Norway

As a country named “best place to live in the world” twice in a row, Norway seems hardly a country of poverty. It is a state member of the United Nations working to prevent poverty in the world. But with a population just over 4.5 million people, Norway is aware that poverty still exists in its borders. Thus, the country’s net official development assistance (ODA) amounted to US$ 2.04 billion in 2003 focusing to fight against poverty by prioritizing education, health, HIV/aids, and the rights of vulnerable groups.

As a UN member, Norway is committed to halving world poverty by 2015, as an effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals with the rest of its UN member states. The country’s government goal is to have 1% of the gross national income allocated to development assistance. In extension to assistance, it covers trade, debt, investment and other basic framework conditions.

As a country named “best place to live in the world” twice in a row, Norway seems hardly a country of poverty. It is a state member of the United Nations working to prevent poverty in the world. But with a population just over 4.5 million people, Norway is aware that poverty still exists in its borders. Thus, the country’s net official development assistance (ODA) amounted to US$ 2.04 billion in 2003 focusing to fight against poverty by prioritizing education, health, HIV/aids, and the rights of vulnerable groups.

As a UN member, Norway is committed to halving world poverty by 2015, as an effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals with the rest of its UN member states. The country’s government goal is to have 1% of the gross national income allocated to development assistance. In extension to assistance, it covers trade, debt, investment and other basic framework conditions.

According to recent statistics, there are 2,500 people between the ages of 15 and 49 that are living with HIV in Norway. This is relatively low in comparison to other countries of the world, but they have made it a necessity to share their awareness all over the world. With the support of 40 countries, 14 of these countries, including Norway are participating in a new program raising airline taxes to fund medication and treatment for poor countries battling with AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

But Norway is no stranger in fighting the war against major global diseases. Norway is an active supporter for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria funding NOK 130 mill total. South Africa and Ethiopia are two of the countries being aided by Norway through the program.

Norway’s wealth backfires environmentally because climate change has been a major environmental problem over the last several years. Norway naturally has a colder climate because it is along the North Atlantic current, but increase in energy use creates a layer over the sun’s natural heat. This is causing Norway’s climate to steadily become warmer, in turn, affecting natural habitats in forests and water life. Climate change in Norway is mostly due to industrial pollution and waste generation.

The expanding industrial business in Norway feeds off of gases that create layers over the atmosphere locking in the sun’s natural heat. Along with other United Nations state members, Norway has agreed to the Kyoto Protocol establish in 1997 to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases. Although Norway’s emissions of greenhouse gases have dropped by 2.5%, each Norwegian generates almost 2 tonnes of waste each year. Waste is another factor affecting climate change because it uses energy to burn it. Consequently, with a population of 4.5 million people (and growing) who generate 2 tonnes of waste each year, reducing energy emission has been difficult.

Climate change not only affects Norway and its environment, but pollution spreads globally affecting countries around them. The livelihood of people around Norway’s coastline is greatly being affected because pollution and waster causes contamination in the waters; thus killing fish and other marine animals.

The literacy rate in Norway is outstandingly 100% for both men and women ages 15 and over. Education is a top priority in the country and it is a basic precept of Norwegian educational principle. It is a government policy that all boys and girls in the country have an equal opportunity to education, regardless of social status, ethnic background, or special needs. More than 6% of the gross domestic product is the Norwegian education budget; whereas the average education budget for the OECD countries is only 4.9%. Within a span of 10 years (1988-1998), the number of students increased by 70%. Not only does the government make education attainable for its domestic population, but with the support of the State Educational Loan Fund, they welcome 9,000 foreign nationals to study in Norway each year. Norway has not only made education a significant part of their culture, but they have opened opportunities for non-natives also.

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