Category: Global Theft

Much of our global health work is defined by what we can do – or we can’t do – in the context of resource scarcity. But we also know that most countries have more than enough resources to achieve health for all. Resource scarcity is largely a myth, and the real problem is global theft of those resources. The GH community, however, rarely draws attention to the systematic theft of these resources, either by, or enabled by, people in rich countries. Rich individuals, including those considered global health saviors, and their large corporations move money from accounts in one country to another in order to avoid paying taxes, and not contributing their fair share to efforts that could improve global health. Other examples include expropriation of raw materials, like water, without fair compensation, patents and trade regimens that are highly unfair, currency speculation, corporate practices that engender poverty wages and dangerous working conditions, and environmental devastation.