 What's in a label |
Issue 125 |
Breaking down the barriers
The concept of 'labels' means different things to different people. For some people it's about keeping up with the latest fashions - for example, buying shirts with the labels clearly visible (a very clever marketing strategy as the consumer is also providing the company with free advertising)!! For others it's about finding euphemisms or 'softer' language to describe the harsh reality - for example, during times of war we often hear the deaths of civilians being labelled as "collateral damage". This kind of language is very detached and so we are unaware that we are even talking about human beings. We use labels so frequently that often we don't even realise that we are doing it. So what lies behind the labels? To explore this issue, let's look at how the way we have described the world has developed throughout history.
First World vs Third World
The term First World originally referred to the capitalist and industrialised countries including countries within Western Europe and the United States . Today the term is really quite outdated, although it is still used to describe the richest countries in the world: nations with the most advanced economy, highest standard of living, and most advanced technology.
In contrast to this is the Third World . This term was first used by Jawaharlal Nehru , the First Prime Minister of India, originally to distinguish nations that aligned with neither the West or with the East during the Cold War . One World- Nations describes Third World countries as the poor, under-developed and exploited nations of the world.
Today we can also see the use of the term ' Fourth World '. McGraw-Hill defines this term as "indigenous communities within wealthier nations". It is important to recognise this unique group of people because the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission recognises that "Indigenous Australians remain the most disadvantaged of all Australians. There are clear disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians across all indicators of quality of life. The Indigenous populations of Australia continue to be at a comparative disadvantage in the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, particularly in the field of employment, housing, health and education".
Developed Country vs Developing Country
Developed Countries are described as countries that experience a high standard of living with access to medical care, education, clean drinking water and industry.
Developing Countries are described as countries where the people live on very small wages, live in countries that lack basic public services such as clean water, electricity and access to healthcare and education, and live in a less industrialised country. According to the World Bank, five out of the world's six billion people live in developing countries, where incomes are usually well under $1000 a year.
It is clear that these different terms emerged overtime as people struggled to find ways to describe the difference between countries. However, it is important to consider from whose viewpoint are these labels named? What is implied by the terms 'first' and 'developed'? What does it suggest we value in society - wealth? Technology? Similarly what is implied by the use of the terms 'third' and 'fourth' and 'developing'? Do these terms deny cultural richness within all societies (amongst other things)? Even the later description of 'North' and 'South' to describe the world were not quite accurate.
It is with this in mind that today less value-laden terms of 'majority world' and 'minority world' are used.
- The majority world describes 80% of the world's population who have access to 14% of the world's wealth (formally 'third world' or 'developing')
- The minority world describes 20% of the world's population who have 86% of the world's wealth (formally 'first world' or 'developed')
Labels are not always a bad or negative thing. They can easily identify and group many things, places and people in our lives. In fact we use them everyday. The important thing is to be able to critique the label. Always consider from whose perspective are labels named? For what purpose are labels used? What is the underlying meaning of the label? And when we are using labels to describe people we must also consider are we respecting the inherent dignity of the person? For behind the labels are human beings.
HSIE/ SOSE
1) Go to http://www.nationsonline.org/
oneworld/third_world_countries.htm.
- Obtain a map of the world and colour in the first, second and third world countries according to the lists.
- What generalisations can you see about the location of these countries?
2) Go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/
country_profiles/default.stm
Click on one of the minority (developed) countries listed. Read through the country's profile and write a letter to a friend pretending you live in that country. Explain where the country is located, and mention five things that make your chosen country unique.
3) The terms 'first', 'second' and 'third' world were labels used after World War II. The 'first world' consisted of capitalist countries aligned with the USA . The 'second world' consisted of communist Eastern Bloc countries. The 'third world' consisted of many of the remaining countries.
- By using your own knowledge or History text books, construct a table showing the countries that were in each of the original three groups.
- Do you think these groups would still remain the same today? Why/ Why not?
4) Go to http://www.cafod.org.uk/resources/
secondary_schools/wealth_and_poverty/
is_this_the_cause_of_poverty_ks3
There is an excellent activity called 'Is this the cause of poverty?' The aim is to demonstrate that unfair trade , insufficient aid and unpayable debt are major causes of poverty which keep people in the majority world marginalised. Complete the activities.
Economics
1)
Go to Cafod's 'Trading Trainers Simulation game' at: http://www.cafod.org.uk/resources/
secondary_schools/aid_debt_and_trade/
trading_trainers_game_ks3_ks4
It is a simulation game about work, poverty and the economic system. It teaches students about the difficulties of living in an unstable economy using the production of trainers as an example.
Mathematics
1) Go to http://www.nationsonline.org/
oneworld/first_world.htm
- Construct a line graph showing the minority countries in terms of their Gross National Income.
- Use Excel or another spreadsheet program to type in the information from the table entitled 'Top Ten: First World Countries' in terms of their Human Development and work out averages for each column.
English
1)
- Complete the activities about labelling at: http://www.caritas.org.au/education/label.htm
- Consider the use of language during times of war. For example the discussion piece referred to the expression "collateral damage". What does this mean? Can you think of other examples of labels used as euphamisms?
2) The dependency theory is a theory that is based on people believing that multinational corporations, such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) have made majority countries dependant on minority countries for survival without trying to encourage them to be independent.
Conduct a classroom debate where half the class agrees that multinational corporations are helping majority countries and the other half of the class seeing these multinational corporations as a barrier to independence.
3) Minority (First) World Obligation Debate.
Minority countries have an obligation to help majority countries with funds and assistance in cases of hunger and poverty. Use the website: http://esl.about.com/library/lessons/bldebate2.htm to help with organising the debate.
The Majority World has suffered in recent times due to natural disasters and famine. This leads to sickness, contamination of fresh water, disease and death. Read some articles about countries ravished by natural disasters and how people from around the world are trying to assist:
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Boxing Day 2005 was the first year anniversary of the Asia Earthquake/Tsunami. Read about the Tsunami affected areas of the world one year on at http://www.caritas.org.au/tsunami/ This will give some idea of the impact the tsunami has had and is still having on the lives of those affected. It is also a way of seeing what has been done with the money so generously donated by so many of you.
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Pope Benedict XVI's First Papal Encyclical focuses on love and charity.
The encyclical "Deus Caritas Est" (God is Love) was published on
January 25th. Read the document at:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/
encyclicals/index_en.htm
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Start planning your social justice activities for 2006.Get a copy of the SOCIAL JUSTICE DIARY from the ACSJC. 2006 is the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's visit to Alice Springs and his address to Indigenous Australians and 2007 is the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum. To mark these two historical events, the 2006 Social Justice Diary focuses on social justice for Indigenous Australians.
Each month, significant events for Indigenous Australians are noted and particular social justice issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are identified. Info rmation and ideas for prayer and reflection are included. An excellent resource for parishes, schools and social justice groups, the diary is an educational and spiritual resource for all who wish to continue the journey towards justice for, and reconciliation with our Indigenous sisters and brothers.
Cost: $6.60 (inc. GST), plus postage. To download an order form, go to:
www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/content/
publications/social_justice_calendar.html
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Labor has pledged to set up a $1 billion trust fund to help Pacific Islanders develop their own small businesses as part of a major overhaul of Australia 's foreign aid program to focus it squarely on reducing poverty. To read about this program visit: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/
labor-1bn-battle-plan-on-
poverty/2006/01/27/1138319450898.html
Write a letter to Mr Beazley to commend the ALP on this commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to their commitment to increasing international aid. Explain why you think it is important. You could also write a letter to the Mr Howard asking the government to make a firmer commitment to the MDGs which aim at reducing poverty around the world.