Posted on 08/21/2002 10:23:19 AM PDT by RCW2001
JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, August 21, 2002
©2002 Associated Press
URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/08/21/national0316EDT0468.DTL
(08-21) 10:05 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --
Looking ahead to the Earth Summit next week, the Bush administration is proposing a nearly $4.5 billion spending plan to help African nations improve their health and environment.
The plan will be presented at the U.N.-sponsored summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, and revolves around the administration's theme that the United States is committed to helping reduce poverty and promoting economic growth in poor countries.
Democrats and environmentalists say it ignores the threat of global climate change and other serious environmental problems.
The U.S. proposal, details of which were outlined to congressional staffers on Tuesday, would provide $3.3 billion over two years for programs to combat infectious diseases. About half of those programs had been approved or announced previously. The money includes funds for Africa and the Caribbean to stem transmission of HIV from mothers to their children.
The proposal also would provide $970 million over the next three years to assure safe drinking water; $90 million next year to African farmers; $60 million for Congo Basin national parks and protected areas; and $42 million to promote rural energy development.
Secretary of State Colin Powell will lead the U.S. delegation to the conference, which is being held to promote means of sustainable development that do minimal harm to the environment.
In a report released to coincide with the summit, the World Bank said Wednesday that participants should agree to act now to ensure that environmental damage and social unrest do not derail expected global economic growth that will reduce poverty.
"Unless the transformation of society and the management of the environment are addressed integrally along with economic growth, growth itself will be jeopardized over the longer term," the bank said in its "World Development 2003," an annual analysis.
The 250-page report focuses on many of the issues concerning the world's poor, which are expected to dominate the 10-day meeting, including clean water, fighting disease, food security, energy and climate change.
Many of the administration's goals -- reducing disease and famine and cultivating energy, clean water and forests -- are similar to a new African development plan endorsed at a Group of Eight summit in Canada in June.
After the hourlong briefing of congressional staffers Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers were quick to criticize the administration's plan for the Earth Summit, saying it does not go far enough in dealing with the problems the international session was designed to address.
"It's testimony to the administration's inaction on global warming that they have to hold a briefing to reveal their smoke and mirrors non-agenda on the most pressing environmental issue facing the world today," said Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.
Kerry, who is expected to seek the Democratic presidential nomination, called the Bush summit agenda a rehash of largely old proposals that ignores one of the most vexing environmental issues facing world leaders -- the threat posed by global climate change.
"This administration proposes nothing new to solve the problem or even jump start American leadership in the dialogue (over climate change)," Kerry said.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Anthony F. Rock led the congressional briefing.
U.S. officials also announced Tuesday the government had sent 190,000 tons of food to drought-stricken southern Africa.
The corn, vegetable oil, bean and soy blend for severely malnourished children was shipped earlier this month, said Andrew Natsios, director of USAID.
It will go to feed the hungry in six countries: Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Swaziland.
The region is in the grip of its worst drought in 10 years, Natsios said. USAID estimated that up to 12.8 million people will need food assistance between now and March, when farmers harvest.
Johannesburg Summit: www.johannesburgsummit.org
World Bank: www.worldbank.org
©2002 Associated Press
Bush is a disgrace to the GOP.
I disagree...Not a disgrace to the GOP...A disgrace to this country. Bush and the congress are stealing borrowed money to throw away on a goody two shoes operation. At the present time we are running a billion dollars a day in the red. Professional politicians all, they care not a whit about this country or it's future.
Post WW 2 is the first period of FA. Not many are going to dispute the positive results associated with that.
The second period of FA is the Cold War. This period was very abusive and out of control. Not to say that were no worthwhile results in this period but we all know that some of that money was nothing more than bribes. But then it was a matter of "competing" with the Soviets.
The post Cold War period was much better in that FA was reduced and insistence on reforms were attached and enforced.
We are now in the post 911 period and FA is going to rise. Although we may be willing to overlook some hanky-panky, we should mainly insist that reforms continue to be attached to aid. To give Bush credit, he initially refused to consider raising FA levels but he lost that battle. It was only at his UN speech in Monterrey that he indicated that he would. He also used that speech/announcement to knock down any suggestion of a UN tax.
Wait 'til you see the criticism from the theives in the third world. No matter what amount the President calls for, to the third worlders, it is not enough. You can see some pimply faced fairy in a London based NGO changing the numbers in his press release to demonstrate that the US contribution is inadequate.
Only 5 billion? Hell, Mugabe's senior staff you consume that in 3 to 6 months. The European theives will take 20% of the gross amount in very tiny chunks, but, it will go into European bank accounts to pay for summer vacation villas in Corfu and not to any needy in Africa.
What about this? There are Agrican diamonds, gold and oil. Why doesn't this wealth, native African wealth, go to help the Africans? Why does the entire third world believe that it is OK that this African wealth goes into the pockets of a group of African individuals and a few international corporations but that America has an obligation to dump some of its wealth down the African sewer.
Where are the African-Americans? Why aren't they helping their African rerlatives. The African Americans were lucky enough to have been rescued and sent to the new world. Shouldn't they have some responsibility for their very less fortunaute tribesmen who were left behind and suffer greatly for it?
I see your point. I think our rulers have passed into insanity. They really believe they can just print money whenever they need more.
This insanity started in 1932, when FDR and the government took in three billion dollars in taxes, and spent ten billion dollars. The race was on, power was the goal, buy with borrowed money, the votes of the masses, and in return you can be among the powerful of the world. Professional politicians, one and all, the ruin of this country. Party makes no difference.
Money here, Money there, Money for every cockeyed, twobit country/cause in this world. Egypt, Haiti, Russia, Brazil, Uraguay, Columbia, Mexico, Pakistan, India just to name a few.
And to top it off this administration treatens to veto any bill that would allow Concurrent Reciept for Retired Disabled American Vets.
Any complaints about us importing our culture along with our aid should be ignored, although reasonable requests regarding dress codes, use of alcohol and/or tobacco, importation and use of pop culture items such as music and videos, movies, etc., should be followed, as much of these that are allowed in America offend most Americans.
No person should be restricted in wearing of anything they wish to wear that symbolizes their religion. If the locals want to wear a hijab or burka, fine. If they don't want to, fine. If anyone wants to wear a crucifix, or a Star of David, or a yarmulke, etc., they should do so. Self- or state-appointed guardians of morals who try to enforce shar'ia or tribal customs on unwilling persons should be shot.
All Americans staffing such enterprises who wish to do so should arm themselves to the teeth, receive training on use of the same, and carry such arms as they choose at all times. American military personnel should be present to secure all sites where such activity is going on.
Hm, that's a start. Anyone else?
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