Seeing RED
I do not know how seriously I should take this No news today. African governments and activists have raised these issues, to seemingly deaf ears. Why should Bono’s article make the difference to the western governments?
Most African activists talked about Trade not Aid (with figures and example to back them up), no answer. We talked about farm subsidies – again silence. African leaders talked to pharmaceutical companies and their governments to consider a slight reduction in the prices they charge our poor for drugs - silence (well some excuses and promises, silence would have been better).
As a worn out, pessimistic and discouraged activist, I do not hold much hope for this new stunt, just as I was not excited by Live 8 and I most certainly will not be ecstatic over the next stunt.
I firmly hold that the playing fields must be equalized otherwise the cycle of debt and aid will be perpetuated ad nauseam, and most important of all, we Africans must take responsibility for our own development and fight our own battles.
We have to stop relying on handouts. No one is coming to rescue us, nor should we expect them to.
Most African activists talked about Trade not Aid (with figures and example to back them up), no answer. We talked about farm subsidies – again silence. African leaders talked to pharmaceutical companies and their governments to consider a slight reduction in the prices they charge our poor for drugs - silence (well some excuses and promises, silence would have been better).
As a worn out, pessimistic and discouraged activist, I do not hold much hope for this new stunt, just as I was not excited by Live 8 and I most certainly will not be ecstatic over the next stunt.
I firmly hold that the playing fields must be equalized otherwise the cycle of debt and aid will be perpetuated ad nauseam, and most important of all, we Africans must take responsibility for our own development and fight our own battles.
We have to stop relying on handouts. No one is coming to rescue us, nor should we expect them to.
posted by Uaridi at 5/16/2006 07:33:00 pm
9 Comments:
Much unlike what Tony Blair said ahead of the G8 talk-shop and the launch of his Commission for Africa, the continent is no longer a scar on the world's conscience. We'll have to fight our own battles; forget about the sideshows by Bono et al.
We should start acting and stop talking for together we can do it Blacks did it in the us by boycotting their services/products after all we can survive on our goods and services just a thought look at emerging countries in asia.
africa should authoritatively take charge of its own affairs inc conflict resolution, project/budget funding, war on disease and political leadership. no stooges from the west!
was happy to read that our finance ministry is gravitating towards kenya's self reliance in budget financing. kudos amos kimunya.
p/s: hope the linking works
Totally agree with "we Africans must take responsibility for our own development and fight our own battles" ....
IM(not-so)HO, one of the first steps forward would be to get rid of the people-bashing/must-step-on-another-to-get-ahead type of mentality.
@deeply pertubed:
I wish that blacks here in America still had that fight in them. I'm afraid that a little success and un-affirmative action has dulled the senses.
I know what you mean and have had exactly the same response. I mean, the concerts at each crisis (well, at some of them...) are good and well intentioned.
But to me there's a real lack of political leadership both in and out of Africa. The world's people seem to care much more about this matter than the world's leaders.
You're right about not expecing any reinforcement. It's the battle of the Bulge all over again, we either make it, or lose it completeley
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I would just like to say that you should not be discouraged or be pessimistic. The journey is long and the struggle has just begun!
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