On the intentions of Western governments:
If the industrial nations really want to help the Africans, they should finally terminate this awful aid. The countries that have collected the most development aid are also the ones that are in the worst shape. Despite the billions that have poured in to Africa, the continent remains poor.On the effect of the World Food Program on local framing:
... and at some point, this corn ends up in the harbor of Mombasa. A portion of the corn often goes directly into the hands of unsrupulous politicians who then pass it on to their own tribe to boost their next election campaign. Another portion of the shipment ends up on the black market where the corn is dumped at extremely low prices. Local farmers may as well put down their hoes right away; no one can compete with the UN's World Food Program. And because the farmers go under in the face of this pressure, Kenya would have no reserves to draw on if there actually were a famine next year. It's a simple but fatal cycle.On AIDS in Africa:
AIDS is big business, maybe Africa's biggest business. There's nothing else that can generate as much aid money as shocking figures on AIDS. AIDS is a political disease here, and we should be very skeptical.On clothing shipments:
Why do we get these mountains of clothes? No one is freezing here. Instead, our tailors lose their livlihoods. They're in the same position as our farmers. No one in the low-wage world of Africa can be cost-efficient enough to keep pace with donated products.On the collective African mentality:
Africa, however, must take the first steps into modernity on its own. There must be a change in mentality. We have to stop perceiving ourselves as beggars. These days, Africans only perceive themselves as victims. On the other hand, no one can really picture an African as a businessman. In order to change the current situation, it would be helpful if the aid organizations were to pull out.
1 comment:
I'm not sure I agree. Back in the 70's a development theory came along that called the Dependency Theory. In short, it blamed all underdevelopment on the West stating that it had become dependent on western aid and thus it was thought that if a less developed country would just cut ties, it would take off. It proved to be disastrous in Latin America...
All that to say, I don't think less aid is needed--I actually think more aid is needed at this, rather uneducated stage I'm in. Instead of reducing aid, I think it's how the aid is given that is important. We need more aid to be sent, but we need more intelligence with its sending.
That's my thought...thanks for the posting
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