The overwhelming disparity in riches between third world countries and the more developed nations has never been more poignant that in today’s modern society. While the technology exists, in the form of rapid strides in nanotechnology, its access is limited to and concentrated on the more affluent power brokers of the world.

The innovative strides in nanotechnology have the potential control poverty, eliminate hunger, and provide safer and cleaner water for the poor as well as providing a ready cure for tropical diseases in those areas where human suffering is the hallmark of existence.

But, will this technology ever reach those who need it the most? This is the burning question that must be addressed by the controlling agents within the government, military and private sectors.

Unfortunately, history has a disquieting way of repeating itself and, traditionally, the poorer nations of the world have been last on the list for technological advances that contribute to easing their innate suffering. Rather than focusing on enveloping poorer nations within the bosom of caring and just actions, far too often the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ is ever widening.

Nanotechnology, with its promise of hope and renewal could be the solution to drastically improving the quality of life for all, if it is distributed fairly and evenly.

Nanotechnological strides are being developed in some third world countries like Brazil, India, Thailand and South Africa where millions of dollars has been earmarked to encourage the progression of research and development of nanotechnology and its promise of overwhelming advancements in environmental, agricultural, medical and sustainable natural resources. The hope is that the resulting developments will benefit rich and poor alike, thus satisfying the Millennium Development Goals as set out by the United Nations in their bid to eliminate, or at least control poverty in the poorest nations.

The more powerful scientific communities, like those in the United States, Britain and Japan lead the universal thirst for nanotechnology perfection. Yet there are those who decry the seeming objectives of these more powerful nations. They say the nations who are able to encourage the rapid strides in scientific research in nanotechnology appear to be allocating more effort into using it for military gains and covert surveillance than in benefiting the poor and disadvantaged.

It is said that if you want to see into the future, you need only look to the past. In previous decades, humanitarians put a lot of faith and hope into burgeoning technologies in biotechnology and its promise to solve world hunger via genetically modified organisms. However, the proposed benefits to the poorer nations have yet to materialize. It appears the developed nations are reaping the rewards of widely grown and readily available GMO enhanced foods which are being consumed in countries that do not have the abject poverty of the under-developed worlds.

The promise of dramatic improvement to the quality of life for the poor has yet to come to fruition. It can only be hoped that saner minds will take precedence in the development of nanotechnology and that its benefits will be shared by both rich and poor throughout the entire world.