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In reply to the discussion: Largest private yacht in the world is launched [View all]Yavin4
(37,182 posts)68. Okay. A large percentage of the world's oil reserves resides in the Middle East
along with some of the worst poverty on the planet. I never said that "they don't do anything" for poor Muslims. I said that they could use that wealth to alleviate poverty much like Norway does with its energy reserves.
Here's an example of what I am talking about:
The Government Pension Fund Global (Norwegian: Statens pensjonsfond Utland, SPU) is a fund into which the surplus wealth produced by Norwegian petroleum income is deposited. The fund changed name in January 2006 from its previous name, The Petroleum Fund of Norway. The fund is commonly referred to as The Oil Fund (Norwegian: Oljefondet). As of the valuation in June 2011, it was the largest pension fund in the world, although it is not actually a pension fund as it derives its financial backing from oil profits and not pension contributions. As of December 31st 2012 its total value is NOK 3.816 trillion[1] ($683.7;billion), holding one percent of global equity markets.[2] With 1.78 percent of European stocks,[2] it is said to be the largest stock owner in Europe.[3]
The purpose of the petroleum fund is to invest parts of the large surplus generated by the Norwegian petroleum sector, generated mainly from taxes of companies, but also payment for license to explore as well as the State's Direct Financial Interest and dividends from partly state-owned Statoil. Current revenue from the petroleum sector is estimated to be at its peak period and to decline over the next decades. The Petroleum Fund was established in 1990 after a decision by the country's legislature to counter the effects of the forthcoming decline in income and to smooth out the disruptive effects of highly fluctuating oil prices.
The purpose of the petroleum fund is to invest parts of the large surplus generated by the Norwegian petroleum sector, generated mainly from taxes of companies, but also payment for license to explore as well as the State's Direct Financial Interest and dividends from partly state-owned Statoil. Current revenue from the petroleum sector is estimated to be at its peak period and to decline over the next decades. The Petroleum Fund was established in 1990 after a decision by the country's legislature to counter the effects of the forthcoming decline in income and to smooth out the disruptive effects of highly fluctuating oil prices.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Government_Pension_Fund_of_Norway
They could do something like this or buy a big fucking yacht.
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They're skilled shipbuilders...they don't get paid "slave wages" because their reputation depends...
OldDem2012
Apr 2013
#58
Hmmm. Let's see....you seem intent on comparing a company that sells things....
OldDem2012
Apr 2013
#71
The only way the wealthy "create" jobs is by spending their ill-gotten gains
kestrel91316
Apr 2013
#43
"the owner is likely the royal family of Abu Dhabi" - So, Let's buy a yacht instead of alleviating..
Yavin4
Apr 2013
#12
Oh look, a DU'er saying ignorant shit about the Middle East! It must be Monday
Scootaloo
Apr 2013
#35
So, There's no poverty whatsoever in the muslim world, esp. Yemen and Afghanistan
Yavin4
Apr 2013
#36
All I Said Was That Alleviating Abject Poverty in the Middle East should come before this kind of
Yavin4
Apr 2013
#59
Makes sense to me. How do you award yourself something this ostentatious when...
Gidney N Cloyd
Apr 2013
#62
I think it's pretty. And as outrageous as this extreme show of filthy lucre is,
gateley
Apr 2013
#76