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SPIEGEL: Following World War II, Germany only managed to get back on its feet because the Americans poured money into the country through the Marshall Plan. Wouldn't that qualify as successful development aid?

Shikwati: In Germany's case, only the destroyed infrastructure had to be repaired. Despite the economic crisis of the Weimar Republic, Germany was a highly- industrialized country before the war. The damages created by the tsunami in Thailand can also be fixed with a little money and some reconstruction aid. Africa, however, must take the first steps into modernity on its own. There must be a change in mentality. We have to stop perceiving ourselves as beggars. These days, Africans only perceive themselves as victims. On the other hand, no one can really picture an African as a businessman. In order to change the current situation, it would be helpful if the aid organizations were to pull out.

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Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
 
He has a point. Tossing money at the problem won't solve it.

Don't send food, send agricultural engineers so that farmers can make the most of the land. Jobs can be created by allowing industries, foreign and domestic, to take advantage of Africa's national resources. In time, build schools. Educate people about business, industry, (and while we're at it, educate people about HIV).

Mind you, most of these solutions require money, but are not as direct as pumping cash and resources into nations' governments. Africans (and Iraqis, for that matter) will benefit most when their futures are built by those who have the most to gain-- themselves.

--j_k
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 
Drat, you're too fast!!
 

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Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
 
Where? *eyeshifts*

Yeah, I looked at the first page, and saw the thread, and wondered who had replied. Then I noticed my stuff in quotes.

Then I saw my name beside it. Whoops, must've misclicked there.

--j_k
 

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Posted by docmagik (Member # 1131) on :
 
Thanks for that, Narnia.

That was good reading.

My father spends a good amount of time with ambassadors from other countries. My dad works with dairy farming, and they send ambassadors out to tour the dairies.

I'm always thinking, "Why don't they send dairymen out to tour the dairies?"

He has gone to other countries, however, to do seminars on aspects of production. There really should be more of that.
 

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Posted by RoyHobbs (Member # 7594) on :
 
"Give a man a fish, feed him for a day.
Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime."
 

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Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
 
Teach a man to print money, and he can run up two more billion dollars of debt every day without worrying about paying off his IOUs.

[ July 09, 2005, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]
 

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Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
 

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He has gone to other countries, however, to do seminars on aspects of production. There really should be more of that.

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Good on your dad docmagik! Sounds like he does great work.

The LDS church has been encouraging older couples to go on missions together for reasons like this. There are a lot of talented doctors, farmers, businessmen, educators etc. that can teach valuable skills. There was a great story I heard (I think at General conference) where a man and his wife were sent to siberia because they were expert potato farmers. They taught this town how to farm better and more efficiently and it really helped the people.

You're right, we do need more of that.
 

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Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
 
I agree with what JamesTK said. The money should not just be given but it should be used to work on projects- schools, for instance.

Aid is needed but not in the form of straight food or cash. However, it's still "aid", it's just more responsible.
 

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Posted by Diana Bailey (Member # 8313) on :
 
Good grief! (no profanity ) Shikwati is indulging in hyperbole. The Nigerians I taught and knew did not see themselves as victims and they certainly were not part of any elite. And believe me, the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well. I never knew a shipload of books and supplies from an American church or even the U.N. that did not end up sold, not given away, at the local market. Aid has to be managed well, because there is alot of corruption in Africa, but it is necessary. I saw student's actually studying lab science and people's lives saved because of western aid. Let's hope the aid just approved by the G8 forum actually gets distributed soon.

Shikwati may have a point about AIDS. I learned to ask the coffin makers if I wanted to know exactly who died and of what disease. But make no mistake- Africa has been hit very hard by AIDS and needs clinics, medicine and educational resources _now_.
 

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Posted by Puppy (Member # 6721) on :
 
Give a man a fire, and he'll have fire for a night.

Set a man on fire, and he'll have fire for the rest of his life.
 

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Posted by The Reader (Member # 3636) on :
 

quote:

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Give a man a fire, and he'll have fire for a night.

Set a man on fire, and he'll have fire for the rest of his life.

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