Health Action - Te Mana Taki Hauora

She was part of the group "Learning for Change", which looked at how education for human rights, peace and understanding can help break the cycle of poverty.

A major cause of poverty in many poor countries is very high levels of debt - where a country owes money to other countries, or to lending institutions. The United Nations estimates that 19 000 children are dying every day in Africa alone, because of debt. Repayments are eating up money that should be spent on health care, education and anti-poverty programmes.

Almost all of the heavily indebted countries have actually paid back the amount of their original debts - some up to five times over - but are still trying to pay back the interest.

Doing something about poverty is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity today. It is pretty widely understood that half of the world's population exists on less than US $2 dollars per day, which means that their chances of getting basic needs such as food, clothes, a home, medical care and education are slim.

With International Human Rights day on November 10, it is now a good time to think about this - what is standing in the way of everyone, everywhere having their rights and needs met, and what responsibilities do we have for the well-being of other people?

Julie Heaton