Finally, in this Chapter, Friedman admits that the world isn’t flat…yet. The book should actually be called “The World Is Flattening”. There are still dozens of countries around the world who are undeveloped and behind us in every single way. So with these places and people still existing, the world is still round. Just like Christopher Columbus thought! :PThe section touched on various different groups who are a part of the unflat world: sick, disempowered, frustrated, and depletion of the world’s natural resources. The group that I’ll focus on this is the “too sick”.
The too sick included the people who have HIV-AIDS, malaria, TB, polio, and who do not have electricity or clean water. It was sad to read that some of these never seen a toilet before or a shower. Also, instead of drinking clear, clean water they have to gulp down muddy, dirty gutter water.
In some of the countries in Africa, AIDS is so prevalent that 1/3 of all pregnant women are HIV positive. With HIV/AIDS affecting the continent of Africa, it will probably be harder for them to become into a flat world as many of the children may not even grow up and live past 18. It was good to see that Mr. Bill Gates has donated lots, and I mean lots, of money to fight diseases and poor living conditions. Over the years, he has donated over $27 billion to these causes.
Friedman reminds us that people who too sick will not be able to compete in the flat world as they might not be around to compete. While this is sad, it is true.
2 comments:
I hate how Friedman exaggerates many of the features of the contemporary world that he has been describing. Why does he need to write all these subsequent chapters on sub-parts of his previous writings. He could of condensed it and still sold as many copies. Friedman is a technological determinist huh? This chapter was common sense to me? Of course peole in lower economy countries don't have access to the new world, they live in clay huts. I do feel bad for the "sick" people like you mention, Friedman should of just said poverty or poor instead of sick. I also wonder how much of that money Bill Gates donated actually went to these "sick" people?
haha, I like your title for the book! The "too sick" makes me sad when I think about their lives. We often take it for granted that we are healthy and have the opportunities that we do.
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