Here’s a quick summary from Voice of America.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-07-10-voa3.cfm
Please forgive me for being cynical and jaded but after so many of these “historic announcements” one can get a bit skeptical. There’s a big difference between pledging and putting up the money.
It’s easy to pledge, it’s difficult to put up.
Then there’s the problem of what happens to the money if/when it is put up. Safe to say that if it makes it into the hands of a government that can’t feed its people, that money is as good as gone. Stolen to support lavish lifestyles. Sad, true, predictable and verifiable. It has happened so many times that when some money does actually make it through to help people eat, it’s a miracle.
There are thousands of aid workers all over the world risking their lives to help people eat. These workers need support, protection and real commitments to help. Not just some big numbers thrown around at a conference.
Pledges of $20 billion make for nice sound and video bites at a summit of world leaders. But it does little to help those who are starving to death.
Ray Salomone Personal Trainer and Wellness Activist
Blog: www.GrecoRomanWellness.wordpress.com
The Most Provocative Wellness Blog on the internet
Contact me directly: Ray@GrecoRomanWellness.com
1 Comment
July 11, 2009 at 13:07
Aid should only EVER go direct to the people who need it. If it goes to a government, or local organisation, it will almost certainly, as you say, end up in the pockets of the wealthy local assholes. Consequently, if you can’t deliver it directly yourself then don’t bother – things will be no worse for those in need than it will be if you give it and forget it.
Generally, at least a percentage of the aid should be delivered in a way that helps and empowers the population to become more self sustaining. A bag of rice is a bag of rice and very quickly used up. Likewise a tank of water is drunk and evaporates. Basic farming tools and some seed, or sinking a well may cost little more and will hopefully last a whole family or village for a lifetime, or if some simple advice on things like irrigation is added, maybe several lifetimes.
I guess that’s a bit too sensible for those that are seeking sound bites, though.