Wednesday, August 18, 2010

"Pakistan’s current debt stands at $49 billion in 2008, up from $41 billion the previous year. This is a large sum in relation to the country’s GDP which stands at just $165 billion. Pakistan paid $2.9 billion in debt repayments last year. Although Pakistan is officially classed as a low income country it is still not considered eligible for HIPC because it has a relatively high level of exports. Yet over 60% of people live below the $2 a day poverty line. In a country with only 54% literacy and where 38% of small children (under 5) are underweight, Pakistan’s government spends only 0.8% of its GDP on healthcare and 2.8% on education."

JDC's report Fuelling Injustice is killing it right now blood.

Monday, August 16, 2010

"Every Pritt stick bought on a London high street is Hot Glue. Every toilet-roll procured legitimately in a Toronto suburb is Conflict Tissue. Every branny breakfast item in a New York Starbucks is a fucking Blood Muffin."

China MiƩville on Blood & Ice.