Laura Sheahen

We give so little in terms of aid compared to other nations and compared to our military budget. Having gone to Africa and India for the UN as an ambassador, it takes so little effort and money to get rid of malaria, to bring in clean water, to give people a chance at education.

When you don’t have hope, that’s when people start to do horrible, violent things. It’s just a question of prioritising. The funds are there. When you look at what other countries do, I was stunned by how little we contribute as the wealthiest nation. There shouldn’t be hunger within the US. People should have a chance or an education and decent housing and medical care. Those are just basic rights. A woman shouldn’t have to fear for raising a child, shouldn’t

have to be fearful that they can’t pay simple medical expenses. That’s obscene. I would try to make it possible for kids of the US to travel to other countries. They would be less afraid and more empowered. When kids start to meet other kids in places that seem so scary and different, they start to understand how much alike everyone is, and that our needs are so similar. I’d try to encourage more trips for student leaders from every high school. It would make it so much more difficult to drop bombs and be known as this violent [nation] all over the world. We should start exporting some of the generosity that exists with the good people of the US.

Interview with Susan Sarandon. — Beliefnet.com, concluded