Sustainable Development: Problems in Third World Countries

Shortage of drinking water and water for other uses is a major problem in many third world countries. This leads to conflicts between nations and between ethnic groups within nations. There is a struggle for control of these resources in a democratic process. The democratic process replaces what may have been a war: guns being replaced by diplomats conferencing and figuring out ways to share a water source. The problem can also be solved by international accords and committees.

II. Problem of Population Growth Above a Nation's Capacity to Support

Many nations have populations too large to fit within their land's boundaries, or to feed with their resources. This can lead to conflict with other nations when the overpopulated nation's citizens leave for work. Ethnic conflicts may arise when, for example, an Indian family migrates to China to find work in a rice field. Two nations with overflowing populations must learn to work together when they border each other and have the same problems. Diplomats from both nations must set down and make rules about what their citizens can do in times of crisis and what they will do to alleviate the crisis. Some countries have female baby genocides, abortions, etc. China has set up the "one child" rule, in which each family may only have one child. These certainly are not the best strategies, but solutions (without death) can be created with the help of diplomats from other countries.

III. Emerging Technology

It does so much good, but technology can also do harm to third world countries. When first world countries use more and more technology to manufacture clothing, food, and other items, they no longer need the cheap labor from third world countries. Losing what little money they used to get from migrant work, third world citizens have to learn to live off of something else...and most do not. Diplomats from first world countries such as the U.S. should set up some sort of deal with diplomats from third world countries to hire their citizens for work instead of increasing technology in some plants. If the richer countries do not think about their poor brothers, the world will fall apart: with second world becoming third world, and third world countries turning into fourth world, or even becoming extinct. Diplomats from richer nations should work on these problems in United Nations committees and set up sanctions so that all richer countries must abide.

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