TRNS Managing Editor Victoria Jones speaks with Anita Sharma with the United Nations Millennium Campaign about what her organization is doing to combat world poverty. (11:31)
By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service
Correspondent Michael Ruhl’s investigative report into the recent pandemic of piracy off of the Horn of Africa. The report focuses on why the piracy is taking place and what can be done to stop it. It includes perspectives from Somali Ambassador-at-large Abdi Awallah Jama, George Mason University Political Science Professor Hazel McFerson, Maersk-Alabama Captain Richard Phillips, and CENTCOM Commander General David Petraeus. (07:30)
By Kayleigh Harvey – Talk Radio News Service
In a conference call today, Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack set out the key areas the American people can expect the USDA to focus on, under the new Obama administration.
The top priorities he identified included promoting a sustainable, safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply for all Americans and people around the world. He further stated that combating childhood obesity, enhanced healthy nutrition, and supporting research in the health care debate would be a key focus. Vilsack also announced that the USDA will work on achieving Obama’s target to eliminate child hunger by 2015.
Vilsack identified that another key area the USDA will be working on under the new administration would be research development in additional bio-fuels. The USDA will support the survival of the bio-fuel industry whilst promoting policies that will speed up the development of second and third generation feedstocks for these bio-fuels and in turn increase the potential to secure America’s energy security and independence. He will lead the USDA in it’s efforts to adopt management practices that promote and provide clean air, clean water and wildlife habitat. The USDA aim to support the profitability of farmers and ranchers, developing markets that reward them for carbon sequestration and eliminating greenhouse gases.
Vilsack concluded by stating that: “We have some serious challenges and many opportunities to pursue here at the USDA. I am looking forward to working with the dedicated employees of the USDA and all the departments to fulfill President Obama’s desire of effecting change, promoting a stronger, more vibrant and more economically viable royal America”.
Joy Phumaphi, Vice President for Human Development at the World Bank, says that while economic improvements in poorer countries have been made, the global financial crisis puts those improvements in danger. (0:31)
The economic crisis has led to 100 million more people starving worldwide according to David Beckman, President of the Bread for the World Institute. In addition to that, Joy Phumahi, Vice President for Human Development at the World Bank said that 44 million more people are suffering from malnutrition as a result of the worldwide financial crisis.
At a presentation held by the Bread for the World Institute, Phumaphi said “all countries are in harm’s way.” In order to try and help global poverty and hunger, Phumaphi felt the U.S. must financially assist in improving health, agriculture, and infrastructure. She also stated that the U.S. must invest in better education abroad. Phumaphi noted that children leaving school as a result of the financial crisis “rarely return to the classroom.” She did acknowledge that there had been positives in poverty globally, especially in Africa, but this crisis had left those improvements “at risk.”
Ken Hackett, President of Catholic Relief Services, said that any foreign assistance should be done in the interest of the poor. He also claimed that foreign assistance has become too “fragmented,” and collaboration should be a priority in improving foreign assistance. He also felt it is “critical” that civil society agencies be used to help assist government in providing relief to poverty-stricken communities globally.
In a report released by the Bread for the World Institute, the institute states U.S. foreign assistance reform should include specific goals of poverty reduction worldwide, partnerships with countries receiving assistance to meet long-term goals, and closer coordination with other international donors worldwide.
Robert Greenstein, Founder and Executive Director of the research organization The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said that based on unemployment predictions, the amount of people living in poverty may rise by 10.3 million. (0:18)
Robert Greenstein, Founder and Executive Director of the research organization The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, announced the center’s predictions on the recent economic crisis’ impact on poverty in the U.S.
“With unemployment projected to reach 9%, the number of people in poverty will rise by between 7.5 and 10.3 million. The number of poor children will increase by between 2.6 and 3.3 million,” said Greenstein during a telephone conference.
The center also predicted an increase in 4.5-6.3 million of those within “deep” poverty, wherein people live below half of the poverty line, marked at around 8,300 dollars a year for a family of three.
“The number of children living in deep poverty will rise between 1.5 and 2 million,” said Greenstein.
Greenstein warned that the center’s predictions may be too hopeful since the economic safety nets provided in previous recessions for the very poorest citizens have been eroded as a result of massive cuts in unemployment insurance and other assistance programs.
According to Greenstein, there are several steps that policy makers can take to mitigate these predictions.
“Helping struggling families is among the most effective stimulus measures that can be taken on a dollar for dollar basis because it [puts] resources in the hands of people who are most likely to spend all of those resources rather than saving them,” said Greenstein.
Gawain Kripke, Spokesman for Oxfam America, says his organization held a rally today because they feel it is important for world leaders to recognize global poverty at this weekend’s G-20 financial crisis summit. (0:23)
Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) said that New York’s difficult cuts will leave public services suffering. “It’s important for the federal government to step in across the country and address legitimate needs for state governments,” Rep. King said. According to King, programs such as Medicaid, a healthcare program helping low-income familie and individuals, will experience severe damage from additional cuts, which in the end affects people in need of healthcare. King highlighted the importance of protecting and expand the economic relief packages since he expects poverty to increase.
King also claims that the infrastructure, such as employment and general business activity in New York will also be negatively affected because of budget cuts. King also highlighted the importance of the second economic stimulus legislation in the U.S. Congress to go forward, as this will help New York and the rest of the nation to a better economy.
This morning Senator Bill Frist (R – TN) moderated a panel entitled “American Leadership on Global Health” at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The discussion was hosted by ONE.org and focused on the progress made since President Bush approved PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which nearly quadrupled aid to African nations.
One panel member said that while a large number of people are being treated, more are being infected. Everyone was in agreement that the focus needed to be on education for prevention purposes or else treatment would not matter. One mark of success is the expanded focus on other diseases affecting poor nations throughout Africa.
The need for more money to help ailing African countries was also discussed. Syndicated columnist Michael Gerson said, “Americans will be extremely generous when they feel they have an impact.” Sally Canfield, senior program officer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation emphasized the importance of contributions from the government as well as the private sector in order to have a successful fight against issues facing poor countries.
The group also discussed the Millennium Challenge Corporation. They discussed the continued need of MCC to challenge some of the poorest countries to work toward their own prosperity. Resources are currently being dispersed among the countries that have reached certain benchmarks, such as passing women’s rights legislation.
The consensus of the panel was that only phase 1 had been completed and it was time to move to the next stage of expanding knowledge and “not creating an Africa that is dependent on US aid, but creating an Africa that is healthy enough to focus on prosperity in business.”
