Nothing is as basic to human survival as food and water. But billions of people lack access to adequate nutrition and clean water. Around 800 million people are chronically hungry and over two billion lack adequate nutrition and more than 80 countries now face water shortages.

There is enough food available to feed everyone on the planet, today. But economic policies, poverty, discrimination, and poor governance keep many people from receiving enough food. Through destroying natural habitats for farmland, over-fishing, pollution from pesticides and fertilizers, soil erosion, and desertification, we are also doing damage to the Earth in producing much of our food.

Health is completely essential for social and economic development. Population growth, globalization, and unsuitable development have made health more fragile than ever for many people in the world. Inadequate development has resulted in poverty and insufficient health services in much of the world, while over-consumption by developed nations has created severe environmental health impacts. Health is very much linked to other global issues. For example, poverty is a major contributor to ill health. Poor people, especially women and children, often cannot afford sufficient nutrition, clean water, or access to medical attention. Ill health, therefore, traps people in or condemns them to poverty.

I am going to finally concentrate on the gap between the rich and poor as a global issue and hopefully comprise an idea for action that a primary school could take on.

As time goes by, the gap between the worlds rich and poor is becoming larger and larger, both within countries and among them. The vast majority of the world’s population is receiving an ever-decreasing share of its wealth, while the share claimed by a few rich nations and individuals is steadily growing.

The results of this widening rich-poor gap are diverse. They include environmental destruction as richer nations can afford to over-consume resources, while poorer nations are forced to over-exploit the environment just to survive. People may be forced to migrate and move in search of adequate resources. They also include conflict wealthier nation’s fight to keep what they have, while those suffering a lack of resources fight to attain them. Global inequality has many causes and is diverse and complex. Such as, the unequal distribution of natural resources, and lack of access to education, healthcare, especially for women and girls.

History has shown that individuals and nations do not have to stay in poverty for an indefinite period, however. With a knowledge and understanding of the interdependence of our world, it is possible to eradicate the original causes of poverty. By increasing economic opportunities, access improves to nutrition, education, and healthcare. This creates a higher income, more independence (especially for women) and the opportunity to obtain environmentally safe technology and products. When social health improves so does the stability of it, better economic production and less opportunities for conflict. Population tends to even out, governments tend to be more democratic, and environmental protection becomes both more desired and attainable.