The World’s Poorest President
In 2012,/the Earth Summit was held/in Rio de Janeiro. The theme of the Summit/was environmental problems. José Mujica,/the president of Uruguay at that time,/made a speech there.
The speech was about human happiness/rather than environmental problems. During his speech,/Mujica asked the audience these questions:/“What would happen to the earth/if everyone in the world/owned a car? Can seven or eight billion people/enjoy the same lifestyle/as that in the rich Western societies? Do we have enough resources for that?”
Today,/many people seek economic development,/but Mujica thought/that this tendency damaged the earth. The speech showed his belief/that people had to change their lifestyle/for the earth and their own happiness.
Mujica was born/in a poor area of Montevideo/in 1935. When he was in his early 20s,/the economy in Uruguay/went down. He became concerned about the gap/between the rich and the poor.
Mujica thought/that political change was necessary. He fought against the military government/and got arrested four times. It was 13 years/that Mujica spent in jail. However,/he did not give up his hope/of changing Uruguay/into a better country.
In 1985,/he was finally released. He never lost his strong will/to change society/and became a politician/ten years later. Then in 2010,/he was elected/as the 40th president of Uruguay.
Mujica’s speech at the Summit/made him known widely/to the world. He was called/“the world’s poorest president”/because of his way of life.
Mujica actually lived a very humble life. He lived in a small house/in the suburbs. He got water from a well. He plowed his land,/and grew vegetables and flowers there. He even donated about 90% of his income/to charity. His only possession of value/was a very old car. Never did he need fancy things/to be happy.
Mujica said in an interview,/“I can live well/with what I have. I’m called the poorest president,/but I’m not poor. Truly poor people are/those who only work/to keep an expensive lifestyle/and endlessly want more and more.”
In his speech,/Mujica said/that many people worked hard/to earn more money/than they actually needed. He said,/“We do not come into this world/solely for economic development. We come here to be happy.” He was concerned/that seeking economic development/prevented people/from finding true happiness.
Mujica stated/that true happiness came/from human relationships/full of love,/not from material wealth. His words helped people/recognize important values/in their life.
Mujica said,/“Development has to be/in favor of human happiness:/love on Earth,/human relationships,/caring for children,/having friends,/and fulfilling our basic needs.” He concluded his speech/by saying,/“Happiness is the most precious treasure/we have.”
In 2012,/the Earth Summit was held/in Rio de Janeiro. The theme of the Summit/was environmental problems. José Mujica,/the president of Uruguay at that time,/made a speech there.
The speech was about human happiness/rather than environmental problems. During his speech,/Mujica asked the audience these questions:/“What would happen to the earth/if everyone in the world/owned a car? Can seven or eight billion people/enjoy the same lifestyle/as that in the rich Western societies? Do we have enough resources for that?”
Today,/many people seek economic development,/but Mujica thought/that this tendency damaged the earth. The speech showed his belief/that people had to change their lifestyle/for the earth and their own happiness.
Mujica was born/in a poor area of Montevideo/in 1935. When he was in his early 20s,/the economy in Uruguay/went down. He became concerned about the gap/between the rich and the poor.
Mujica thought/that political change was necessary. He fought against the military government/and got arrested four times. It was 13 years/that Mujica spent in jail. However,/he did not give up his hope/of changing Uruguay/into a better country.
In 1985,/he was finally released. He never lost his strong will/to change society/and became a politician/ten years later. Then in 2010,/he was elected/as the 40th president of Uruguay.
Mujica’s speech at the Summit/made him known widely/to the world. He was called/“the world’s poorest president”/because of his way of life.
Mujica actually lived a very humble life. He lived in a small house/in the suburbs. He got water from a well. He plowed his land,/and grew vegetables and flowers there. He even donated about 90% of his income/to charity. His only possession of value/was a very old car. Never did he need fancy things/to be happy.
Mujica said in an interview,/“I can live well/with what I have. I’m called the poorest president,/but I’m not poor. Truly poor people are/those who only work/to keep an expensive lifestyle/and endlessly want more and more.”
In his speech,/Mujica said/that many people worked hard/to earn more money/than they actually needed. He said,/“We do not come into this world/solely for economic development. We come here to be happy.” He was concerned/that seeking economic development/prevented people/from finding true happiness.
Mujica stated/that true happiness came/from human relationships/full of love,/not from material wealth. His words helped people/recognize important values/in their life.
Mujica said,/“Development has to be/in favor of human happiness:/love on Earth,/human relationships,/caring for children,/having friends,/and fulfilling our basic needs.” He concluded his speech/by saying,/“Happiness is the most precious treasure/we have.”