As the new millenium began, the 200 richest people in the world had more wealth than the poorest 2 billion. Half of the population on earth, approximately 3 billion human beings, lived on less than $2 a day. In the United States, approximately 36 million people and one out of every five children lived in poverty.

EARTH PROVIDES ENOUGH TO SATISFY EVERYBODY'S NEED, BUT NOT FOR ANYBODY'S GREED. MAHATMA GANDHI


Nowhere does the unholy alliance of hunger, disease, overpopulation, environmental destruction, human rights abuse, violence and lack of human decency become more clear than when looking squarely at the facts of global poverty. It's the age old story of the haves and have nots - but worse than ever. As we entered the new millennium, the fact that a mere 200 people had more wealth than the poorest 2 billion was a ringing condemnation of our lack of heart. No civilization can sustain such insanity. Even in the richest nation in history, poverty, particularly for children, persists at an alarming rate. The great majority of wealth on earth remains in a very few hands. At the same time, global economic crisis can reach even the most secure, while hurting the poor the most, increasing global insecurity for all. For the great majority of people, it's not a question of unwillingness to work or being any less worthy than the richest person on earth. It's a question of opportunity. We know many of the solutions to ending excessive poverty. We finally need to summon the resolve.