Minds On
Task 1: True or false?
Read through the following statements and determine whether you believe they are true or false. Why do you think this? Record your ideas orally, digitally, in print, or in another method of your choice.
True or False?
| Statement | True | False |
|---|---|---|
| The 85 richest people in the world have as much wealth as the poorest half of all of humanity, 3.5 billion people. |
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| 80% of people who identify with disabilities live in less developed countries. |
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| By 2040, it is estimated that over 25% of Europeans are expected to be at least 65 years old. |
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| Globally, women occupy less than 25% of all seats in government. |
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| In the United Kingdom, 2 out of 3 people living in poverty are women. |
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| In the United States, people living close to public transit can access up to 3 times as many jobs. |
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Are you all done with the true or false activity? When you’re ready, press the “Answers” button to reveal the answers.
Would it shock you to know that all of these statements are true?
Task 2: Map of wealth
Explore the following World Wealth Map from 2018.
What do you notice about the map? What do you wonder?
Record your ideas in a method of your choice.
Description
World Wealth Map 2018
A map of the world that shows wealth distribution in 2018. Different countries are labelled based on wealth per adult in United States dollars. The following table gives a sample of some of the countries.
| Countries | Wealth per adult (in United States dollars) |
|---|---|
| Iceland, Switzerland | $500,000 and more |
| Canada, United States, Australia, France, Japan | $499,999 to $100,000 |
| Libya, Chile, Czechia | $99,999 to $50,000 |
| Brazil, Russia, China, Mexico, South Africa | $49,999 to $10,000 |
| India, Bolivia, Algeria, Thailand | $9,999 to $5,000 |
| Ukraine, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan | $4,999 to $1,000 |
| Sudan, Chad, Afghanistan | $999 to $500 |
| Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique | Less than $500 |
Action
Task 1: Examining the distribution of wealth
As you explored the World Wealth Map from the Minds On section, you likely made note of some countries that had higher wealth, versus countries that had lower wealth. In the last few years, global wealth has been accelerating. This has been driven by rising incomes, higher savings, strong investments, and export performance. Brazil, Russia, India, and China have accounted for almost 40 percent of the growth since 2007.
Explore the first 15 minutes of the following video from TVO, “Rising Inequity in the Global Economy." In a method of your choice, record three important ideas that you gained from exploring this video. What strategies do those in the interview recommend to help close the inequality gap?
Task 2: Slums vs. celebrity homes
Examine the following two images. What similarities and differences do you notice?
How can some people in our world be living in beautiful homes with all of the amenities, while others are living in slums without access to permanent housing structures, clean water, proper sanitation, and personal safety?
Brainstorm
Independent research
Conduct independent research and create a list of the 10 largest slums in the world. Where are they located? Are they primarily found in developed or underdeveloped countries? Why do you think this is?
Studies have shown that the 87 wealthiest families living in Canada have more wealth than the bottom 12 million families. Do you think this is fair? Why or why not?
Explore the following video about the concept of a wealth tax in Canada. As you explore this video, record some of the advantages and disadvantages of a wealth tax in the fillable and printable Wealth Tax: Advantages and Disadvantages chart. You can also complete this activity in your notebook or use another method.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Wealth Tax: Advantages and Disadvantages.
Brainstorm
What’s your opinion?
Based on what you’ve learned, do you believe it would be beneficial to impose a wealth tax in Canada? Why or why not? Use specific examples from the video to support your opinion.
Task 3: Case study – Haiti
Quality of life in Haiti
The quality of life in Haiti has been considered one of the lowest in the Americas. Over half of Haitians live in extreme poverty and there has been little political stability in Haiti’s history. Haiti has had a series of leaders and governments, many of which were corrupt and created huge debts for the country. This left little to no money to invest in Haiti’s own social and economic development.
In 2010 an earthquake struck Haiti, leaving 220,000 people dead and 1.3 million homeless. The government needed help, and money poured in from around the world totalling just over 3 billion dollars. However, even with these funds, Haitians were left homeless, had no access to healthcare during a cholera outbreak, and lacked basic care. A lack of planning on how to spend this money meant the money was wasted on things that were not priorities.
Some of the funds were forgiven, which helped to alleviate some of the debt the country owed. Non-profit organizations are working to reduce government corruption and improve the ways they are using funds provided. A development plan was created with an effort to raise Haiti out of poverty by 2030 and provide education to those in Haiti. The Haitian government and United Nations are working to provide safe water and toilets to millions of people in Haiti. Houses, schools, and other infrastructure are also being rebuilt.
Brainstorm
Reflect
Answer the following reflection question using a method of your choice.
- What factors are listed in the case study that make Haiti the lowest ranking country in terms of quality of life?
- What is Haiti doing to improve their own quality of life?
Press the 'Answers' button to reveal some possible answers to these questions.
Possible answers
- The following factors are contributing to a low quality of life in Haiti: poverty, political instability, corruption, debt to other countries, homelessness, disease outbreak, lack of healthcare, lack of safe water, and sanitation.
- Non-government organizations (NGOs) and the Haitian government are developing plans to end poverty, spend funds wisely, and provide education and sanitation to all communities. They are rebuilding houses, schools, and other infrastructure.
Consolidation
Task 1: Paragraph writing
Respond to one of the following questions:
- “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer” – what does this quote mean to you? Use specific examples from your learning.
- What does global inequality look like?
Task 2: Show what you know!
Discuss how the global distribution leads to global inequalities and impacts quality of life by creating a website, infographic or fact page.
Reflection
As you read the following descriptions, select the one that best describes your current understanding of the learning in this activity. Press the corresponding button once you have made your choice.
I feel...
Now, expand on your ideas by recording your thoughts using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
When you review your notes on this learning activity later, reflect on whether you would select a different description based on your further review of the material in this learning activity.
Press 'Discover More' to extend your skills.
Discover MoreUniversal income
Around the world, some people believe that basic income could provide a simpler, more effective income support to communities. This would come in the form of a universal basic income (a set amount of money a family or person would get each month no matter where they live).
Some believe that universal income would provide some people greater opportunities (e.g. paying down bills, going back to school, finding a better job) and improve their quality of life. Other people are skeptical, believing it would be impossible to sustain because it’s too expensive. They worry that not everyone would use the universal income in a productive way.
Research the concept of universal income in more detail. You may want to start by exploring Stockton, California, where a pilot program was attempted. Create a list of perceived advantages and disadvantages of universal income and then write an opinion paragraph about whether you believe universal income should be adopted.
