The Fortunate Few

I really enjoyed this talk by Anand Giridharadas on TED. Excellent delivery of a heart wrenching story. The message is being pitched to an American (i.e. US) audience. However, if we can look past the packaging, the message itself is very real and the presentation is flawless. The undercurrent of emotion throughout this talks is one of pride. Pride that good guys can survive and win in their own way. There is sincerity in the message that the good guys who have the time to sit back and think should reflect on the fact that they have been very very fortunate.



We have all had our upheavals in life but the yardstick that the speaker puts on all those who should consider themselves too be very fortunate is so real. Think about it. (**I have rephrased these questions.)
1. Do you have close access to fresh food?
2. Do you and most people you know have a university education?
3. If you are married, are you still in your first marriage?
4. Do you not know anyone that has a meth/ ice addiction?
5. Do you not have any criminal record?

If you answered "yes" to at least 2 out of 5 questions above, then you are indeed "very" fortunate. It's time that we start feeling grateful for what we have and soldier on through what seem to be big challenges in our lives. The reality is that there are people out there who have far more difficult challenges to overcome every day.

Some interesting stats:

1. Access to fresh food.

In this map of the USA, in pink are areas where a minimum of 500 people live and the nearest supermarket is >1 mile (urban) and >10 miles (rural). If this is the plight in the US, just imagine what the rest of the world might look like?
Source: http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-access-research-atlas/go-to-the-atlas.aspx




In the world:

15% of people was under nourished (2009-10)

Source: The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2015

13% has no access to clean drinking water.

source: http://www.100people.org/statistics_100stats.php?section=statistics

2. Education

 Only 7% of the world has a college degrees!!!
source: http://www.100people.org/statistics_100stats.php?section=statistics


3. Poverty

48% of the world live on less than $2 a day
Source: http://www.100people.org/statistics_detailed_statistics.php?section=statistics