United Nations Radio

More than half the world's people languish in hunger and poverty while at the same time more and more money is spent on weapons, wars and luxuries.

That's what the President of the General Assembly Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann told Tuesday's opening of debate in the General Assembly.

He pointed to vast inequities that exist in the world and in most countries, describing them as "time bombs that will simply not go away".

Mr. Brockmann says in addition to the problem of hunger, poverty and high food prices, there are many other problems whose human origin can no longer be doubted.

"These include climate change, efforts to privatize water and the squandering of water as though it were an inexhaustible resource, the arms build-up, terrorism, human trafficking, the Palestine situation, humanitarian aid, gender inequality and children in especially difficult circumstances..."

Mr. Brockmann says these are the most pressing problems that the world faces today.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

(duration: 1'12")