Hi: How Rich is Rich, Really? (part 1) If the population of the entire world was condensed to a village of 1000 people, with the same ratios that exist; 584 would be Asians 123 would be Africans 95 would be European 84 would be Latin Americans 55 would be from the soviet countries 52 would be North Americans (Canada/USA) 6 would be Australians & New Zealanders -330 would be children. -Sixty would be over the age of 65 -670 would be adults - half of them illiterate -200 people receive 75% of the income -600 people receive 23% of the income The final 200 struggle to live on less than $2 USD per day. If you have a Christmas tree in your home, and gifts to put under it, you are among the richest people in the world. Want to see? Tell us; how many people have less than you? http://www.globalrichlist.com/ part two coming next

Hi Linda, They are amazing statistics. When I go into our shopping centres over here that is just about the same ratio: ====================== 584 would be Asians 123 would be Africans 95 would be European 84 would be Latin Americans 55 would be from the soviet countries 52 would be North Americans (Canada/USA) 6 would be Australians & New Zealanders ======================= I'm starting to feel like I am in the minority in my own country. But we are told that we MUST embrace multi-culturalism because it is GOOD for us, according to our politicians. That is despite the fact that multi-culturalism has failed dismally everywhere else in the world... ... but Australia is sure to be the EXCEPTION! Our politicians have promised us that! Now, about the text of the message you are giving. First I think there needs to be a slight distinction between being rich and being wealthy. You see, we can be rich in heritage, rich in culture, rich in happiness etc etc. However, wealth relates to money - pure and simple - which is what I think you are driving at. Yes, it is awful that some have so much and others have so little. It is also true to say that it is one of the forces that drives criminals to behave the way they do because it breeds resentment. But that is another matter. I have thought about the issue of wealth for a long time and I see no real resolution to the plight of it all. Education, especially financial education, certainly helps but then people have to want to be educated, don't they? Many have no inclination. Most have no opportunity. Some don't even know there is such a thing. It is sad indeed. When we sit down to our Christmas dinner will we have thoughts for the poor people of the world? Probably not. Most of us will be too engrossed in the occasion. And while we are stuffing ourselves with ham and turkey and whatever (I was gonna say caviar but it sounded too much like a terrible Leo Sayer song - LOL!) some undernourished, starving kids in some forlorn country will die. At the very moment you are deciding whether or not to have another plate of your favorite food some kid will die because he or she is starving and will succumb to some rotten disease. Yes, that is the reality of this world. The world is such an imperfect place. Can I recommend something? Can everybody who reads my words here make a decision to do something nice for a TOTAL STRANGER this Christmas? Personally, I have somebody in mind - a poor fellow called Robert who is in his 80's and has no family. He lives with his dog. He called a talkback station in Perth this week to say that all he would have for Christmas is a cup of soup. No he won't! I will see to that. What about others? What will you do to help a fellow human being? Gary Simpson

You are sooo right Gary.. So many forget what the true meaning of Christmas is. Giving, not recieving. In the hussle and bussle of it all it almost seems that there is competition going on. Among kids it is who gets the best. "Mine is better than yours". And with the adults, it's "well we spent more on them then they us". So what! I elect to worry about the less fortunate. I love to give. Had rather give than recieve. In choosing gifts, I try to be generous to everyone in my family. Well, My entire family, sister, brother and their families have every thing they need and a lot that they want. So my gift giving is spread thin there. In focusing on who will appreciate a gift, old and young alike...there is a local shelter for women and children in our area. These families are "between" homes due to diverse conditions. Most have nothing! This is where my focus is on the holidays, and throughout the year... Linda, finally in answer to your question: I am very rich! I may not be financially independant. Yet. But my family is rich none the less. Angela

This sure puts some perspective on the 95% Failure Thread don't you think Gary? It also makes some of the percentages we discussed for success kind of silly as well. 0.3% is sure starting to sound like good odds.:-)

Hi: Interesting, isn't it. Did you know that anyone who makes $50,000 USD per year is in the top 0.899% richest people in the world? Want to see something REALLY interesting? According the the US census bureau, the "poverty level" is defined as; For a 1 person household: 8,959 For a 2 person household: 11,869 For a 4 person household: 17,463 Go type those into The Global Richlist -- and watch the SLIDER BAR. Of course, it's all relative, isn't it? Here in the GTA, we pay $2,000/month just for housing. Utilities NOT included. I know people in New York that pay more. And, I also know people - also in the US - that pay $500/month for a real house, with a yard. lol PART 2 Because I promised you a part two.... If you've ever read Psycho Cybernetics, you'll be familiar with this concept. There is a theory that we humans are made of energy, like all things and thus, we attract what we give off. Kind of like using a tuning fork and having a piano return the same note. We "attract" the same frequency we emanate. Did you know that your subconscious mind chatters to you at a rate of about 200 words per minutes? 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year. For many of us, it's mostly negative. Many, many people have an eternal scarcity complex. What if we lose our jobs? What if we can't make the bills? Is this business going to work? What if it doesn't? Is it any surprise that 95% of us are dependant on family or government by age 65? We give off bad vibes, and we live the result of them. But, how to turn it around? Realize how rich you truly are compared to the rest of the world. Like Gary said. Do something to help someone that's way, way farther down on the richness scale than you. Why? Because you CAN. ...Make sure that elderly man has more than soup to eat on Christmas. ... Or take a child's winter coat into the local Salvation army. You would be amazed at how many kids just want to be warm this winter. ... 600,000 men, women, and children go homeless each night in the USA alone. Single mothers and families with children account for 36% of the homeless population. ... In Toronto alone, 5,000 people sleep in shelters every night, and there are over 1,000 that sleep unsheltered because there is no room for them in the shelters. ... Or take a toy into your local Salvation Army for a child that wouldn't have a gift without your help. ... And if you are in dire straits this year, and you truly believe you can not give; think again. The one commodity that is most precious of all is the one you can never get back when you have spent it. Your time. Give a little of it to someone. Do something nice for someone - whether it's volunteering your time for a charity, or doing a chore of your spouse's before he/she gets around to doing it. Whatever you have, be grateful for it. Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others. As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. [John F. Kennedy: 1917–1963] Happy Holidays... and thank you, to ALL of you, for making this such a wonderful forum. Brain food and soul food, all in one place with a side order of laughter. : ) Linda