If we could shrink the Earth to a hundred people

Dick Skellington shares some thoughts on his visit to the Eden Project.

Do you have a bucket list? One of the things on mine was the Eden Project in Cornwall, and this summer I managed to visit it at last. It is an inspiring experience, not least the Rainforest Biome and its exotic riches, while the educational features are fascinating. I learned so much about our place in this world, and the impact of the importance of sustainable futures was cumulative, rather than didactic. Do visit.
 
One of the features I particularly admired was the mural which greets the visitor at the entrance gates. Queuing to get in you have ample time to read the information presented in simple words and illustrations, a series of messages that make you think about human vulnerability and our responsibility.
 
I was so impressed I felt I had to share it with you. Some of the data on which the mural was based dates back to around 2009, but for most of the statistical comparisons, the numbers still apply.
 
The mural says:
 
IF WE COULD SHRINK THE EARTH
to a rainbow community of 100 people, approximately:
 
2          would be born in 2013, and 1 would die
13        would die before the age of 40
13        would not have access to drinking water
15        including 3 children would be undernourished
14        would have no right to basic health services
18        would live on less than $1 a day of whom 11 would be women
15        including 10 women, would not be able to read or write
10        would be disabled
37        would not have access to a toilet
76        would not have access to the Internet
1          would own a computer
50        would suffer from malnutrition
33        would not have  access to electricity
15        would be overweight
4          would be clinically obese
6          would be infected with malaria
10        would die from a tobacco-related illness
6          would own 59% of the world's wealth
10        would be over 60 years old
9          would be under 5 years old
50        would live in urban areas
15        would live in slums
60        would be Asian (including Chinese)
11        would be European
5          would be North American
9          would be South American
14        would be African
 
Food for thought.
Dick Skellington 12 August 2013

For an online version of the mural, see here.

Cartoon by Gary Edwards