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Locust Effect: Why The End Of Poverty Requires The End Of Violence (2014)

by Gary A. Haugen(Favorite Author)

4.36 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

1306423430 (ISBN13: 9781306423434)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Oxford University Press, USA

review 1: For those with more than a passing interest in the topic of global poverty and suffering, I recommend the Locust Effect. While a bit wordy during the middle third of the book, it did lay out a comprehensive study on the topic and the core social problem preventing all of our efforts from bearing much fruit: violence and the lack of a justice system to prevent, prosecute, and protect those on the receiving end of it. The book covers case studies, individual stories, histories, arguments, and suggestions surrounding the topic of violence and its role in world suffering. It is a book that you need to chew on for a bit, but one that you will walk away from with a much deeper understanding of the intense suffering of the 3 billion living in extreme poverty and how to combat it ... moreeffectively, or at least talk about it. It proved to be exactly what I needed to read at this stage in life, preparing to tackle this issue in the name of Jesus in the developing world. I feel much more prepared for the battle after reading this book. If you are a Christian involved in the legal world at all, then I highly recommend picking up this book.
review 2: The year was 1875. Trillions of locusts swarmed through nearly 200,000 square miles across the American Midwest and literally ate everything—from gardens and fields to fence posts and the very wool off of live sheep. Entire livelihoods of families were destroyed, leaving them completely impoverished. Even though this plague of locusts happened in a time and era that seems long gone, there is a new plague of locusts that has invaded our modern world—the everyday plague of violence.You are probably familiar with the fact that poverty exists in the world. You have heard that there are alarming rates in poverty throughout the developing world. Now, simultaneously, perhaps you have also heard of the violence that exists throughout the developing world. Have you ever considered that these two injustices are directly correlated to one another? In this compelling, even revolutionary book, Gary Haugen (CEO and President of International Justice Mission) argues that the end of poverty also requires the end of violence. Threat of violence is part of everyday life for the poor—just as much as hunger, disease or malnutrition. Consider this scenario for a second: you are walking to your car after dinner with a friend and are attacked. Your attacker demands all the money you have on hand. You see a gun appear and the attacker says you will be killed if you refuse. What do you do? The truth is, the developed world has functional justice systems that are aimed to protect the people. Certainly, these systems are not perfect and there are definitely occasions where they do not function at its best. However, in the developing world, the justice systems do not protect the people at all. In fact, parents often teach their children to run from the police, rather than run to them for help. There are many powerful stories described and appalling statistics conveyed in The Locust Effect. Perhaps the most powerful statistic being that there are 4 billion people in the world that live outside the protection of the law. Let that sink in for a second. That is 4 billion individual human lives that are not protected—4 billion people that have families and friends, hobbies, people that are held back from reaching their full potential. This staggering statistic has many implications. This means that 4 BILLION PEOPLE are at great risk of being trafficked for labour or sexual exploitation, risk of having their land confiscated, risk of being wrongfully imprisoned. Injustice is birthed out of the law not doing its job—protecting the people. On the other hand, peace, justice, security, livelihood and all good things flourish when the people are protected by their public justice systems.This book is a call to arms; a wake up to call for anyone who is passionate about ending injustice. Haugen takes the reader on a harrowing journey into the depths of poverty. Once you begin this journey-- travelling into the darkness that is poverty and violence-- there is no turning back. Haugen recounts the history of poverty and violence, while in the end also gives us hope and direction for the way forward.It must be noted that this book is not for the faint of heart. At times, it may devastate you, break your heart but then embolden you to bring about change in this world that we live in. As heavy as this read is, it does not leave you overtaken with grief. It leaves you with a sense of urgency and hope (Chapter 11: Demonstrations Of Hope, p. 241). Essentially, every justice worker wants to bring about structural change—change the very structure of societies so that injustice can be obliterated before it has a chance to begin. And structural change can only happen when public justice systems protect their people from the threat of every day violence. This book truly supplies us with the education we need to bring about this sustainable change that is desperately needed throughout the world. less

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