[Engaged] 700,000 Lives Lost ... the Destruction of USAid

[Jundo]

There are times to speak up when our Precepts outweigh politics, and so many lives have been lost.
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Pulitzer-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof joins MS NOW's Lawrence O'Donnell to break down the deadly consequences... “Slowly, children are dying from severe acute malnutrition because these folks in Washington thought it was a game,” Kristof warns.

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No words.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Roo]

"People talk sometimes of bestial cruelty,but that's a great injustice and insult to the beasts; a beast can never be so cruel as a man, so artistically cruel." ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky

Horrible.

Gassho

[Shinshi]

Thank you for sharing this Jundo. My parents did a lot of work in Africa and had many close friends in AID. The ones I met were all really good people doing great work in difficult circumstances. This such a tragedy.

Gassho,

Shinshi

[Seiko]

For anyone outside of the US, who may perhaps not know the impact USAID had, and the extent of suffering caused by it being abolished...

USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) has helped millions globally by providing humanitarian aid, promoting health (vaccines, disease control), fighting famine, fostering economic growth, supporting democracy, and responding to disasters, saving countless lives by tackling poverty-related issues, improving access to clean water, education, and stabilizing fragile regions since its creation in 1961.

Key Areas of Assistance:

• Global Health: Reduced mortality from diseases like HIV, TB, malaria, and polio, provided vaccines, and addressed maternal/child health, saving millions of lives.
• Humanitarian Aid: Delivered food, clean water, and emergency relief during famines and conflicts, supporting survivors of gender-based violence.
• Economic Development: Promoted trade, private sector growth, infrastructure (roads, water systems), and food security.
• Democracy & Stability: Supported democratic reforms and stability in developing nations and post-conflict zones like Ukraine (e.g., prosthetic limbs, mine clearance).
• Education: Funded scholarships, primary/secondary education, and provided educational supplies.

Impact:

• Life-Saving: Directly responsible for saving millions of lives by combating poverty-driven diseases and malnutrition, with some estimates suggesting it saved around 3 million lives annually.
• Broad Reach: Operated in over 130 countries, partnering with local organizations, universities, and other governments.
• Cost-Effective: Managed to provide extensive aid for a small fraction of the U.S. federal budget.

So, my very practical question is, what can we do about it? If we take the "key areas of assistance" - could Treeleafers choose some global charities to support, who work in those spheres? These are - Global Health, Education, Democracy & Stability, Economic Development, Humanitarian Aid. It's good to support charities with relatively low admin & management costs, so that the biggest proportion of any donation benefits the intended recipients.

Does anyone want to suggest likely charities?

Gasshō, Seiko, stlah