Poll: Voters, Congress at Odds Over UN Funding

Over 80 percent of American voters want their government to continue being actively engaged in affairs at the United Nations, says a new poll conducted for the UN Foundation, a group dedicated to promoting the UN’s role and activities.

The public opinion study, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research Associates, comes as the House Foreign Affairs Committee is scheduled to hold Thursday a markup hearing on the “United Nations Transparency, Accountability and Reform Act” put forward by Committee chairman Ileana Ros -Lehtinen (R- FL).

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reportedly sent lawmakers on Capitol Hill a letter today arguing that bill would have a negative impact on American interests and that she would recommend President Obama veto the measure. 

Peter Yeo director of the UN Foundation, says the study clearly demonstrates that Congress is out of touch with the American electorate. 

“Americans oppose withholding American dues from the UN and Americans also want to remain very engaged with the UN because they recognize the important ways the UN serves American interests.” 

The proposed bill would change the manner in which the US funds the UN’s various agencies and significantly cut American financial support to the world body. 

UN member states each now pay dues that represent a percentage of the organizations total budget. US dues represents approximately 22% of the UN budget, making it the highest contributing member state ahead of Japan (16%).  

The new bill would forgo the dues system and allow the US to disburse funds to the United Nations on a case by case voluntary basis. 

Although US voter support for the UN tends to be drawn across party lines, the poll found that the majority of Republicans, Democrats and Independents were in favor of the US paying its dues on time. 

The poll was conducted by a bipartisan polling team among 900 registered voter nationwide between October 1-4. 

Actress Mandy Moore Joins UN Drive To Fight Malaria

Mandy Moore is joining a long list of celebrities who have helped raise money to try and prevent the spread of malaria in Africa and other regions around the world.

Moore, a 26-year-old New Hampshire-born singer/songwriter/actress, has been involved with fighting malaria for several years. She has also helped raise money and generate awareness for leukemia and lymphoma.

In a conference call with reporters on Friday, Moore announced that she is currently in the Central African Republic (CAR) this week, teaming up with the UN Foundation to help raise funds for net beds that can be used to prevent mosquito bites, which are the primary cause of malaria.

“We can prevent this disease, we can save lives,” she said. “We just need everyone’s involvement…a 10 dollar donation truly does save lives.”

The UN Foundation, a charity that promotes United Nations initiatives, started its ‘Nothing But Nets’ campaign in 2006 in an effort to help distribute life-saving nets to those in need. The incesticide-treated nets cost $10 dollars per, and if used properly can lower the spread of malaria by up to 90% in high-risk areas. Foundation studies show that one net bed generally lasts a family up to four years.

According to statistics compiled by the World Health Organization, roughly 250 million cases of malaria are reported each year, resulting in around one million deaths annually. 85% of these deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, with mostly young children under the age of five falling victim.

Moore said 400,000 more nets are needed in CAR by the end of the year in order to supply every household in the country.