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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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G8 Pledges $20B for Farmers in Poor Countries

In pushing for funds, Obama cites father's experience

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(Newser) – On the last day of a G8 summit stymied on climate change and trade, leaders have pledged $20 billion to farms in poor countries in the fight hunger, Reuters reports. Some $3.5 billion will come from the US, which wants to focus on farm aid instead of food aid. “There is no reason Africa should not be self-sufficient when it comes to food,” said President Obama.

In his call for the funds, Obama invoked his father, the AP reports. “The telling point is when my father traveled to the United States from Kenya to study,” he said. “The per capita income of Kenya was higher than South Korea's." Today, South Korea has industrialized and is holding its own, while his relatives live in Kenyan villages "where hunger is real."

U.S. President Barack Obama, front left, greets Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, left, and Nigeria's President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua during a group photo at the G8 summit.
U.S. President Barack Obama, front left, greets Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, left, and Nigeria's President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua during a group photo at the G8 summit.   (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, gestures while speaking with U.S. President Barack Obama during a group photo at the G8 summit in L'Aquila today.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, gestures while speaking with U.S. President Barack Obama during a group photo at the G8 summit in L'Aquila today.   (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
President Barack Obama speaks at a press conference at the end of the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy, Friday, July 10, 2009.
President Barack Obama speaks at a press conference at the end of the G8 Summit in L'Aquila, Italy, Friday, July 10, 2009.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
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5 comments
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JonmarkP
Jul 10, 09 10:45 AM CDT
You mean like Alabama and Mississippi? Reply
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newzjunkie
Jul 10, 09 10:53 AM CDT
JP, agreed. How about helping the US farmers? Reply
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+1
Jojo
Jul 10, 09 11:48 AM CDT
This is getting ridiculous, over the last decade there has been so many billions of dollars pumped into Africa and there is NOTHING to show for it. Until something is done to get rid of the crooks in the government there, we are just throwing our money away. Just with the money donated over the last 10 years, there should NOT be an issue with no water or dirty water at all. Water treatment plants and pipes to all areas could have been bought and paid for, but that's not the case - because of their crooked politicians there. Reply
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
ClingingToHope
Jul 10, 09 12:05 PM CDT
Don't let Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson hear you!
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IN RESPONSE:
Mr.C
Jul 10, 09 4:19 PM CDT
There is actually a lot to show for it -read on. When the US first started giving aid to Africa it was given to governments and not monitored or controlled. In those cases (many years) the money has been wasted; some vanished through corruption, some through short-term/one-time assistance. Then came PEPFAR. It was a first in that it changed how the money was distributed. Much of it went to US and international Aid organizations working in Africa. There were allotted amounts for how everything should be spent. We have seen Malaria reduced as much as 90% in some countries, anti-virus treatment, AIDs prevention, millions more enrolled in school. And this is just since 2003. Click a country to see what is going on: http://www.pepfar.gov/countries/index.htm Then, I challenge you to name me 5 "crooked politicians there."
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