Philanthropist Melinda French Gates said she is giving $1 billion over the next two years to support women and families, including reproductive rights.
Polio eradication, the permanent global cessation of circulation of the poliovirus and hence elimination of the poliomyelitis (polio) it causes, is the aim of a multinational public health effort begun in 1988, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Rotary Foundation.[1] These organizations, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Gates Foundation, have spearheaded the campaign through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Successful eradication of infectious diseases has been achieved twice before, with smallpox in humans[2] and rinderpest in ruminants.
Hey look, and example of a rich guy buying credit for something that was already being done!
He also spoke out against Trumps disproportionate tax cuts for the wealthy, and called for increased taxes for top earners.
Oh, so he spoke out about the thing he abused to get wealthy, that doesn’t make him a hypocrite!
They then spent another $1.2B to do what the WHO couldn’t accomplish.
The first problem they tackled was getting the vaccine to remote and war-torn areas while maintaining efficacy. Once they accomplished that, all that was left were isolated tribes. They then paid anthropologists to spend years assimilating into remote villages around the world to earn their trust so they would accept the vaccine.
Then why aren’t all the other billionaires saying it? We’re in agreement that they shouldn’t exist in the first place. All I’m saying is they’re trying to do the right thing with the money, which is incredibly rare in a world of Bezos, Waltons, Kochs, and Sacklers.
You’re right, but they’ve almost eradicated polio worldwide. So there’s that.
Bill spoke out against Trump’s disproportionate tax cuts, as well as the growing wealth inequality, and called for increasing taxes on the wealthy.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/03/bill-gates-americas-tax-system-is-not-fair.html
He also cofounded The Giving Pledge, an agreement to give the majority of his wealth away to charity rather than pass it on to his children.
https://givingpledge.org/about
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polio_eradication
Hey look, and example of a rich guy buying credit for something that was already being done!
Oh, so he spoke out about the thing he abused to get wealthy, that doesn’t make him a hypocrite!
They paid for the GPEI initiative cited in your comment. It literally says “The Gates Foundation” in your quote.
https://www.emro.who.int/press-releases/2005/gates-foundation-funds-new-polio-vaccine-to-accelerate-eradication-efforts.html
They then spent another $1.2B to do what the WHO couldn’t accomplish.
The first problem they tackled was getting the vaccine to remote and war-torn areas while maintaining efficacy. Once they accomplished that, all that was left were isolated tribes. They then paid anthropologists to spend years assimilating into remote villages around the world to earn their trust so they would accept the vaccine.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/gates-foundation-pledges-1-2b-to-eradicate-polio-heres-why-its-been-a-struggle-for-decades
Could have been paid through taxes instead of being the whim of a billionaire looking for a positive legacy.
Agreed. I’m not saying he should have that much money. I’m saying he does far more benevolent things with it than most billionaires.
Frankly, I don’t think we should be relying on the benevolence of billionaires.
I agree. So does he. You should read this.
It is easy to say those things when one has already reaped the rewards.
Then why aren’t all the other billionaires saying it? We’re in agreement that they shouldn’t exist in the first place. All I’m saying is they’re trying to do the right thing with the money, which is incredibly rare in a world of Bezos, Waltons, Kochs, and Sacklers.
Why do people keep trying to argue points no one is arguing against. Especially continuing after people have pointed this out specifically.
Welcome to Lemmy.