Originally posted by slimjimThis is not about individuals giving charity, but about world governments
You fail to count the billions that American send to charitable organizations.
honouring the 0.7% agreement that all the major nations of UN signed on. If
all countries honoured this percentage of their GNI, all the poverty and
starvation in the world (believe it or not) would be more or less a problem of
the past. Some countries honour this agreement more than others.
I still haven't found out how the money is actually spent. Does anyone
know?
Originally posted by PinkFloydGive the masses 'real' democracy for a week, and I bet they'll give it back, once they realize how much work it entails.
I WISH the USA was a democracy--sadly we are a fake democracy. We're a republic, and that ain't no democracy; it's a bunch of rich guys running things and making sure the masses do NOT get a real democracy of "one person, one vote, majority rules".
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Originally posted by FMFIndeed, slimjim. I also failed to count the amount of second hand clothing that Spaniards donate to jumble sales.
USA gives the least in comparison to its GDP out of all developed countries. It's an embarrassment.
Originally posted by slimjim
You fail to count the billions that American send to charitable organizations.
Originally posted by SwissGambitI am sure the masses appreciate the effort others are taking on their behalf. Though if you feel 'real' democracy is a dream why just stop there?
Give the masses 'real' democracy for a week, and I bet they'll give it back, once they realize how much work it entails.
Why not act against the best interests of most of the masses and commie style, call it the will of the faithful. I mean if people cant be trusted to make a democracy work, why trust people at all. Detain them without trial, have laws to limit what they can say or who they can prosecute...
But I am sure I am talking of someplace else..
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Originally posted by AThousandYoungBut not impressive enough. They've calculated that if every one of the 22
Our numbers aren't that impressive per capita even if you do count that money in. Our absolute numbers...those are quite impressive.
countries whom has agreed to this joint effort gave their 0.7%, it would
raise the 135 billion USD required per year to put an end to world poverty
once and for all (that also means an end to starvation and a lot of
diseases caused by starvation), and give the third world countries the
means to build a strong infrastructure of their own (good schools,
hospitals, law inforcement and so on).
Slimjim? The reason that the governments have pledged to do this is
because it's impossible for charity organisations and private donators to
1) raise that kind of money, and 2) put pressure on less democratic
countries to make sure that the money is used for the intended
purposes. They just don't have that kind of power. But the joint efforts of
UN nations does.
What this agreement means to average Joe is that for every hundred
USD he makes, 70 cents is used to honour the 0.7% agreement. There
will be no need to donate anything to help organisations for third world
countries (because that's the very problem this agreement attempts to
solve), and he'll know that the 70 cents per 100 USD actually goes to the
intended purpose.
Well, that's the idea at least. To me, 70 cents out of each 100 USD I
make is not much to argue about, if indeed it helps solve the biggest
problem mankind face today.
(And no, I'm not a salesman for the cause.) 😕
Originally posted by JigtieWhat's this 0.7%? I must be ignorant of some treaty. What's it called?
But not impressive enough. They've calculated that if every one of the 22
countries whom has agreed to this joint effort gave their 0.7%, it would
raise the 135 billion USD required per year to put an end to world poverty
once and for all (that also means an end to starvation and a lot of
diseases caused by starvation), and give the third world countr ...[text shortened]... st
problem mankind face today.
(And no, I'm not a salesman for the cause.) 😕
Originally posted by AThousandYoungIndeed. Here's a little snippet that sheds a bit of light on U.S. overseas aid. After the tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia, the U.S.A. pledged US$857,053,948but actually only gave US$337,623,901, which is only 39% of the sum committed. I notice that the US$857,053,948 figure continues to be the "amount donated" and thus looks great when you calculate how close to your 0.7% of GNP you've managed to get, whereas the "amount received" is and continues to be only 39% of what the U.S. pats itself on the back for.
Our numbers aren't that impressive ...
Originally posted by FMFWho calculated how much was actually given? I'd like to look into this.
Indeed. Here's a little snippet that sheds a bit of light on U.S. overseas aid. After the tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia, the U.S.A. pledged US$857,053,948but actually only gave US$337,623,901, which is only 39% of the sum committed. I notice that the US$857,053,948 figure continues to be the "amount donated" and thus looks great when you calculate how close to you ...[text shortened]... nt received" is and continues to be only 39% of what the U.S. pats itself on the back for.
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Originally posted by AThousandYoungI have here a hard copy of a government document that I was translating for an organization that is part of the BRR consortium (State Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Board) for Aceh, North Sumatera and Nias, as well as a knowledge management adviser to the WB.
Who calculated how much was actually given? I'd like to look into this.
There are worse offenders than the U.S.A. and there are some who did better. But "100%" is not a figure that crops up very often. In fact, these numbers are very interesting... how much and how little certain countries pledged!! The U.S.A.'s pledge was huge! Take a look at these:
Australia.............162,084,962.......117,380,083.......72%
Canada..............168,302,267.......25,387,348.......15%
China .................12,494,958 .......9,094,958 .......73%
EC......................62,897,982 ....... 46,340,801.......74%
Germany ..........355,251,699.......207,887,926....... 59%
India ................... 123,457 ...............61,728.......50%
Italy.................15,046,104.......... 11,542,365 .......77%
Japan ....... ....136,792,133.........105,980,740 .......77%
Spain...............20,190,660.............9,671,133.......48%
Sweden..............7,325,513.............6,498,778.......89%
Switzerland.......51,121,038..........40,119,145.......78%
UK..................177,983,798.......134,729,634.......76%
UN..................444,314,838.......242,938,765.......55%
USA ...............857,053,948.......337,623,901.......39%
WB...................52,243,055.........50,382,946.......96%
These countries all delivered 100% of what they pledged:
Taiwan, Turkey, Romania, Poland , Belgium
but they only gave small amounts, apart from Turkey which gave 20 million and Taiwan which gave 4 million.
Hungary and Mexico delivered 0% of what they pledged.
Countries whose % was similar to the USA were:
Norway, Pakistan, Korea, Ireland, Czech Republic
Here are a few genuine er...'underachievers':
Bangladesh..................................9,325,000.......390,000.....4%
Saudi Arabia...............................19,235,536....1,463,968.....8%
Canada....................................168,302,267...25,387,348...15%
IDB (Islamic Development Bank)...3,000,000......810,000......27%
Singapore.................................18,031,372.....3,776,330.....21%
ADB (Asian Development Bank)...31,972,000....14,746,767....46%
Grand Total.........3,469,411,564........1,786,902,939.......52%
Source: RANDatabase, 25 September 2007
