Film, Media & TV3 mins ago
The Uk Is Sierra Leone’S Biggest Donor, Why?
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We can't win whatever, cut the amount we pay in aid, so we then have to spend an extra £100m to the £230m bill we already pay for tackling the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone.
/// Critics partly blame the growing bill on the coalition slashing the amount of aid allocated to Sierra Leonean health projects in recent years, leaving the country ill-prepared, with an acute shortage of doctors. Without an effective health system, Sierra Leone was easily overwhelmed by the outbreak. ///
We can't win whatever, cut the amount we pay in aid, so we then have to spend an extra £100m to the £230m bill we already pay for tackling the Ebola virus in Sierra Leone.
/// Critics partly blame the growing bill on the coalition slashing the amount of aid allocated to Sierra Leonean health projects in recent years, leaving the country ill-prepared, with an acute shortage of doctors. Without an effective health system, Sierra Leone was easily overwhelmed by the outbreak. ///
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Foreign aid, effectively targeted, is no bad thing and indeed has the potential to save, or even make, money in the long-term.
This particular story shows why it was, and still is, so important to tackle Ebola at the source -- Sierra Leone's own health system was woefully inadequate to deal with the outbreak, meaning that it grew far larger than it might have in a country such as, say, Nigeria, where the health system was able to swing into action and restrict the number of cases to 20 or so, as opposed to 10,000 and growing.
If we're going to give money out in foreign aid we should be careful to ensure that it actually goes to the places it's meant to go rather than being lost due to corruption, but equally we shouldn't let the risks of corruption discourage us from giving aid either. It is vital, not just for the people it's meant to help directly, but also for the country through a whole range of knock-on effects.
This particular story shows why it was, and still is, so important to tackle Ebola at the source -- Sierra Leone's own health system was woefully inadequate to deal with the outbreak, meaning that it grew far larger than it might have in a country such as, say, Nigeria, where the health system was able to swing into action and restrict the number of cases to 20 or so, as opposed to 10,000 and growing.
If we're going to give money out in foreign aid we should be careful to ensure that it actually goes to the places it's meant to go rather than being lost due to corruption, but equally we shouldn't let the risks of corruption discourage us from giving aid either. It is vital, not just for the people it's meant to help directly, but also for the country through a whole range of knock-on effects.
Gromit
/// I expect because they were a member of the British Empire, and because they are members of the British Commonwealth.
We have a long history in the country, so the ties are still close. ///
Oh aren't we the nasty British who sailed up their rivers in gun boats and raped and plundered on our way, and couldn't they just couldn't wait to kick us out of their countries, so as to be ruled by their British University educated politicians who promised them all a much better standard of living?
Should we now allow their people to vote for our return, I am sure their lives were much better under British rule.
/// I expect because they were a member of the British Empire, and because they are members of the British Commonwealth.
We have a long history in the country, so the ties are still close. ///
Oh aren't we the nasty British who sailed up their rivers in gun boats and raped and plundered on our way, and couldn't they just couldn't wait to kick us out of their countries, so as to be ruled by their British University educated politicians who promised them all a much better standard of living?
Should we now allow their people to vote for our return, I am sure their lives were much better under British rule.
jim360
/// Again, I'm not sure if you seriously think that colonialism was better for Africa than self-government. ///
Africa advanced more in the few years it was colonised than all it's history.
/// And besides, is that even the point? People like to have control over their own country, even if that doesn't always work out. ///
That is a luxury one can afford if one does not have to be supported year after year by other countries.
Like to have a guess on how long it will be before Africa can stand on it's own feet?
Always seemed strange to me that Africa is said to be the birthplace of humanity, yet Britain that was a slow starter in the schemes of things is so much further advanced, and that is not to mention the USA post Columbus.
/// Again, I'm not sure if you seriously think that colonialism was better for Africa than self-government. ///
Africa advanced more in the few years it was colonised than all it's history.
/// And besides, is that even the point? People like to have control over their own country, even if that doesn't always work out. ///
That is a luxury one can afford if one does not have to be supported year after year by other countries.
Like to have a guess on how long it will be before Africa can stand on it's own feet?
Always seemed strange to me that Africa is said to be the birthplace of humanity, yet Britain that was a slow starter in the schemes of things is so much further advanced, and that is not to mention the USA post Columbus.
Gromit
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/// You still haven't told us why Sierra Leone gets the most aid. ///
Simply because I do not know.
/// I cannot tell if you agree that it is because of our colonial ties, or whether you are just anti-Commonwealth. ///
Then that is your problem Gromit, am I forced to give any reason, to a statement that I have never made?
/// You must have a reason if you do not agree with mine, why are you not saying what it is? ///
There are many things that you say that I disagree with but if I was to give a reason why it would turn this site into a Gromit and AOG question and answer site, plus the fact that I have already answered your post.
Mark as Best Answer
/// You still haven't told us why Sierra Leone gets the most aid. ///
Simply because I do not know.
/// I cannot tell if you agree that it is because of our colonial ties, or whether you are just anti-Commonwealth. ///
Then that is your problem Gromit, am I forced to give any reason, to a statement that I have never made?
/// You must have a reason if you do not agree with mine, why are you not saying what it is? ///
There are many things that you say that I disagree with but if I was to give a reason why it would turn this site into a Gromit and AOG question and answer site, plus the fact that I have already answered your post.
http://
This article shows who is sending how much and to where.
This article shows who is sending how much and to where.
Posting an question that you don't know the answer to is fair enough.
But why then disagree with all the people trying to answer your questionn?
You see to deeply disagree that it is anything to do with our colonial past, but then give no reasons why you disagree.
If you are unwilling to discuss it, not sure why you have posted the question?
But why then disagree with all the people trying to answer your questionn?
You see to deeply disagree that it is anything to do with our colonial past, but then give no reasons why you disagree.
If you are unwilling to discuss it, not sure why you have posted the question?
Gromit
/// But why then disagree with all the people trying to answer your questionn? You see to deeply disagree that it is anything to do with our colonial past, but then give no reasons why you disagree.///
Perhaps it is because their answers are not viable answers, almost like some technical questions one asks, one doesn't know the answer themselves, but are technically minded enough to know some answers are incorrect.
/// If you are unwilling to discuss it, not sure why you have posted the question? ///
Isn't this a question and answer site? I am just waiting for a feasible answer.
/// But why then disagree with all the people trying to answer your questionn? You see to deeply disagree that it is anything to do with our colonial past, but then give no reasons why you disagree.///
Perhaps it is because their answers are not viable answers, almost like some technical questions one asks, one doesn't know the answer themselves, but are technically minded enough to know some answers are incorrect.
/// If you are unwilling to discuss it, not sure why you have posted the question? ///
Isn't this a question and answer site? I am just waiting for a feasible answer.
Gromit
/// So let's summarise. ///
/// Sierre Leone gets the most aid.
No one knows why.
But it definitely isn't due to our colonial ties. ///
Well one can only guess but it is doubtful since it is not the only country we colonised, if this was the reason why pick Sierra Leone as the largest benefactor?
/// So let's summarise. ///
/// Sierre Leone gets the most aid.
No one knows why.
But it definitely isn't due to our colonial ties. ///
Well one can only guess but it is doubtful since it is not the only country we colonised, if this was the reason why pick Sierra Leone as the largest benefactor?
AOG
I think we are Sierre Leone's biggest donor because the UK and SL are linked through a shared colonial past, and because of SL's potential for future British interests.
Sierra Leone is rich in diamonds and other minerals. The trade in illicit gems, known as "blood diamonds" for their role in funding conflicts, perpetuated the civil war in the country.
British interests (and trade) in the region are dependent to a degree, in the health of its citizens and the health of its economy.
I think we need to rethink what we think of as 'aid'. My understanding is that unlike the charitable donations that we all make to whatever causes we support, when governments provide aid, there is always an 'eye to future'.
Aid, and foreign development budgets have building influence, and ensuring that we are ahead of our competitors when future trade deals are ratified.
You'll probably see that the largest foreign aid contributions to countries that were colonised by France and Holland are also topped by those countries.
I think we are Sierre Leone's biggest donor because the UK and SL are linked through a shared colonial past, and because of SL's potential for future British interests.
Sierra Leone is rich in diamonds and other minerals. The trade in illicit gems, known as "blood diamonds" for their role in funding conflicts, perpetuated the civil war in the country.
British interests (and trade) in the region are dependent to a degree, in the health of its citizens and the health of its economy.
I think we need to rethink what we think of as 'aid'. My understanding is that unlike the charitable donations that we all make to whatever causes we support, when governments provide aid, there is always an 'eye to future'.
Aid, and foreign development budgets have building influence, and ensuring that we are ahead of our competitors when future trade deals are ratified.
You'll probably see that the largest foreign aid contributions to countries that were colonised by France and Holland are also topped by those countries.
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