Americans recognize that our security and prosperity depend on having stable global partners, able to contribute to solving shared problems. Americans also know that our influence in the world and our ability to rally peoples and nations around common challenges rests in large measure on our reputation as a beacon of humanity and human dignity.
We saw our common humanity in action earlier this year when nearly half of American households contributed to the Haiti earthquake response. In fact, more people gave money to Haiti relief efforts this year than watched the Super Bowl.
American rescue and response teams, backed by USAID, were in Haiti just hours after the devastating earthquake, lifting survivors from the rubble. They were among the first to respond to deadly earthquakes in Turkey and Taiwan, and to a devastating tsunami in Thailand. And most recently, they were the first to arrive in Pakistan assisting the millions displaced by devastating floods.
These disaster response teams represent America at its best, projecting the true character of our country to nations in their hour of need.
Heroic efforts on behalf of the American people play out every day in countries around the world. America's emergency response efforts complement a long-term development agenda that supports developing nations as they grow their way out of poverty.
Administrations of both political parties have supported these efforts, even in difficult economic times, because we recognize that it is both the right thing to do, and the smart and strategic thing to do. That is why United States emergency aid is stamped with the phrase "from the American people" in local languages. The logo of the U.S. Agency for International Development is an image of a handshake, and it has become known around the world as a sign of partnership and promise. I am enormously proud whenever I visit a health clinic, school or refugee camp and see that handshake in action.
Displaying our logo is also a matter of transparency. We believe that people in Haiti, Pakistan and elsewhere have a right to know where their assistance is coming from. And American taxpayers have a right to know where their dollars are going. International aid operations can be complex, with many organizations, local officials and donor nations working together. Transparency helps reduce the chances that funds and supplies are misdirected or misused.
We recognize that in certain geographic areas this policy can create risks and challenges for courageous aid workers operating under already difficult circumstances, including some from non-governmental organizations and charities that do not have the resources or protection of official government agencies.
That is why we carefully tailor our decisions on where and how much to label aid to the risks in any given area. We closely monitor evidence of security threats and, when necessary for the safety of workers, provide waivers that allow them to distribute unlabeled aid. We do this in the most dangerous areas of Pakistan.
When we place our name on the supplies we send, we are sending a public message that we believe in a bright future for places facing great challenges today. We are on the ground with our sleeves rolled up, working as friends and partners, because we see the promise and possibilities that future holds.
The Obama Administration is committed to the safety of our partners in the aid community. At the same time, we need to be honest and transparent about America's commitments, for our people's sake and theirs. Wherever possible, we will extend our hand openly and confidently and label our assistance, "From the American People."
Dr. Rajiv Shah is the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.
Follow Dr. Rajiv Shah on Twitter: www.twitter.com/USAID
This guy is an ex-Monsanto employee with STRONG ties to the financial outcome of Monsanto.
This is nothing but a propaganda ploy by Monsanto's far reaching arm into the control of US food.
- Rajiv Shah was the agricultural programs director for the explicitly pro-biotech Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is on the board of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). AGRA and the Gates Foundation have been criticized for working closely with Monsanto and its non-profit research arm, the Danforth Center, and promoting GMOs.
Rajiv Shah, Obama's head of USAID, worked for USDA, is connected to Monsanto and the spread of GMOs and has connection with the defunct Prodigene and their pharm-seeds and may be promoting the interests of Monsanto and Prodigene as USAID's head. Monsanto has given corn seeds to Black Haiti under USAD's Rajiv Shah reign, his connections to Monsanto and Prodigene, spermicidal-corn is relevant to know. Also relevant to know, in light of US food aid and US food dumping in Haiti and especially in light of Monsanto's gift of corn and other hybrid seeds to Haiti is the connection of US corn in Black Africa to increased HIV rate. That US corn consumption is now being linked to HIV infection rates in Black Africa.
There is massive vaccination in Haiti after the 2004 Bush regime change. And we know that the World Health Organization (WHO) has been known to carry out vaccination programs with tetanus shots laced with an abortion agent and given only to Black and brown women of child bearing age.
In the rush to control, dominate and own food, lands, water, resources and all life - US-supported monopolistic companies like Dow Chemical and Monsanto, their business banking cohorts and governmental allies and institutions (WB/IMF/USAID/NGOs/UN) helped launched unregulated genetically modified plants and animals that are now being consumed worldwide and not just the unwitting and lied-to US public.
http://open.salon.com/blog/ezili_danto/2010/07/10/who_is_rajiv_shah_what_are_haiti_concerns_about_shahusaid
Few hours after the devastating earthquake, survivors from the first world countries were seen being lifted from the rubble by rescue and response teams while impoverished Haitians were left to fend for themselves using rudimentary tools to lift their friends, families, and neighbors from the rubble.
As Jean-Baptiste said earlier this year, "We need to establish seed banks and have silos where we can store our Creole seeds. Local, organic seeds are the basis of food sovereignty. … It’s urgent that Haitians buy local seeds. ... What's the danger we face today? It’s that food aid from USAID (Monsanto GMO) and others is getting dumped in the country."
The UN even went to Haiti. Were they successful in fighting crime, stopping the drugs? Well, not really.
How about all these new aid entities, what have they truly accomplished? Or, is it a lot of people keeping themselves employed, never quite helping the Haitians to the point of self-sufficiency, because that would put them out of business with no one to render aid to? Always question the motive of 'help'. If it's honest, and sincere, that's one thing, but if there's strings attached...well...
On the campaign trail. Oh well.
There was some guy making a comment last week on a HuffPo thread, and generally he was ready to sally forth into Congo with the UN, on account the UN was apparently considering visiting themselves on that country again or something. You kind of wonder how smart some of the government people really are(n't)?
You write this & post on October 22nd, 2010, 9-months after the "quake", in the midst of a CHOLERA OUTBREAK?
What utter nonsense!
There is a lot of suffering and poverty around the world, but in Haiti suffering is manufactured and poverty is a cash crop. The A.I.D. like the D.I.A. has its political agenda for Haiti, and until that is satisfied Haitians can sit in the mud, because neither war nor disaster can change the American desire to influence events beyond its own borders.
For US policy the earthquake in Haiti and the flooding in Pakistan were fortuitous events. It crushed the ability of Aristide's associates to regroup, and it destroyed the Taliban/Pakistan supply routes. For those in the bowels of State and Defense departments these events could not have been more welcome...you could even say these catastrophes 'saved' lives.
It is nice that Americans care about the survival of others....too bad many of the disasters begin before the earth shakes and the water rises.
Insofar as Americans trying to influence stuff beyond our borders, I think that's a habit we can break.
There's 198 other countries in the world, they all presumably have some money, if you can set it up so that first, you're dealing with a reputable accounting firm capable of providing oversight of any/all aid monies, and figure out how you're going to help, and what's needed, and what's really NOT needed, and develop a good plan of action and so forth, maybe YOU can take that whole business to the UN, and hit them up for some money. But, don't they get their money from the US, to begin with? Who else supports the UN financially, besides the US?
Or, or, maybe you just need to get on a plane, go to Haiti, and volunteer your services for free, for a year, help dig ditches, help fix plumbing, help build homes, that kind of thing, if you have any such expertise. If you're just helping, for free, no money involved, then your efforts go directly towards accomplishing your goal, yes? The rest is money-hype, I think.
You asked: Who else supports the UN financially, besides the US?
Plenty of OTHER countries support the United Nations by Assessment & Voluntarily. 7 of the Top Ten Contributors are G-8 Nations with the exception of Russia. Assessment is based on GDI (Gross Domestic Income), therefore, NATURALLY because the USA is the largest economy in the World, the USA is assessed at a greater rate. Next behind the USA is Japan (the second biggest economy until just recently China has overtaken them), but ALL of the G-7contribute.
The TOP 10 donors to the United Nations are:
USA
JAPAN
GERMANY
UK
FRANCE
ITALY
CANADA
SPAIN
CHINA
MEXICO
So, BIGGER INCOME per capita= BIGGER ASSESSMENT makes sense to me.
I'm tired of people thinking the USA is the "only guy on the block".
Info under title: "Funding" at this site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations#Funding
Though it is good to hear about USAID's efforts in Pakistan, it would be prudent for the United States and other prosperous nations to forgive Pakistan's debt, which is crippling their own ability to respond to this flood and their other national issues effectively.
Northwestern University students responded by organizing a three week initiative to raise money and awareness about the floods, and raised over 17,000 dollars. Check it out http://nustandswithpakistan.wordpress.com
http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/countries/americas/haiti/index.cfm
All of these problems, INCLUDING CHOLERA were predictable. Is there no significant supply of the WHO packets of rehydration salts in the country? If there is a supply, but there is no clean water in which to dissolve them, more people will just become more ill.
The caveat always attached that no incidence of cholera "has been reported in Haiti for decades" is meaningless. What indication is there that the health system in Haiti was capable or motivated to detect and report cholera for decades?
After the heroic efforts of the US Military to offer immediate, life-saving aid to quake victims, the aid delivered by already cited agencies, including yours, has been pathetic. Whatever obstacles may have been presented by the corrupt government of Haiti should have long since been resolved.
The deaths of Haitian civil servants and UN agency employees should have been overcome by now. Ten months later, those excuses just don't cut it. Shame on all of you.