timtan, what it has to do with the "natural elements"? This is wrong explanation. Do you mean the people of the country are rich if there are natural resources in country? and people are poor if there are no resources? not at all... here are two examples:
1. Japan. do they have Gold? Oil? Woods? "Poor guys" don't even have a LAND... they are about 50 years AHEAD of the whole world! you know that Japanese is not allowed to leave the country with the latest version of any technological device?
2. Russia. They have EVERYTHING, and even more... people in remote areas are still POOR like rats...BUT..a lots of people did became richer after the SYSTEM has changed..(the resources are still the same, if not less)

...A SYSTEM matters, not the natural resources... at least not ONLY natural resources...
i always ask: why Palestine wouldn't invest these billions of Dollar in the ECONOMIC and infrastructure? Put some plants, produce whatever.. raise avocado, olives, etc...build chicken/turkey farms.. why to eat grass??

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“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry