Waking up to poverty

When was the first time that you became aware of poverty? Hernando de Soto says he first became aware of poverty at the age of 18. The story he relates on Aljazeera makes reference to awakening to poverty in Peru when he came face to face with people from other countries. Until that time he believed others were less fortunate than himself. In Peru he had wide open spaces, could go horse riding and viewed Europe as being less privileged. Is the realisation of the existence of poverty only rooted in comparison? Do you realise your own privilege only through viewing your neighbours, seeing squallor on the highway flashing by, watching it on television? At what point do you reflect on what makes you happy and what do you need to make yourself happy? Do possessions or experiences constitute your happiness? And what role do you play (once you've reached your own enlightenment) in making others realise their own happiness?