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As part of a global climate change deal to be agreed in Copenhagen in December, the rich world is being asked to come up with billions of pounds to help developing countries cope with global warming. The money would be spent on helping poor countries adapt to increased risk of flooding and droughts. Next week world leaders will meet at a UN Summit in New York to discuss where the money will come from and how much should be put aside. However - aid agencies are becoming increasingly concerned that the money will be diverted from existing funds to help countries deal with poverty, child malnutrition, Aids and other issues. A new Oxfam report has warned that at least 4.5 million children could die, more than 75 million fewer children are likely to attend school and 8.6 million fewer people could have access to HIV/Aids treatment if aid is diverted to help poor countries tackle climate change. When a story like this pops up, I'm left sitting here baffled. I don't generally do a lot of commentary on articles, but I wanted to make a clear point here. Let me put it to you like this : SAVE THE PLANET! Save the planet, what do you mean? What I mean is that we, as people, haven't even figured out a way to take care of each other yet - and we have the audacity (or what I like to call "the stupidity") to think moving around some funds (hell, some that may be feeding a starving kid) into something we really cannot control? If any of this sounds familiar, you are right 100%. I'm ripping off my logic from a comedy routine by the late great George Carlin. Have a little watch & listen to this : "Save the Planet". Then tell me if you think people are a "threat" to the planet. You're a fool if you say yes... Be warned though - it's NSFW due to excessive (but utterly hilarious) language. Enjoy  |
Oxfam believe that £30 billion should be made available every year for climate change adaptation in addition to the 0.7 per cent of national income rich countries have already pledged as aid. Barbara Stocking, Chief Execuctive of Oxfam Great Britain, said the money for climate change adaptation must not come out of development funds or millions more people will die. ”Forcing poor countries to choose between life saving drugs for the sick, schooling for their children or themeans to protect themselves against climate change is an unfair burden that will only exacerbate poverty”, she said. “Stealing money from tomorrow’s schools and hospitals to help poor people adapt to climate change is neither a moral nor effective way of rich countries paying their climate debt. Funds must be increased not diverted”, she added. Source : Telegraph UK |
