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One lesson we must learn is that people, especially the poor, must be at the center of development. We must see humans in the traditional view that people are the engine of change as well as in the less-traditional sense of development that puts people first. People are the significant factor in development first in terms of their numbers and the social, health, economic and environmental consequences of their actions and secondly, in terms of the decisions they make concerning domestic issues and the way they live their lives. People-centered development also means full community participation at both the decision-making and implementation levels.
Poverty remains intractable despite economic growth in many countries. This partly reflects the problem of income inequality within countries. Income inequality in turn reflects inequality of opportunity. What is the cause? At least in part, the tragically unmet need for equitable and inclusive investment in human capital -- e.g., investment in people through better education and healthcare -- and for wider access to the infrastructure and capital needed to broaden the basis of opportunity. Here lies a two-way relationship between poverty and growth. Growth might be a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition for poverty reduction. Persistent poverty and inequality can reduce growth rates.
A second lesson is that development must be sustainable and environmentally sound. If economic development destroys the earth’s natural resource base in the process, it is self-defeating. In Indonesia, 40 percent of Indonesian forests have been cut down since 1950 and half of the remaining forest has been utilized for public roads, timber and oil palm plantations. It is saddening that every five minutes five hectares of forest disappears, meaning that a forest area equal to the size of a football field vanishes every twelve seconds. On the other hand, 40 -50 million Indonesian citizen lives are heavily dependent on the forests. The impact on habitats is also severe as over the past ten years the number of orangutans has decreased by up to 50 percent.
Whatever the economic development argument is, we have take into account that it’s practical consequences will directly affect the majority of people. Economic development is no longer considered as part of social development as it should be. Although it is difficult, let us put the people first before all the growth and profit generated by development and globalization.
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Andi
Iam a one of Indonesian young peoples has always been worry about condition my country in face with globalization and poverty, Iam a former activist student 1998, when falling down President Soeharto because my activity with student movement made me drop out from university, iam only get a diploma college from trisakti university, Jakarta. my activity now is given a education and empowerment for peasent and poor peoples, interfaith dialogue and be a speakers at students training.
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