It's amazing the things you can learn from a comedy show. Last night, Stephen Colbert invited Dambisa Moyo, the author of Dead Aid, on his show to discuss US aid to Africa. She says the type of assistance that celebrities lobby for and rich countries provide isn't always good for the continent.
In the last 60 years, wealthy countries have given Africa more than $1 trillion in aid, but poverty levels continue to increase in countries that have become dependent on foreign support.
Moyo explained to Stephen that government aid "very often is used for corruption. It causes inflation. It causes a debt burden, which is unsustainable." She says the developed world should support business leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa through direct investment. Moyo sounds like she has some good ideas — let's hope policy makers at least pick up her book.
Hanii Y
James Darby
Principles
Honestly it's best to have every cent accounted for and actually see what it's been put into. Not everyone in Africa runs a business or has the acumen to do it. Education is what frees the mind, funnel more money into schools and it will do a world of good.
1I think I generally agree with her, if she means that keeping Africa aid-dependent is a bad thing - but beyond that, I'd want to read her book first.
2It doesn't seem she is saying that the aid itself is a bad thing, but rather the aid that is coming in isn't going to the programs or people who could eventually make Africa no longer dependent on foreign aid.
"Education is what frees the mind, funnel more money into schools and it will do a world of good." I completely agree.
3If only we could learn that same lesson in America.
4I'd be interested in reading the book, but I do feel a bit guilty. I was kind of distracted by how pretty she is...
5Um, you're not the only one Jessie.
6She looks like Michelle from Destiny's Child - but I don't find either particularly pretty.
7I see she wares the hair of some dead imperialist...
8gkitty
so do I it's so much easier than fasting and praying and then spending hours
detangling my just washed frizzy hair and straightening it.
9It's also good for relaxing the nerves of the GWF (Great White Father)...like when the drums stop in a Tarzan movie.
10G, you're too funny.
11I wanna read the book, too. My favorite priest at my parish lived in Africa for years and has talked about strategies other than the ones we're already familiar with--they sound similar to what she's dicussed.
...and yes, she is hot, and so were her shoes.
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