In its pursuit of sustainable development, the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, has always insisted that "jobless growth" is more or less "harmful growth"! Very many in the crusading community can identify with that sentiment, and would probably stretch to say it is "worthless growth"!! No matter.

But to fully appreciate the implications, you can look around the world and calculate how many jobs are created by the huge investments in the oil fields despite the billions in cash. Very few. Why? Because "technology does the job"! Yet, those nations can quote high GDP figures!! Come to Nigeria, go to Indonesia, check with Saudi Arabia or ask the Russians!!!

My thoughts this day are with the UNDP. I think it should resume its wise offensive against the monster of poverty by enlisting the International Labour Organisation, ILO, as well as the sane private sector in the rich nations. We need the shareholders of multinationals to join forces with the anti-poverty crusaders today. They must all know that their investments are open to huge unpredictable threats and consequences as we now see in Nigeria's Niger Delta region and Latin American countries. We can avoid the future but impending conflagration. Yes.

The key to this understanding is that more of the rising power of both crusaders and a new civil society is from the citizens of rich/developed countries! People Power is on the ascendancy.

Doubt it not. Dare it not!