HOW WEALTH DIVIDES THE WORLD

Here are some pretty amazing facts from the United Nations' Human
Development Report of 1998:

The world consumed more than $24 trillion in goods and services last year,
six times the figure for 1975.

Of the world's 6.8 billion people, 4.4 billion live in developing
countries, the rest in rich industrial or transition countries.

The 3 richest people in the world own assets that exceed the combined gross
domestic products of the world's poorest 48 countries.

Among the 4.4 billion people who live in developing countries, three-fifths
have no access to basic sanitation; almost one-third are without safe
drinking water; one-quarter lack adequate housing; one-fifth live beyond
reach of modern health services; one-fifth of the children do not get as
far as grade five in school and one-fifth are undernourished.

Basic education for all would cost $6 billion a year -- $8 billion is spent
annually for cosmetics in the United States alone.

Installation of water and sanitation for all would cost $9 billion plus
some annual costs -- $11 billion is spent annually on ice cream in Europe.

Reproductive health services for all women would cost $12 billion a year --
$12 billion a year is spent on perfumes in Europe and the United States.

Basic health care and nutrition would cost $13 billion; $17 billion a year
is spent on pet food in Europe and the United States.

$35 billion is spent on business entertainment in Japan; $50 billion on
cigarettes in Europe; $105 billion on alcoholic drinks in Europe; $400
billion on narcotic drugs around the world; and $780 billion on the world's
militaries.