Newspaper Articles

Stephen Cassar, Sunday Circle

Look at the label of your newest item of clothing. What does the name evoke? Glamour, beauty, fashion. Impossibly thin goddesses parading in astonishing outfits that fit them perfectly like a second skin. On closer examination one might notice , written in small print at the bottom, “made in china”.

The first thought that would creep into mind might be. “That Chinese guy must be filthy rich by now with all the cash I spend on clothes”. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. A Google search and few clicks on the web will reveal the cruel reality. The price paid for that beautiful suite or dress is roughly the month’s wage of the workers who actually sowed it. While company executives enjoy multi million dollar budgets, the third world workers, who made the actual outfit, are left with barely enough cash to cover food, rent and transport to and from the factory.

By Vince Caruana

In recent years a number of NGOs in Malta have held meetings with local policy-makers to urge their support in the fight against global poverty. Although one risks running into over-generalisation and simplification, it is sound to assume that ordinary citizens are willing to work to end global poverty.

It is very common to learn about young people and others who are volunteering their time and participating in development cooperation activities in their own free time and using their own resources. They are often silent witnesses of the power of collective efforts to improve the lives of fellow humans around the world. While every country can only work in relation to its size, NGOs are asking policy-makers to work together with them and support them on issues such as providing access to basic education for all children, everywhere, and access to primary health.

By Vince Caruana

The definition of micro-credit was adopted following the Micro-credit Summit held in February 1997. Micro-credit refers to programmes that extend small loans to very poor people for self-employment projects that generate income, allowing them to care for themselves and their families.

Muhammad Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank - a pioneering micro-credit initiative - is quoted as having said: "One dollar, two dollars can make such a difference in a life. Before starting Grameen, we made a list of 42 people who needed a total of only $27, less than one dollar apiece. That was my biggest shock. How can people suffer for want of such small sums of money?"