U.S. still must work to help world’s poor

In the past few weeks, global events have left thousands of people in a state of emergency. From the devastating earthquake in Haiti, to the collapse of the Afghanistan government, the effects of these events will have implications for years to come.

Specifically, poverty rates will rise due to ongoing states of emergency. However, the good news is that ending global poverty is in the best interest of the U.S. While corruption exists nearly everywhere, including the United States, it is by no means a justification for ignoring the plight of the world’s poor. In recent years, experts have developed numerous strategies for bypassing corruption and ensuring that the world’s most vulnerable people receive assistance.The U.S. is in the unique position of leading the fight to reduce poverty with help from other nations and the private sector.

As a supporter of The Borgen Project, a non-profit dedicated to making global poverty a focus of U.S. foreign policy, I believe it is essential for the U.S. to maintain its global leadership and protect the health, security and economic interests of all Americans in addition to the global community.

Rachel Lambros

Seattle