If humankind was a villiage of 100 people...
By 4ftfingers
@4ftfingers (1310)
March 21, 2007 11:52am CST
If humankind was a village of 100 people with the existing balance of the world maintained, 57 would be Asian, 21 would be Europeans. 14 would be form the western hemisphere - north and south, and 8 would be from Africa.
The ratio of non-white to white would be 70:30, and non-christians to Christians would be 30:70.
5 people would posses 59% of all wealth. All 5 would be from the US.
80 would live in sub-standard housing, 70 would not be able to read and 50 would be malnourished.
Only 1 would have a a college education and he would be the only one in the village who owned a computer.
5 people like this
8 responses
@David_B (89)
•
21 Mar 07
I heard this figures before and it's really a good way of describing the injustice in this world. I was really surprised by the fact that only one in hundred owned a computer.
This discussion is really interesting and really hope people will contribute with their thoughts!
2 people like this
@michelledarcy (5220)
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21 Mar 07
Wow, this is really interesting. The thing which I was most surprised about was the amount of people in the world who can't read and are malnourished. That seems such a high figure it is hard to believe it.
Also the high number of people with computers that I know makes tha figure seem wrong as well.
2 people like this
@4ftfingers (1310)
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21 Mar 07
Yeh I wasn't sure about that figure either so I texted AQA and they put the number of people who have ACCESS to a computer at more like 10%. But that said it still might be true that only 1% of the worlds population own a computer.
I'm going to have a look around for the other figures
Cheers for your response
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
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28 Mar 07
I am puzzled that computer ownership is less common that college education, can this be write?
all the best urban
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@4ftfingers (1310)
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28 Mar 07
Yeh it's hard to know how accurate the numbers are. But I think it could be right because at school I knew a couple of people who didn't own computers, not because they were too poor though, I think it was a personal choice. Also I currently work for a company who's religion forbids them to use computers, tv, mobile phones, radios etc. I think their religion also forbids them to use protection because they have huge families of millions of kids.
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@4ftfingers (1310)
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28 Mar 07
They're called Plymouth Brethrens. It started in Plymouth England, and also Dublin Ireland (called Dublin brethrens ofcourse),and it's spread throughout the world. It's not a well nown religion because most of them keep to trhemselves. These are called closed brethrens, buit I work for open brethrens who employ normal people like me. But they all have to own their own companies, they can't work for non-brethrens, whatever their religion. Alot of the moeny they make goes back into their church and they're not allowed to show off so they buy volkswagons and volvos instead of BMWs and Mercedes, but they must live in detatched houses.
As far as what they beleive, Im not really too sure but I know that they beleive that Christ is God, rather than the son of God. And they seem really traditionalist in their ways. The females always wear long dresses and headscarfs if they are in public.
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
21 Mar 07
I've never heard of this before(pickleweasel LOL). It's pretty interesting. How is it figured the only 5 that would possess any wealth is from the US.(peanut brittle ;)Where does this information come from? (naughty Muslim) Anyway, if you could explain this to me I'd be very (marshmallow fluff) grateful! :) And if you want I can be more serious next time. ;)
@4ftfingers (1310)
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21 Mar 07
Hello (mellow yellow) you. lol you bored? yeh it's interesting stuff, this is according to a certain (bum nugget) socialist member of British (doll's tea party) parliament, who I was (squeeling like a 2 year old) talking about before. I'm reading his (toilet paper) book at the moment and it's full of (maggots) sobering facts like that. It's a tough (jar to open) read though, it's just a complete rant about capitalism. It's interesting but getting (super-happy-gay!!) boring fast.
Chears (Do you think anyone notices our secret messeges now) dears
1 person likes this
@4ftfingers (1310)
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21 Mar 07
haha, have a great (gulp of beatroot juice) evening! the book is called (how to suck milk through your ear) 'I'm not the only one', and it's by (some geriatric) that George Galloway guy.
ps. you (like to wear your cap back-to-front and call yourself billy on the weekend) rock buddy!
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
21 Mar 07
LMAO! Bum nugget?!? LOL I think they (need to pay on time) had to have noticed! What's the name of this(something hanging from your nose) book? I might wanna(bark at the moon) read it! It sounds like (fart in church) it may be interesting even if it does get(extra pickles) boring. I'm getting ready to leave (the door open)work soon. And yeah, I am bored! :)
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
9 Jun 07
Interesting way of looking at it. As far as one of those numbers changing to china I am not really sure about that happening it might appear that way to begin with but I am pretty sure if they go totally free market than they will pretty much suffer the fate that Japan did when they started investing heavily in the united states. If you turn over your economy to a foreign nation than you pretty much handed your country to them without a fight eventually you will end up on the loosing end of the deals.
@4ftfingers (1310)
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9 Jun 07
That's a very good point EvanHunter! 'Free markets' are not actually free because they are controlled by the big multinational corporations, they are the ones who really run the show. Most free countries are capitalists, and the companies get what they want through pressure and bribes on the government. News Corp have done this in the UK, with their satellite television company Sky. Sky is a monopoly but any complaints are ignored because they have made good 'friends' with Blair's Labour government through bribary.
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
22 Jun 07
Interesing. I was wondering where you came up with those numbers. I'll have to read the other responses to see if you answered that question somewhere.
From what I know, I guess those number sound about right.
I don't know what we should be learning from those stats and I don't know how we would go about improving the lives of others. Sometimes the problems of this world seem too complex to even imagine a solution.
@4ftfingers (1310)
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23 Jun 07
I know what you mean. It's very well knowing this, and feeling bad about it. Biut where would we weven beggin to make change. And if other people had the upper hand, ineveitably we would proabably see a lower standard of living.
It's a book called 'I'm not the only one' and it's by George Galloway.
He's a socialist member of the British parliament. I don;t always agree with his policies but I have a lot of respect for him
@tarachand (3895)
• India
11 May 07
Is this a book with the latest figures? Well, if yes, then I am sure in next few years, some of the five rich folks from the US would be replaced by Asians, maybe a couple of Chinese and/or Indians.
The other figures are quite interesting though.
@4ftfingers (1310)
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11 May 07
I think you could be right my friend. Although all official figures vary, China is very high up on the scale of 'richest nations'. And it looks lie it will soon become a free market. India is proving to be quite promising, and I welcome this, I'm, not an ecconomist but I think it will be much better for the consumer, with the higher competition in business.
