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Introduction:

<p><span style="font-size:14pt">Poverty is a multidimensional problem, with a number of factors contributing. Because of its complexity, many misconceptions prevail about poverty. Such myths are also being promoted and spread because of political interests in justifying why some are rich and some are poor. </span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14pt">One common myth is that poverty is caused by overpopulation, that poor people are poor because they have too many children. You then need to ask why they have many children? Iran has managed to reduce the average number of children born by a woman from seven to less than two over the last 30 years, because the government practically eliminated illiteracy among girls. Poor people often choose to have many children, because they know that they need someone to take care of them when they grow old, and they know that many of their children will die young.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14pt">Another myth is that poor people are lazy, that they do not want to work hard. But as uncountable examples from DAPP and ADPP&#39;s projects show, then whenever people are given a chance to lift themselves out of poverty, they embrace it wholeheartedly. We see this in Farmers&#39; clubs, in income generating activities started in HIV Positive clubs, we see it among the thousands and thousands of women buying and selling second-hand clothes.</span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14pt">Then there is the myth about the American Dream. That if you are smart enough you will always succeed. Start as a shoe-shine boy and end up as a billionaire. Although this dream is still being held up, probably very few actually believe this is anything else than a dream. People know how health, education, race, gender, housing, political opportunities, natural disasters, greed and corruption and so many other aspects of life are the main factors determining whether it becomes possible to rise out of the ranks of the Poor. </span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:14pt">The Poor have all such obstacles to overcome and know that the myths are nothing else but myths. But these myths influence many other people, and you therefore have the task to be able to see through them, explain the actual facts and the interests behind spreading such myths. You will get a chance to dig into the causes of poverty from different angles, and take your stand on what you find is right and wrong.</span></p>

Directive:

If possible do this course with a small group of other students.
<ol>
	<li>Read the introduction and watch the OWU teacher presentation to the course on DVD.</li>
	<li>Consider what in your opinion are the causes of people being poor, and write these as a list.</li>
	<li>Read the 2 files.</li>
	<li>Consider and describe which of your points and the points you have identified in the files are relevant in explaining why people are poor in your area.</li>
	<li>Comment on 3 of the myths where the facts presented in the text surprised you or comment on 3 of the myths that you want to explain in your own words maybe by giving local examples</li>
	<li>Discuss your explanations with some of your colleagues, revise, if necessary, and send them to your tutor.</li>
</ol>
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Files:
<div>
<div>F1: &ldquo;Hunger Myths&rdquo; by Food First/ The Institute for Food and Development Policy from Rethinking Globalization: Teaching for Justice in an Unjust World&rdquo; by Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson, 2000.</div>

<div><br />
F2: Two Myths That Keep the World Poor, by Vandana Shiva, from http://www.odemagazine.com/article.php?aID=4192</div>

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</div>
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