francene--blog. Year 2013
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Oct 8th

10/8/2013

 
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The world is full of economic inequality. The income gap between the richest 1% of Americans and the other 99% widened to a record margin in 2012, according to an analysis of tax filings.

In the UK, JK Rowling's MS clinic will be officially opened at UK's Edinburgh University by the Princess Royal. The centre will look at finding treatments to slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

The Anne Rowling Clinic was established with a £10m donation from Harry Potter author JK Rowling. Named after the author's mother, who died of multiple sclerosis aged 45, the centre will look at conditions such as multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease, as well as autism and early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

How wonderful that the author has used some of the profits from her novels and films to benefit others. Everyone has a right to earn money if they sell a good product. The Harry Patter stories delight millions of youngsters. But, like other pop stars and movie stars, she has chosen to share her wealth. There are so many needy people in the world.

Pictureqz.com
While the US and UK struggle to emerge from prolonged recessions and European nations such as Greece and Spain experience mass unemployment, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank say countries such as Ghana, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Mozambique are experiencing a boom.

The Nigeria-based Ventures financial magazine has announced that Africa has 55 billionaires, far more than previously thought. Twenty are Nigerian, nine are South African and eight are Egyptian. They include three women: the mother of Kenya's president, a daughter of Angola's president and a Nigerian oil tycoon and fashion designer.


Picturewww.un.org
The list is likely to reignite debate about inequality between rich and poor people in Africa. In April, the World Bank said the number of people living in extreme poverty in Africa had risen in the past three decades from 205 million to 414 million. A report earlier this month by research group Afrobarometer suggested that economic growth in Africa was primarily benefiting a small section of the elite.

Inequality continues to be one of the most contentious issues amongst the population of every country in the world.

It seems to me that if the very rich shared what they owned, it would go a long way toward leveling out the differences.

Outside our local supermarkets, people collect money for charities, relying on shoppers giving spare cash. But, for most people, this is an increasing difficulty. Money is tight and must be juggled to meet higher costs. Pensioners are some of the hardest hit. Some of us have to go without the food we like to make the money last from one pension payment to the next.

What do you think about inequality?


DinoMama link
10/7/2013 07:51:14 pm

Its sad that such issues are existing and I can safely say that it is happening almost every where. Over here we have our fair share of the very rich vs the extreme poor. We have people who cannot afford 3 meals a day but luckily we have charitable organisation that help to look after such people. Even so, we are losing faith in such organisations as there are more and more cases of fraud or misuse of funds collected for personal benefits.

I hope this issue will gradually get solved and the world will be a better place for every one.

Francene Stanley link
10/8/2013 03:08:13 am

I'm afraid you're right. Wherever there is temptation, greed abounds. Let's hope this changes.

Wicked World of Lucas link
10/7/2013 07:54:24 pm

Really interesting article. Have always held JK Rowling in high regard and this has totally reinforced this. ;)

Francene Stanley link
10/8/2013 03:09:13 am

Of course, my husband had to spoil it and say she'd use the donation as a write-off for her tax. Sigh!

Amy link
10/7/2013 10:40:21 pm

Francene,
In the US it has always been this way, that if you worked hard, you would succeed and be prosperous, but there are always factors that can muddy it up--a tragedy or a sudden medical emergency can wipe away a lifetime worth of savings in a heartbeat. We live in a fallen, broken world, unfortunately, and we can only do our best to make the world a better place when we have the opportunity to do so.

Francene Stanley link
10/8/2013 03:10:15 am

Thank God, some people take advantage of the opportunity.

A Dose of Dannie link
10/7/2013 11:19:05 pm

I am on a pension and i totally understand i try to give any spare pennies i have to the more needy then myself.

Francene Stanley link
10/8/2013 03:11:11 am

I hope yur generosity will be richly rewarded. It's not how much you give, it's the intention that counts.

Rick Bylina
10/8/2013 03:31:07 am

We are exactly where we were in 1928 with regard to wealth distribution. The only exception is, back then the poor, in general, had the ability to eat off the land. That seems to be out the door for the most part by who now owns the land, over-population in some sectors, and greed on all levels that grossly exceeds anything in 1928. I have a lot of SPAM in the pantry, but don't tell anyone.

Francene Stanley link
10/8/2013 06:57:39 pm

Summed up aptly, Rick. The spam comment had me giggling--someone might delete it in error, not knowing it was meat canned during wartime.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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