PLEASE NOTE: We often read about ‘third-world’ countries, but this
refers to an outdated classification system and implies that we of the ‘firstworld’ are somehow better than the rest in an artificial ranking. While there
is much discussion and no clear agreement on better terminology, a quick
look at where the planet’s population is distributed makes it clear that the
developing nations make up the ‘Majority World’, while the mostdeveloped nations are definitely the ‘Minority World’, so I’ve chosen to use
those terms most often, in this article. WE-BE conscious that we’re all on
this planet!
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For most of us living in the minority world countries, owning cell-phones,
TV’s, even having the opportunity of a post-secondary education, are all
taken for granted. These luxuries are part of our norm, and we tend to think
that we are entitled to having them. This is the opposite of poverty, which is
living with a lack of true necessities, such as nutritious food, clean water
and safe shelter. We seem to have forgotten the difference between needs
and wants.
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Most people are aware of conditions in some of the countries in Africa.
However, poverty is a global problem. Of the 7.2 billion people on this
planet, 6.9 billion live in developing countries, approximately 2.6 billion
people live on under $2.00 a day, and about 1.5 billion people live on less
than a mere $1.25 per day.
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