Top 17 Rich Countries Quotes

When developing countries go to the WTO and register their protest over things, they should be heard. Their views should be considered by the rich countries.

The globalization that has rescued so many in poor countries has harmed some people in rich countries, as factories and jobs migrated to where labor is cheaper.

The absence of state capacity – that is, of the services and protections that people in rich countries take for granted – is one of the major causes of poverty and deprivation around the world.

As someone from a developing country, I have a problem with rich countries thinking they can tell us anything, simply because they are giving money.

It isn’t only rich countries that suffer from the effects of tax havens. Developing countries also lose billions of dollars in tax revenues due each year because wealthy individuals and some companies use tax havens to move assets and income offshore.

I’m not against the virtual world; it’s fascinating, but I don’t like the way they try to impose it on us. It’s a thing imposed by rich countries.

One of the problems of organizing in the North, in the rich countries, is that people tend to think – even the activists – that instant gratification is required. You constantly hear: ‘Look I went to a demonstration, and we didn’t stop the war so what’s the use of doing it again?’

Rich countries have been sending aid to poor countries for the last 60 years. And, by and large, this has failed.

The thinning of the ozone layer is blamed on logging of tropical forests. The fact that the burning of fossil fuels and release of CFCs (chloro-fluoro-carbons) into the atmosphere occur largely in the rich countries are significantly ignored.

The resources of our continent attract, more than ever, the interests of rich countries.

Most rich countries have reported increases in happiness as they become richer.

For a long time, rich countries have promised to reduce poverty but have failed to match their words with adequate action. Of course, some important progress has been made and millions of lives have been saved, but millions more could be saved.

Climate change is a consequence of the build up of greenhouse gases over the past 200 years in the atmosphere, and virtually all these emissions came from the rich countries.

What I’m really worried about is war. Will the former rich countries really accept a completely changed world economy, and a shift of power away from where it has been the last 50 to 100 to 150 years, back to Asia?

It’s amazing how often campaigners in rich countries think poor people don’t get backache.

Rich countries can afford to overpay for things.

I think that my work is my attempt, I suppose, is to try and become a piece of connective tissue. I’m trying to communicate with people here and in America – in rich countries – about what I see on the ground in badly affected areas.