Consider our development aid record. Last year, the nations of the world spent over $1 trillion on armaments. But we contributed less than 10 per cent of that amount - a mere $80 billion - as official development assistance to the developing parts of the world, where 850 million people suffer from hunger.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- ElBaradei contrasts high global armament spending with low development aid, noting that 850 million people still suffer from hunger despite available resources.
- In plain terms
- The world spends much more on weapons than on helping the poor, leaving many to starve.
- What can you take from it?
- Increase development aid relative to military spending.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What justifies high armament spending over feeding people?
- How much aid is enough to end hunger?
Another view
Economic priorities are often set by strategic interests rather than humanitarian need.
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