9781422274002

Science & Technology

The first is Asia’s enormous population. The continent hosts nearly 60 percent of the entire world’s population, so resources and food are scarce. Nearly 70 percent of Asians are hungry. Agricultural land for growing food has decreased as the population has increased; the land is being urbanized. As a result, food prices have greatly increased, creating food insecurity for the population. Several countries also have weak governmental policies that further add to food insecurity and poverty. Natural disasters like floods and earthquakes are common in Asia. In

India and China have historically been noted for their advancements in science and technology. Today, the advancements in those industries vary depending on the country. Today, Japan is notable for its technological achievements, particularly in electronics and automobiles. Recently, China and India have made significant advancements.

fact, half of the world’s natural disasters take place in Asian countries. Some families lose everything they have, maybe more than once, and live in poverty for the rest of their lives. Lack of health care is a huge factor that further leads to malnutrition. Almost 70 percent of the world’s malnourished children live in Asia. Women are vulnerable because countless Asian countries don’t provide health care to women. Lack of education also leads to poverty. UNESCO reports that one-third of all adults in South and West Asia cannot read or write, and frequently, children lack the basic skills necessary to even try to get a higher education. Asian populations in general don’t believe in education for girls, so there is a huge gender gap. Only about 60 percent of young women across Asia can read and write. Unfortunately, these causes of poverty are all interrelated, and a myriad of problems need to be fixed before all Asians can rise up out of poverty. Infanticide Two million baby girls go “missing” each year in China and India. Female babies are sometimes aborted, abandoned to die, or even killed as newborns. Countries like Nepal and South Korea share this cultural tradition of infanticide , which has Hindu and Confucian origins.

ASIA TODAY 11

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