I refuse to accept that the world is so poor, when just one week of global spending on armies is enough to bring all of our children into classrooms.
Kailash SatyarthiRead
We talk of globalization, and how much money is needed for the education of children in the world, their liberation and rehabilitation just $9 billion which is four days of military expense. Just four days. Nine billion dollars is nothing. But what Americans spent on ice cream just 20 percent of this. One fifth of what you spend on ice creams could bring the children out of the clutches of their masters and put them to school.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the stark contrast between educational funding and military spending, highlighting the affordability of a better future for children.
Kailash Satyarthi's quote draws attention to the vast sums of money spent on military expenses compared to the relatively small amount needed to educate and uplift children globally. By illustrating that just $9 billion—an amount equal to merely four days of military spending—could significantly improve children's lives, Satyarthi encourages a reevaluation of priorities concerning spending. The comparison with ice cream expenditures suggests that reallocating even a fraction of personal luxuries could substantially contribute to children's education and liberation.
Themes
EducationGlobalizationChildrenSpendingPriorities
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech advocating for children's rights, one might say, 'Imagine if just a portion of what we spend on non-essentials could change lives for children in need.'
More from Kailash Satyarthi
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Child labor perpetuates poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, population growth and other social problems.
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The single aim of my life is that every child is:_x000D_ free to be a child,_x000D_ free to grow and develop,_x000D_ free to eat, sleep, see daylight,_x000D_ free to laugh and cry,_x000D_ free to play,_x000D_ free to learn, free to go to school, and above all, free to dream.
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I dream for a world which is free of child labour, a world in which every child goes to school. A world in which every child gets his rights.
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World's children cannot wait any longer. While international community debates and issues recommendations, statements and fine speeches, world's children - marginalised, socially excluded, poor and vulnerable - continue to suffer.
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