Michael Tripp

Dr. Erin Dietel-McLaughlin

FYC 13100: First Year Composition

October 7, 2010

Annotated Bibliography

I am interested in how Third World countries are lagging so far behind when Western
countries seem to have so much. The second part is questioning why these Western
countries have not caught the Third World countries up to speed. What is preventing the
Western ones from helping the Third World ones? One major problem may lie in the
culture itself. Western culture focuses on materialistic values and obsesses over material
acquisition. The greed and selfishness that results from such competition hinders the
West’s ability to fully aid poorer countries. My research will focus on the extent to
which these assumptions are true in order to educate and enlighten those living in
countries overshadowed by the western ideals of materiality.

Simms, Andrew and Woodward, David. Growth Is Failing the Poor: The Unbalanced
Distribution of the Benefits and Costs of Global Economic Growth. Flat World,
Big Gaps: Economic Liberalization, Globalization, Poverty & Inequality. Ed.
Jomo K.S. with Jacques Baudot. London and New York: Zed Books LTD, 2007.
130-158. Print.

“Growth Is Failing the Poor” makes a few startling observations for the
educational world. The authors point out that while world organizations seem to
be emphasizing aiding Third World countries, the reality is that they are not
nearly effective as they want the general population to believe. They also claim
that technology is not the “magic answer” to reducing poverty. Technology is
growing at a slower rate than the problems that are continuously appearing. They
say that, “The extreme inequality in the global distribution of income and assets
seriously undermines the effectiveness of global growth in reducing poverty”
(130). They go on to say that we, as Americans, contribute to the growing decline
in Third World countries just by living the way we do, expending all the resources
that we do. The carbon gases that we emit everyday are so numerous that they
effect the overall climate, which is hurting poor farmers living in Africa. One can
see the round about ways in which things the ignorant fortunate are doing effects
the wealthy/rich gap. The authors’ examples and reason strengthen my argument
and rebuttal counter-arguments.

Schumaker, John F. “Dead Zone.” Newint.org, New Internationalist Magazine. Issue 336
(2001). Web. 7 October 2010.
 Schumaker is an originally American psychologist who left America because of
its diverse problems that he saw. One of the problems was the consumer
economy of the United States. Americans over-produce products to which they
buy and throw away. The waste that is inherent with all of this is outstanding.
This mentality is almost unavoidable because of the culture in the United States.
The U.S. consumes the most of any country by an outstanding margin. It only
makes sense that this habit would translate into a cultural change involving greed
and selfishness. This psychological change may be the reason why Americans do
not extend help to others. Americans are too engrossed into themselves and their
own economy. This article provides a different angle from which our culture can
be viewed. I do not think that many people think of our consumer culture as
affecting how generous we are to others.

Schumaker, John F--. “The Triumph of Triviality.” Newint.org, New Internationalist

Magazine. Issue 410 (2008). Web. 7 October 2010.

In this article, Schumaker makes a more direct point than the generalizations
about materialism in the United States. He argues that consumerism and
materialism has collapsed the human potential. He says, “Human potential took a
back seat to economic potential while self-actualization gave way to self-
absorption on a spectacular scale.” He continues to say, with some anger even,
that “Operating on the principle that triviality is more profitable than substance
and dedicating itself to unceasing material overkill, consumer culture has become
a fine-tuned instrument for keeping people incomplete, shallow and dehumanized.
Materialism continues to gain ground, even in the face of an impending eco-
apocalypse.” Some organizations aimed at helping those in need around the world
have been trying to focus on bringing people out of their economically sheltered
lives. “According to their mission statement, the fate of humankind and the
ecosystem lies in our ability over the next couple of decades actively to revise our
cultural blueprints in order to foster global consciousness and create new, more
‘mindful’ political and economic models.” Unfortunately the effectiveness is not
very high. This article can help strengthen my argument by explaining the
thought process behind the problem of self-absorption in our culture. It should
open a few eyes and help the reader to realize a part of themselves that has fallen
victim to consumerism. This article can also help defend against the counter-
argument of activism already present. The effectiveness of the movements
already in place are still not very effective.

Shah, Anup. “Poverty Around The World: The Wealthy and the Poor.” Global Issues, 20
September. 2010. Web. 11 October. 2010

Anup Shah writes “The Wealthy and the Poor” as part of here exploratory piece,
“Poverty Around The World.” She argues that the gap between the poor and the
wealthy is a direct result of the wealthy social interactions with the poor. By that
she means to say that the wealthy are the cause for keeping the poor in low social
status. It has been seen in the past with medieval times and rulers claiming
 “divine right,” but, more importantly, it has continued to the present. Quoting
economists and the United Nations, Shah states that, “Prosperity for a few has
increased, as has poverty for the majority.” This is the very point that I am trying
to make and inform people about. It connects to all the pieces as a central idea.
Shah goes into some reasons why this gap is present, but the other sources show
more points that are of greater strength.

Shah, Anup--. “Poverty Facts and Stats.” Global Issues, 20 September 2010. Web. 11
October 2010.

Anup Shah has an over-abundance of facts and stats ranging from all types of
genres and qualifications. The number of sources that the facts are pulled from is
extensive and recent. I plan on using these facts in conjunction with the other
articles to prove to the audience how terrible the living conditions of the poor are
in Third World countries. Any audience, no matter who they are, can be awed by
the masses of numbers and percents given. They will add to the credibility of my
paper as well as truly reflect how strong poverty is. An emotional impact might
be a result as well. Well placed stats concerning money in comparison with the
United States will help show what a divide there is between our two countries.
For a paper like this, where not many people know too much about the
seriousness of the issue, it is important to have facts behind what you are saying.

Cohen, Rachel. “Third World: An Epidemic of Neglect.” Greenleft.org. Green Left

Weekly Magazine. Issue 509 (2002). Web. 7 October 2010.

Rachel Cohen exposes troubles behind the scenes of Doctors without Borders.
There are many diseases that are neglected in Third World countries that they are
not able to fight due to the expense of the medicines. She gives a bunch of facts
on how many people die from the lack of medicine. Some deaths could have been
prevented fairly easily even. Part of the problem is the cost of medicines by
pharmaceutical companies. They just happen to be the most profiting business as
well, but they are too absorbed in their own agenda of developing drugs to combat
obesity than to help others. When asked to comment on government involvement,
Dr. Bernard Pecoul says, “Having left drug development to the most profitable
industry in the world, governments have shirked their responsibility to meet the
health needs that the market does not care about." This is a prime example of how
the United States is so absorbed into its own agenda and culture that it rejects the
needs of others. The most profitable industry has no money to save lives, but are
researching ways to reduce obesity, when any American can avoid such a thing by
exercising and taking care of their body.