6 billion to solve world hunger?

[noorman0]

Have you read the latest news?
"Elon Musk is ready to sell his Tesla shares to donate $6 billion".(source).

This comes in response to a tweet made by David Beasley, director of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP).

In his tweet, Beasley had mentioned the $36 billion increase in Musk’s net worth after Hertz ordered 100,000 Teslas. He added that one-sixth of this increase, which is $6 billion, could help save 42 million people who are suffering from famine.

If interpreted based on google data, that number is only about 2% of the total value of Musk's wealth.

What do you think,
Does it really only take 2% of musk's wealth to solve world hunger?
How do we assess this phenomenon based on its purpose, from a humanity or economic perspective?

[Gozie51]

About the humanity perspective, it is laudable to see the interest towards helping the human race but I have to say that no amount of money or support that will take away hunger in the world otherwise government also can do that with policies but no matter how good policies have been, it won't be enough to take away hunger. In Nigeria in example  there is SAP that was introduced by the military regime (name intentionally withheld), the SAP (Structural Adjustment Program) was meant to take care of economy by providing loans and trade cum businesses through IMF but it failed to actualize the dream to cut down poverty as the end goal.

Other wealthy business gurus have supported humanity and troubled countries in war like bill gates but poverty is still persisting. So I don't see how the issue of world poverty can adequately be solved , it can only be alleviated.

[Jawhead999]

Based on this article [1] there're 811 million people worldwide still lack of food, so 6 billion/811 million is $7,39. I don't think with such amount will solve world hunger or even Musk give more money, still it doesn't resolve the cause of world hunger. Lack of skills, poor money management, bad income distribution or lazy are the cause of world hunger. Teach a man to fish, rather than give fish.

[1] https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/world-hunger-facts-statistics

[YOSHIE]

I've read the news, you can also see on YouTube Elon Musk's interview with members of the United Nations on CNN.

From the interview it can be concluded as follows.

Elon Musk says he'll sell Tesla stock to solve world hunger if UN shows how money is spent

I think if the world needs funds from the wealth of the people/companies on the list, including Elon, to tackle world hunger, they are ready to give a small part, to the problem of hunger, with the $309 billion that Elon currently has, without having to sell any specific assets, The profit from Bitcoin alone is enough for that problem, overcoming world hunger should be proud for: satoshi who have created Bitcoin, can certainly solve the problem of world hunger through Elon Musk.

[Mauser]

What do you think,
Does it really only take 2% of musk's wealth to solve world hunger?
How do we assess this phenomenon based on its purpose, from a humanity or economic perspective?

This news seemed to be a bit out of context, because the UN world hunger relief fund already gets more than 6 bn USD. So the question would be if an additional 6bn would solve the world hunger problem. I believe this one time payment would help short term but not solve the problem. Its a nice gesture of Elon Musk to consider it but he said he would only do it if they show how the money is spend and not just being missused for other purposes.
The UN is very beaucratic and likes to pay high salaries to its employee. How much of the 6bn would actually get to the poor people in need? If we could use the money to build new farms and plant new crop than it could make a big difference in a couple of years, but there needs to be more money to maintain such farms and create a distribution network so the food goes directly to the people in need.
I would suspect more people are willing to give money to such a good cause if there would be better supervision on how their donations are being spent.

[Lucius]

Does it really only take 2% of musk's wealth to solve world hunger?

The media, and EM itself, have misunderstood what WFP Director David Beasley said - it's not that $6 billion can solve world hunger, it's a drop in the ocean of real needs - because at least half of the world's people don't have enough food. He stated the following :

Beasley said that a combination of COVID-19, regional conflicts and climate crises has led to more than 40 million people being on the brink of starvation and that billionaires could give $6 billion to ease the crisis.

The fact that some people put together billions they can’t realistically spend on their lives, and on the other hand, tens of thousands die every day because they don’t have a piece of bread speaks volumes about the world we live in. If I were so rich no one should publicly call me out for donating something, a normal person sympathizes with people in need.

It takes about $20 to feed one child at school every day throughout the year - yes, you read that right, and through Mary's Meals program, more than 2 million children in the world are fed that way. If you want to do something, don't wait for the rich to act according to their conscience - if they had it, the world would be a much better place to live.

[fiulpro]

One should understand the fact that this is theory.
When we talk about practical application, we would know that, corruption, bad government, people they all have tons  of influence on this thing. Plus we cannot really evaluate world hunger in that way.

Elon Musk might be willing to, but how does he plan on getting the money where it's supposed to be ? That's the whole point. Plus at the same time even though what's already already given to countries and the UN is way enough but the reason the problem is still there is they are not able to solve the corruption and get the whole thing coordinated.

How about Elon Musk gives this much? We all see where it's used since he uses bitcoins?
Plus they make the transactions private and we can see where it's going, to the exact place and person. But would they do it ? I don't think so.

[Sterbens]

We've discussed it in my thread, that this really has to be addressed right? in the end the rich should really care about what's going on out there, wealth for economic equality. The gap that the conglomerates need to think about, the rich are more concerned about how to provide a better life opportunity for those in need. But it's not enough just Elon Musk, of course people like Jeff Bejoz, and all ranks of the richest people must take part. The UN has already given this advice and is just responding. It took 2% of all their total wealth to be given to the hungry.

[NeuroticFish]

Teach a man to fish, rather than give fish.

While in most cases I agree with this, there are still many cases where you can teach them fish all day long with no use, 'cause they're in the middle of the desert.
There are many who are too old to learn, there are many who live in areas they can't leave and where they can't "fish" (or they can, but won't catch anything). Those need simply food. Their kids need education though.

[btc_angela]

What do you think,
Does it really only take 2% of musk's wealth to solve world hunger?

I think that number is wrong, or it could have been misinterpret by the media. And I don't think that with just $6 billion, we will solve world's hunger, and I would say that there are no exact data for it. Every day there could be more people who needs to eat or can't even have a decent meal because of several reasons.

How do we assess this phenomenon based on its purpose, from a humanity or economic perspective?

And if Elon Musk sell his Tesla share and have his $6 billion ready for UN’s World Food Programme, the question is will people gonna glorify Elon Musk?

The Gates family has had philanthropy works for decades now and yet they remain low profile. And even after their divorce, it still continue up to this time.

[LoyceV]

Based on this article [1] there're 811 million people worldwide still lack of food, so 6 billion/811 million is $7,39.

That seems about right to solve world hunger - for a day.

[xSkylarx]

Based on this article [1] there're 811 million people worldwide still lack of food, so 6 billion/811 million is $7,39.

That seems about right to solve world hunger - for a day.

hahaha agree for a day, but it will take another 6 billion to solve the hunger problem by the next day. Since it is not just about giving them money and expecting them to solve their hunger problems, but also about teaching them how to make money or earn an income, I believe this type of problem is extremely difficult to resolve. It is extremely difficult to solve when we are constantly giving them money and expecting them to do nothing, in my opinion. That is the most common reason why some people remain impoverished: they do not put forth any effort and are extremely lazy.

[mu_enrico]

You mean Elon Musk using 2% of his net worth for marketing? You know you can donate anonymously.
Anyway, we can't solve world hunger with charity. Better use the money to research a pill (or whatever) that can suffice human nutrition and make them full for a day.
Or create mega farms and employ locals.

[LoyceV]

teaching them how to make money or earn an income

Haven't "we" tried that for the past half century already? I'm pretty sure it's not going to change it, and there will still be hunger 50 years from now.

[rosenbauer02]

Why not musk give money to those who can't afford to buy food everyday for starting their own store even if it's small for them to earn money from time to time?. This is the same as what jawhead999 said about teach a man to fish than give a man fish but the difference is that musk will give money to let them have small store. Other than that, I don't have anything else to say. This problem is quite a long problem to solve.

[dunfida]

What do you think,
Does it really only take 2% of musk's wealth to solve world hunger?
How do we assess this phenomenon based on its purpose, from a humanity or economic perspective?

Its his money then let him be because if this is just 2% of his total wealth then it wouldnt really be that a big issue if he donate 6B for this global problem but somehow this amount would really be a great help but doesnt mean that this would totally solve out this problem that we are facing through ages.
As popular bloats out then expect for this problem to get even more worst but at least this is really a good move made by Elon, dont know if theres
some agenda behind but this still a good deed and its not a small amount to donate if you do ask me.

[Congyang]

$6 billion is indeed quite a large amount of money but on the other hand there are very many people who are affected by hunger, maybe even that number is not enough to make hunger overcome.
on the other hand I really appreciate what Elon has done.
this is a very nice thing a billionaire does.
and now they must be able to create a system that is transparent in distributing the assistance, because of course there are some people who will abuse this.

[hatshepsut93]

World hunger is generally not a problem of lack of resources, it's a problem of delivering those resources. Hunger these days happens in heavily corrupt failed states, warzones, totalitarian countries like North Korea - all those places where you can't just come and hand out food freely even if you had unlimited resources.

So I found these comments about Elon Musk's net worth extremely dishonest, especially when they come from a person who is supposed to be an expert on world hunger.

[arallmuus]

and now they must be able to create a system that is transparent in distributing the assistance, because of course there are some people who will abuse this.

Right, Elon made this as the requirement wasnt him. Pretty sure that this is going to be hard and even if somehow this transparent system is completed then it might take years before it is fully operational. I kinda feel that in the end, Elon is not gonna donate his money because this transparent system cant be created in a whole corrupted governmental system

Based on this article [1] there're 811 million people worldwide still lack of food, so 6 billion/811 million is $7,39.

That seems about right to solve world hunger - for a day.

Is this number included the distribution fee needed to distribute all those 'foods' worldwide? The number could be way higher though

don't wait for the rich to act according to their conscience - if they had it, the world would be a much better place to live.

Instead of doing this, the 'elites' decided to create a special trip for people to go to space and trying to colonize Mars. This is meant for sarcasm lol

[Congyang]

and now they must be able to create a system that is transparent in distributing the assistance, because of course there are some people who will abuse this.

Right, Elon made this as the requirement wasnt him. Pretty sure that this is going to be hard and even if somehow this transparent system is completed then it might take years before it is fully operational. I kinda feel that in the end, Elon is not gonna donate his money because this transparent system cant be created in a whole corrupted governmental system

Even if the intentions are good, in the context of distributing funds, it will be very hampered because there are definitely bad people who take advantage of this for their own benefit.
and the concept of transparency is currently not clear what it will look like.
I hope this will be done well even though it can't solve the world hunger case but it will be very useful for those in need.
at least this will lighten their load a bit even if it does have a slight impact