Pushing Bill Gates’ Easy Button

Bill and Melinda Gates, January 2014, newsletter listed myths and facts that block progress for poor people.

Myth 1: Poor countries are doomed to stay poor.

Fact: Bill said, “Most countries were poor when I was born and that has gotten better. By 2035 there will be almost no poor countries left in the world.”

Myth 2: Saving children’s lives will lead to overpopulation.

Fact: When the child mortality rate decreases the number of children women chose to have decreases. Countries with the highest death rates also have the highest birth rates. Melinda said, “When more children survive, parents have smaller families.”

Myth 3: Aid is a big waste

Fact: America gives only 1% of its budget to foreign aid a year. Norway gives the most—3%. That's just $30 per U.S. citizen a day given away to fund programs in other countries. “Most of those programs,” says Gates, “go to keeping people alive, and do it very cheaply.” Measles vaccinations, eradicating smallpox, controlling tuberculosis in China and a plan to eliminate polio in Latin America are all public health efforts achieved with aid funding.

Today’s gift was to click on www.TheHungerSite.com. By clicking once per day, food is provided for hungry people around the world. By displaying ads from website sponsors, 100% of the advertisers money goes to charity partners. Today's total clicks funded the value of 82,868 cups of food. Last year, 52.8 million cups of food were provided. I pushed the easy button and joined Bill and Melinda Gates to feed the hungry.

In Giving,

Robin