Giant_and_Dwarf-FIN

Giant and DwarfEgyptian state. It is estimated that the Mubarak family’s assets could reach upwards of$70 billion, 128 which would make the Mubarak family the richest family in the world andwould outstrip the family of Carlos Slim Helu, a man who grew rich in Mexico for a change,i.e. in another country with wide-ranging poverty, according to the Forbes rankings.The local saying about the corruption of the Mubarak family and the politicians in Egyptsays that they would be able to sell their country’s sand from the Sahara. To make the conclusionthat Nigerian, Congolese and many other African politicians were not embezzlingtheir home country’s assets in the same way you’d have to have an exceptional level of faithin politics and politicians.As has been mentioned, Africans have a legendary ability to believe, which is reflectedin the fairy-tale riches of people who make their livings on selling faith: the assets of therichest Nigerian preacher was estimated by Forbes at somewhere around $150 million, 129with the next between $30 to 50 million and another from $10 to 15 million. We are talkingabout a country in which three quarters of the population live in destitute poverty on lessthan $1.25 a day. Contemporary Africa in this regard does not differ from Europe of the MiddleAges which had a mass of people living in poverty, hunger and filth being preached toabout the life of a poor Jewish carpenter from a golden pulpit by an exceptionally well-fedand supported bishop and priest with garments laced with gold.Of course, African pastors are not the only skilled traders offering hope and faith. Politiciansare another caste of people that sell dreams and illusions and who aren’t above stealing,even when it comes to recognizing official income. The Prime Minister of Kenya, thesame Kenya to which the Slovak Republic provides development aid and where 71 % of thepopulation lives in extreme poverty according to the World Bank 130 has an annual incomehigher than the President of the United States or France, higher than the German Chancellorand higher than the Prime Ministers of Japan, Australia and Great Britain. 131 A comparisonwith the British Prime Minister is even more striking, his or her Kenyan counterparttakes home twice as much. Should you smile or cry?128 Mubarak family fortune could reach USD 70 bn, says expert. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/04/hosni-mubarak-family-fortune#history-link-box.129 The Five Richest Pastors in Nigeria. Forbes, 2011-07-06. http://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2011/06/07/the-five-richest-pastors-in-nigeria/2/.130 See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_percentage_of_population_living_in_poverty#cite_note-0.131 Highest-Paid Political Leaders in the World . The Richest people. 2011-10-09. http://www.therichest.org/world/highest-paid-presidents/.146