What We’re Reading 3/11/10

Mar 11th, 2010 10:55 AM UTC
By Robyn Mitchell

Politico: McCain ‘ONE’ with Africa
Politico highlights longtime philanthropist Cindy McCain’s public appearance on Capitol Hill Wednesday to attend a photo exhibit, hosted by ONE, of her recent trip to Africa. McCain traveled with ONE in January to learn more about the current state of women in Africa along with a number of prominent women, including actress Connie Britton and former White House press secretary Dana Perino. McCain has made frequent trips to Africa, but said she is always shocked to discover more hardship with each visit. Said McCain, “I’ve spent a lot of time in Africa, but it sent back home with me how much more there is to do. That sounds like an understatement. Every time you think you have a grasp on Africa, you don’t.” McCain added that “Without organizations like ONE, we’re going to lose a generation.”

The Hill: Gates warns Obama at risk of falling short on global health pledge
The Hill reports that global philanthropist, Bill Gates, warned that President Barack Obama is in danger of falling short on his pledge to double U.S. foreign aid to alleviate suffering around the globe. The philanthropist emphasized that if Congress did not approve of the president’s $9.6 billion for global health in his fiscal 2011 budget request, it would essentially sink Obama’s pledge to double foreign aid to promote health and development around the world. Gates, however, said global health is an issue he believes can still win bipartisan backing, despite stark political divisions over healthcare reform, the economy and climate-change legislation. Gates maintained that a failure to obtain a modest increase would send a strong signal affecting future funding increases for global health, saying “It makes it almost impossible to get there — not impossible, but almost — if you’re not on a path of increase.”

The Huffington Post: Something New Out of Africa: A Global Player (Op-Ed, Dominique Strauss-Kahn)
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, recounts his recent trip to Africa, where he experienced a new sense of African energy and dynamism unlike ever before. And with World Cup fever just beginning to set in, Strauss-Kahn believes that the close to 10 million people expected to visit South Africa this summer will not only boost the country’s economy and image in the world, but allow South Africa to step out as a true “global player.” Despite continuing challenges, including tackling unemployment, reducing inequality and building a flexible, competitive economy, Strauss-Kahn believes that as a member of the G20, South Africa has come to be seen as much more of an emerging market, with the power to influence how global decisions are shaped. Said the Director, “This is a new role for Africa in the world — and a new way for Africa to be seen by the world.”

The Guardian: Half of all food sent to Somalia is stolen, says UN report
Up to half the food aid meant to feed hundreds of thousands of hungry people in Somalia is being stolen, according to a leaked UN Security Council report. The report, seen by the New York Times, says the food is being diverted to corrupt contractors, radical Islamic militants and local UN workers. It advises the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, to open an independent investigation into the organization’s World Food Program operations in Somalia. According to the Guardian, the losses are blamed on improper food distribution and the country’s war-ravaged infrastructure. A spokesman for the World Food Program, which is based in Rome, said it would not be commenting until it had studied the report.

Scientific American: TB or Not TB?: Novel Detector Could Shorten Testing Times, Aid Treatment Efforts
Scientific American reports that University of Colorado researchers have developed a device for use in the field that can identify both active tuberculosis infection and dormant microbes that could flare up into full-blown illness. This “field friendly” device relies on readily available and relatively low-cost components and can find the lethal pathogen in blood in just 20 minutes. A portable detector would greatly aid efforts to fight the infection in developing countries, particularly parts of Asia and Africa where as much as 40 percent of the population carries the microbe, says Robert Belknap, a physician and TB expert in Colorado. “If it works, it’s truly portable and doesn’t require special conditions, it would be a tremendous advance,” he added.

Mmegi Online (Botswana): IMF working on $100bn ‘green fund’ – Strauss-Kahn
Mmegi reports that The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is “working on the idea of a green fund” to raise $100-billion a year by 2020 to mitigate the impacts of climate change on developing economies. IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn pointed out that developing countries would require large-scale, long-term investments for climate change adaptation and mitigation. And while the IMF was not planning to manage the proposed green fund, it intended for this to make a significant contribution in the global debate and for consideration by the international community. Said Strauss-Kahn, “Africa has contributed little to the carbon emissions that endanger our planet, but Africa is already paying the price. Without action, Africa will suffer more from drought, flooding, food shortages, and disease-possibly provoking further instability and conflict. We must take urgent action.”

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