Compare the Presidential candidates on their plans to fight global poverty:
http://www.onevote08.org/
Kristof (a personal hero) continues to be one of the only mainstream reporters to constantly blog/write about the humanitarian situation in Africa. I applaud his attention to the plight of the poor, especially when 95% of the media in this country is totally blinded by a Presidential campaign, which, though extremely important by any measure, is NOT THE ONLY THING HAPPENING IN THE WORLD. How about a DROP of balance in your coverage, major media? Hello, Wolf Blitzer, over there in the election room, or whatever you call that cave...
Here's the link to Kristof: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/opinion/06kristof.html?hp
And of course, a nice long passage from somebody else infinitely more articulate and educated than myself, Jeffrey Sachs (who I couldnt get in to see last week, thanks Columbia Alumni Association and your ridiculous rules):
"Almost three thousand people died needlessly and tragically in the World Trade Center on September 11; ten thousand Africans die needlessly and tragically every single day-and have died every single day since September 11-of AIDS, TB, and malaria. We need to keep September 11 in perspective, especially because the ten thousand daily deaths are preventable."
-The End Of Poverty
We talk about terrorism and global security (and insecurity)-we need to focus on the root cause of global security threats and terror-poverty; when people do not have a choice in their lives, when there is no other option, they will be led like sheep into the dark. If we want to secure this world, and our place in this world, how could we do it more effectively than through foreign aid and development support. It will take a lot of both to repair the damage wrought by the Bush administration; however, it is still possible, in most regions of the world. I have seen this first hand in the developing world; people's opinions are fragile, but they are still up for grabs; nothing is set into stone that cannot be reversed through massive displays of goodwill. One week in Iraq costs our country more than the entire annual development budget; there needs to be adjustment; things are simply out of sync with the demands of the world. Investing in key areas, both with human capital and infrastructure, that can give impoverished people throughout the world the tools for sustainable development and advancement is vital to both our standing in the world, and humanity. This is not a zero sum game-we can all prosper. Investing to take on geographic isolation, disease, vulnerability to climate shocks, and so on...we can still be the world's superpower. Witness Bush's last visit to the African continent; he was received with warmth he has not seen in many years; the people of Africa love him for the anti--Aids programs he has funded through PEPAR; if they can love Bush, there is hope.
And finally, amonngst other reasons, this is why I am an Obama supporter...these are his views on the Millenium Development Goals for 2015:
"I'll make the Millennium Development Goals American policy. By the end of my first term I expect to see progress to meeting the MDGs, including reducing by half the number of people living on less than a dollar a day and suffering from hunger, and reversing the number of new HIV infections and malaria cases."
Well said.
