The United Nations to Elon Musk: “Here is your $6 billion plan to end world hunger”

WFP director Fabian Picardo unveiled a plan to spend $6.6 billion to fight world hunger, in direct rebuttal to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s claim that he would sell Tesla stock in order to fund a plan if the WFP could explain “exactly how” it would work.

David Beasley, the director of the United Nations’ food program and a former Republican governor of South Carolina, shared a link to a 1,000-word “executive summary” of the report on Monday via his Twitter account. More than 40 million people in 43 countries who are “on the verge of famine” will be fed by the UN, according to the plan, which details how the world body will distribute $6.6 billion in meals and vouchers to avert what the World Food Programme (WFP) describes as an impending “catastrophe.”

It is proposed that the World Food Programme spend $3.5 billion on purchasing and delivering food directly to people in need, $2 billion on “cash and food vouchers (including transaction fees) in places where markets operate,” and another $700 million on managing new food programs that are “adapted to in-country conditions” and ensure that “assistance reaches the most vulnerable.”

In addition to supply chain coordination, an additional $400 million would be spent on “operations management, administration, and accountability.”

As Beasley put it, “the whole world is on fire.” “Since COVID, conflict, climate shocks, and, most recently, rising supply chain costs have all conspired to create a perfect storm that I’ve been warning about. IT IS HERE.”

Musk, the world’s richest person with an estimated net worth of $288 billion, was tagged in another tweet by Beasley, who wrote, “This hunger crisis is unprecedented, yet avoidable.” “You asked for a clearly defined strategy as well as open books. It’s finally here! In order to save lives, we are prepared to speak with you – and anyone else – who shares our commitment to doing so.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, Musk had not responded to the request.

Last month, Beasley appeared on CNN and pleaded with billionaires to “step up now, on a one-time basis” to aid in the fight against world hunger, specifically mentioning the world’s two wealthiest men: Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. Musk and Beasley’s spat began with Beasley’s appearance on CNN and pleading with billionaires to “step up now, on a one-time basis.”

According to Beasley, a donation of $6 billion, or 2 percent of Musk’s net worth, could make a significant difference in the eradication of world hunger.

When asked how $6 billion would end world hunger, Musk responded on Twitter, writing, “If the World Food Programme can articulate precisely how $6 billion would end world hunger in this Twitter thread, I will immediately sell Tesla stock and do so.”

But, as Musk pointed out, “it must be open source accounting,” so that the public can see exactly how the money is spent, it is essential.

Beasley had previously responded to Musk’s tweets, assuring him that transparency and open source accounting were in place at the company’s headquarters.

According to Beasley, “For him to even enter this conversation is a game changer because, simply put, we can answer all of his questions and present a clear plan.” He said this in a follow-up interview with CNN earlier this month. “We will be more than happy to answer any and all of his inquiries. Due to the fact that lives are on the line, I’m looking forward to talking with him about it.”

Environmental factors such as climate change and conflict had already exacerbated the world’s hunger crisis even before the Covid-19 pandemic began. Although it exacerbated pre-existing problems, Beasley explained that the pandemic left “42 million people literally on the verge of famine.” “This is the most apocalyptic worst-case scenario,” says the author.

It is unclear whether Musk or Bezos have been informed of the plan and whether they will ultimately support it. When contacted for comment, representatives from Musk’s companies did not respond. In response to the WFP’s proposal, a representative for Jeff Bezos declined to comment but pointed to other philanthropic contributions to hunger relief that the billionaire entrepreneur has made.

Musk has made a number of audacious Twitter promises, including pledging resources to charitable organizations. Consider his promise to “fund the repair of any house in Flint that has water contamination above FDA standards” made in 2018. After much deliberation, Musk decided to donate approximately half a million dollars to the local schools, according to an August article from a local news outlet.

Musk has made more significant contributions to specific projects than he has to the general public. As part of his commitment to Brownsville, Texas, the city that is closest to his company’s massive rocket hub, Elon Musk has pledged to donate $30 million to the city’s public schools.

Musk has also established the Musk Foundation, which he claims will aid in efforts to expand renewable energy, human space exploration, and the safe use of artificial intelligence. Musk is also the founder of Tesla Motors. Also, he has signed The Giving Pledge, which commits him to donating at least half of his wealth to charitable causes during his lifetime, something that Bezos has yet to do himself.