[golux]

“developing countries.”

“developing countries.”

NOT developing is what they mean, right?

[Mrs. Don-o]

Actually, a lot of developing countries --- actually are. Until recent years --- believe it or not --- all these countries were listed as "developing":

• Hong Kong (before 1997)
• Israel (before 1997)
• Singapore (before 1997)
• South Korea (before 1997)
• Taiwan (before 1997)
• Cyprus (before 2001)
• Slovenia (before 2007)
• Malta (before 2008)
• Czech Republic (before 2009)
• Slovakia (before 2009)
• Estonia (before 2011)

Now they're (newly) listed as "developed," with another batch of "graduates" coming in right behind them: countries with great potential wealth like Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey.

On the other hand, for the worst AIDS-affected countries in sub-Saharan Africa, "developing" is a misnomer, a euphemism. They are falling back into utter wretchedness.