Comparing this bare lifestyle with an average American lifestyle exemplifies how a nation's economic conditions and technological advancement can contribute to educating the younger population. In America, it is obvious that there is effort being out forth to educate the future innovators of the nation. On the contrary, in countries such as African ones that are still developing or underdeveloped, educating the younger population seems irrelevant compared to other steps that must be taken to advance. While it seems they neglect educating the young, it may in fact be key to begin advancement. It may be this waste of young minds that is hindering countries, like Côte d'Ivoire, from advancing not only socially, but also economically--which may also increase trade and the world's economy.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Cherish Your Chocolate
This article is a great example of "tribal", traditional system, and stagnation. It creates a recognizable contrast between America's "normal" and foreign "normal" as highlighted by the journalist's shock. The children trafficked for the harvest of cocoa beans know nothing more than the life of slaves that they were basically born into. Since they do not know of any luxuries available to them, they only work to survive. Their work gains them nothing, no money, no rewards, and no future. They learn from an extremely young age, like Abdul in the article, how to harvest and work. It is almost as if they were born to work those fields.
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2 comments:
Interesting article. It reminds me of the cast system in India. Much like a tribal economic system, you are born into your role and there is no changing your station in life. You bring up the point about technological advancements and educational opportunities. Do these countries not have opportunities for education or choosing not to educating; therefore, constantly replenishing their labor force?
Reading this article was shocking because their world is so much different than ours is. We are used to going to school and getting an education while they start working at such a young age. Working at a young age is both nonbeneficial and beneficial to the children. The good thing is that they have working experience at such a young age while some people in the United States are just used to having to ask for money from their parents. The bad thing is that they aren't being educated to make their life better later in life and they don't have the same opportunities that we do. I also feel that it's not that they don't educate their children, it's just that they don't have opportunity to educate their children like we do. They don't have universities in Africa like you can find so many here.
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