star.gif (2664 bytes)A Down To Earth Supplement
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No. 14,  August 15, 2000
Gobar means animal dung in Hindi. All of rural India uses it in a variety of ways. Ways that exemplify sustainable existence. That's why we use it, too.

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Contents

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COW PATS
SMOKING DANDIES
Peer pressure and onscreen heroes are the source of inspiration and 22% of school students and 56% of college students have joined the savvy league of smokers, a study conducted in Calcutta reveals. The percentage may be higher, the scientists fear.

SMOKING DANDIES

US $145 BILLION SUIT

 US $145 BILLION SUIT
While the Indian youth is glorifying the act of smoking, the US jury awarded a record breaking verdict when it handed down the largest punitive damage award. The Miami jury ordered the tobacco industry to pay US $114.8 b to some 500,000 sick smokers in Florida, which might reduce the tobacco companies to bankruptcy.

EYE OPENERS

F A C T S   O F   L I F E

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 Resources (money) do not guarantee rights. Consider the stark contrast between South Africa (SA) , with a per capita income of $3,310 and Viet Nam with a per capita income of $350. Infant mortality is 60 per 1000 live births in SA, 31 in Viet Nam. Adult literacy rate is 84% in SA but 92.9% in Viet Nam.

The booming economy in the US has not ended malnutrition homelessness, or lack of access to health care. 750,000 people are homeless in any given night. 40 million people are not covered by health insurance and one in five is functionally illiterate.

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Cmbined wealth of the top 200 billionaires hit $1,135 billion in 1999, up from $1,042 billion in 1998. Compare that with the combined incomes of $146 billion for the 582 million people in all the least developed countries.

SOURCE: UNDP HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2000