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What Does Poverty Look Like on a Plate? | Huiyi Lin | TED

TED Fellow and economic policy researcher Huiyi Lin is cocreator of “The Poverty Line,” an art project examining poverty through the lens of food. By photographing the daily food choices of people living at the poverty line in 38 countries and territories around the world, Lin shines a light on the problem of poverty in…

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TED Fellow and economic policy researcher Huiyi Lin is cocreator of “The Poverty Line,” an art project examining poverty through the lens of food. By photographing the daily food choices of people living at the poverty line in 38 countries and territories around the world, Lin shines a light on the problem of poverty in a way no policy report ever could. (Recorded at TED Fellows Films 2024 on April 16, 2024)

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57 Comments

57 Comments

  1. @RacleCheung-k3o

    January 3, 2025 at 7:02 am

    Hi

  2. @TennesseeJed

    January 3, 2025 at 7:04 am

    Poverty is violence. We are a brutal society with a thin veneer of civilization.

  3. @SokLim-c6q

    January 3, 2025 at 7:04 am

    Form 🇰🇭

  4. @chandpurkarateclub1351

    January 3, 2025 at 7:04 am

    Hi

  5. @AdityaThakur-kt3jp

    January 3, 2025 at 7:07 am

    Poverty – there is No Plate 😔

    • @nicodejager8644

      January 3, 2025 at 7:13 am

      And no pit to piss in.

    • @Raygun9000

      January 3, 2025 at 7:44 am

      Poverty is relative. Everyone in poverty would still be in poverty, even if well fed and housed.

  6. @madlach6285

    January 3, 2025 at 7:08 am

    You, i want to help me .can u give me an method for learn Deutsche and thanks for all one help me

    • @anasabidi662

      January 3, 2025 at 9:20 am

      You have to master english before turning to Deutsche

  7. @sooma-ai

    January 3, 2025 at 7:10 am

    Huiyi Lin discusses “The Poverty Line”, an art project examining poverty through food choices. By photographing daily food options for those at the poverty line in 38 countries, Lin sparks conversations about poverty’s impact and our shared humanity.

  8. @frederickmorris2216

    January 3, 2025 at 7:11 am

    You look at poverty from the point of view of someone not living in poverty..take your camera and live with people who are living in poverty..it won’t be pleasant in any way..not just economic..

    • @bssg

      January 3, 2025 at 7:45 am

      please explain ?
      genuinely Asking

    • @akinoreh

      January 3, 2025 at 8:39 am

      @@bssg He said “live with people who are living in poverty”. That’s it. Leave your possessions, money, etc. behind and go live with “poor” people and do “poor stuff”. There’s not much to research.

    • @MrElvis1971

      January 3, 2025 at 12:41 pm

      The main issue with poverty in Western countries is that it’s relative poverty rather than absolute poverty. And yes, I’ve lived in poverty for a considerable amount of time and now I work with in mental health and homelessness and so I’m on the front line. Naturally there are genuine experiences of poverty but that’s not often what many experience. Low income earners are described as living in poverty and this overshadows the extreme poverty that people do experience.

    • @1goldinga

      January 3, 2025 at 1:04 pm

      They dont plant fruit trees in parks for a reason. They hastle farmers and people who have backyard food gardens for a reason. Poverty exists because they want it to. They literally take our money and donate billions to ngos and other countries creating inflation. Make new laws and regultions to take whatever money they can from you when there was no injured or affected 3rd party. They have designed every bad thing about our society. Who are “they” you didnt ask? Who indeed

    • @ab2151

      January 3, 2025 at 1:58 pm

      This is abt providing visuals for a basic economic measure tho.On its own, the poverty line is such an abstract measure.This sheds some light on it.Brilliant 👏

  9. @edsonbrunhara4039

    January 3, 2025 at 7:13 am

    Poverty is a sin, for those who manifest a religious creed. It is a social desease accepted by many as normal. Hunger hurts and is painfull and one should starve for three or four days in a roll to experience this painfullness. Add to that experience, wandering around the town and watch people eat through a window. And, please, quit wasting food.

  10. @javihdpollard

    January 3, 2025 at 7:18 am

    Very interesting project. My thanks for bringing attention to this. 🧃

  11. @AmazingOSadh

    January 3, 2025 at 7:21 am

    Thank you, Huiyi Lin and Stefen Chow, for your impactful project, The Poverty Line. It’s incredible how you’ve used art to make poverty tangible and relatable through something as universal as food. Your work sparks meaningful conversations and reminds us of our shared humanity. Truly inspiring!

  12. @bradhunt9518

    January 3, 2025 at 7:26 am

    I grew up poor. I mother,no dad,six boys. I never under stand greed and ignorance.

  13. @pandaman9171

    January 3, 2025 at 7:32 am

    “What does poverty look like on a plate?”

    Looks like Ramen Noodles

    • @ManTeera

      January 3, 2025 at 12:21 pm

      Wtf bro 😂

    • @peyote2thumbs

      January 3, 2025 at 11:35 pm

      And government cheese!

  14. @ToniClarv

    January 3, 2025 at 8:15 am

    The poor do not eat what they want; the poor eat what they find.

    • @kk-xj5oz

      January 4, 2025 at 7:46 pm

      Yeah when you’re looking into poverty only from the food you miss a huge part of the picture. Usually food is the least problem the poor have.

  15. @ToniClarv

    January 3, 2025 at 8:15 am

    The poor do not eat what they want; the poor eat what they find.

    Replace the word “food” with the word “item,” and you will get the broader meaning.

    • @ToniClarv

      January 5, 2025 at 4:59 am

      @kk-xj5oz  Replace the word “food” with the word “item,” and you will get the broader meaning.

  16. @ToniClarv

    January 3, 2025 at 8:15 am

    The poor do not eat what they want; the poor eat what they find.

    Replace the word “Eat” with the word “Consume” and you will get the broader meaning.

    • @ToniClarv

      January 5, 2025 at 4:59 am

      @kk-xj5oz Replace the word “Eat” with the word “Consume” and you will get the broader meaning.

  17. @OGBOBBY81

    January 3, 2025 at 8:30 am

    You want to understand life read the Bible

    • @anasabidi662

      January 3, 2025 at 9:21 am

      Read Quran*

    • @SS_MYSTERIOUS

      January 3, 2025 at 10:08 am

      ​@anasabidi662 yeah

    • @Celis.C

      January 3, 2025 at 10:42 am

      At this point, all you need to do is read the room.

    • @quantumblurrr

      January 3, 2025 at 11:57 am

      Learn basic critical thinking and you won’t fall for easy cons like religion. It’s like watching kids try to create a philosophy

  18. @ryanquick07

    January 3, 2025 at 8:39 am

    The opposite of Bugs Bunny in that opera episode

  19. @mrtienphysics666

    January 3, 2025 at 9:52 am

    Singapore does not have a poverty line .

  20. @Celis.C

    January 3, 2025 at 11:11 am

    The irony is that poverty is handed to us… on a plate.

  21. @fintamaria2429

    January 3, 2025 at 12:03 pm

    The system worked very well for you Rich, you made billions in profit. The wealth you made you took out of the System. And the Working class pays must fill the gap to pay for what they and their children have nowhere to go… The wealth is in your Pockets. WOW!!

  22. @robot7759

    January 3, 2025 at 12:07 pm

    The same as poverty on a saucer, just slightly less obvious.

  23. @MarkShepard-gn2sn

    January 3, 2025 at 12:36 pm

    It just so happens the healthiest food on the planet is cheap – rice, potatoes, corn & other starches:)

  24. @KIKAN_THE_RAT

    January 3, 2025 at 12:47 pm

    This channel supports censorship and criminal coverup

  25. @hilaryporter7841

    January 3, 2025 at 1:56 pm

    That’s intriguing. You are really asking ‘how can we put humanity back into humans gloated by fat wallets and selective blindness to the situation of their fellow humans?’ If they look and see they are scared they will catch it too. Poverty is only caught when the rich deliberately spread it.

  26. @MrElvis1971

    January 3, 2025 at 2:12 pm

    When poor people have money… they eat at McDonald’s

    When rich people dont have money… they eat at McDonald’s.

    McDonald’s… uniting people!

  27. @peterston4039

    January 3, 2025 at 6:36 pm

    In so called “developed” countries, 50% of the food is going to waste. Is trashed out. Here in the US sometimes it is much higher.
    Many times people are prevented to share the “leftovers”, they are going into the trash, must go into the trash.
    Sometimes its the Corporation, sometimes is the laws, sometimes its corporate lawyer avoiding potential consequences because of dumb laws we allowed to be written. And sometimes it’s ambulance chasers that have created the laws we have today, preventing us from sharing overages.
    Poverty is a societal failure, an end result of a system manipulated to favor the few over the many. And as the most recent election has shown us in the US, we have enough un/misinformed people willing to support this system. To their own detriment. With global reach and consequences. Poverty in many cases should just show the paper, many go hungry and no food.
    You should show the availability of clean water connected with poverty.

  28. @Linzy_Lorenzo

    January 3, 2025 at 10:23 pm

    How do I join TED Talks as a speaker?
    From srilanka..
    I can speak Tamil and English fluently.

  29. @isatousarr7044

    January 3, 2025 at 11:40 pm

    Poverty on a plate reflects more than just the physical appearance of a meal; it is a stark indicator of the socioeconomic realities that many individuals and families face daily. When we think about poverty, especially in terms of nutrition, we must acknowledge the limitations people often face in accessing healthy, affordable food.

    In many cases, poverty manifests as a lack of access to nutrient-dense, diverse foods. Instead, individuals living in poverty may rely on cheap, calorie-dense, yet nutrient-poor foods. These can include processed foods, fast food, and inexpensive staples like rice, bread, or pasta. While these foods may provide short-term energy, they fail to meet the long-term health needs of individuals, contributing to poor nutrition and often leading to health problems like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

    Furthermore, the lack of a balanced diet can have far-reaching consequences for development, especially in children. Malnutrition, whether due to insufficient intake of food or improper food choices, can stunt physical and cognitive growth. The effects of this are particularly devastating in low-income communities where children may not have access to adequate education or healthcare services to overcome the barriers created by poor nutrition.

    Poverty can also limit the ability to prepare meals, especially for individuals living in food deserts where healthy food options may be scarce. The cost of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and other nutritious foods may be out of reach for many families. This lack of access is exacerbated in areas with limited transportation, where the nearest grocery store may be miles away, and individuals must rely on corner stores that often stock high-calorie, low-nutrient options.

    Poverty on a plate can also signify food insecurity, where families are unsure of where their next meal will come from. This constant uncertainty about food availability can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as overeating during times when food is available or skipping meals altogether when it is not.

    Addressing poverty through the lens of food security involves more than just providing charity. It requires systemic changes that ensure access to affordable, nutritious food for all. This might include policies that promote food sovereignty, improve access to healthcare, and address the root causes of poverty, such as unemployment and unequal educational opportunities.

    Ultimately, what poverty looks like on a plate is not just about the food itself, but about the larger socio-economic conditions that shape what is available, accessible, and affordable for individuals and communities. Ensuring that all people, regardless of their financial status, have the opportunity to nourish their bodies with healthy, sustainable foods is crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting overall well-being.

  30. @TomEdwardi

    January 4, 2025 at 6:42 am

    I am at the beginning of my “investment journey”, planning to put 385K into dividend stocks so that I will be making up to 30% annually in dividend returns. any good recommendation on great performing stocks or Crypto will be appreciated

    • @BensonTati

      January 4, 2025 at 6:43 am

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      January 4, 2025 at 6:43 am

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  31. @hkecowitch

    January 4, 2025 at 12:25 pm

    I don’t get her idea

  32. @sshukla7975

    January 4, 2025 at 1:09 pm

    In usa poverty looks like burgers and fries basically a dollar meal…
    In southeast asian county, poverty and starvation looks like garbage from a trash bin… or stale food from someone house that is about to be spoilt…

  33. @vidabonilla9922

    January 5, 2025 at 12:03 am

    Absolutely brilliant and necessary research. Thank you Huiyi Lin, Stefen Chow and TED for sharing !

  34. @Karminek1

    January 5, 2025 at 7:52 am

    Its Hunger, faling sleep because of no energy And waking up by empty stomach, Its sadness And destructional pain in heart when you can’t feed your family.

  35. @ЕваГрадская-э2з

    January 5, 2025 at 8:43 pm

    I didn’t get it. What is so shocking in eating chicken breast with noodles?

  36. @HarpaAI

    January 6, 2025 at 7:15 am

    🎯 Key points for quick navigation:

    00:05 *💭 Poverty is linked to many aspects of life, including economics, social phenomena, and human rights.*
    00:35 *🍴 The project “The Poverty Line” aims to understand what it means to be poor by showcasing food choices available to those living at the poverty line.*
    01:06 *📈 The project highlights the importance of understanding the scope of choices available to individuals and how it affects their behavior and relationships.*
    02:03 *📸 The photographs from “The Poverty Line” project elicited emotional and personal responses from people worldwide, making poverty a relatable and human issue.*
    02:35 *🌎 The project expanded to cover 38 countries and territories, sparking conversations about poverty and its impact on various aspects of life.*
    03:04 *🌟 The photographs prompted policy conversations, new research, and a deeper understanding of the local context and the role of individuals in addressing poverty.*
    03:34 *👥 “The Poverty Line” project aims to bridge gaps in understanding, making people curious and motivated to learn more about the complexities of poverty and its interconnectedness.*
    04:02 *🌐 The project encourages a shift in perspective, highlighting the importance of considering the people around us and the role we play in addressing poverty and creating positive change.*

    Made with HARPA AI

  37. @juanritanjaya6254

    January 6, 2025 at 7:58 pm

    I thought the project is really photographing the food that real families living in poverty eats on daily basis

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