Reference no: EM131169150

A world Apart:

1. Prelude: Inequality of Production and Consumption

World inequality comes from First World indiscriminate use of raw materials, and 2/3 of the world trying to gain access to the benefits of progress. Over one billion people live in poverty and lack while other nations exploit their resources.

2. Inequality and Injustice: Causes of World Poverty and Environmental Ruin

Poverty and environmental ruin cannot be blamed on overpopulation. Japan's overpopulation does not cause misery, malnutrition, or ecological disasters. Inequality and injustice are the true causes of poverty and environmental deterioration.

3. Africa: Marginalized by World Economics

International economic networks continue to marginalize Africa. Twenty-seven African nations are among the world's least developed. HIV, malnutrition, and lack of schools plague millions upon millions of Africans.

4. First World Exploitation of Africa

First World companies, aided by unfair international laws, extract raw materials from Africa without any controls and with minimum benefit to the native populations. Africa's deforestation continues, yet provides Africans nothing in return.

5. Sub-Saharan Underdevelopment

Sub-Saharan Africa's underdevelopment is due to its poor industrial development. First World countries exploit Africa's resources. Extraction of oil, diamonds, and gold yield multimillion dollar profits to countries outside Africa.

6. Africa's Lack of Progress and Commerce

African Nomads abandon their traditional way of life to migrate to the capital cities. A teacher in Niger would have to pay 4 years' salary to buy a computer. African countries lack efficient highway systems to create commerce.

7. Poverty in Latin America

Most of Latin America's 40 million inhabitants live in terrible conditions and have made little progress on the economic front. Environmental damage affects these indigenous people more than any other group, and competing powers steal their land.

8. Africa: Wars, Weapons, and Poverty

Hiding behind tribal and inter-religious confrontations in Africa are the interests of world powers and multinational companies. Unexploded ordnance, missiles, and bombs provide lucrative business for weapons manufacturers.

9. Arms Trafficking in Africa

Africa is the continent that is most affected by arms trafficking and the proliferation of tribal wars. There are over 100,000 child soldiers the sub-Saharan region. Abandoned projectiles and landmines continue to cause death and mutilation.

10. International Injustice: Underdevelopment and Poverty

In addition to its enormous oil reserves, Africa has 2/3 of the world's mineral deposits. Many wars are fought for control of Africa's resources. Third World underdevelopment and poverty are the result of pillaging and injustice.

11. Inequality for Third World Women

UN data reveal that there are 1.3 billion poor people in the world, 70% of which are women. Half of them are illiterate. Eighty million children live in the streets. There has never been such equality between different groups of people in the world.

12. India: Diminishing Female Population

Extreme poverty and low development possibilities have forced rural populations to migrate to cities. Culture and tradition lead to female infanticide and a diminishing female population in India. At the heart are male chauvinism and the desire to possess women.

13. UN Objectives to Change Third World Inequality

Many experts assert that the United Nations millennium objectives are technically and economically viable in the Third World. All that is needed is the political will of more powerful nations. Is the will there?

14. Commerce and Third World Development

The key to real growth in the Third World is the regulatory system of international trade. Poorer economies must be able to export their products because commerce creates lasting opportunities.

15. World Development vs. Ecological Limits

How can the world face the challenge of the development of 3/4 of the world's population without exceeding ecological limits? The First World can make the most difference if political and personal will is strong enough.