Turning off the Aid tap.

Last night I was watching Foreign Correspondent it’s an ABC (Australia) show about current affairs around the world. First they were talking about the Cholera problems in Zimbabwe then they talked to a women from Zambia her name is Dambisa Moyo and she’s written a book about why Africa doesn’t need aid in fact the aid is making the problems worse. Controversial idea I’m sure a lot of people feel we should be donating aid but I’m inclined to side with her on this one... We have been pouring aid into Africa for the last 30 or 40, years and what do we have to show for it? She says it’s not helped and actually made more problems i won’t go as far as saying that but I feel that it’s a bit of a bottomless pit. We can keep pouring money into Africa till the cows come home. It won’t help..

Think of Africa as an unemployed person. He/She very talented and has plenty to offer but has no incentives as the government keeps giving him/her money. They do not encourage Africa to change or to get a job they just keep pouring money into their bank account. Doesn’t it seem a bit familiar? We are not encouraging governments to change or industry to invest in the area we are just pouring money into Africa and hoping it will fix it.

We need a different approach. I do not think that removing Aid is the answer i think there is a place for it. However, maybe we need to look at how we give this aid. Instead of just sending over money or food why don’t we send skilled professionals? Industry. If we created a business and encourage investment in the area. Created jobs and improved agriculture then Africa could bring its self out of the mess it’s in. We would also have to deal with the social upheaval and wars but with time and work, it will all fall into place. General speaking things are improving across the continent these days.

Perhaps all these companies here in Australia that are outsourcing to India and other south east Asian countries need to consider a move to an African nation. It may upset people a little less…
A lot of the aid we donate now goes to corrupt governments anyway a small amount filters down to the people. It is time we changed.

Dambisa Moyo, Book is called, Dead Aid and you can find more information here: http://www.deadaid.org
Also on the topic of Africa, if the Catholic Church would just get with the times then the HIV/AIDS problems there would be a lot less server. It angers me to read that the popes pushing this anti Condom agenda again. BBC story on his travels: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7947460.stm