Day 58: Billions

What would you do if you had a billion dollars?  Or several billion dollars?  Most people probably first think about purchasing the new house or car they have been dreaming about.  Or perhaps a yacht.  A small island.  Quitting their job and never working another day in their life.  I don't know, I guess if you have that kind of money, any wish could materialize pretty easily.

Here are a few facts about billionaires and the wealthy (taken from The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns).  
1) Today's 1,123 billionaires hold more wealth than the wealth of half the world's adult population.   
2) The wealthiest 7 people on earth control more wealth than the combined GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of the 41 most heavily indebted (poor) nations.  
3) The poorest 40 percent of the world's population accounts for just 5 percent of the global income.  The richest 20 percent accounts for three-quarters of the world's income.  
These facts are staggering when you consider the disparity between the wealthy and the poor.  If only those that were extremely wealthy would share their wealth, perhaps the poor wouldn't be as poor.  The sick could be cured.  Thirst could be quenched, and hungry tummies fed.  

Have you heard of The Giving Pledge?  It was an idea born between Bill & Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett, in "an effort to help address society’s most pressing problems by inviting the wealthiest American families and individuals to commit to giving more than half of their wealth to philanthropy or charitable causes. The pledge is a moral commitment to give, not a legal contract, and it does not involve pooling money or supporting a particular set of causes or organizations. While it is specifically focused on billionaires or those who would be billionaires if not for their giving, the idea takes its inspiration from other efforts that encourage and recognize givers of all financial means and backgrounds." The Giving Pledge Press Release.  Today there are 57 individuals and families that have made this commitment.  So much good is bound to come from spreading the wealth.  

Twitter Updates – Follow Good News for Isla on Twitter.
RSS Subscription – Subscribe to Good News for Isla via RSS in a reader.

Email Updates – Sign up for email updates