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February 24[edit]

Anheuser-Busch InBev shareholders[edit]

How do I go about finding who are the largest individual shareholders of Anheuser-Busch InBev? From searching I've found the Morningstar profile [1] but it focuses on funds and institutional shareholders. Muzzleflash (talk) 05:13, 24 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

This article [2] from the Financial Times mentions two Belgian families who together control 28.6% of the stock: the de Spoelbergh family and the de Mevius family. The Busch family has apparently been wiped out [3] and does not control anything anymore even though their name is still part of the company name. --Xuxl (talk) 13:44, 24 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

The company lists its major shareholders in Item 7.A. of its annual report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 20-F. (The link is for 2014; the 2015 annual report is not yet available.) None of the listed shareholders are individuals. However, the largest shareholder is Stichting Anheuser-Busch InBev, which holds 41.23% and represents an important part of the interests of the founding families. John M Baker (talk) 16:40, 25 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks a lot. These were helpful links. Muzzleflash (talk) 13:32, 27 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Pentecostal churches in Africa and social change[edit]

I've heard a long time ago that there is one Pentecostal church in Africa (I can't remember off the top of my head) that has like millions of congregants sitting at a service. The church not only tends to the spiritual needs, but also provides basic human services that the local government cannot or does not provide. First of all, does this church even exist? My memory is so faint, but I'm pretty sure I'm not making this up. Second of all, how and why did secular governments in the world become more involved with community services (like providing marriage licenses, education, healthcare, food for needy people) without directing them to the church? 140.254.77.249 (talk) 18:54, 24 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I think you're looking for this (Pentecostal megachurches in Nigeria, with up to 200 thousand attendants -- really big, but an order of magnitude smaller than "millions"). For the second question, that's a pretty big scope. Secular state or perhaps public policy might provide some starting points, but you're basically asking for a history of government. — Lomn 21:08, 24 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

We do have an article on History of government that touches on this a little bit. Social contract is also highly relevant. OP may consider moving to a theocracy if they don't like secular governmental services. According to our article, there are currently only four in the world - Holy See, Iran, ISIS, and Central_Tibetan_Administration, though the last doesn't really have full sovereignty. SemanticMantis (talk) 21:37, 24 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

@SemanticMantis: It looks like you are implying that ISIS does has sovereignty... ISIS isn't a country, and ISIS is not a government, therefore it cannot be a theocracy according to the dictionary definition (I use Merriam Webster). I removed it from the article. The Quixotic Potato (talk) 04:26, 25 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

@The Quixotic Potato:, Sorry, of course I didn't mean to imply that ISIS has sovereignty. But I also wonder if your removal was a bit too hasty, and I will comment about that at the appropriate place. SemanticMantis (talk) 15:40, 25 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Global Marshmallow production[edit]

Hi, Can anyone help me determine approximately the numbers of marshmallows produced worldwide each year? This would be of great interest to me --Aniolare (talk) 22:02, 24 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Peak marshmallow is when people eat only marshmallows. 7.5 billion humans times 365 days times 2,000 calories per day @ 1 marshmallow each equals 5.5 quadrillion marshmallows. Someone will be over with a less humorous upper bound shortly. Sagittarian Milky Way (talk) 22:14, 24 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Googling the subject "how many marshmallows are produced each year" indicates several sources claiming 90 million pounds of marshmallow is consumed by Americans every year. Projecting that to the global scale could give provide a rough likely maximum number. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 22:31, 24 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Many thanks, I am concerned about the possible consequences of this "peak marshmallow" scenario and will forthwith write a concerned letter to my MP on the matter. --Aniolare (talk) 22:54, 24 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I'm an American, so I think I'm allowed to put down Americans without too much controversy. That said, if you apply our consumption of a sugary snack, which in this case is basically just sugar, to the entire world's population, you will likely have a rather inflated estimate. I'm fairly certain that there are many people who have never seen a marshmallow, much less had an "average" American's supply of them in their life. Dismas|^(talk) 23:01, 24 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

So you believe that "peak marshmallow" is variable by culture? In that case do Ethiopians require fewer marshmallows than Americans?--Aniolare (talk) 23:12, 24 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I would suggest that almost every other country consumes less marshmallows per head than the United States. What you mean by Ethiopia "needing" marshmallows is slightly odd from an educated and articulate person, almost as though you are deliberately trying to maintain discussion an unanswerable question. Richard Avery (talk) 07:58, 25 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

The OP referred to marshmallow production, but consumption should perhaps also include Marsh mallow. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 185.74.232.130 (talk) 14:24, 25 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]

To clarify Richard I'm interested in a theoretical "peak marshmallow" situation where marshmallows and marshmallow derived foods are the only foods consumed by man, mankind and ideally organisms of near human intelligence. In such a situation I am asking whether the demand per head in Ethiopia would be lower than the demand in America? Or would the notably higher demand from elephants skew the averages in Ethiopia's favour? (Can elephants eat marshmallow??)--Aniolare (talk) 16:45, 25 February 2016 (UTC)[reply]