"In our world every day 40,000 children die of malnutrition and preventable diseases. The short lives of these children can not be seen in isolation they're of a whole system involving the economics, involving the environment, and most specifically involving the third world debt. The burden is not falling on those with forgein bank accounts or the ones who created the imbalance. The burden is falling on the already deprived. Must they starve their children to repay their debts? Many more are still pating interest with their malnourished hands and bodies..."

from film Mind Walk

THE GLOBAL ECONOMY AND CHILDREN

Children under the age of 5 are more likely to die of diarrhea or acute respitory infection, primary pneumonia, than from any other illness; more than 4 million of them annually succumb to these diseases. By 1995, the child mortality rate in Sahara Africa was 174 per 1,000. A stark contrast from Europe's rate which is 16 per 1,000.

If only $6 billion of the $680 billion world military spending were reallocated to education, every child could have a place in a decent school. Spending on education is actually declining. In 1975, 17% of international aid went to education; by 1994 it had declined to 10.7%. Loans tied to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank enforced "restructuring" has inflicted deep cutbacks, and education suffers.

The people of Iraq, especially it's children, have suffered the most: only 40% of humanitarian aid requested was forthcoming. Iraq reports that 1.2 million children have died from starvation and diseases because of the US enforced blockade of Iraq.

According to the UN report, the Official Development Assistance, (ODA) from the industrialized countries fell to an average 0.27 percent of the GNP, the lowest level of aid since 1950. The US gave the lowest portion of it's GNP for aid (0.1%)
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"The new global economy has meant billions in profits for transnational giants. For the children of developing countries, it means hunger, disease, illiteracy and homelessness."

from People's World Week