Tag: Obama

Obama's Global Health Initiative

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Though PEPFAR under Bush certainly made progress in the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, it is important to remember that epidemics such as these do not exist in a vacuum.  Rather, the cycle of poverty and illness is one that is self-sustaining, and aid efforts must focus relief on both sides of the equation.

The Obama administration has recognized this and developed something called the Global Health Initiative, which “adopts a more integrated approach to fighting diseases, improving health, and strengthening health systems.”  Obama’s 2010 budget brings continued awareness to broader global health issues such as child and maternal health, family planning, neglected tropical diseases, and HIV/AIDS.

Obama’s statement says, “the budget invests $63 billion cumulatively over six years (2009-2014) for global health programs. PEPFAR… will constitute more than 70 percent of global health funding.”

It seems that Bush’s plans neglected an important part of global health and poverty: family planning.  Family planning is a difficult topic in much of Africa, where a man’s wealth is measured partly by the size of his family.

Condoms are associated with STDs and with infidelity, so they are very rarely used within a marriage for family planning. Other family planning techniques, such as birth control pills and contraceptive injections, are being promoted.

Another issue that must be addressed is that there is also still some opposition within African governments to the family planning measures.

It is absolutely vital to look at the AIDS crisis in the greater sphere of global health.  Hopefully policymakers will continue to take this into consideration when they decide how aid money is spent.

Porche, a Furman student, with an AIDS orphan during Furman's study abroad program to Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana.
Porche Warren, a Furman student, with an AIDS orphan in Namibia. (Photo taken by Liz Lineback.)

Listen Listen to an interview with a Furman student about her own experiences learning about AIDS while in Africa.

View a slideshow of images showing materials brought back from Porche’s trip to Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana.


PEPFAR's Future Plans

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Though they were not the biggest focus under the Bush administration, condom programs are vital to the AIDS prevention efforts of PEPFAR.
Though they were not the biggest focus under the Bush administration, condom programs are vital to the AIDS prevention efforts of PEPFAR. (All photos taken by Liz Lineback.)

My last few posts have focused on PEPFAR’s past, for it is vital to understand an initiative’s history before realizing its next steps.  It is only through analyzing strengths and weaknesses that policymakers can create the best plan for the future.  Thus, PEPFAR was reauthorized by Congress in July 2008 to provide $48 billion in funds from FY 2009 to FY 2013.

According to the PEPFAR website, “as PEPFAR works to build upon its successes, it will focus on transitioning from an emergency response to promoting sustainable country programs.”

The goals for PEPFAR’s future are as follows:

  • Transition from an emergency response to promotion of sustainable country programs.
  • Strengthen partner government capacity to lead the response to this epidemic and other health demands.
  • Expand prevention, care, and treatment in both concentrated and generalized epidemics.
  • Integrate and coordinate HIV/AIDS programs with broader global health and development programs to maximize impact on health systems.

While these goals are lofty, these trying economics times are making foreign aid promises harder and harder to keep.  Furthermore, limited funding is creating rifts between those who think the focus should be on prevention and those who want to focus on treatment.

Some claim, “while treatment of HIV/AIDS has gained funding support, funding of prevention has lagged behind.”  Bill Gates, founder of the philanthropic Gates Foundation, said, “The harsh mathematics of this epidemic prove that prevention is essential to expanding treatment, and that stressing treatment without paying adequate attention to prevention is simply unsustainable.”

While distribution of funds is never an uncomplicated task, it is certainly an important one for Obama to keep in mind as PEPFAR progresses.  In my next post I will update you on more of Obama’s developments.

HOMESTAR program to encourage more "green" homes in US

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Installing energy efficient products such as windows, lighting, water heaters, and other Energy Star products could be covered by the HOMESTAR program.
Installing energy efficient products such as windows, lighting, water heaters, and other Energy Star products could be covered by the HOMESTAR program.

In my last few blogs, I have shared with you the ins and outs of the Copenhagen Summit, and what the changes might mean for Europeans and Americans.  Now, President Obama has unveiled a new way to encourage Americans to make their homes more “green” while helping to put Americans back to work.

At the beginning of this month, Obama was in Savannah, Georgia to discuss a new program, called the HOMESTAR program.  HOMESTAR would give rebates to consumers who made changes to their homes to make them more energy efficient.  Here is what the program would do:

  • Give rebates directly to the consumers in two tiers
  • Tier 1: Silver Star Rebates of $1000-$1500 for projects such as insulation, duct sealing, water heaters, HVAC units, windows, roofing and doors
  • Tier 2: Gold Star Rebates of up to $3000 for performing a “home energy audit” and then making necessary improvements to reduce energy use by 20%
  • provide financing options for repairs

This program would offer new jobs for contractors, small businesses, and construction companies.  Plus, some of the energy efficient housing parts, such as windows, are manufactured here in the US.

The Obama Administration hopes that this program will be as successful as last year’s Cash For Clunkers— another program that gave money for living a more sustainable lifestyle.  Like HOMESTAR, the Cash For Clunkers program also helped to stimulate the economy by encouraging Americans to buy a car with a better fuel efficiency.

If you are interested in learning more about the HOMESTAR program, check out the White House Webpage.

Sources:

White House Blog, WYFF

Photo Sources:

Water Heater, Energy Star logo

Nuclear Power as a solution?

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Nuclear Power will receive $8 billion in federal guarantees
Nuclear Power will receive $8 billion in federal guarantees

In the wake of the 2009 U.N. Climate Change Conference, the United States begins to look toward its promises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. To combat the rising rate of U.S. emissions and introduce new clean energy plans, President Barack Obama has granted over $8 billion in federal loans to go toward the construction of nuclear power plants in the United States. While this decision has been criticized by proponents of more renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, Obama stands his ground that “nuclear energy remains our largest source of fuel that provides no carbon emissions.”

power-reactors-map-sm copy

The idea of nuclear power as an alternative energy source is not unheard of especially when looking on the international map. France supplies nearly 80% of their energy consumption through nuclear power, far greater than the 20% supplied by U.S. reactors. The Obama Administration hopes that the two new proposed reactors in Georgia will aid in the promise made at the Copenhagen Conference of reducing carbon emissions to 17% lower than they were in 2005. The construction will mark the first nuclear power plants in the U.S. in over 30 years.

If the United States is to be an integral global actor in the switch to more stable and reliable energy, then the introduction of nuclear power demonstrates a proactive approach to the encroaching global climate and energy issues.

Tensions Rise Over Dalai Lama Meeting

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Source: Britannica
Source: Britannica

The White House announced yesterday that President Obama will meet with the Dalai Lama on February 18th.  Among other recent controversies, this is the latest in line to further sour the rocky relations between China and the United States. 

 

Ma Zhaoxu, Foreign Ministry spokesmanfor China, responded quickly, “We urge the U.S. side to fully understand the high sensitivity of Tibet-related issues, honor its commitment to recognizing Tibet as part of China and opposing ‘Tibet independence.’”

 

You may recall that the “Tibet issue” received a large amount of attention during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  But, you might not know why the protests were occurring.  While it is impossible to fully explain the reasoning behind the protest of the Dalai Lama meeting in one post, here are a few points to consider:

 

  • The origin of the controversy is the “17-Point Agreement”

 

  • China claims the “17-Point Agreement” signed by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1951 is proof that the Chinese have sovereignty over Tibet

 

  • Other sources indicate that the Tibetan government was independent until 1951 and that the “17-Point Agreement” was signed under duress and is therefore not valid

 

  • China argues that their influence has reformed and improved Tibet, specifically economically and in terms of human rights

 

  • The Dalai Lama’s director of information, Thubten Samphel, asserts that the PLA is responsible for over 80,000 Tibetan deaths between 1952 and 1958

 

  • More recently, the March 2008 protest in Tibet was in regards to “widespread mistreatment of the Tibetan population and a denial of religious and political freedom.” 

 

The rift between China and Tibet runs deep and it can only be inferred that a meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama will not bode well for US-China relations.  The only question left to consider is “How will the impact manifest itself for the United States and for Tibet?”

The Role of the US in the African HIV/AIDS Crisis

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Namibian orphans, some of whose parents fell victim to AIDS, with their caretaker Meme Maria.
Namibian orphans, some of whose parents fell victim to AIDS, with their caretaker Meme Maria.

My goal is to explore US involvement in alleviating the HIV/AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa.  While participating in a ten-week study abroad program to Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana, I learned first-hand how these countries were affected by AIDS.  My focus will be the efforts of government programs (such as PEPFAR and USAID) to address the crisis, and I will compare the policy changes of these programs with the administration change from Bush to Obama. I will assess the dispensation of monetary aid as well as the success of any relief programs being administered in Africa.  I will reference the websites of the programs and assess news articles critiquing the effectiveness of each. I will also interview Furman faculty who have intimate knowledge of this subject.