Poverty in Chocó, Colombia

Poverty in Chocó, Colombia

As we mentioned previously, the standard of poverty in the United States is $34 dollars a day.  In certain areas of Colombia, the standard is $1 dollar a day, or less.

One of the problems with the currency in Latin American countries, or Third World Countries (as have been contemptuously denominated) is the currency.  A power issue seems to be in place since the Latin American Countries have the lowest exchange with the dollar.  In the case of Colombia, the dollar exchange is $1 dollar to $3,228.71 Pesos.  Therefore, for a person living in poverty to have $3,000 pesos plus, it is a real challenge.

In a previous article in this blog, it was mentioned how Ecuador changed its currency to the American Dollar.  It took time to get used to it, and to overcome the national pride of changing their coins, but in the long run, it helped.  So, what is keeping the rest of the countries in Latin America to come up to speed with Ecuador?  I am no economist, but read about issues affecting our economy.  Is it the fear of inflation? fear of losing the national identity?  Makes me wonder if leaders in our countries have researched this issue and would be willing to make a change if this point was on the table?

Poverty in places such as Chocó, Colombia is hard to understand.  Chocó extracts 46% of the gold of Colombia.  However, the gold is extracted by multinational companies.  Which means, that this national treasure does not stay in the country but is taken out of Colombia with a minuscule tax of 17%.  What looks wrong with this picture?  Colombians can be very resourceful, but in this case, they are being robbed under their own eyes.  To start with, why can’t they increase the tax to at least 50%?   This is a treasure, a national treasure.  This could pay for a third level hospital in every town, for super markets, for schools, universities, housing, libraries, museums, parks, etc.  So, the issue may be if Colombians are aware of the potential of this area of Colombia with its hidden riches.

In Choco, besides the gold, and platinum, the department has coasts in two oceans;  has lots of rivers, rains 400 inches per year, and their biodiversity is pretty unique in the planet.  So, why isn’t Choco, Colombia the Athens of Latin America?  Why is there so much learned helplessness?  We have the natural resources and the human resources, the combination of these two, brings capital resources.  But, in Choco, only a few have electricity or clean water.  Educational test results are the last in the country, malnutrition is rampant among children, and women still die in childbirth due to blood pressure issues.

Not an easy problem to solve, but one that needs a multi-faceted approach and a multidisciplinary team.  My father who represents Canatcol, AP in the U.S. has been researching and contacting Engineering Departments, Government Leaders, and many other people in Colombia to propose the project of the Inter Oceanic Canal, which could help to develop the infrastructure in this amazing area.

People in Chocó they are very loving people, who love to sing and dance.  They seem happy, and they love to talk.  One thing that is beautiful, is that they help each other and if a child is orphaned or in trouble, they welcome them in their families.  In their big families.  You will not experience loneliness in Choco… just material poverty.