Still Pouring Our Money Away In Ethiopia...

[Philtaz]

..despite advice to the contrary.

http://news.bbc.co.uk...newsnight/9556288.stm

From the link:

A joint undercover investigation by BBC Newsnight and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism has uncovered evidence that the Ethiopian government is using billions of dollars of development aid as a tool for political oppression.
......

Yet Western donors including Britain - which is the third largest donor to Ethiopia - stand accused of turning a blind eye by continuing to provide aid money despite being warned about the abuses.

The aid in question is long-term development aid, not the emergency aid provided in response to the current drought in Ethiopia and its neighbours in the Horn of Africa.

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I guess we'll continue to be an easy touch for cash as far as dodgy governments in African countries are concerned.

[Carakeel]

I'm afraid I am going to make myself rather unpopular here by saying that I do not agree with the UK government sending such huge amounts of money ( 52 m) to the African countries. Year on year it has been shown not to help these countries free themselves from oppressive governments, nor has it actually taught these countries how to develop and manage their resources, i.e. develop their agriculture, create jobs etc. on a larger scale. I have had friends from several African countries tell me that they have no chance of developing their own businesses, as the International charities have killed off many of the markets. Most of the money that is donated through the governments is not used in a way that helps the people in these countries to provide for themselves and begin to develop a healthy economy. The pictures we see on the TV and in the papers by no means tell the whole story. These are chosen in order to touch our emotions and make us want to give more. The positive projects that are shown are apparently few and far between - despite the immense sums of money that foreign governments and public donations provide. None of us like seeing children suffering, mothers holding dying babies ... But, then I ask, where are the fathers??? We see few of them in these documentaries. Religious groups and charities also often misuse the moneys they are given for the African causes. Some so called missionaries live in what can only be described as luxury villas, while warehouses are sometimes found filled with rotting food and rat eaten clothing, because their delivery has not been properly managed. On the other hand, we are told the government cannot afford to i.e. pay for life saving cancer treatments that are successfully used in other European countries, even the ones that have actually been develped here in the UK! Ah, but then isn't all this really about politicians making a name for themselves and raising the image of the UK government in front of other countries. I wonder if they will ever get to the point where they realise it is the British people they need to be impressing and looking after first!!! Don't get me wrong. I am not against helping the people who are suffering in the African nations, but I do think we should be paying far, far less and we need to ensure that these funds are used in a far more effective manner. They money that would be saved could then be used to sort out our own problems here in the UK, i.e. health care, education, proper funding for the police and rescue services etc etc etc ... the list is so long!!! Sorry, rant over!

[rov1100]

If British women resembled anything like these starving African women they would be told to cut back on food as they had an obesity problem.

[Everhelpful]

Carakeel,You certainly haven't made yourself unpopular with me,I agree with everything you said.

[modeller]

My cousin was staying in a 5 star hotel in China when he asked for a glass of milk . It arrived on a tray complete with a carton of milk marked
A Gift from Oxfam . He complained and pointed out it was paid for by us and meant for those in real need not first class guests in a hotel. Needless to say it was greeted with a shrug of the shoulders.