Editorials
Wednesday, September 9, 1998

Millions left behind by consumption gains

MANY people around the world are living better than ever. Global consumption of goods and services will top $24 trillion this year, six times the figure for 1975, according to the 1998 Human Development Report, prepared for the United Nations Development Program. People are living longer and enjoying more freedom because of better access to health services, education, productive resources, credit and technology.

Even in traditionally poor communities, the demand for luxury items and services is exploding. Between 1975 and 1995, the number of radios sold in Africa increased by more than 400 percent, television sets in Latin America by more than 500 percent, automobiles in East Asia by 1,400 percent. Personal computer sales in South Korea are more than double those of Norway. Cable TV subscriptions in China increased from 11 million in 1990 to 35 million in 1995.

However, the report found gross inequalities in consumption opportunities. Eighty-six percent of expenditures for personal consumption are made by just 20 percent of the world's people.

One billion people fail to meet even basic requirements. Among the 4.4 billion people living in developing countries, almost three-fifths live in communities without basic sanitation; almost one-third lack safe drinking water; one-quarter lack adequate housing; one-fifth live beyond reach of modern health services; one-fifth of the children do not get as far as the fifth grade in school, and an equal percentage are undernourished.

The challenge is to bring the benefits enjoyed by most people in the developed industrial countries to the poor in what used to be called the Third World. The wealthiest one-fifth of the world population consumes 45 percent of all the meat and fish, while the poorest fifth consumes less than 5 percent. The wealthiest fifth consumes 58 percent of total energy, the poorest fifth 4 percent.

Obviously correcting such huge imbalances is an enormous and highly complicated task. Foreign aid is sometimes effective but is often wasted by corrupt Third World governments. There are no easy solutions, but the problem must not be ignored. Improvident consumption of scarce resources can deprive the needy of their use and cause avoidable damage to the environment. The suffering of millions should not be obscured by the improvements in the lives of the more fortunate.

N. Ireland terrorism

A terrorist splinter group of the Irish Republican Army has issued a farcical cease-fire after accepting blame for the the bombing that killed 29 civilians and wounded 330 in the Northern Ireland town of Omagh. A genuine cease-fire among members of the group responsible for the bombing will be achieved only by their prosecution and imprisonment.

The terrorist group, calling itself the Real IRA, has offered no apology for the Aug. 15 Omagh bombing, which shocked Catholics and Protestants alike. British and Irish leaders welcomed the cease-fire announcement but should recognize it for what it is -- an attempt by IRA dissidents to gain legitimacy through recognition by participants in the peace process. Other splinter groups of the IRA and of pro-British gangs agreed to cease-fires without launching a last savage offensive.

The Real IRA is headed by 10 experienced operatives who defected from the IRA and drew to their gang scores of young recruits. Its leader, Mickey McKevitt, formerly in charge of weapons for the IRA, protested the April peace agreement's provision that the IRA be required to disarm under international supervision. While the agreement commits Sinn Fein, the IRA's political arm, to secure the IRA's disarmament by mid-2000, the call by McKevitt's gang for a cease-fire does not include an offer to disarm.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the Real IRA's promised cease-fire will not deter authorities in their attempts to "pursue those responsible for the Omagh bomb, those who organized it, those who carried it out."

Following the Omagh bombing, the British and Irish governments passed emergency anti-terrorist legislation that gives police greater power to seek conviction of Real IRA members responsible for the blast. It is time that police begin using those powers to bring the gang's members to justice.

Home run record

NO record in sports was as revered as the 60 home runs in a season set by Babe Ruth in 1927 and broken with 61 by Roger Maris in 1961. St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Mark McGwire's attainment of 62, with more likely to come in the 18 games yet to play this season, is a truly historic event in baseball, relished by all who witnessed it.

Striking a round ball with a cylindrical bat forcefully enough for the ball to sail out of a ballpark may be the most difficult task in sports. McGwire has shown himself over the years to be a master at the feat.

For years, an asterisk clung to Maris' record, noting that his home run total was for 162 games, eight more than Ruth took to reach 60 before the major league season was lengthened. No asterisk will accompany McGwire's mark, achieved in 144 games.

Both McGwire and Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs have conducted themselves admirably under the pressure of their race for the record. Sosa, whose 58 home runs puts him within striking distance of McGwire, ran to home plate from his right field position and hugged McGwire following the record breaker. McGwire then entered the stands to hug members of the Maris family who were there to cheer him on.

Suspense will continue for the remainder of the season as McGwire sets a new record with each subsequent blast, while Sosa seeks to surpass him. The record he or Sosa finally sets should stand for many years.

---

Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership

Rupert E. Phillips, CEO

John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher

David Shapiro, Managing Editor

Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor

Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors

A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor