living proof

From livingproofproject.org:

Investments in global health are achieving real, demonstrable results. These investments are saving lives, preventing and curing disease, and helping people to escape from poverty.

The Living Proof Project is a multimedia initiative intended to highlight successes of U.S.-funded global health initiatives. By reporting success stories back to the people who funded them - American taxpayers and their representatives - we hope to reframe the current global health conversation.

At first when I heard about this, I have to admit I was more than a bit skeptical... seeing as my last post exclaimed how "european" I feel, this "Living Proof Project" seemed something like American propaganda: "Ooooh, look at how much money America can spend on foreign aid!" If anything, it was just a diversion away from all the typical news of how high our federal budget deficit is, or how much money we spend on war/military each year...

However, last night I saw a talk given by Bill and Melinda Gates about this project, and it was being advertised by the ONE campaign, which I am a member of. Now, just to be clear, the fact that a technology guru was giving the talk wasn't enough on its own to sway me: I'm first a linux fan, and a Mac user, and lastly I have to support Windows because it's my job.

But after watching/hearing what the Gates' had to say, I felt something pretty unusual... I actually felt a little bit better about being American! And sadly, if I understood what they were saying correctly, even though America only gives about 1% of our federal budget to foreign aid (and only about .22% goes to Global Health initiatives, like vaccines/medication), that is still more than what Europe gives. As the wealthiest nation, the USA has stepped up its foreign aid, and that has been followed by increased giving in other "first world" countries. So at least that is something.

More importantly, I did grow to appreciate that even with as little as we do give to Global Health issues, an impact is being made, as the video above summarizes.