Hobson's Choice

Compiled,Will Hobson
Saturday 24 April 1999 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Number of identified minefields in Afghanistan:

4,235

Percentage of Afghanistan's identified minefields in agricultural and grazing lands or near irrigation systems:

90

Number of under-18s actively engaged in armed conflicts - at the last count, 36 - around the world:

300,000

Number of American teenagers carrying guns to school:

1m

Number of children excluded from state schools in the UK in 1990/1991:

2,900

Number of children excluded from state schools in the UK in 1996/1997:

12,700

Percentage of US population that would need to move to Florida for Florida's population density to equal that of Bangladesh:

50

Population of French Guyana before the Kouros Space Centre - the busiest spaceport on Earth - was built in 1968:

60,000

Population of French Guyana now:

160,000

Number of weekly newspapers published in Bhopal, India, in addition to 60 dailies:

364

Of the 70,000 books published in the US each year, percentage published by the five largest conglomerate publishers:

80

Number of leprosy patients in the US:

6,000

Number of Americans who have used Prozac:

22m

Number of miles of hot dog sausage sold annually in Blackpool:

47.5

Number of times Wembley Stadium could be returfed with the candyfloss sold annually in Blackpool:

4

Number of pregnancies worldwide, which have been attributed to Ripley's fertility statues, on display in Ripley's Believe It Or Not Odditorium in Blackpool:

455

SOURCES: THE SPIRIT, AMNESTY UK, THE GUARDIAN, TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT, BANKER TO THE POOR, MOHAMMAD YUNUS, FOCUS, OUTLOOK, NEW PRESS, LIFE, HARPER'S, MANAGEMENT TODAY, THE ECONOMIST,

BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH, TIMES

EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in