Amount spent each year in Europe and the United States on pet food: $17 billion
Cost per year to achieve basic health and nutrition for the entire world: $13 billion
Amount spent on perfumes each year: $12 billion
Clean water for all the world: $9 billion
Amount spent on cosmetics in the US: $8 billion
Basic education for the world’s children: $6 billion
Total amount the US spends on Christmas each year: $450 billion (or 16 years worth of food, water, and education for the world)
Initial cost of the US Government bailout of failing financial institutions: $700 billion (or 25 years worth of food, water, and education for the world)
Coming to grips with the alarming disconnects of our consumerist society: Priceless