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NARR: Jeffrey Sachs, a professor at Columbia University, presented his recommendation as a memo to the next U.S. Administration. It was entitled "Peace Through Sustainable Development."
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The three overriding goals of U.S. foreign policy are -- First, to promote our national security, which is at threat from energy instability, global disease transmission, failed states and terrorism, and the manifold threats of climate change
NARR: The Second goal is to promote our national economy, which he says it at risk from rising commodity scarcity, industrial competition, and excess dependence on foreign capital.
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Third, to promote values of personal freedom, political accountability, safety of individuals, and human rights.
NARR: Sachs criticized what he said is the current adminsration's overreliance upon military might and easy access to Middle East Oil. Instead, the focus should be on a different kind of leadership based on cooperative approaches to meet the universal problems of water, food and energy scarcity. His recommendations include the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, the infusion of capital to aid in U.N. Peacekeeping efforts and the end to the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. He recommended an immediate action for the president to deal with the environment.
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Hold a summit of dry land regions in the White House in the spring of 2009. The goal would be to launch a three-year undertaking to assess the acute and growing water risks, food insecurity, new engineering and agrinomic approaches and climate change hazards to the world's drylands which are the first in the line of fire of global climate change.
NARR: He also recommended ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and the U.N. Convention on biodiversity. In addition, he called for significant increases in research and developnment concerning energy sustainability as well as a renewed commitment to the Millenium Development Goals. Sachs is the Director of the Earth Institute and Special Advisor to United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki-Moon. His writings have been viewed as essential reference material by leaders seeking to confront some of the world's greatest challenges.
Ivan Dominguez, Columbia Radio News.