Monday, July 04, 2005
“WHY DOESN’T IT WORK?”
Jonathan Clayton hangs with the NGO crews in Addis Ababa:
At night, the car parks of trendy bars and fancy restaurants — opened by yuppie Ethiopians returning from abroad with money made in private sectors not allowed at home — are packed with duty-free 4x4 vehicles.
Inside, lively debates take place. Prices, though way beyond ordinary Ethiopians, most of whom live on £60 a year, are cheap even by the standards of the most modest western salary. Through a mix of German, Scandinavian and American accents, terms such as poverty alleviation, projects, capacity building and gender balance, keep recurring.
One issue, though, rarely has a hearing in this politically correct world: why doesn’t it work?
Kenyan coffee farmer Peter Kanans points to an answer:
“Even if they cancel the debt, even if they give our governments aid money, ordinary Africans will not benefit,” he said. “That money will only make the corrupt people richer and Africans international beggars for decades to come.”
Read the whole article. Meanwhile, Hispalibertas identifies a Live 8 that Africa could live without:
1.- General Sani Abacha of Nigeria: $20 billion
2.- President Félix Houphoüet-Boigny of Ivory Coast: $6 billion
3.- General Ibrahim Babangida of Nigeria: $5 billion
4.- President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire: $4 billion
5.- President Mousa Traore of Mali: $2 billion
6.- President Henri Bedie of Ivory Coast: $300 million
7.- President Denis N’guesso of Congo: $200 million
8.- President Omar Bongo of Gabon: $80 million
Which should make Bob Geldof re-think this line:
“Africa is not mired in corruption, it is mired in poverty. Corruption is a by-product of poverty ...”
Exactly wrong, Bob. Sheesh, even Antony Loewenstein can see through this.