Here is the video: TED | Talks | Hans Rosling: New insights on poverty and life around the world (video)

I suggest you view it before reading further(to the end). The only bad thing he does in his presentation is stop people from asking questions at the end . (but it is truly inspired)

I knew that many of the developments of our civilization were exponential(many of those axises are logirithmic!), but i never thought about it in the way that this could actually be the reason for what we call third world countries. Perhaps they are really just factors more poorer because they are in the past with respect to their development.

What he states about the US does not suprise me. I think the attitude of the people and govt of the US does not do a good job in insuring good lives for the people living in the country. Many people just do not care about their fellow man.(which has nothing to do with religion btw)

Of course, there could be some questions asked about the interpretation of the statistics themselves.

PS link via Boing Boing: A Directory of Wonderful Things Also TED: Ideas worth spreading has other videos, many of which are probably interesting . (found a great resource there)