One fifth of the human race 1.2 billion people lack safe water, enough food and basic healthcare, even though it would only cost just 0.1% of world income to provide these necessities. It is women and children who suffer most 70% of the poorest people are women, and in the 48 poorest countries, one in six children die before the age of five. In many ways wealthy countries worsen poverty, just one example being debt for every 1 we give poorer countries in aid, 9 is taken back in debt repayments.

 

All over the world people are abused and murdered because of their beliefs, race or gender. Much of this abuse is carried out by governments, and one in three countries uses torture. The involvement of our society comes from the fact that oppressive regimes need international recognition, trade and investment. For example, the British company Premier Oil is helping to develop Burmas oil industry for a dictatorship which imprisons its political opponents in concrete dog kennels.

 

Since 1950, consumption of the worlds material resources has increased six-fold, and since 1980 our output of waste has nearly tripled. Pollution, soil erosion, climate change and other pressures all threaten our planets ecosystems. Most consumption is in rich countries the richest 20% of the worlds population consumes 86% of its resources. But it is the poorest people who suffer the worst effects, being most directly dependent on natural resources such as soil, forests and fish stocks.

 

Modern wars destroy the fabric of entire societies. Civilians account for 90% of deaths, with children suffering particularly badly. In just one year, half of all the children in Somalia aged under five were killed by war. Over the last decade, wars have orphaned 1 million children, killed 2 million, maimed 5 million and left 10 million traumatised. These wars are fueled by a huge international arms trade, and the involvement of our own society is clear, because Britain is the worlds second-largest arms exporter.