There are many reasons why some countries are poor. First is the poverty cycle, which is an economical cycle that brings poverty to a country. It is caused by low national income, economical decline, and low income to a person who then has no funds for school, resulting in less education and unemployment. Also civil wars in a country, natural disasters, and cash crops can slow down the development of a country.
On the other hand, the rich people in developed countries are having a luxurious life. One analysis said that the wealth of all US millionaires was $30 trillion, which is more than GDP’s of China, Japan, Brazil, Russia and the EU combined. Some city eateries sell one omelet for $1000! They have more money than they need!
The gap between the wealthy and poor people is very huge and it is getting bigger and bigger all the time. Fortunately, there are some progresses of reducing the gap. Millionaires like Bill Gates donated enormous amount of money to poor country. The Millennium Development Goals are making some progresses too. One of their goals was to eradicate extreme poverty, which is happening. Now days, not many people starve as they used to be.
The Declaration of Human Rights declares that everyone is equal. The inner meaning say we should make fewer gaps between wealthy and poor people; but this world development is just not for equality of men, but it is for the peace on earth.
The Observer (newspaper), Sunday July 22nd, 2007 by Paul Harris in New York
Most reference from the Religion Studies textbook, Religion and Life and GCSE for you, Christianity and Moral Issues