‘I can be on the next flight to you. Throw me out if you don’t like what you hear!’
The chief executive of the UN’s World Food Programme, David Beasley, has responded to Elon Musk’s pledge to donate $6bn of his Tesla stocks to help end world hunger.
Beasley had suggested to CNN on Monday (November 1) that the super-rich billionaires of the world such as Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos need to “step up now, on a one time basis” to help end food poverty and world hunger.
When the article quoting Beasley’s suggestion was shared on Twitter, it got Musk’s attention.
He responded saying that if the World Food Program could “describe on this Twitter thread exactly how $6B will solve world hunger, I will sell Tesla stock right now and do it.”
Well he got a response, with Beasley deciding to call Musk’s bluff on the offer.
Whilst he said that the $6bn figure was incorrect and “misleading,” he did say that two per cent of Musk’s wealth would “prevent geopolitical instability, mass migration and save 42 million people on the brink of starvation.”
Responding to Musk, he tweeted: “Let’s talk: It isn’t as complicated as Falcon Heavy, but too much at stake to not at least have a conversation. I can be on the next flight to you. Throw me out if you don’t like what you hear!”
.@elonmusk With your help we can bring hope, build stability and change the future.
Let’s talk: It isn’t as complicated as Falcon Heavy, but too much at stake to not at least have a conversation. I can be on the next flight to you. Throw me out if you don’t like what you hear!
— Cindy McCain (@WFPChief) October 31, 2021
After Musk asked for the proposed spending of the money to be published, Beasley replied: “Instead of tweets, allow me to show you.
“We can meet anywhere—Earth or space—but I suggest in the field where you can see @WFP’s people, processes and yes, technology, at work. I will bring the plan, and open books.”
.@elonmusk Instead of tweets, allow me to show you. We can meet anywhere—Earth or space—but I suggest in the field where you can see @WFP’s people, processes and yes, technology, at work. I will bring the plan, and open books.
— Cindy McCain (@WFPChief) November 1, 2021
Beasley continued, explaining how Musk’s Teslas and knowledge of “logistics and supply chains” could really help the World Food Program in scaling up.
We operate in 80+ countries with operational plans in each. Scaling up to add more people is not difficult for us – just as it would not be difficult for you to make more cars. It's logistics and supply chain. There is a reason why we are Nobel laureates.
— Cindy McCain (@WFPChief) November 2, 2021
Back to you then Elon.
Related links:
- Jake Paul promises to donate $10m to end world hunger if Musk gives his $6b
- Elon Musk’s wealth spikes $13.4B in one day, making him richer than Finland’s entire GDP
- Musk sets out UN conditions for $6B Tesla stock donation to end world hunger
