Is inequality destroying Planet Earth? The world’s most powerful people are gathering in Switzerland this week. Some hope to persuade them to clamp down on the top 1%.
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Super-rich grab two-thirds of new wealth
Is inequality destroying Planet Earth? The world's most powerful people are gathering in Switzerland this week. Some hope to persuade them to clamp down on the top 1%.
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What's happening?
The skies near the town of Davos in SwitzerlandA country in central Europe, known for mountains, lakes and skiing. are full of private jets. The world's wealthiest people are arriving in the town for a yearly meeting.
The gap between the richest people in the world and the poorest people in the world is getting bigger. Over the last two years, the top 1% wealthiest people have become £21 trillionOne thousand times bigger than a billion. richer.
Some billionaires choose to spend their money to help politicians they agree with run campaigns to get elected. Others set up big media companies spreading their views about the world.
And many billionaires choose to fly in private jets - producing much more carbon emissionsWhen a gas is let off from something, like a car, it is an emission. Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. than ordinary people.
The charity OxfamAn international charity, originally British, that works to alleviate global poverty. wants new special taxesThere are three main ways for governments to obtain money: print it, borrow it or collect taxes. just for billionaires, so their money can be used to help the planet and poorer people.
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Others think this is a bad idea, and that when billionaires put their money to good use it helps everyone.
Is inequality destroying Planet Earth?
Yes! Billionaires create more pollution and carbon emissions than other people. Taking away their wealth would fix this problem.
No! Many billionaires are trying to use their money to solve the world's big problems, from climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change. to poverty. We should not try to stop them.
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Keywords
Switzerland - A country in central Europe, known for mountains, lakes and skiing.
Trillion - One thousand times bigger than a billion.
Carbon emissions - When a gas is let off from something, like a car, it is an emission. Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Oxfam - An international charity, originally British, that works to alleviate global poverty.
Taxes - There are three main ways for governments to obtain money: print it, borrow it or collect taxes.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Super-rich grab two-thirds of new wealth
Carbon catastrophe: Last year, private jet emissions quadrupled during Davos as 1,000 private planes arrived. Glossary
Switzerland - A country in central Europe, known for mountains, lakes and skiing.
Trillion - One thousand times bigger than a billion.
Carbon emissions - When a gas is let off from something, like a car, it is an emission. Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Oxfam - An international charity, originally British, that works to alleviate global poverty.
Taxes - There are three main ways for governments to obtain money: print it, borrow it or collect taxes.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.