Donate 25¢ to UNESCO

When people realize you don't share all their habits, 

they suspect you don't share their values either.  -John H. Richardson

And that’s a problem.  –Me

UNESCO has a problem and we can help.

The Congress of the United States passed a law back in the 1990's to the effect that any organization recognizing Palestine would receive no funding from the US.

Turns out that UNESCO (an organization of the UN) members voted last year to allow Palestine to be a UNESCO member, which means that funding from the United States, to the tune of more than $60 million per year, will cease.

UNESCO, which stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, promotes education worldwide, funding teachers in areas that otherwise could not afford them . . . preserving world heritage sites . . . developed the Tsunami warning system so that those in danger from the devastating effects of tsunamis could have the benefit of an early warning . . . has helped educate roughly 1.5 billion people . . . promotes freedom of expression around the world, giving voice to the voiceless . . . alleviates poverty . . . is establishing a World Digital Library in association with the Library of Congress. . . trains professionals in the safeguarding of water resources . . . the Global Ocean Observing System monitors the oceans in real time. . . works for social inclusion of marginalized groups around the world . . . establishes community learning centers focusing on literacy and continuing education for the marginalized and the poor . . . works toward gender equality around the world . . . reduces the impact of natural disasters with early warning technology and retrofitting of buildings to make them more resistant to the effects of disasters . . . supports programs which work toward peace and understanding across national, cultural and other divides . . . and more besides . . .

Regardless of how we feel individually or collectively about the Israel-Palestine conflict, regardless of whether or not it is appropriate for a nation to withhold funding from a UN organization to express its political will, regardless of whether we like the United Nations or not, the fact remains that UNESCO does important work from which every nation of the world benefits, directly and indirectly, and they need funding in order to continue that work.  Without that funding, real people living in real time right now will lose access to education, to clean water, to early warnings about impending disasters, will die.

Thus I offer a solution to the conundrum: while the government of the United States remains free to express its political concern and displeasure over the allowing of Palestine at the table of UNESCO, in order to continue its work, the people of the United States can all simply donate 25 cents towards their efforts.  It’s a win-win: the United States preserves the integrity of its position and UNESCO continues its life-saving and -preserving work.

There are over 300 million people in the US.  If we alone, let alone others around the world, would chip in a quarter each, more than $75 million would be added to UNESCO coffers.

So how about it?  Got any change you can spare?

If so, go to UNESCO donation and make your donation.