if we were to shrink the world's population......
If we could shrink the world's population to a village of precisely 100 people, it would look something like the following:
There would be:
57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south, 8 Africans
52 would be female, 48 would be male
70 would be non-white, 30 would be white
70 would be non-Christian, 30 would be Christian
89 would be hetrosexual, 11 would be homosexual
6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth, and all would be from the United States
80 would be living in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition
1 would be near death, one would be near birth
1 (yes, only one) would have a college education
1 would own a computer
When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent.
posted by Ellen at 5:00 PM
19 Comments:
I've read something like that before. It's very interesting I think. More people should know about it...would bring more understanding.
citysoul~ yeah, it's been around for awhile. It helps to put thing into perspective, doesn't it?
if 11 were homosexual, there'd be one really lonely person out there...
Kinda put things in a different light. I heard a stat that went something like this: If you have enough change in your pocket for a gallon of gas (or a pack of cigarettes, or a Big Mac combo meal...), you're wealthier than 90% of the worlds population. We tend to take so much for granted in this country when a little graciousness would go a long way.
PS: Word verification - kerpwhia
That's too good a word, it needs a meaning!
saurkraut~ It's possible, unless somebody was cheating.....
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mike~ Remember when all of that was cheap? Cigarettes (back in the 70's) were 35 cents a pack, and a gallon of gas was about the same. Now you need a small loan just to fill your tank.
How true about graciousness being a vanishing commodity. Sometimes I test strangers just for the fun of it. I'll go around with a big smile on my face, and you wouldn't believe how it catches on quick. People smile back, and even say hello. A simple gesture, but a great reward.
kerpwhia: what happens to my mind when I spend all day on the computer.
LOL - I like it! Call Websters!
~Mike
Great piece to put out there. I have really been enjoying your blog as of late.
Scott
Ellen, true! And I misread the hetero stats. They're uneven as well. Perhaps one is bi, and one of the homosexuals is bi, and they cross-over. ;o)
BTW, please go to my blog today and get the addys for the different gov't. officials listed there. Then write to beg them to do something concerning the sale to Dubai Ports World of the security contract for 7 of the ports in the United States. This is a very serious issue which directly affects those of us that live in the Bay Area here.
mike~ Glad that you like it! It's how I felt after spending the whole day chained to the machine.
There wasn't any real word I could put my finger on till you mentioned it. Haha... you are too funny!
BTW- my word verification is:
"soqimiby"... doesn't that sound like a peaceful state of mind to you?
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scott~ Thanks, sweetie.... you are always so nice to come by. I have grown to have an affinity for your blog and your "growing" process. I am also pleased to see that you are reading the Zen book of inspirations. I've read it, and found it to be calming in nature.
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saurkraut~ I'll be right over!
Ellen - That one with the puter would be Bill Gates. ;)
Funny how the rich control everything eh?
Peace & Hugs,
- Neo
ej~ Cool bananas about you being in Old Saybrook! It's such a sleepy little town, but lovely to have grown up in! I know of Old Lyme as well.... it's just across the river. I do have my days when I miss the area!
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neo~ My thoughts exactly. When I first read this, I immediately thought of Bill Gates being the person with the one computer. LOL!
Hubby always said that the world is made up of two classes of people:
the haves, and have nots. I told him that he was missing the third element: the wannabes.
We may not be able to control things, but at least we are smart enough to protest.
That is really interesting! Hahaha, I love what Saur said!
lee ann~ That saur... she is a fast thinker and funny girl,isn't she?
It sure makes a person see that his own personal perspective on life might not amount to a hill of beans. There are just too many other people out there with differing ideas to think that you are the only one who is right.
I learned that after travelling alot of the world. Us Americans can be an arrogant bunch and it is no wonder alot of people out there don't like us.
;o) Love you guys, too.
Excellent Post! It sure does make you a little more thankful for the things that you do have.
Thanks for sharing!
neal~ We have become an embarrassment in the last few years, haven't we? This is sad, as there are a lot of good people in our country, but our government continually displays it's collective butt to the world.
If we think on a smaller scale, it certainly puts more perspective on the issues.
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saurkraut~ No doubt we love you too! I'm still waiting for you to put out "Saur's Guide To Rational Thinking". I would make the trip to the bookstore you were signing autographs at, just so I could shake your hand.
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jin~ Being in my 40's, I've come to finally realize that everyday and every moment is a gift we should never take for granted. We have to go through good things an bad, only to arrive at some rational thought of survival... and hope the world can carry on when we have to step down.
That really puts things into perspective! It would alsdo make it hard not to date the same person twice if you were the type that didn't like settling down! :)
K.~ very true! It does limit the possibilities of a social life a bit. I didn't notice this before, but do notice now that no stats were given on marriage.
Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to come anytime!
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