Understanding poverty in our Country

Understanding poverty in our Country
What are the recent achievements and challenges of our country?
- Disaster plans are being developed to manage the regular flooding of the Mekong and Chao Phraya rivers. Thailand has a number of programs to support its 570,000 (1.6%) people living with HIV/AIDS including prevention of mother-to-child transmission and provision of anti-retroviral drugs.
How dose poverty affect people in our country?
- Nearly half the world – 2.7 billion people – lives in poverty, struggling to survive on less than US$2 a day. That’s less money than we would spend on a cup of coffee or a chocolate bar. Essentially, this means that 2.7 billion people around the world struggle to afford even the most basic of food and everyday items. Poverty means they are unable to afford clean water, proper shelter and clothing. They go without transport, medical attention and schooling. Instead, they face disease and a future filled with uncertainty.
How are poor people represented in the media in our country?
- There is a big difference in wealth between the farming and city areas with the wealthiest 10% sharing about one third of the income while the poorest 10% share less than 3%. Just over one in ten of the Thai population lives under the poverty line.
How dose our government support health and education?
- Thailand and the government provide free and compulsory education for children between 7 and 14 years. The best health facilities are concentrated in Bangkok, however, a network of health centres, hospitals and clinics exist in regional areas supported by the government.
What are aid organisations doing to assist poor people in our country?
-Thailand is an important trade partner for Australia. Australia exports gold, aluminium, cotton, milk and cream and crude petroleum to Thailand while it imports motor vehicles, prepared seafood and heating and cooling equipment from Thailand.



How does trade assist our country?
- In 2006 Thailand exported textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewellery, cars, computers and electrical appliances worth $123.5 billion. This assists Thailand with the money they earn