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Technology Widens Rich-Poor Gap
by Philip Emeagwali www.emeagwali.com
Oil has made us billions and fuelled our economic stability, but oil has also become the bane
of our existence. For some, it is a curse that has caused poverty and corruption, but for
others it is an essential source of untold wealth and power. But as the gap between rich and
poor countries continues to expand, it is clear that intellectual capital and technology rule the
world, and that natural resources such as oil, gold, and diamonds are no longer the primary
determinants of wealth.
Surprisingly, nations with few natural resources demonstrate greater economic growth rates
than OPEC countries. Japan’s economic growth, driven by technological superiority,
outpaces that of Saudi Arabia; South Korea is growing faster than oil-rich Nigeria; and
Taiwan’s economy has moved well beyond that of oil-rich Venezuela. The United States and
Norway are also rich in oil, yet their staggering economic growth comes from intellectual
capital.
Seven thousand years later, Iraq — the cradle of civilization — has its own private bag of
gold as it sits perched atop the world’s third largest oil reserves. Meanwhile, Israel, tucked
away in the hostile terrain of a barren desert, has the clay of wisdom — the weightless
wealth of intellectual capital embodied in the collective mind of its people.
The striking economic gap that persists between rich and poor nations has increased
sevenfold over the past century to what is now an all-time high. The accumulation of
intellectual capital by rich nations has helped broaden this gap because it has enabled them to
control technology and collect hidden taxes from less affluent nations. For instance, Nigeria
pays a 40-percent “royalty” tax on its petroleum revenues to foreign oil companies that are
ripping out its family jewels — the huge store of wealth in its oilfields. These oilfields started
forming when prehistoric, dog-sized humans — our common ancestor with the apes —
walked African grasslands on four legs.
It’s a shocking reality, but the deep oil reserves laid down by Mother Nature millions of
years ago and nurtured through the millennia in Africa have been whittled away within
decades. And, for the dubious privilege of surrendering its natural resources forever, Nigeria
is required to pay half its petroleum revenue in the form of “royalties” to the rich kids on the
global block, the United States and the Netherlands. That oilfield has been exchanged for a
bowl of porridge, and the black gold that should serve the underserved in Nigeria is helping
wealthy Westerners get wealthier.
Today, half the world’s population — three billion people — live on an average of $500 a
year. In contrast, Bill Gates earns $500 every second. By controlling technology and taxing
computer users, Gates has become wealthier than each of the 70 poorest nations on earth
and using his financial might has conquered more territory than Genghis Khan, Julius Caesar
and Alexander the Great combined.
While Bill Gates is the new millennium’s Prince of Technology, he is by no means the first to
have taken on the huge potential offered by the realm of technology. The Romans used roads
and military technology to expand their empire. And, for centuries, Britain ruled a quarter of
the Earth due to its unparalleled ability to command maritime technology and conquer the
Seven Seas.
Britain undoubtedly established itself as the world’s first superpower through its rapid and
ruthless colonial expansion program. The British raised the Union Jack over Canada and
Australia, India and Hong Kong, Egypt and Kenya, and countless other countries — even the
United States. The Union Jack cast its shadow in every global time zone, giving rise to the
saying, “The sun never sets on the British Empire,” a fact that was cold comfort to the
colonized nations.
In the same way, the United States has embraced its technological supremacy, both
offensively and defensively, to build its own global empire without a physical presence in any
of its “colonies.” The sole remaining superpower is at the forefront of every major
technological advancement, which it has used to become deeply embedded in three-quarters
of the globe. The US has accomplished a virtual economic colonization manifesting its
presence throughout the globe by harnessing the power of technology and capitalizing on its
clay of wisdom.
Africa’s inability to realize its potential and embrace technology has left it at the mercy of the
West. The time has come for Africa to seize the day and resist the efforts of America and
others to leave their imprint and plunder its natural resources.
Numerous examples throughout history support the idea that technology can be used as a
tool of oppression. And there’s little doubt that America’s technological advancement has
allowed it to exploit natural resources around the world. This is particularly evident in Africa,
where the US is exploiting oilfields beneath the pristine rainforest — and being rewarded
with a 40-percent tax at the expense of the African people. This lends credence to history’s
assertion that those who control technology oppress those who do not, eventually enslaving
them and, finally, wielding power around the globe.
Excerpt from a keynote speech delivered by Philip Emeagwali in Tucson, Arizona. For the
entire transcript and video, visit www.emeagwali.com.
by Philip Emeagwali www.emeagwali.com
Oil has made us billions and fuelled our economic stability, but oil has also become the bane
of our existence. For some, it is a curse that has caused poverty and corruption, but for
others it is an essential source of untold wealth and power. But as the gap between rich and
poor countries continues to expand, it is clear that intellectual capital and technology rule the
world, and that natural resources such as oil, gold, and diamonds are no longer the primary
determinants of wealth.
Surprisingly, nations with few natural resources demonstrate greater economic growth rates
than OPEC countries. Japan’s economic growth, driven by technological superiority,
outpaces that of Saudi Arabia; South Korea is growing faster than oil-rich Nigeria; and
Taiwan’s economy has moved well beyond that of oil-rich Venezuela. The United States and
Norway are also rich in oil, yet their staggering economic growth comes from intellectual
capital.
- In reality, it is not money but intellectual capital
that drives prosperity. More important, perhaps, is
the reality that poverty is driven and sustained by a
lack of intellectual capital.
- The intimate relationship between intellectual
capital and economic growth is as old as humanity
itself, and is well illustrated by this parable from
ancient Babylon (modern-day Iraq). A man asked
his children:
- “If you had a choice between the clay of wisdom
or a bag of gold, which would you choose?”
“The bag of gold, the bag of gold” the naïve
children cried, not realizing that wisdom had the
potential to earn them many more bags of gold in
the future.
Seven thousand years later, Iraq — the cradle of civilization — has its own private bag of
gold as it sits perched atop the world’s third largest oil reserves. Meanwhile, Israel, tucked
away in the hostile terrain of a barren desert, has the clay of wisdom — the weightless
wealth of intellectual capital embodied in the collective mind of its people.
The striking economic gap that persists between rich and poor nations has increased
sevenfold over the past century to what is now an all-time high. The accumulation of
intellectual capital by rich nations has helped broaden this gap because it has enabled them to
control technology and collect hidden taxes from less affluent nations. For instance, Nigeria
pays a 40-percent “royalty” tax on its petroleum revenues to foreign oil companies that are
ripping out its family jewels — the huge store of wealth in its oilfields. These oilfields started
forming when prehistoric, dog-sized humans — our common ancestor with the apes —
walked African grasslands on four legs.
It’s a shocking reality, but the deep oil reserves laid down by Mother Nature millions of
years ago and nurtured through the millennia in Africa have been whittled away within
decades. And, for the dubious privilege of surrendering its natural resources forever, Nigeria
is required to pay half its petroleum revenue in the form of “royalties” to the rich kids on the
global block, the United States and the Netherlands. That oilfield has been exchanged for a
bowl of porridge, and the black gold that should serve the underserved in Nigeria is helping
wealthy Westerners get wealthier.
Today, half the world’s population — three billion people — live on an average of $500 a
year. In contrast, Bill Gates earns $500 every second. By controlling technology and taxing
computer users, Gates has become wealthier than each of the 70 poorest nations on earth
and using his financial might has conquered more territory than Genghis Khan, Julius Caesar
and Alexander the Great combined.
While Bill Gates is the new millennium’s Prince of Technology, he is by no means the first to
have taken on the huge potential offered by the realm of technology. The Romans used roads
and military technology to expand their empire. And, for centuries, Britain ruled a quarter of
the Earth due to its unparalleled ability to command maritime technology and conquer the
Seven Seas.
Britain undoubtedly established itself as the world’s first superpower through its rapid and
ruthless colonial expansion program. The British raised the Union Jack over Canada and
Australia, India and Hong Kong, Egypt and Kenya, and countless other countries — even the
United States. The Union Jack cast its shadow in every global time zone, giving rise to the
saying, “The sun never sets on the British Empire,” a fact that was cold comfort to the
colonized nations.
In the same way, the United States has embraced its technological supremacy, both
offensively and defensively, to build its own global empire without a physical presence in any
of its “colonies.” The sole remaining superpower is at the forefront of every major
technological advancement, which it has used to become deeply embedded in three-quarters
of the globe. The US has accomplished a virtual economic colonization manifesting its
presence throughout the globe by harnessing the power of technology and capitalizing on its
clay of wisdom.
Africa’s inability to realize its potential and embrace technology has left it at the mercy of the
West. The time has come for Africa to seize the day and resist the efforts of America and
others to leave their imprint and plunder its natural resources.
Numerous examples throughout history support the idea that technology can be used as a
tool of oppression. And there’s little doubt that America’s technological advancement has
allowed it to exploit natural resources around the world. This is particularly evident in Africa,
where the US is exploiting oilfields beneath the pristine rainforest — and being rewarded
with a 40-percent tax at the expense of the African people. This lends credence to history’s
assertion that those who control technology oppress those who do not, eventually enslaving
them and, finally, wielding power around the globe.
Excerpt from a keynote speech delivered by Philip Emeagwali in Tucson, Arizona. For the
entire transcript and video, visit www.emeagwali.com.
Philip Emeagwali, a computer scientist