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David Agnew · 11-10-2005, 03:23 PM

There doesn't seem to be much in the way of foreign policy suggestions on this forum, so I would like to propose that the primary aim of UKIP foreign policy should be the elimination of malaria.

The UK should use its privileged position on the Security Council of the UN to press this as a UN goal, and if that fails, do it unilaterally. I have no idea how much it would cost (probably £billions), but I would be surprised if it was much more expensive than Blair's wars or EU membership.

In terms of foreign aid, this would give a lot of bang for each buck (Bjorn Lomborg has estimated that each £1 spent on fighting Malaria delivers £10 of 'social benefit' (although I don't know how that is calculated).

Unlike AIDS which is impossible to eliminate, (as it is a social disease which would require cultural change to eradicate), the eradication of Malaria is a technical problem. It would be a one off expense, and then the benefit to Mankind would be immeasurable.

I have made the point previoulsy that you win over few voters by explaining policy, but there are exceptions, ie dramatic policies such as this. I am proposing it both because it is the right policy morally, but also because it is dramatic and different. It should get media attention. It doesn't involve mentioning 'Europe', and it would be a shock to the prejudices that the public hold about UKIP.

Do you agree?

11-10-2005, 03:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
David Agnew Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maidenhead Posts: 297	Eradicate Malaria There doesn't seem to be much in the way of foreign policy suggestions on this forum, so I would like to propose that the primary aim of UKIP foreign policy should be the elimination of malaria. The UK should use its privileged position on the Security Council of the UN to press this as a UN goal, and if that fails, do it unilaterally. I have no idea how much it would cost (probably £billions), but I would be surprised if it was much more expensive than Blair's wars or EU membership. In terms of foreign aid, this would give a lot of bang for each buck (Bjorn Lomborg has estimated that each £1 spent on fighting Malaria delivers £10 of 'social benefit' (although I don't know how that is calculated). Unlike AIDS which is impossible to eliminate, (as it is a social disease which would require cultural change to eradicate), the eradication of Malaria is a technical problem. It would be a one off expense, and then the benefit to Mankind would be immeasurable. I have made the point previoulsy that you win over few voters by explaining policy, but there are exceptions, ie dramatic policies such as this. I am proposing it both because it is the right policy morally, but also because it is dramatic and different. It should get media attention. It doesn't involve mentioning 'Europe', and it would be a shock to the prejudices that the public hold about UKIP. Do you agree?