I just finished a book called The End of Poverty, written by Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Special Advisor to the United Nations on the Millennium Development Goals. After reading this book, I understand why Time said he is one of the world’s hundred most influential people.
There were parts of this book that made me frustrated with the way the US has been responding to global poverty. “A survey done in 2001 by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland reported that Americans, on average, believed that foreign aid accounts for 20% of the federal budget, roughly twenty-four times the actual figure.” Can you see my frustration? Four hundred of the highest income Americans had a combined income in 2000 that exceeded the combined incomes of Botswana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda. This was the total income of 161 million people in those four countries, who average $350 per year, compared to 400 hundred superrich Americans. The United States spent about $2.5 billion for two weeks of support in the war in Iraq. That is the same amount spent for an entire year of economic development assistance in Africa. Does this make anyone else frustrated? I guess I just feel like we have our priorities all mixed up, especially when the United States alone can end world hunger. Through the Millennium Development Project, the rich world has committed .07 percent of gross national product, which is 7 cents of every $10 in income. We are talking about less than 1 % of total income. This is definitely a good start, assuming that we follow through on our commitment. I could write for pages and pages about this, but I will spare you my opinions for the time being.
There were also parts of this book that were very inspiring and gave me hope for the end of extreme poverty in our world. This book was so rich with facts, information, challenges, research, and achievable goals that I had to read it twice to process all of it. Jeffrey Sachs emphasizes the importance of the United Nations Millennium Development Project, with a series of goals set forth to half global poverty by 2015 and end extreme poverty by 2025. If you have not heard of the Millennium Development Goals, I would strongly encourage you to research them and find ways to be involved.
On Thursday I had the opportunity to meet and talk with the US Ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, at the US Embassy in Monrovia. We discussed the work being done at Ricks Institute and the partnerships that have been formed with churches, schools, and non-profits in the US. The ambassador was very honest with us and told us about the many things that the US is doing to help Liberia re-build. Her words basically summarized an important quote in Jeffrey Sachs book. She said that the US can’t afford to not help Liberia. The Ambassador stressed the importance of the relationship between the US and Liberia, and our responsibility to help Liberia get back on her feet after 14 years of civil war. She said that the US is currently giving money for agriculture development, infrastructure, health, education, and government support for the upcoming presidential elections. She also mentioned the Millennium Development project and Liberia’s efforts to hopefully meet the Millennium Challenge in 2-3 years.
Meeting with the Ambassador was an incredible experience, and I left with an overwhelming mix of emotions. I felt so empowered to continue to give my time, energy, and resources to the ongoing work that is being done in Liberia and at Ricks Institute. I left feeling very optimistic and hopeful about the future of Liberia and the involvement of the US in this war-torn country. Living in Liberia has given me a whole new perspective on poverty, but more importantly, it has made me more aware of what can be done to end it.
There were parts of this book that made me frustrated with the way the US has been responding to global poverty. “A survey done in 2001 by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland reported that Americans, on average, believed that foreign aid accounts for 20% of the federal budget, roughly twenty-four times the actual figure.” Can you see my frustration? Four hundred of the highest income Americans had a combined income in 2000 that exceeded the combined incomes of Botswana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda. This was the total income of 161 million people in those four countries, who average $350 per year, compared to 400 hundred superrich Americans. The United States spent about $2.5 billion for two weeks of support in the war in Iraq. That is the same amount spent for an entire year of economic development assistance in Africa. Does this make anyone else frustrated? I guess I just feel like we have our priorities all mixed up, especially when the United States alone can end world hunger. Through the Millennium Development Project, the rich world has committed .07 percent of gross national product, which is 7 cents of every $10 in income. We are talking about less than 1 % of total income. This is definitely a good start, assuming that we follow through on our commitment. I could write for pages and pages about this, but I will spare you my opinions for the time being.
There were also parts of this book that were very inspiring and gave me hope for the end of extreme poverty in our world. This book was so rich with facts, information, challenges, research, and achievable goals that I had to read it twice to process all of it. Jeffrey Sachs emphasizes the importance of the United Nations Millennium Development Project, with a series of goals set forth to half global poverty by 2015 and end extreme poverty by 2025. If you have not heard of the Millennium Development Goals, I would strongly encourage you to research them and find ways to be involved.
On Thursday I had the opportunity to meet and talk with the US Ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, at the US Embassy in Monrovia. We discussed the work being done at Ricks Institute and the partnerships that have been formed with churches, schools, and non-profits in the US. The ambassador was very honest with us and told us about the many things that the US is doing to help Liberia re-build. Her words basically summarized an important quote in Jeffrey Sachs book. She said that the US can’t afford to not help Liberia. The Ambassador stressed the importance of the relationship between the US and Liberia, and our responsibility to help Liberia get back on her feet after 14 years of civil war. She said that the US is currently giving money for agriculture development, infrastructure, health, education, and government support for the upcoming presidential elections. She also mentioned the Millennium Development project and Liberia’s efforts to hopefully meet the Millennium Challenge in 2-3 years.
Meeting with the Ambassador was an incredible experience, and I left with an overwhelming mix of emotions. I felt so empowered to continue to give my time, energy, and resources to the ongoing work that is being done in Liberia and at Ricks Institute. I left feeling very optimistic and hopeful about the future of Liberia and the involvement of the US in this war-torn country. Living in Liberia has given me a whole new perspective on poverty, but more importantly, it has made me more aware of what can be done to end it.
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