Little bits o' progress

Here are some facts to start this post off:

The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the poorest 48 nations (i.e. a quarter of the world’s countries) is less than the wealth of the world’s three richest people combined. ^{source 2}

Less than one per cent of what the world spent every year on weapons was needed to put every child into school by the year 2000 and yet it didn't happen.^{source 4}

51 percent of the world’s 100 hundred wealthiest bodies are corporations. ^{source 5}

The wealthiest nation on Earth has the widest gap between rich and poor of any industrialized nation. <sup>source 6


And finally, for all lovers of "progress":</sup>

An analysis of long-term trends shows the distance between the richest and poorest countries was about:

• 3 to 1 in 1820
• 11 to 1 in 1913
• 35 to 1 in 1950
• 44 to 1 in 1973
• 72 to 1 in 1992 ^{source 11}

Now, there are many, many more appalling facts about our world, like

Consider the global priorities in spending in 1998

Global Priority	$U.S. Billions
Cosmetics in the United States	8
Ice cream in Europe	11
Perfumes in Europe and the United States	12
Pet foods in Europe and the United States	17
Business entertainment in Japan	35
Cigarettes in Europe	50
Alcoholic drinks in Europe	105
Narcotics drugs in the world	400
Military spending in the world	780

And compare that to what was estimated as additional costs to achieve universal access to basic social services in all developing countries:

Global Priority	$U.S. Billions
Basic education for all	6
Water and sanitation for all	9
Reproductive health for all women	12
Basic health and nutrition	13

<sup>source 25



or</sup>

about 0.13% of the world’s population controlled 25% of the world’s assets in 2004. <sup>source 27



These facts are just "little bits o' progress", I suppose, since I always hear about how the world is making "progress".


Why should "progress" differ from "sustainability" or "equality of life"?

It seems "progress" means an increase in global (and local) disparity. While I support organizations that attempt to make a positive impact in people's lives (i.e. Fair Trade, UNICEF, etc.) I think there is an urgency that merits radical action. Since the differentials between the wealthy and the poor separate exponentially, it is not as if we can take our time with restoring equilibrium; for every one person helped millions are exploited, bereaved, tortured, raped, kidnapped, etc.

The current system does not work. Anyone that asserts that it does, doesn't understand what the system should do. They seem to mean "The system is still present".

Capitalism instills animosity in us, it promotes competition rather than cooperation. Capitalism promotes an immoral system of remuneration. Capitalism enforces inequity and diminishes diversity. The most basic premises of capitalism treat people as nothing but means to be used to benefit oneself (each agent enters into a deal looking to profit (that is to net at the expense of other agents). It is obviously impossible for all agents to profit.) . What trace of humanity remains in a capitalist world? Short term profit quashes sustainability.

Click on the link in this blog that says "Parecon". Read about this, it is a magnificent alternative to both capitalism and centralized socialism. Both of these systems establish and enforce caste systems, with which come paranoia, animosity, dis-compassion, exploitation, discrimination, etc.

Please, if you have any humanity, start reading up on Ralph Nader and the Green Party, and support him and his campaign; it is the last bastion for change within this caliginous mechanism.

The ten key values of the Green Party are (list with details):</sup>

1. GRASSROOTS DEMOCRACY

2. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

3. ECOLOGICAL WISDOM

4. NON-VIOLENCE

5. DECENTRALIZATION

6. COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMICS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE

7. FEMINISM AND GENDER EQUITY

8. RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY

9. PERSONAL AND GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITY

10. FUTURE FOCUS AND SUSTAINABILITY