Large scale agricultural projects are being implemented in an effort to 'make the desert bloom' and achieve self-sufficiency in food production. Any Libyan who wants to become a farmer is given free use of land, a house, farm equipment, some livestock and seed. Great attention has been payed to the development of industry since the start of the Revolution. Between 1970 and 1988 the total number of industrial projects was 362, of which 101 were for the provision of foodstuffs. Today, Libya can boast one of the finest health care systems in the Arab world.
All people have access to doctors, hospitals, clinics and medicines, completely free of all charges.
The Green Book sets out the basis for the transfer of all power, wealth and arms directly into the hands of the people themselves through a system of People's Conferences and People's Committees. It is this system of direct democracy which has enabled the Libyan Arab people to make spectacular economic and social advances, and to govern themselves by themselves. Certainly these material advances would not have been possible without the oil wealth. However, other oil-producing countries, such as Saudi Arabia, cannot show the same advances for all their people. In Libya the country's wealth is being used to benefit the whole community - a policy which stems directly from the ideology of The Green Book.