18 Speeches on Poverty

These speeches on poverty highlight a number of the devastating conditions in which a large majority of the world's population continues to live. Featuring philanthropists, economists and politicians, these speeches address the recurring challenges, touch on why poverty still exists and offers new solutions.

Chrystia Freeland's speech illustrates the extent of poverty in the world today by focusing on some of the numbers affiliated with the rich. In the 1970s, the top 1% accounted for 10% of national income, whereas today the top 1% makes up 20%. In other words, as the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and the middle class remains stagnant.

Mental illness and its ties to poverty and income inequality is the focus of the talk by Vikram Patel. Patel suggests that the majority of people suffering from mental illness in developing nations do not receive the treatment they need, putting them in a state of shame, distress and discrimination that prevents them from providing for themselves and their family.

Optimism and hope can be found in the speech by Bono. He shares encouraging statistics on the health of impoverished nations and in doing so, creates some light for the future.

These speeches on poverty are eye-opening and shed light on a serious issue that continues to plague the world's populations.