Citizens of the World

The need for water, a vital resource, is exploding as consequence of the population growth and increased agricultural demands. This is especially true in developing countries where access to driving water is decreasing. Poor management, galloping urbanization, ill-advised policies and pollution worsen a situation that is already detrimental to public health. Whether it is in Egypt, China, India, Bolivia or Senegal, the problems are about the same. The imbalance continues to deepen with increasing needs for water in the large urban centres, which are developing at a staggering rate, tho the detriment of requirements for water for agriculture and farmers.

In developing nations, women, who make up more than half of the world population, play an essential economic role through their work, especially in water collection. Yet the patriarchal societies traditionally exclude them from all political and economic power. Though the efforts of researchers and scientists in Sengal, Morocco and Palestine we see how training, research and experience help women manage and maximize natural resources to improve their living conditions.

The problems of poverty and exclusion are a reflection of inequalities and so we often speak about societal justice which cannot exist without satisfying the basic needs of individuals. What social policies are in place to fight these inequalities? Is there a real political will to combat the injustices? In this episode, we learn of IDRC's contribution to the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa and its support of intellectuals and researchers who live under military dictatorships in South America.

Despite the progress toward the elimination and control of malaria, thanks to prevention policies and the availability of pharmaceutical drugs all over the world, this episode shows that we are far from its eradication in developing nations. This is the case in Senegal where the populations poverty level is such that it encourages the spread of disease. In other countries, such as Vietnam and Peru, the effort made at the research level have contributed to a net improvement of the health of local populations.

The sharing of information and communication techniques has contributed to sustainable development. Thanks to the cellular technology, Senegalese farmers can access information about agricultural prices. As a result, they can control market prices and use competitive pricing to their advantage. In India, within the framework of the knowledge revolution, the work of local researchers has helped to create rural knowledge centers. The use of electronic messaging has improved the methods of work and living conditions in the often poor and isolated rural populations. Thanks to Canadian support, a learning-software about fishing techniques was developed.

Experts and researchers in China, Brazil and India share with us their personal reflections about the future developments of emerging countries. Their economic worth could soon surpass those of the richest countries and their rapid growth rates are upsetting the social, political and economic power structure. Canada provides support to research projects involving innovative national systems within these countries.