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More
need not mean better
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) was set up to aid
countries in helping themselves develop sustainably. The Programme aims at reducing
poverty and improving the chances of equal opportunities for everyone.  It helps people in 174 countries to help themselves,
focusing on removal of poverty, improving women’s conditions, job creation and
rebuilding the environment.
The UNDP has been publishing Human Development Reports (HDR)
since 1990. These Reports have used a tool called the Human Development Index (HDI)
to measure human development.
But first, what is the meaning of human development? Can it be measured by what is
known as per capita income, or how much on an average each one earns in a country? If that
was the case, Brunei Darussalam with the world ís highest per capita income of $31,165,
should have been the most developed  country in the world.
Instead, it ranks 35th on the Report's HDI while Canada, which ranks 12th in per capita
income, tops the HDI!
This is because, according to the HDR, human development is about increasing people's
choices in their daily lives by improving their abilities to do things. This means much
more than just economic growth. Human indicators like health, education, nutrition, and
access to water and sanitation, are as important as financial and economic indicators.
The Report says that the three essential capabilities for human development are:
- For people to lead long and healthy lives,
- That they should be knowledgeable, and
- That they should have access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living.
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Guns and
icecreams or schools and water?
(world's annual expenditure, US$)
|
| Basic education for all |
$6 billion |
| Cosmetics in the USA |
$8 billion |
| Water and Sanitation for all |
$9 billion |
| Icecream in Europe |
$9 billion |
| Perfumes in Europe and the USA |
$12 billion |
| Basic health and nutrition |
$13 billion |
| Pet foods in Europe and the USA |
$17 billion |
| Cigarettes in Europe |
$50 billion |
| Alcoholic drinks in Europe |
$105 billion |
| Narcotic drugs in the world |
$400 billion |
| Military spending in the world |
$780 billion |
It is important to understand here, that even the sophisticated HDI cannot cover all
aspects of human development because there are many aspects of human development that
cannot be measured or quantified. Do you know what these are?
Hint: Scandinavian countries, like Norway and Sweden, rank among
the highest in the HDI, yet these countries have some of the highest suicide rates. The
King of Bhutan is reported to have said that more important than the Gross National
Product of his Himalayan kingdom is the Gross National Happiness of its people.
 What’s your Ecological
Footprint?
Have you ever asked yourself where the dal you eat or the metal for
your geometery box comes from? The dal may be grown in the foothills of the
Himalayas and the metal may be coming from the iron-ore mines of south Bihar. The terraced
slopes of the Himalayas and the mineral rich plateau of Bihar bears your ‘ecological
footprint’.
It is the term used to describe the ecological cost that the earth has to bear, to meet
your lifestyles demand.
The increased demand for goat meat in the capital city of Delhi for instance, has an
effect on the ecology of the unique desert grasslands of Rajasthan. To meet this rising
demand, Rajasthanis breed more goats. More than what the land can bear. So Delhis’
ecological footprint extends to far away regions as well.
In bad faith
 THE idiot box is smarter than you think. Well,
atleast the advertisers are, who know that people, especially children, spend many hours
watching television. A typical American spends more than 1,000 hours of a lifetime
watching about 150,000 ads. For them, children are important consumers. So
they bombard you with their catchy advertisement — "BUY MORESTUFF".While
it is a good medium to inform consumers about available products, television advertising
has been found to particullarly influence and affect children who are not mature enough to
take informed decisions. In fact, Sweden places restrictions on commercials aimed at
children. The ban on advertising targeting children is laid down in the broadcasting law.
There are no advertisements for toys, breakfast cereals or sweets. Most Swedes believe
that children need special protection, as they are more trusting and
vulnerable than adults.
There are several other countries, including Australia, Austria and the United Kingdom,
also restrict commercial advertising targeting children. |
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A
Down To Earth Supplement
