LTE June 4

Cedar Rapids Gazette:
Forming New Department Could Help End Poverty
I would like to thank the Gazette for recent coverage of the global food crisis. Experts estimate the rise in food prices may drive 100 million people deeper into poverty. The problem is not a lack of food, but a lack of political will to ensure people do not go hungry.

Immediate relief is necessary, but will not address the underlying causes of global food instability. While the U.S. publicly states a commitment to helping poor countries, our policies frequently conflict with the achievement of those goals. For example, we deliver hundreds of millions of dollars of food aid every year, but mandate that the food must be purchased from subsidized U.S. agribusiness and shipped on U.S. vessels. For every dollar we spend on food aid, 65 cents is spent on shipping and other processing costs.

Foreign aid must be clearly focused on bettering the lives of poor people. Programs should be held accountable for demonstrating clear, measurable results in health, education and economic opportunity in the lives of the poorest — those living on less than a dollar a day.

As a RESULTS (advocacy organization committed to ending hunger and poverty) volunteer, I support a cabinet-level Department of Global Development which could help create the opportunity for such reforms. With the support of Congress, it should be a priority for the next administration to work efficiently and effectively toward the end of poverty.

Diane John-Smith
Marion, IA 52302