TLDR;
The video discusses a situation where the U.S. decided to incinerate 500 tons of nutritious food intended for starving children, despite being notified months in advance and receiving offers from the World Food Program to distribute it. The speaker questions the logic and morality of this decision, especially considering the resources were purchased with taxpayer money to save lives. The speaker invokes Martin Luther King Jr., questioning what he would think of such actions.
- US decided to burn food instead of giving it to starving children.
- The decision was made despite advanced notice and offers of help from the World Food Program.
- The speaker questions the morality of the decision.
The Expired Food [0:00]
The video begins with a discussion about 500 tons of high-energy biscuits, purchased with U.S. taxpayer dollars and stored in a USAID warehouse in Dubai, that were nearing their expiration date in July. These biscuits were enough to feed at least 27,000 acutely malnourished children for a month. Instead of distributing the food, there were plans to destroy it or turn it into animal feed.
The Hearing [0:36]
The speaker references a report from The Atlantic, noting that the expiration date on the food had arrived, and the U.S. decided to incinerate it rather than allow starving children to consume it. During a hearing, the speaker questions Mr. Igashir, the deputy secretary for management and resources, about why these resources, specifically designed to save starving children's lives, were being wasted. The speaker emphasizes that the issue was brought up in a previous hearing and the office was notified, making the lack of an answer seem intentional.
The Question to Mr. Igashir [1:36]
The speaker points out that the World Food Program and others requested to distribute the food months prior. The speaker suggests that if the U.S. no longer prioritizes feeding starving children, they should allow others to distribute the existing food. The speaker stresses that the decision to keep the warehouse locked was a deliberate choice made with prior knowledge of the situation.
Martin Luther King Jr. [2:08]
The speaker asks Mr. Igashir who the most famous Boston University alum is, revealing it to be Martin Luther King Jr. The speaker then poses the question of what Martin Luther King Jr. would think of a nation that purchases food for starving children, locks it away until it expires, and then incinerates it instead of allowing 27,000 children to survive for one more month.
Conclusion [2:39]
Mr. Igashir responds by stating that the U.S. is still the biggest giver of aid in the world. The speaker concludes by handing the floor back, noting that sometimes the tiniest detail exposes the soul.