Mark this one: The growing popularity of cell phone usage within Africa is a really good sign. Using cell phones will help the nations of Africa to do online banking and to keep control of their money. It helps them be able to transfer money online if need be, and to keep updated on how much money they have to their name. Also, cell phone usage will help the people of Africa to get access to information of news around the world and also to get information about health care and different types of things that can help them to get out of poverty. Unfortunately, not a lot of African peoples with cell phones use them for this research, but it is now available to them. Having this access can help improve their education on different things such as birth control and other contraceptives and what they can do to help their people with lowing their excessive birth rate. I personally think this is a good thing for the people of Africa because it will help them to gain access to information that was not previously available to them. I also think it will help them gain more control of their money and be able to control how it is spent better. I believe the people of Africa are able to afford a phone is pretty simple and that it is because buying a phone in Africa is much cheaper than buying a phone in America or Canada. They aren't hundreds of dollars, but instead are much cheaper. Also, the people that own phones have slightly more access to money and are able to afford it more than the people living in extreme poverty. I think this isn't a case of the rich getting richer but it is a case of the rich being able to put their money towards something that may future better Africa.
I agree with your thoughts on this topic. Having a cell phone has so many potential benefits to those who own one. The most obvious point to me is that they could text those farther away that they would originally have to walk or bike to. If the can text someone and ask them if they are interested in crops, than this would save them so much time. But I also have a slight concern about health hazards. Cellphones have a risk that comes along with them: user's chances of getting cancer increase. Although the numbers of cancer are currently low in Africa, they could increase. This would completely change the dynamics of health care in Africa.
There will always be good and bad things to every situation. That is what happens with new technology and advancements. I think that having cellphones will help improve the way of life in Africa. There will of course be risks, but if we do not start advancing our technology all around the world, we won't get anywhere anytime soon.
I agree with Sarah's thoughts on banking and education. Communication about sales or trades is also a benefit of cell phones. Another would be easier access to groups for activism in countries with strong governments. A cell phone would be beneficial after a disaster because it would be easier to contact your lost friends and family. Many Africans have died due to taking the wrong drug. Cell phones would allow anyone to verify the legitimacy of the drug they are about to take by texting a code that is found on the drug packaging.
No matter how good something can be, there will always be some negatives. So long as the positives stack up higher than the negatives, it's probably a good plan. I agree that the cellphones are going to be more of a good thing for the people of Africa than a bad thing.
I agree with the common opinion that this is a good sign. Despite the negative aspects, this is proving that Africa has potential to become a more developed nation and this is something that may people want to see. This will help spread lots of information around the nations and also allow lots more communication. I also feel that if people have cell phones that it will lead to better health care through knowledge and access to the internet to check drugs, medical care, and information about safe sex. I think that this is a great sign that Africa is going to become a developing continent over the next few decades. I hope they have a chance to be as successful as North American or European citizens.
I disagree with sarah when she says this ISNT a case of the rich getting richer. To explain, although the costs of a cellphone in Africa is alot less than the cost in developed countries, we must remember that over half of Africa is living on less than one dollar a day to support families of 8 on average!! Poorer Africans would have to save for years and years to be able to afford one!! Only the upper class Africa with extra money is able to afford a cellphone, and with that phone they are able to continue to make more money whereas the large percent who are unable to afford a cellphone are unable to prosper economically
I agree with Britney! There are so many positives to having a cellphone in a poor country because it helps save time that would have been used in walking/biking to somebody to communicate, can keep you up to date on important events, and in the event of emergency is always great to have around! It has definitely made our own lives easier, I can only imagine how much it could do for them.
Although many believe that the majority of foreign aid should go to access to clean food and water, providing cell phones should actually be high on the priorities list. Providing cell phones allows farmers to communicate with one another to warn about inclement weather, businesses to arrange deals and families to communicate with health providers when health emergencies arrise.
I think another one of the best benefits for the African communities is that they not only now have access to communication, but they have access to creating better futures for themselves. Instead of just handing them what it is they need, providing them with cell phones allows them to learn how to provide for themselves which will kickstart a real economic growth spurt. With more money means access to medicine, further advancements in technology and the betterment of a country. Case 2 in the article I linked talks about how the cellphone technology has bettered a farmer and other farmers lives. The farmers were warned about a drought and therefore waited before planting crop seeds. It saved whole crops.
Although it may be an example of the rich getting richer, you can’t forget that the citizens will also benefit. The good that will come out of the cell phones will outweigh the bad,
I agree with the points Tosha has brought up. It is very important for farmers to be able to contact each other because that directly helps their business, and thus generating more wealth. I think cell phone usage would be a great thing and help them a lot.
I agree with every thing Tosha said, especially her points about farmers being able to communicate to each other about the weather and the health of their crops. A question asked was "how can they afford phones but not food?." To answer this question one must look in the long run rather than short term. If a farmer invests his savings into a phone, with the technology his crops will be better and work will be more convenient, so in the end farmers will end up with more wealth.
I completely agree with the above posts. Communication is vital to developing these communities and countries. Farmers must be able to gain contact of others. Being able to do so can improve their business and family living. Jenny brought up a good point noting that a cell phone is an investment for these people. I strongly believe that cell phones will pay dividends and help decrease poverty in these areas
I also agree with Tosha on her points about the farmers being able to communicate with one another. I still think providing them with phones will help them develop more as a nation as well.
Please mark this one: I think a cell phone is a great investment for people all over the world. Not only does it give access to so much, it can save people’s lives. So I do think that this is a really good thing for the people of Africa. One main thing that I think is important is communication. With cell phones people can communicate with family and friends if something bad is to happen, form partnerships and they can make business deals over the phone which could potentially improve their economy. Also if people decide to use the internet they will have access to so much information which could lead to more people becoming educated. Because of all of the good things coming out of cell phones owning one could improve a person’s life and could help them earn money. In Ghana, to buy a sim card it is 6 cents and to get calling and texting it could be as little as 3 cents. To many people this is a great investment to help support business and the growth of their economy. This is definitely helping the rich get richer but it is also helping people who don’t have tons of money. It is affordable to most people which is helping all classes of people.
Mark this one: According to this article, cell phones may be just as common in South Africa as they are in the United States, with roughly two thirds or more of the countries surveyed owning a cell phone. To compare, in 2002, 8% of Ghanaians owned a mobile phone while today that number is 83%. In 2002, 64% of Americans owned a mobile phone while today that number is 89%. These statistics proving that the amount of cells phones owned in both countries are very similar. More African’s owning cell phones is very good for the people of Africa because is can help bring them out of poverty. The saying “If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day but if you teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime” relates to this issue. If an give an African a cell phone then they have the ability to improve their life, for the rest of their life. They can communicate better with others to improve business and trade. A new widely popular thing like a cell phone can also increase jobs and boost the economy. People can also learn online instead of a school, which can improve the African brain pool. Bank access can be improved by the use of cellphones. Lots of African’s cannot get to a bank but with a cell phone, online banking is possible. They can also be alerted about inclement weather before it hits to better prepare themselves. African’s having cell phones is all around a good thing, plus they can check up on what their friends and family are up too via social media. In my opinion, to say that an African can afford a cell phone but not food may be an over exaggeration. If a family really cannot afford food, they would not own a cell phone. But a cell phone in Africa is cheap when you first buy it and then they only have to pay monthly bills where as you have to buy food everyday, and sometime a lot of it. So African’s with cell phones probably have food some days but other days they might struggle for food, whereas a family who struggles for food everyday probably does not have a cell phone. I think this might be a case of the rich getting richer (in a sense) because as the article said, most people that own a cell phone are educated (speak English). So although they might not be rich, it’s more of a case of the more privileged getting more privilege.
Mark this one: I think that there are many ways that the use of cell phones could help bring Africa out of poverty. According to Rural System Inc., increased access to communication has made Africa safer for indigenous people; one USAID-supported program informs users which areas to avoid due to ethnic violence, 93% of female mobile phone users feel safer with a phone, and 85% of female users feel more independent. Mobile phones also make times of crisis easier to manage for residents. I also think these mobile devices are useful in Africa because they are used to increase educational opportunity within classrooms, to improve diagnostic precision in medical centers, to reduce corruption within some state agencies, and to provide affordable mobile banking. According to a study, 42% of mobile phone owners use their phones to increase their income and professional opportunities. I think that this is a good thing for people in Africa because it is providing them with so many other resources which they can use to help their lifestyle. People in Africa would have Access to market prices, which would allow farmers to gain access to vital information about prices of crops before they travel long distances to markets. It would also help the people in Africa because they would get Instant weather information which would provide farmers with crucial weather data so they can properly manage their crops. Cell phones are also helping people with a Micro-insurance program which is basically a “pay as you plant” type of insurance. This ultimately protects farmers against poor weather conditions. The insurance is distributed through dealers who utilize camera phone technology to scan and capture policy information through a code using an advanced phone application. A research paper from the International Development Research Center reports that many people are willing to sacrifice significantly in the short term in the interest of perceived long-term gains. I think that by saying this, people are willing to suffer by not eating as much food and instead are using their money for their phone to help their business. I don’t completely agree that that is a good idea because I think health comes before technology but I understand the logic. I believe that the rich would probably be getting richer in this case because they are now able to use their money towards things that will make them even more money and better themselves. http://www.ruralsystem.com/2014/07/27/on-the-effects-of-mobile-phones-on-poverty-in-africa/ http://foodtank.com/news/2015/01/five-ways-cell-phones-are-changing-agriculture-in-africa
Mark This One: Though some African countries are in desperate need of food and clean water, they also might need cellphones. Cellphones today are almost absolutely necessary in North American society for finding employment, contacting people, and paying bills. This is now becoming true for African countries as well. Cellphones can greatly benefit African society because they have multiple purposes. For many, having a reliable form of communication can greatly benefit business deals and relationships with others. With cellphones also comes knowledge if you have access to the internet. It is a great way to become informed about local politics and issues that might affect people or their businesses. Not to mention having access to weather updates and inclement weather conditions. This also gives many African's the option to pay through their cellphone, a faster and more efficient form of payment.
These cellphones are a great thing for Africa and could help bring countries out of poverty. The mobile phone industry has not only helped empower entrepreneurs in Africa but has also helped the economy with a large contribution of over 100 Billion dollars. This is an incredible amount and great news for sub-Saharan Africans.
The reason Africans are able to afford these phones is because they are much cheaper there than they are in North America. It's all relative, since we are a wealthier country than countries in Africa , we will pay more for a cellphone. Many people living in Africa see these phones as an investment to their businesses and to their personal lives as well.
I think that some of this involves the rich getting richer, however, we are seeing that most African's are having cellphones even those who are not educated. A statistic does show that the educated are more likely to have a cellphone compared to the uneducated but that does not mean that all uneducated people in Africa do not have a cellphone.
In my opinion i think that this is a great step forward for all of Africa and think that this will continue to have a great impact on their economy and lifestyle.
Mark this one: I think there are many positive and negative things about them having cell phones, but in the long run it would be worth it. While it would make sense to be using the little money they make for food or other necessities, I think having cell phones would make them more money to provide these things by helping them get farther career wise. Cells phones can provide warnings about possible weather that could hurt crops, or even allow them to communicate with colleagues and arrange deals.
MARK THIS ONE: Having cells phones in Africa can help bring Africa out of poverty because the phones can be used to warn the people of natural disasters coming that could threaten their crops and therefore threaten their main source of income. Also, having cell phones can help make people aware of political news and getting health and consumer information when a new illness or disease outbreak occurs. It can also help bring them out of poverty by doing online banking. To explain, they can now invest in business and transfer money online. In fact, the World Bank estimates that the number of unbanked people in the world dropped by 20 percent to 2 billion people from 2011 to 2014. It can also give them more access to online education. Having education, better access to health care information, and preparedness are the first of many steps in becoming industrialized. Mozambique, mobile is being used in the fight against HIV and AIDS. British nonprofit Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) incorporated mobile messaging to remind patients enrolled in antiretroviral therapy about appointment dates and to take their medication. 3,700 health centers in Uganda submit weekly reports electronically and are able to receive surveys, alerts and other communications. Many of the most important materials in phones and other electronics — gold, tin, tantalum and tungsten — come from mines in Congo. The rush to capitalize on these materials, worth trillions in total, spurred rebels to take control of the mines and perpetuate violence against men, women and children. A report from 2014 indicated that many mines are no longer controlled by armed rebel groups, at least in part due to 2010 legislation in the U.S. requiring companies to be transparent about the source of their materials. Despite this issue, I believe that the overall benefits of having cellphones for the widespread of important and potentially life saving information in Africa outweighs the bad. Some people In Africa can afford cell phones because the cost of a cellphone in Africa is much lower than in America and Canada due to the fact that most of the materials for the phone are mined in Africa. Not everyone in Africa can afford to have a cellphone. Infact, only the elite population can afford it, as it would cost about 9$ US, which is about a 6 month wage for most people in Africa. Because it is only the elite class that can afford, I agree with the statement of the rich getting richer. http://www.ruralsystem.com/2014/07/27/on-the-effects-of-mobile-phones-on-poverty-in-africa/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/09/23/mobile_phones_greatest_poverty_reducing_tech_ever/
Mark this one:
ReplyDeleteThe growing popularity of cell phone usage within Africa is a really good sign. Using cell phones will help the nations of Africa to do online banking and to keep control of their money. It helps them be able to transfer money online if need be, and to keep updated on how much money they have to their name. Also, cell phone usage will help the people of Africa to get access to information of news around the world and also to get information about health care and different types of things that can help them to get out of poverty. Unfortunately, not a lot of African peoples with cell phones use them for this research, but it is now available to them. Having this access can help improve their education on different things such as birth control and other contraceptives and what they can do to help their people with lowing their excessive birth rate. I personally think this is a good thing for the people of Africa because it will help them to gain access to information that was not previously available to them. I also think it will help them gain more control of their money and be able to control how it is spent better. I believe the people of Africa are able to afford a phone is pretty simple and that it is because buying a phone in Africa is much cheaper than buying a phone in America or Canada. They aren't hundreds of dollars, but instead are much cheaper. Also, the people that own phones have slightly more access to money and are able to afford it more than the people living in extreme poverty. I think this isn't a case of the rich getting richer but it is a case of the rich being able to put their money towards something that may future better Africa.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/20/africa-phone-study_n_7081868.html
I agree with your thoughts on this topic. Having a cell phone has so many potential benefits to those who own one. The most obvious point to me is that they could text those farther away that they would originally have to walk or bike to. If the can text someone and ask them if they are interested in crops, than this would save them so much time. But I also have a slight concern about health hazards. Cellphones have a risk that comes along with them: user's chances of getting cancer increase. Although the numbers of cancer are currently low in Africa, they could increase. This would completely change the dynamics of health care in Africa.
DeleteThere will always be good and bad things to every situation. That is what happens with new technology and advancements. I think that having cellphones will help improve the way of life in Africa. There will of course be risks, but if we do not start advancing our technology all around the world, we won't get anywhere anytime soon.
DeleteI agree with Sarah's thoughts on banking and education. Communication about sales or trades is also a benefit of cell phones. Another would be easier access to groups for activism in countries with strong governments. A cell phone would be beneficial after a disaster because it would be easier to contact your lost friends and family. Many Africans have died due to taking the wrong drug. Cell phones would allow anyone to verify the legitimacy of the drug they are about to take by texting a code that is found on the drug packaging.
Deletehttp://www.cnn.com/2012/09/13/world/africa/mobile-phones-change-africa/
No matter how good something can be, there will always be some negatives. So long as the positives stack up higher than the negatives, it's probably a good plan. I agree that the cellphones are going to be more of a good thing for the people of Africa than a bad thing.
DeleteI agree with the common opinion that this is a good sign. Despite the negative aspects, this is proving that Africa has potential to become a more developed nation and this is something that may people want to see. This will help spread lots of information around the nations and also allow lots more communication. I also feel that if people have cell phones that it will lead to better health care through knowledge and access to the internet to check drugs, medical care, and information about safe sex. I think that this is a great sign that Africa is going to become a developing continent over the next few decades. I hope they have a chance to be as successful as North American or European citizens.
DeleteI disagree with sarah when she says this ISNT a case of the rich getting richer. To explain, although the costs of a cellphone in Africa is alot less than the cost in developed countries, we must remember that over half of Africa is living on less than one dollar a day to support families of 8 on average!! Poorer Africans would have to save for years and years to be able to afford one!! Only the upper class Africa with extra money is able to afford a cellphone, and with that phone they are able to continue to make more money whereas the large percent who are unable to afford a cellphone are unable to prosper economically
DeleteI agree with Britney! There are so many positives to having a cellphone in a poor country because it helps save time that would have been used in walking/biking to somebody to communicate, can keep you up to date on important events, and in the event of emergency is always great to have around! It has definitely made our own lives easier, I can only imagine how much it could do for them.
DeleteMark this one.
ReplyDeleteAlthough many believe that the majority of foreign aid should go to access to clean food and water, providing cell phones should actually be high on the priorities list. Providing cell phones allows farmers to communicate with one another to warn about inclement weather, businesses to arrange deals and families to communicate with health providers when health emergencies arrise.
I think another one of the best benefits for the African communities is that they not only now have access to communication, but they have access to creating better futures for themselves. Instead of just handing them what it is they need, providing them with cell phones allows them to learn how to provide for themselves which will kickstart a real economic growth spurt. With more money means access to medicine, further advancements in technology and the betterment of a country. Case 2 in the article I linked talks about how the cellphone technology has bettered a farmer and other farmers lives. The farmers were warned about a drought and therefore waited before planting crop seeds. It saved whole crops.
Although it may be an example of the rich getting richer, you can’t forget that the citizens will also benefit. The good that will come out of the cell phones will outweigh the bad,
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/jul/24/mobile-phones-africa-microfinance-farming
I agree with the points Tosha has brought up. It is very important for farmers to be able to contact each other because that directly helps their business, and thus generating more wealth. I think cell phone usage would be a great thing and help them a lot.
DeleteI agree with every thing Tosha said, especially her points about farmers being able to communicate to each other about the weather and the health of their crops. A question asked was "how can they afford phones but not food?." To answer this question one must look in the long run rather than short term. If a farmer invests his savings into a phone, with the technology his crops will be better and work will be more convenient, so in the end farmers will end up with more wealth.
DeleteI completely agree with the above posts. Communication is vital to developing these communities and countries. Farmers must be able to gain contact of others. Being able to do so can improve their business and family living. Jenny brought up a good point noting that a cell phone is an investment for these people. I strongly believe that cell phones will pay dividends and help decrease poverty in these areas
DeleteI also agree with Tosha on her points about the farmers being able to communicate with one another. I still think providing them with phones will help them develop more as a nation as well.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePlease mark this one:
ReplyDeleteI think a cell phone is a great investment for people all over the world. Not only does it give access to so much, it can save people’s lives. So I do think that this is a really good thing for the people of Africa. One main thing that I think is important is communication. With cell phones people can communicate with family and friends if something bad is to happen, form partnerships and they can make business deals over the phone which could potentially improve their economy. Also if people decide to use the internet they will have access to so much information which could lead to more people becoming educated. Because of all of the good things coming out of cell phones owning one could improve a person’s life and could help them earn money. In Ghana, to buy a sim card it is 6 cents and to get calling and texting it could be as little as 3 cents. To many people this is a great investment to help support business and the growth of their economy. This is definitely helping the rich get richer but it is also helping people who don’t have tons of money. It is affordable to most people which is helping all classes of people.
https://www.compassion.ca/why-do-people-in-poverty-have-cell-phones/
Mark this one: According to this article, cell phones may be just as common in South Africa as they are in the United States, with roughly two thirds or more of the countries surveyed owning a cell phone. To compare, in 2002, 8% of Ghanaians owned a mobile phone while today that number is 83%. In 2002, 64% of Americans owned a mobile phone while today that number is 89%. These statistics proving that the amount of cells phones owned in both countries are very similar. More African’s owning cell phones is very good for the people of Africa because is can help bring them out of poverty. The saying “If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day but if you teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime” relates to this issue. If an give an African a cell phone then they have the ability to improve their life, for the rest of their life. They can communicate better with others to improve business and trade. A new widely popular thing like a cell phone can also increase jobs and boost the economy. People can also learn online instead of a school, which can improve the African brain pool. Bank access can be improved by the use of cellphones. Lots of African’s cannot get to a bank but with a cell phone, online banking is possible. They can also be alerted about inclement weather before it hits to better prepare themselves. African’s having cell phones is all around a good thing, plus they can check up on what their friends and family are up too via social media. In my opinion, to say that an African can afford a cell phone but not food may be an over exaggeration. If a family really cannot afford food, they would not own a cell phone. But a cell phone in Africa is cheap when you first buy it and then they only have to pay monthly bills where as you have to buy food everyday, and sometime a lot of it. So African’s with cell phones probably have food some days but other days they might struggle for food, whereas a family who struggles for food everyday probably does not have a cell phone. I think this might be a case of the rich getting richer (in a sense) because as the article said, most people that own a cell phone are educated (speak English). So although they might not be rich, it’s more of a case of the more privileged getting more privilege.
ReplyDeleteMark this one:
ReplyDeleteI think that there are many ways that the use of cell phones could help bring Africa out of poverty. According to Rural System Inc., increased access to communication has made Africa safer for indigenous people; one USAID-supported program informs users which areas to avoid due to ethnic violence, 93% of female mobile phone users feel safer with a phone, and 85% of female users feel more independent. Mobile phones also make times of crisis easier to manage for residents. I also think these mobile devices are useful in Africa because they are used to increase educational opportunity within classrooms, to improve diagnostic precision in medical centers, to reduce corruption within some state agencies, and to provide affordable mobile banking. According to a study, 42% of mobile phone owners use their phones to increase their income and professional opportunities. I think that this is a good thing for people in Africa because it is providing them with so many other resources which they can use to help their lifestyle. People in Africa would have Access to market prices, which would allow farmers to gain access to vital information about prices of crops before they travel long distances to markets. It would also help the people in Africa because they would get Instant weather information which would provide farmers with crucial weather data so they can properly manage their crops. Cell phones are also helping people with a Micro-insurance program which is basically a “pay as you plant” type of insurance. This ultimately protects farmers against poor weather conditions. The insurance is distributed through dealers who utilize camera phone technology to scan and capture policy information through a code using an advanced phone application. A research paper from the International Development Research Center reports that many people are willing to sacrifice significantly in the short term in the interest of perceived long-term gains. I think that by saying this, people are willing to suffer by not eating as much food and instead are using their money for their phone to help their business. I don’t completely agree that that is a good idea because I think health comes before technology but I understand the logic. I believe that the rich would probably be getting richer in this case because they are now able to use their money towards things that will make them even more money and better themselves.
http://www.ruralsystem.com/2014/07/27/on-the-effects-of-mobile-phones-on-poverty-in-africa/
http://foodtank.com/news/2015/01/five-ways-cell-phones-are-changing-agriculture-in-africa
Mark This One:
ReplyDeleteThough some African countries are in desperate need of food and clean water, they also might need cellphones. Cellphones today are almost absolutely necessary in North American society for finding employment, contacting people, and paying bills. This is now becoming true for African countries as well. Cellphones can greatly benefit African society because they have multiple purposes. For many, having a reliable form of communication can greatly benefit business deals and relationships with others. With cellphones also comes knowledge if you have access to the internet. It is a great way to become informed about local politics and issues that might affect people or their businesses. Not to mention having access to weather updates and inclement weather conditions. This also gives many African's the option to pay through their cellphone, a faster and more efficient form of payment.
These cellphones are a great thing for Africa and could help bring countries out of poverty. The mobile phone industry has not only helped empower entrepreneurs in Africa but has also helped the economy with a large contribution of over 100 Billion dollars. This is an incredible amount and great news for sub-Saharan Africans.
The reason Africans are able to afford these phones is because they are much cheaper there than they are in North America. It's all relative, since we are a wealthier country than countries in Africa , we will pay more for a cellphone. Many people living in Africa see these phones as an investment to their businesses and to their personal lives as well.
I think that some of this involves the rich getting richer, however, we are seeing that most African's are having cellphones even those who are not educated. A statistic does show that the educated are more likely to have a cellphone compared to the uneducated but that does not mean that all uneducated people in Africa do not have a cellphone.
In my opinion i think that this is a great step forward for all of Africa and think that this will continue to have a great impact on their economy and lifestyle.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/20/africa-phone-study_n_7081868.html
Mark this one:
ReplyDeleteI think there are many positive and negative things about them having cell phones, but in the long run it would be worth it. While it would make sense to be using the little money they make for food or other necessities, I think having cell phones would make them more money to provide these things by helping them get farther career wise. Cells phones can provide warnings about possible weather that could hurt crops, or even allow them to communicate with colleagues and arrange deals.
MARK THIS ONE: Having cells phones in Africa can help bring Africa out of poverty because the phones can be used to warn the people of natural disasters coming that could threaten their crops and therefore threaten their main source of income. Also, having cell phones can help make people aware of political news and getting health and consumer information when a new illness or disease outbreak occurs. It can also help bring them out of poverty by doing online banking. To explain, they can now invest in business and transfer money online. In fact, the World Bank estimates that the number of unbanked people in the world dropped by 20 percent to 2 billion people from 2011 to 2014. It can also give them more access to online education. Having education, better access to health care information, and preparedness are the first of many steps in becoming industrialized. Mozambique, mobile is being used in the fight against HIV and AIDS. British nonprofit Absolute Return for Kids (ARK) incorporated mobile messaging to remind patients enrolled in antiretroviral therapy about appointment dates and to take their medication. 3,700 health centers in Uganda submit weekly reports electronically and are able to receive surveys, alerts and other communications.
ReplyDeleteMany of the most important materials in phones and other electronics — gold, tin, tantalum and tungsten — come from mines in Congo. The rush to capitalize on these materials, worth trillions in total, spurred rebels to take control of the mines and perpetuate violence against men, women and children. A report from 2014 indicated that many mines are no longer controlled by armed rebel groups, at least in part due to 2010 legislation in the U.S. requiring companies to be transparent about the source of their materials. Despite this issue, I believe that the overall benefits of having cellphones for the widespread of important and potentially life saving information in Africa outweighs the bad.
Some people In Africa can afford cell phones because the cost of a cellphone in Africa is much lower than in America and Canada due to the fact that most of the materials for the phone are mined in Africa.
Not everyone in Africa can afford to have a cellphone. Infact, only the elite population can afford it, as it would cost about 9$ US, which is about a 6 month wage for most people in Africa. Because it is only the elite class that can afford, I agree with the statement of the rich getting richer.
http://www.ruralsystem.com/2014/07/27/on-the-effects-of-mobile-phones-on-poverty-in-africa/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/09/23/mobile_phones_greatest_poverty_reducing_tech_ever/