Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

News

Elon Musk Pledged $6 Billion To Solve World Hunger – The UN Is Calling To Collect

The WFP has outlined its $6.6 billion plan to relieve world hunger.

Photograph: Daniel Oberhaus via Flickr / Pxfuel

Elon Musk claimed he was prepared to donate billions of dollars to end world hunger. Now, the United Nations has called on him to collect, laying out the framework of their plan on social media.

The conversation started with a back and forth between Musk and David Beasley, the director of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) on Twitter. In a tweet, Beasley wrote that if 0.36% of the top 400 US billionaires’ net worth increase in 2020 was made available, the WFP would be able to feed 42 million people across 43 different countries.

Musk responded by saying he would pledge $6 billion to the cause, funding the donation by selling off Tesla stock, as long as the UN ensures “open source accounting, so the public sees precisely how the money is spent.”

Beasley replied that the UN has “systems in place for transparency and open source accounting.”

Beasley replied that the UN has “systems in place for transparency and open source accounting.”

“Transparency and accountability are essential to us and our donors,” he wrote. “WFP’s financial statements, operational plans, audits & annual reports, etc. are all public. We have open books.”

In a follow-up tweet, Beasley posted a link to the WFP’s donation plan, providing a breakdown of how the money given to the organization by billionaires like Musk would be spent.

He added, “This hunger crisis is urgent, unprecedented, AND avoidable. @elonmusk, you asked for a clear plan & open books. Here it is! We’re ready to talk with you – and anyone else – who is serious about saving lives.”

The plan is titled “A one-time appeal to billionaires” and explains $3.5 billion will be spent on food and the cost of delivery. A further $2 billion is to be spent on cash and food vouchers, and $700 million on “country-specific costs to design, scale up and manage the implementation of efficient and effective programmes for millions of tons more food and cash transfers and vouchers – adapted to the in-country conditions and operational risks in 43 countries.”

The WFP also proposes the last $400 million be spent on “global and regional operations management, administration and accountability, including coordination of global supply lines and aviation routes; global logistics coordination such as freight contracting; global monitoring and analysis of hunger worldwide; and risk management and independent auditors dedicated to oversight.”

However, comments on social media have criticized the proposals as ineffective and only concerned with finding short-term solutions.

Remi Case commented, “It’s laughable how little work has actually been put into this ‘plan’. There is literally next to zero information there about anything specific. Sounds like you just randomly divided the $6.6B pile into basic operation costs and left it at that.”

Another social media user, John Ryan, wrote, “Ohhhh so you meant solve world hunger for 1 year. Doesn’t sound as appealing when you mention the 1 year part versus just saying ‘6.6B can solve world hunger’ lol.”

The WFP explains the reasons for the current world hunger problem are “a perfect storm” of environmental change caused by global warming, international and domestic conflicts, and the coronavirus pandemic.

Elon Musk is yet to respond to Beasley’s latest comments.

Written By

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Support Real Ones. Fund the Future.

If you read this far, you get it: young voices matter. At TRILL, every story is written by emerging writers telling the truth in a media landscape that too often silences them.

We run ads, yeah. But they don’t run us. We’re independent, mission-driven, and powered by people who believe young storytellers deserve more than just “exposure.”

Your donation goes straight to mentorship, editorial support, and launching the next wave of Gen Z writers into media careers that matter.

If that matters to you, chip in. Even $5 helps keep TRILL free, fearless, and independent.

Donate Now →

You May Also Like

Sport

The 150-man field includes some of the biggest names in the sport, along with others who have fought hard for a spot. The U.S....

Societal Issues

A new threat is intensifying overtourism... social media influencers.

Sport

Money in the Bank is an annual wrestling event that is highlighted by two career defining ladder matches.

Politics

Last Month Polanski Announced his Eco-Populist Leadership bid. Is he Veering too Close to Reform UK’s Playbook?