[asia-apec 730] Gap Keeps Growing

[GABRIELA]

>From: BAYAN <bayan at iname.com>
>FOR YOUR INFORMATION
>
>Gap keeps growing between rich and poor
>by Chen Yanni
>China Daily, September 10, 1998
>
>THE gap between rich and poor countries continues widening regardless of
>the burgeoning consumption of goods and services globally.
>
>This undermines the possibility of sustainable human development
>internationally, suggests the United Nations Development Programmme's
(UNDP) Human Development Report. 
>
>Global consumption of goods and services will reach US$24 trillion this
>year, six times higher than in 1975, notes the report.
>
>The UN released the document yesterday in The Hague and in more than 100
>nations' capitals, including Beijing.  The UNDP has commissioned the report
>exploration of major global issues by experts - every year since 1990.
>
>One billion people still go without basic necessities - food, water and
>proper housing - while 86 per cent of the world's output is used by 20 per
>cent of the population, the report adds.
>
>This group uses 58 per cent of the world's energy, 45 per cent of the meat
>and fish, drive 87 per cent of the motor vehicles and use 74 per cent of
the telephones, reveals the report.
>
>Three-fifths of the world's 4.4 billion people in developing countries live
>in communities without basic sanitation; one-third do not have safe
>drinking water; one-fourth lack  adequate housing; one-fifth are without
>modern health care; one-fifth of the children do not advance beyond fifth
>grade; and one-fifth of the children are malnourished, the report notes.
>
>"The report looks beyond per capita income as a measure of human progress,
>by assessing it against such factors as average life expectancy, literacy
>rates and people's overall well-being," note UNDP officials.
>
>This year the report focuses on consumption of goods and services and
>examines how this advances or hinders human progress. 
>
>. . .