Make Poverty History!!!

[Igg]

South Africa is a country, and so is Central African Republic, but otherwise, yeah, it's a continent.

I agree that the way to help Africa is not by throwing money at them (or food, or whatever), but by helping to set up ways to make the countries better. You see all these charities, foundations, etc going and 'helping' these people, but they feed them, give them a pair of jeans and some shoes, and leave. 3 months later, the shoes are worn out, the jeans are ripped, and the food's gone. Then what? They wait for another charity.

Yeah, but neither of those countries are 'Africa'. Not everywhere in Africa is as poorly off as say, The Sudan.

[Bangel]

Nothing gets done, when you give to African Governments. Even if you throw money at them, to a charitable organisation nothing will happen. There needs to be a huge reform in Africa, and im not talking about the war-bush-kinda style reform.

Then why, exactly, did you post this asking for people to "throw money at them" via Make Poverty History and ONE?

[CSK]

I occasionaly stop by PPT for nostaligias sake and never think to post; but this thread has compelled me to buck that trend.

I am quite astounded by it, actually. Everyone here seems to fancy themselves an expert on the fundraising and dispersal of aid to Africa, and possess rigirous knowledge on the level of corruption of African governments!

Now, I myself will happily admit that I know very little about the poverty in Africa in terms of hard facts and figures. I'm still very confused about possible solutions, and hope to gain some insight as I read and assimilate more in my studies.

Everyone on this thread, however, seems to possess startling insight into the continent, enough to adamantly declare statements to the effect of 'Aid doesn't work' or that 'Africa is thoroughly corrupt' or that 'Only Africa can help itself'.

So.. I am challenging those that have made such statements to collaborate their statements with figures or provide evidence that they have done substantial research for me to believe their testimony - in which case, I will be deeply interested in their expertise. However, I can predict that most of you are just spewing forth gross generalisations that you have no real capacity to back up.

[SpiraLethe]

And I hope this also goes for the generalisation that aid will help Africa and that Africa needs outside help or it's a moot point.

[CSK]

And I hope this also goes for the generalisation that aid will help Africa and that Africa needs outside help or it's a moot point.

Of course. There are generalisations here on both sides of the argument. Thanks for clarifying that.

[SpiraLethe]

And I hope this also goes for the generalisation that aid will help Africa and that Africa needs outside help or it's a moot point.

Of course. There are generalisations here on both sides of the argument. Thanks for clarifying that.

If neither side can be backed up, then what should we do? I personally think private charities can provide aid all they want. But should the government of other nations spend tax money to provide aid?

[Xil]

Zimbabwe would be a nice place to start (since the name is just that awesome). Their political system is in the trash, their land reform act absorbed all privately owned land and put it on lease (alongside some pretty vile controls on wildlife centers; putting them on quarter-century leases with no plans to actual conserve anything). Their president currently refuses any media to analyze the state of the nation, leaving all charitable organizations up in the air when it comes down to what they need to send.

Oh, I meant Executive President. Mugabe, by most, is considered a dictator. His austerity campaign in 1991 readverted aid from several sources to pay creditors from which the nation had borrowed money. Several organizations (including the International Monetary Fund) suspended their aid to the country, citing that more reform was required.

[Light]

Nothing gets done, when you give to African Governments. Even if you throw money at them, to a charitable organisation nothing will happen. There needs to be a huge reform in Africa, and im not talking about the war-bush-kinda style reform.

Then why, exactly, did you post this asking for people to "throw money at them" via Make Poverty History and ONE?

I didnt ask people to give money did I? I just said check this site out. If it was a different meaning to you or anyone else i apolgize for confusing you.

[Bangel]

Nothing gets done, when you give to African Governments. Even if you throw money at them, to a charitable organisation nothing will happen. There needs to be a huge reform in Africa, and im not talking about the war-bush-kinda style reform.

Then why, exactly, did you post this asking for people to "throw money at them" via Make Poverty History and ONE?

I didnt ask people to give money did I? I just said check this site out. If it was a different meaning to you or anyone else i apolgize for confusing you.

The site in which they ask you to pay money to Africa.

[Ammer]

This is really getting ridiculous.

This guy simply wanted to spread a SIMPLE message about poverty and to help people become more aware of it. Stop jumping down his throat. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all.

Honestly people.

[SpiraLethe]

Ridiculous? Hardly.

I don't see why everything that's said here has to be nice. We're not being mean. We're just giving honest opinions. And since this is an important matter, honest opinions are quite necessary.

[Twinkle]

This is really getting ridiculous.

This guy simply wanted to spread a SIMPLE message about poverty and to help people become more aware of it. Stop jumping down his throat. If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all.

Honestly people.

Since when have people not been aware of poverty?

Anyway, it's all very well saying that Africa needs help, how people should help them, how they should help themselves etc. But I'd like to hear someone say how and then manage to pull it off.

I'm really not being nasty or anything here but I doubt it will ever happen sadly.

[Asthaloth]

/Rant

You should realise that im an egotystical pratt by now.
But none the less, a blind Koala with terrets can see that Africa is corrupted beyond belief.

[Light]

Nothing gets done, when you give to African Governments. Even if you throw money at them, to a charitable organisation nothing will happen. There needs to be a huge reform in Africa, and im not talking about the war-bush-kinda style reform.

Then why, exactly, did you post this asking for people to "throw money at them" via Make Poverty History and ONE?

I didnt ask people to give money did I? I just said check this site out. If it was a different meaning to you or anyone else i apolgize for confusing you.

The site in which they ask you to pay money to Africa.

Well i just thought it would be a good site to bring the topic up.

[Sapphire Faerie]

/Rant

But none the less, a blind Koala with terrets can see that Africa is corrupted beyond belief.

And no one here is denying that. Bono doesn't even deny that, and he's got a huge freaking crush on the entire continent.

If neither side can be backed up, then what should we do? I personally think private charities can provide aid all they want. But should the government of other nations spend tax money to provide aid?

Should the government spend tax money on war? The ONE organization is asking for far less money for Africa than has been spent in Iraq. 40% of the people there are Muslim, it may be better to spend money befriending them now, than defending ourselves against them later.

In 200 or 300 years, how are we (as rich nations) going to look in the history books, knowing that we had the money and resources to make a difference, and yet we didn't try? How would *insert-random-country-here* look today if they'd had the cure for the black plague 700 years ago and didn't share it with Europe?

We can help, we might as well try.