- 2/3 of the world's population does not have access to high-speed internet.
- Poorest 40% accounts for 5% of global income and the richest 20% accounts for 75% of global income.
- The Gross Domestic Product of the 41 heavily indebted poor countries, having 567 million people, is less than the combined wealth of the 7 wealthiest people in the world.
- 2005 the richest 20% of the world accounted for 76.6% of private consumption with the poorest consuming just 1.5%. 10% accounted for 0.5% consumption and the wealthiest 10% comsumed 59%.
- Developing countries pay $25 (up from $13 in 2006) in debt repayment for every $1 of aid received.
- 1970 third world debt was $25 billion, 2002 $523 billion.
- 2003, third world countries paid 39 billion towards debt and received 27 billion in aid.
- For the 60 poorest nations, $550 billion was paid over 30 years on principal and interest on the $540 billion loan.
- Debt owed reduces the money available to provide health, education and welfare services to the poor. Africa spends 4 X more on debt reduction than on healthcare.
- Debt effects the environment as debt burdened countries are forced to use natural resources as a source of money. Brazil owes the US $112 billion; largest deforester at 50,000 km per year. The higher the debt, the more devastating for the environment.
- Debt increases drug trafficking: Bolivia has highest child mortality rate in Latin America; spends 50% of all export income on debt; 40% of workforce makes a living in the drug trade.
- Africa has $70 billion in foreign debt which the G-8 summit recommended forgiving. The only country opposing is the USA.
- Bolivia spends one half of all export income on debt and has highest child mortality rate in Latin America.
- Arms sales: between 1960 - 1987, third world countries borrowed $400 billion to fund arms imports. Since Britain's Labour party came into power in 1997, arms sales to Africa increased 600%. 4 million dead in Congo from conflict (equal to the entire population of Ireland), millions displaced.
- Africa has $70 billion in foreign debt which the G-8 summit recommended forgiving. The only country opposing was the USA.
- Canceling the debt would cost the citizens of the wealthy nations $2.10 per year.
- 20-25 billion is needed to meet the millennium goals; consumers spend 33 billion per year on cosmetics and perfume.
- 25% of third world HIV positive newborns die before age one compared to almost 0% mortality in affluent countries.
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