work choices, and general well-being. Ninety percent of child domestic workers are girls between 12 and 17 years old. These girls are vulnerable to abuse, violence, and sexual and economic exploitation. With limited access to education, girls miss out on important initiatives to prevent the spread of disease. An estimated 7.3 million young women live with HIV and AIDS, compared to 4.3 million men. In fact, two-thirds of 15-19 year olds newly infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa are female. (Statistics from Plan UK website)

HIV and AIDS

Globally, 33.2 million people live with HIV and AIDS. Despite only making up 10% of the world’s population, Africa is home to 68% of all people living with HIV and AIDS. Many reasons contribute to such disparity, including the availability of education and prevention systems, infrastructure, exploitation, war, access to medication and treatment. Of all the world’s children living with HIV and AIDS, almost 90% live in Sub-Saharan Africa. Clearly equality is not a factor with HIV and AIDS. (Statistics from Plan USA, UNICEF, UNAIDS

Global poverty

Extreme poverty often limits families to the task of daily survival. Eighty percent of the world's people live on less than $10 a day, and 50% live on less than $2 a day! Such inequality severally limits options to the world’s poorest people. Access to food, shelter, medication, and education are all at risk. (Statistics from Plan USA and Global Issues)

Vulnerability to natural disaster

Climate change contributes to natural disasters which devastate impoverished families. It is estimated that 175 million children will be affected by natural disasters due to climate change by 2010. For example, flooding frequently leads to damaged water supplies, spreading illness. Sixteen percent of the world’s people, or 1.1 billion people, have inadequate water access. More on climate change and children . . .

Unequal energy consumption links with climate change. While Americans only make up 4% of the global population, they produce 24% of all the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil-fuel burning. Together, North Americans and Western Europeans compose 12% of the world’s population. Yet, this 12% uses 60% of private energy consumption.

Our animals and plants are also at risk. If the global temperature rises 2.7 to 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit, 25% of our plants and animals are in danger of extinction. (Statistics from Plan USA and Natural Resources Defense Council)

What is Plan doing?

HIV and AIDS
Poverty
Education
Child Exploitation
Disaster Relief and Recovery
Birth Registration

What can YOU do?

Learn More!
UN Millennium Development Goals
UNAIDS
Visit a Village with Plan to hear how locals view these issues
Check out YUGA's web pages for resources

Advocate for change!
Global Poverty
Climate Change

Check out our toolkits to educate others!
Join YUGA — Form your own chapter to raise awareness about global issues in your community
Fundraise
Check out our Film library

What is the Youth Engagement and Action (YEA) Program at Plan USA?
The YEA program at Plan USA links U.S. youth with dynamic opportunities for participatory involvement, real-world understanding and local action on global issues.

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