Spend $145 Billion to Save the Earth?

If every action has consequences, then consider the consequences of this decision-point: Should the US invest $145 Billion in a tax cut to stall recession? OR spend the money to restore Social Goals Worldwide and Restore the Earth?  The additional annual expenditure needed for this urgent global goal is $190 billion says Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute and author of Plan B 3.0, Mobilizing to Save Civilization.

Put differently, should we use the money buy a “happy meal” to stave off the need to tighten our belt, or reach out a hand to help the rest of the world?

This morning, I’m in Washington DC. Lester Brown is joining me for breakfast and we’ll talk about this and other mobilization strategies. While no one in the Bush White House or Congress – really knows how Americans would spend the $145 billion, here is how Les would spend it. If you agree, let your rep in Congress know.

Basic Social Goals (in billions of dollars)

$10  Universal primary education

$ 4   Eradication of adult illiteracy (a population reduction solution)

$ 6   School lunch programs for 44 poorest countries

$ 4   Assistance to preschool children & pregnant women in these 44 countries

$33  Universal basic health care

$ 3   Closing the condom gap

Earth Restoration Goals

$ 6   Planting trees to reduce flooding & conserve soil

$20  Planting trees to sequester carbon

$24  Protecting topsoil on cropland

$ 9   Restoring rangelands

$13  Restoring fisheries

$31  Protecting biological diversity

$10  Stabilizing water tables

Grand Total:  $190 Billion

If choice has consequences, imagine how you might feel if you just contributed $190 billion to save the Earth? You might just go out and celebrate.

 VOTE and comment on it here.