Better Usage of Global Military Expenditure
From ScenarioThinking
Global military expenditure annually = US$ 1.5 trillion
There are other pressing issues which are in despair needs of funds. The above amount can be used to solve problems such as poverty, education, health and access to fresh water.
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Funding for basic education
Children out of school worldwide = 72 million
Providing these children with basic education= US$ 6 billion.
Required funding to provide basic education
US$ 6 billion / US$ 1,5 trillion
= 0,4% of military budget
Funding for basic health care
The fund required to give basic life saving service is US$ 35 – 50 per person per year.
Global military budget can cover
Fund required to provide world population with basic life saving services
6,8 billion * $ 50 = 340 billion
=22 % of military budget
Funding for poverty relief
18 million people die each year cause by poverty. And, 8 million people die each year due to hunger.
1 billion people live less than US$ 1 per day
Global military budget can provide
US$ 1,5 trillion/1 billion = US$ 1500 per person per year
US$ 1,500/365 = US$ 4 per day
Cost of solving water scarcity
1 billion people globally are lacking access to potable water.
5 million people are dying a year because of lack of safe drinking water and proper sanitation (1 person each 7 seconds). According to the Sphere standards there is a need of 15 liters of water per person per day.
The production cost of 1 liter of water is 0,0015 USD.
The most common and simple way to provide water is by drilling a borehole and installing a hand pump on top of the borehole. Depending on the yield of the borehole, one hand pump can serve around 500 people. The average cost of drilling a borehole and hand pump installation is 20.000 USD. To increase the reach of the borehole in the community a water distribution system can be installed on top of the borehole instead of installing a hand pump. Cost of a water distribution system is 50.000 USD.
Cost of supplying water to 1 billion of people
0,0015 USD*1000.000.000 people*15L=22.500.000 USD?day
=82.125.000.000 USD?ten years
Cost of installing hand pump incl. borehole drilling
Number of hand pumps required = 1 billion / 500 =2000000 hand pumps
2000.000hand pumps*20.000 EUR=40.000.000.000 USD
+ 100.000.000.000 USD (Distribution systems)=140.000.000.000 USD
Total needed to supply safe water for 10 years to 1 billion people
140.000.000.000 USD+82.125.000.000 USD=222.125.000.000 USD
=15 % of military budget
