World is rich enough to help poor, but doesn't (WorldWire)
WorldWire / Mail and Guardian, South Africa | 06.08.2002 03:04
A prominent US economist on Monday blasted the world's wealthiest countries, particularly the United States, for not providing enough assistance to poor nations such as Cambodia.
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World is rich enough to help poor, but doesn't
http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.jsp?a=13&o=6919
Mail and Guardian, South Africa
Phnom Penh
A prominent US economist on Monday blasted the world's wealthiest countries, particularly the United States, for not providing enough assistance to poor nations such as Cambodia.
Jeffrey Sachs, a professor at Harvard University and the director of Columbia University's Earth Institute, said during a two-day visit to Cambodia that rich nations should increase foreign aid by $50-billion.
"The world is rich enough to do it, but doesn't," Sachs told some 400 government officials, foreign diplomats and students during a lecture sponsored by a local think tank. "It would take only two cents of every $10 earned by people in wealthy countries."
Sachs, who advises governments on five continents as well as UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, singled out the United States for criticism, saying it could give "a great deal more."
The economist said the United States spends just one cent out of $100 earned on helping the world's poor fight disease.
The world's economic leaders are partly responsible for "the tragedy which has damaged Southeast Asia during the past 40 years," including the Vietnam War and Cambodia's genocide in the 1970s, Sachs said.
Among the most pressing issues that require help from wealthy nations is the fight against HIV, the virus that causes Aids, he said.
Sachs said Cambodia collects an average of $30 annually in tax revenues from each of its 12-million citizens, which is not enough to fund proper health care or provide for infrastructure and educational needs.
"The only realistic way to bridge the gap is through aid," he said.
At present, Cambodia depends on foreign aid to fund more than half of government expenditure. Last month, international aid donors pledged $635-million in assistance to the country for next year, exceeding last year's annual pledges by about 13%. The biggest donor is Japan. - Sapa-AP
http://www.worldwire.org World is rich enough to help poor, but doesn't
http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.jsp?a=13&o=6919 Mail and Guardian, South Africa
Phnom Penh
A prominent US economist on Monday blasted the world's wealthiest countries, particularly the United States, for not providing enough assistance to poor nations such as Cambodia.
Jeffrey Sachs, a professor at Harvard University and the director of Columbia University's Earth Institute, said during a two-day visit to Cambodia that rich nations should increase foreign aid by $50-billion.
"The world is rich enough to do it, but doesn't," Sachs told some 400 government officials, foreign diplomats and students during a lecture sponsored by a local think tank. "It would take only two cents of every $10 earned by people in wealthy countries."
Sachs, who advises governments on five continents as well as UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, singled out the United States for criticism, saying it could give "a great deal more."
The economist said the United States spends just one cent out of $100 earned on helping the world's poor fight disease.
The world's economic leaders are partly responsible for "the tragedy which has damaged Southeast Asia during the past 40 years," including the Vietnam War and Cambodia's genocide in the 1970s, Sachs said.
Among the most pressing issues that require help from wealthy nations is the fight against HIV, the virus that causes Aids, he said.
Sachs said Cambodia collects an average of $30 annually in tax revenues from each of its 12-million citizens, which is not enough to fund proper health care or provide for infrastructure and educational needs.
"The only realistic way to bridge the gap is through aid," he said.
At present, Cambodia depends on foreign aid to fund more than half of government expenditure. Last month, international aid donors pledged $635-million in assistance to the country for next year, exceeding last year's annual pledges by about 13%. The biggest donor is Japan. - Sapa-AP
WorldWire / Mail and Guardian, South Africa
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