$700 million to cure starvation in Africa. $1 trillion to fix Republican generated banking problems

[TheBigotBasher]

This story hardly needs further explanation. Other than to say if you really think PUMA scum were Democrats, read what they are saying about the commitment to meet already agreed commitments to get International Aid to 0.7% of GDP by a date long long past.

__________________

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/United_Nations_requests_US$700_million_in_aid_for_East_Africa_to_avoid_famine

The United Nations has called for wealthy donor nations to donate US$700 million (£382 million or €484 million) in emergency aid for Eastern Africa to prevent widespread famine. Since the start of 2008 the number of people living in hunger in the region has almost doubled to seventeen million, according to the UN.

UN emergency relief co-ordinator John Holmes states that food levels are dangerously low in much of Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Northern Kenya and Uganda. The area, known as the 'Horn of Africa', has seen drought, war and high food prices all worsen the situation. Holmes has warned that the levels of those in need could rise still further.

A total of $1.4 billion is to be raised for the period from now to the year's end, but at least $716 million of that remains to be found. "We may need significant funds after that period - this is not the end of the story," warned Holmes.

"We can avoid the situations of the 1980s and the 1990s which were genuine famines at different times. But we do need extra resources, very quickly indeed if we are going to avoid going back to famine situations," he said. He says Ethiopia and Somalia are in the worst states, with six million Ethiopians requiring emergency support and 43% of Somalia's population in a similar predicament.

He described locals saying that the situation has never been as bad since 1928, when vast amounts of livestock died. They say rain is needed within the next few months if there is to be any grazing and cereal crops are impossible in the near future, it being well into 2009 before anything may be ready to harvest.

The number of hungry people in the world rose by 75 million last year to 925 million. The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says high food prices are to blame for the crisis.

[avaistheone1]

1. The bad news is that it probably won't be fixed after a trillion dollars.

From what I have heard look for the derivative bubble next.

[abumbyanyothername]

7. The only thing that will fix it is

a banking collapse.

I am sure of that. From the inside.

/s/ a bacterium in the bowels of finance.

[MikeNearMcChord]

2. And how much would it be to implement Universal health care?

[TheBigotBasher]

4. The UK can do it with a per cpaita budget of

half of what America spends on Health care. Private Health insurance costs around $1000 per year. The main issue with UK hospitals is that they are overly clean and used too many antibiotics resulting in super-bugs.

For the lowest priority of health care, (gender swap) waiting lists are less than 6 months. It would take far more than 6 months to argue that with an insurance company.

(We have had until Nu Labour broadly similar tax rates to the US)

[avaistheone1]

9. the cost of universal health care would be at least $34-$69 billion

... the cost of universal health care would be at least $34-$69 billion, plus whatever costs are associated with covering out-of-pocket expenses and uncompensated care for the uninsured. Specific solutions may entail additional expenses as well, depending on their design parameters.

http://www.amsa.org/uhc/CaseForUHC.pdf


It's like a drop in the bucket in comparison to this huge bailout of the super wealthy.

[TheBigotBasher]

12. Those figures look about right.

You have a giant medicare system, the UK when building the NHS did not. As a result Consultant Doctors are still given golf car/Rolls Royce treatment under our system ($300k salaries for less than 20 hours per week, 5 week holidays). It was the senior Doctors of the Medical Profession that the NHS had to pay to silence. It is most definitely not the situation with nurses and junior doctors who are heavily over worked.

America has the ability to create an efficient universal health care system, that would be CHEAPER than the system you already have.

I really can no longer believe Americans will again fall for the propaganda generated by Insurance companies and senior consultant Doctors.

[dkf]

3. Why haven't they figured out how to grow their own food?

There are droughts everywhere yet other countries figure out how to get this done.

In this day and age it is ridiculous that such a huge area has to figure out how to get food from other continents.

This makes me pissed.

[TheBigotBasher]

5. Give or even sell them the technology.

To a great extent, much of thus is the fault of US and European farmers. Two countries in particular, USA and France.

[avaistheone1]

6. The World Bank sets up poor countries for failure too.

[TheBigotBasher]

10. Actually in some ways Africa was a W success story.

Even St Bob Geldoff says that. W however then decided to add God bothery rubbish and further complicate the situation. Africa suffers from war, corruption, a lack of untied money and markets being flood with "good intentions" (look up donate a goat schemes).

Who is moving in, without any God bothery or "World Bank" ties? China.

When China gets rich, they will need lower priced production

[Glimmer of Hope]

8. I was there recently and people told me a lot of the problems have to do with corruption.

It is sad. Some of the most beautiful people in the world live there.

[dkf]

11. And a $700 million infusion will help overcome corruption?

If anything it will do the opposite.

What a waste.

[TheBigotBasher]

13. While the UK and US wring our hands

complaining of corruption, China invests $billions.

[Number23]

27. DAMN. STRAIGHT.

While the UK and US wring our hands complaining of corruption, China invests $billions.

The Chinese are building roads and businesses and are thus providing jobs, all for the benevolent purpose of creating a subsidiary of the country of China called Africa. If there ever arose a conflict between the U.S. and China (and it seems like the U.S. is trying to gear up for one) which country do you think Africa will support??

While the U.S. goes around starting war after war and bombing country after country, China, which hasn't had a war in decades, is quietly building up its resources and clout the old-fashioned way -- by BUYING it.

[H2O Man]

14. cold

[dkf]

15. People have learned to farm from the beginning of time without any of the technology we use today.

We build dependence on us and then they are high and dry when we don't have the extra available.

Is that what we want? To create eternal dependence? I don't see that as very humane.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

17. The climate in Africa is quite different from the climate of the west. I don't think it's fair to

compare the two.

[dkf]

18. How did they live all these years?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

24. Well for one thing, they weren't limited to farming crops for export long ago.

The droughts are getting worse. You can't grow anything if you don't have water.

[H2O Man]

20. If these people

would just get jobs.

[Forkboy]

21. .....

Thank you. This poster is way the fuck off base here.

[TheBigotBasher]

25. I was guessing H20 had some sense of Irony

in that comment. (At least hoping so).

Not far from the truth though, however the US and America have both benefited from having a low minimum wage. Whether we want to compete on wages against Africa is really a matter worth thinking about now.

[dkf]

23. No...they need to figure out how to make their situation work for them.

And our ways won't necessarily work for them.

I just think that our way of life may be unsustainable. What happens when we can't help out because we are screwed up too?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

26. And while they attempt to "figure out" the problem, millions and millions will die in war and famine

[TheBigotBasher]

19. They are not wanting to create dependence

simply real trade opportunities. Dropping tons of free product on farmers and not allowing sales to Europe and the US do not help. Obama has a commitment to meet already agreed aid targets.

Africa does not have to be a charity case, something China is recognising and Europe and America fail to do at OUR own expense.

The cost comparison issue is also one to reply when Repug scum raise the issue of giving $845 million to Africa "instead of America".

[dkf]

22. What type of products do they have there?

[Major Hogwash]

16. Just say "no" to the bailout!! This was Bush's fault - pin the blame on Bush!!

Where it belongs.

They held their energy policy meetings in secret, the energy crisis was a problem they helped to creat.
They held their war policy meetings in secret, the War in Iraq was a problem they created.
They held their fiscal policy meetings in secret, this financial crisis is a problem they created.

And Johnny Mac stood right there, right alongside Bush, supporting that sonovabitch all the way!!!

JUST SAY "NO!" TO THE BAILOUT!