13-+introduction


 * **__Introduction to Poverty__**

//These facts were from// [|//http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Facts.asp#fact6//]
 * Did you know half the worlds' population live on less than a dollar a day?
 * Did you know 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?
 * Did you know nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names?
 * Did you know 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.

The world is a cruel and imperfect place- we all know that. But what is the extent of the imperfections? Why is Bill Gates worth around $300 per //second// and yet 748 million in Africa were recently $40bn in debt. I hope we can make you understand the extent of these figures, how they affect todays society, perhaps without our noticing.