What We’re Reading 4/22/10

Apr 22nd, 2010 12:00 PM UTC
By Robyn Mitchell

Geithner, Bill Gates to launch agri-fund for poor – U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates plan to launch a new global agriculture fund Thursday to boost food production in the developing world. The fund, supervised by the World Bank, will provide financing to poor countries with high levels of food insecurity and have developed sound agricultural plans to boost crop production. “As we return with renewed vigor and commitment to boosting agricultural development, let’s sustain our focus until the job is done,” said Gates. (Tim Geithner, Bill Gates)

Women farmers key in fight against hunger, need government support – A new report by ActionAid called for major aid donors to increase support for small-scale farms operated by women in developing countries if they are to meet the goal of halving hunger by 2015. Governments in developing countries must also increase their agricultural spending and refocus their policies to support women, if they are going to achieve food and nutritional security. (Charlie Dunmore)

Sanitation for all, but not for another 300 years – A new UN report shows that sanitation is falling behind in the aid stakes, despite the fact diseases spread by poor hygiene are some of the top killers of children in the developing world. Oliver Cumming, health policy officer of Water Aid, argues that our current trajectory has us accomplishing the world’s pledge to halve the number of people without access to decent sanitation in approximate 300 years. With access to sanitation having an array of positive impacts, “Three hundred years is a scandalously long time to wait.” (Sarah Boseley)

Obama needs to follow through on campaign promises for Sudan, says Kristof – While on the campaign trail, Barack Obama insisted that the US apply more pressure on Sudan, however, with Sudanese elections last week hailing Omar Hassan al-Bashir president, Nicholas Kristof has a few choice words for the president: “When a man who has been charged with crimes against humanity tells the world that America is in his pocket, it’s time to review your policy…if President Obama is ever going to find his voice on Sudan, it had better be soon.” To learn more about the recent Sudanese election, browse this report by Save Darfur’s Sean Brooks here (Nicholas Kristof)

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