Poverty and Richness Corrupt People's Souls
There is a lot of injustice in the world. When some countries are regarded wealthy (such as the United States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Norway, Japan, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, and many others), other countries and their peoples live in poverty. They are deprived of common necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and safe drinking water. They also suffer from the lack of access to opportunities such as education, information, health care and employment.
There are many different factors that cause poverty such as unemployment, overpopulation, some historical factors (imperialism, colonialism), war, discrimination, erosion, deforestation, drought, water crisis and many others. Poverty may be explained by geographic factors, for example access to fertile land, fresh water, minerals, energy, and other natural resources, presence or absence of natural features helping or limiting communication, such as mountains, deserts, navigable rivers, or coastline. Historically, geography has prevented or slowed the spread of new technology to areas such as the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Those living in poverty and lacking access to essential health services, suffering hunger or even starvation, experience mental and physical health problems which make it harder for them to improve their situation. One third of deaths are due to poverty-related causes. Those living in poverty suffer lower life expectancy. Every year nearly 11 million children living in poverty die before their fifth birthday. In Kenya malaria kills one in five children every year. Poverty increases the risk of homelessness. There are over 100 million street children worldwide. Increased risk of drug abuse may also be associated with poverty.
Those living in poverty in the developed world may suffer social isolation. Rates of suicide may increase in conditions of poverty. Low income levels and poor employment opportunities for adults in turn create the conditions where households can depend on the income of child members. More that 200 million children aged 5 to 17 are in child labor worldwide, excluding child domestic labor. Areas strongly affected by poverty tend to be more violent.
Many people argue that poverty statistics measure inequality rather than material deprivation or hardship. All people are born equal. So why should they live in different conditions? It is not fair that the rich live in luxurious houses and drive expensive cars while the poor die from starvation. Many writers touched upon the problem of poverty and inequality in their works. Many people fought for the rights of the poor. But this problem still remains very urgent and continues corrupting people's souls.
There are many poverty reduction programs attempting to help people of developing countries. In politics, the fight against poverty is usually regarded as a social goal and many governments have institutions or departments dedicated to tackling poverty. Most developed nations give development aid to developing countries.
Sometimes celebrities organize benefit concerts to fight hunger in developing countries. In 1984 there was a terrible famine in Ethiopia, when more than 1 million people died. The sight of thousands of weak, starving children on TV reports inspired rock singer Bob Geldof to launch a campaign to fight hunger in Africa. The biggest stars in British pop music (Paul McCartney, Sting, George Michael and many others) gathered in a London studio to record Do they know it's Christmas? The charity single raised 8 million pounds and a year later inspired Live-Aid, the global pop concert which raised more than 60 million pounds.

1. Complete each sentence (A—H) with one of the endings (1—8):
A. There are many different factors that cause poverty such as
B. Historically, geography has prevented or slowed
C. Those living in poverty
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suffer
D. Poverty increases
E. Low income levels and poor employment opportunities for adults in turn create the conditions where
F. Many governments have institutions or departments dedicated to
G. Most developed nations give
H. Sometimes celebrities organize

1. the risk of homelessness.
2. tackling poverty.
3. unemployment, overpopulation, some historical factors, war, discrimination, erosion, deforestation, drought, water crisis and many others.
4. development aid to developing countries.
5. benefit concerts to fight hunger in developing countries.
6. the spread of new technology to areas such as the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa.
7. lower life expectancy.
8. households can depend on the income of child members.