1 post tagged “g-8”
There is no doubt that Africa is a place in need of a lot of help, in a lot of different areas. In this post, there are two issues that I want to focus on however, and to a large degree, they are mutually exclusive.
The first of which is that the G-8 countries (G-8) that had pledged to supply $21.5 billion in aid to Africa by 2010 to help the continent get out of poverty and help with healthcare and education. With less than a year to go, there is a bit of a problem however. So far, only $7 billion has come through, with the remainder nowhere to be found. The two largest culprits are Italy and France, but there is more to this than the mere shirking of financial obligations.
The leaders of the world's countries didn't anticipate the economic maelstrom that swept the globe when they made their pledges. They were forced to spend billions of dollars bailing out their own economies (which was a contentious move in and of itself-and if you read this, then you know how I feel about it). The horizon doesn't look much better for anyone's economy either.
"As governments look to cut deficits, they will look to cut all parts of their budgets, and these parts that are to help the poorest may or may not be cut as part of that process," Bill Gates told reporters in London on Thursday after the release of the DATA report. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation operates in numerous African countries, and its $27.5 billion endowment makes it a far more significant donor than foreign governments are in some countries.
Why Wealthy Nations Are Stiffing Africa
There is, and has been for some time, a severe problem with aid in Africa. There is a fierce debate amongst aid and government officials about whether or not money for Africa is even worth it. There was a best-selling book (a very good one, and I highly recommend it) called Dead Aid written by Zambian economist Dambisa Moyo in which she argues that $1 TRILLION of Western aid during the last 50 years has actually left Africa more poor and dependant. Her sentiments were echoed by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who wrote in the Financial Times last month that "as long as poor nations are focused on receiving aid, they will not work to improve their economies." But others have pointed out that carefully directed aid can play a critical role in removing obstacles to economic development. Gates told reporters that projects that focus on agriculture and health are "measurable and very impactful. The money had made a difference."
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I think that it is important to note two things not mentioned in this discussion however. There is overwhelming evidence that many of the African leaders have funneled vast sums of this money into their own personal Swiss bank accounts. Just as in any country, power corrupts. I also find it interesting that China isn't mentioned at all. China has-and does-donate more money to African aid than all of the G-8 countries COMBINED. Granted, it has one of the better economies currently, but it is a country that certainly has its own issues to deal with as well. I just find it rather curious that they are left out. To me, it is an acknowledgement that the G-8 countries are a relic of a bygone era. Formed with countries that had power and influence during the World War II era, I think that it is antiquated when looked at from a modern viewpoint that recognizes that China is one of the most powerful countries in the world.
Even if they (the leadership) are dicks.
