Today I “discovered” a shocking message on the Google Alert for poverty :

SMS TEXT NEWS and

THE GUARDIAN

http://www.smstextnews.com/2007/09/no_mobile_means_poverty_say_children.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/sep/19/mobilephones

No mobile means poverty, say children

Almost half of children in some parts of Britain think that not having a mobile phone means a child is poor, according to a poll commissioned by Dare to Care, a new volunteering campaign aimed at tackling child poverty. Not being able to afford to go on a school trip is the next most telling indicator of poverty for 44% of children across Britain, and a similar proportion think that not having the correct school uniform makes you poor

That’s shocking - really shocking! The article is quite lengthy, but worth a read.

(Thanks to Natasha for the tip)

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Shocking indeed !  Now I understand all the fuss of people eager to alleviate poverty in the developing world by selling mobile phones to the poor rural people, under the so-called noble expectations to improve public health and education (sic !).

Who is speaking here about “making those poor people dependent on technology” ? No one ?  Why ?

I can’t resist coming up with the same question over and over again : “What’s the use of a cellphone for people, and kids !, when their stomach is empty ?”.  Therefore, let us first create family gardens and school gardens for the millions who need it badly before “sponsoring” shops for cellphones in the Third World.

Poor kids in some parts of Britain, without a cellphone and a school uniform, too poor to go an a school trip !  Oh, my God, help us to take the right decisions to alleviate poverty and avoid corrupted actions !