Poverty devastates families, communities and nations. It causes instability and political unrest and fuels conflict.
Interpretation
Poverty has far-reaching negative effects on society, threatening the stability of families, communities, and nations.
Kofi Annan's quote highlights the destructive impact of poverty not just on individuals but on the broader societal fabric. It emphasizes that poverty can lead to chaos and unrest at various levels, demonstrating that addressing economic disparities is crucial for maintaining peace and stability. By recognizing the multi-dimensional influence of poverty, we can understand the urgent need for concerted efforts towards economic development and social justice.
In practice
In a speech about global development, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of economic support.
If you have a problem and you can't find a solution, you meet again tomorrow and you keep talking until you find a solution. You can disagree with behavior or a particular position, but you do not resort to calling an opponent worthless.
Let us remember the large numbers of citizens who, day in and day out, through acts of volunteerism large and small, bring hope to so many of the world's disadvantaged. Let us ensure that this wonderful resource, available in abundance to every nation, is recognized and supported as it works towards a more prosperous and peaceful world.
We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.
The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response. In particular it requires solidarity - between the healthy and the sick, between rich and poor, and above all, between richer and poorer nations. We have 30 million orphans already. How many more do we have to get, to wake up?
People of different religions and cultures live side by side in almost every part of the world, and most of us have overlapping identities which unite us with very different groups. We can love what we are, without hating what β and who β we are not. We can thrive in our own tradition, even as we learn from others, and come to respect their teachings.
Democracy is, in essence, a form of non-violent conflict management. If war is the worst enemy of development, healthy and balanced development is the best form of conflict prevention.
Who you think you are will always be frightened of change. But it doesn't make any difference to who you truly are.
They paved paradise and put up a parkin lot With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swingin' hot spot Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you got till it's gone
Choose your corner, pick away at it carefully, intensely and to the best of your ability and that way you might change the world.
Nowadays you can go anywhere in the world in a few hours, and nothing is fabulous any more.
The people who resist change will be confronted by the growing number of people who see that better ways are available; thanks to technology.
America isn't Congress. America isn't Washington. America is the striving immigrant who starts a business, or the mom who works two low-wage jobs to give her kid a better life. America is the union leader and the CEO who put aside their differences to make the economy stronger.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.