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Is Aid for Africa Working?

  • 06-11-2016 10:44PM
    #1
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 13,445 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Like many people, I give money to charity in monthly instalments but the more I read up on charity and international aid, the less I am convinced that this is the most effective way to lift people out of abject poverty.

    For instance, the West has been pouring billions in aid - either governmental or through NGO charity - to African countries over the past 60 or so years and if anything the continent is becoming poorer. Is this due to corrupt governments siphoning off the money targeted at the poor, is it due to unfair international trade practices, is it due to neo-colonial economic exploitation of poor countries by the West?

    Hundreds of millions of people in Asia have been lifted out of poverty over the past 30 years (especially in China) and this has been the result of government policies promoting economic/infrastructure development and not aid.

    So what is the answer?


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 85,849 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    GDY151


    Rubbers are the answer.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 23,646 ✭✭✭✭qo2cj1dsne8y4k


    I used to donate to concern but cancelled it when they would leap out infront of me like a crouching tiger and ask me to donate, and when I would say I foster already they'd ask me to donate more. Get ta fug.
    Cancelling my subscription will pay for two hours less harassment from these people


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,802 ✭✭✭✭suicide_circus


    keeping the black man down by keeping him dependant on handouts


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 193 ✭✭VladamirP


    Aid to Africa is a scam, it's being plundered by the west for it's minerals, here this article will save my fingers.

    The world’s $58 billion scam of Africa
    http://thisisafrica.me/world-scams-africa-unbalanced-reality-aid-africa/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,786 ✭✭✭wakka12


    Nobody can really save a countries population but the countries own government tbh. Why should other countries care about others that arent in their best interest. Has there ever been a case where a country or group of countries lifted a country from poverty to relatively normal standard of living?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,318 ✭✭✭✭Grandeeod


    Aid for Africa is working for all those CEO's of charities. They will happily accept corrupt Governments because it assists them.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 454 ✭✭b_mac2


    I've spent nearly 6 months in central Africa and it's safe to say that there is no hope for the place. The only help from aid agencies I saw over there were the brand new WFP branded jeeps, which were given to the village elders.

    Also it taught me that all NGO's are corrupt to the core.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 990 ✭✭✭Ted111


    Send advice and encouragement. Maybe some inspiration gifs.
    But no cash.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 24,465 ✭✭✭✭darkpagandeath


    Them lads for the ahem famine in Ethiopia are still in the same camp using aid as currency. Also it was not a famine it was a man made event the gov wanted to kill off a group of people. Moved them to land that cannot grow crops.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 413 ✭✭Merowig


    Asian countries were as well colonies - and look where Singapur, Hong-Kong, Malaysia etc are now. 2 Atomic bombs were dropped on Japan and look at the country now. Germany was bombed to bits and pieces - half of the country was a Soviet satellite for decades... and now...


    Giving aid is like burning money in my opinion.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,800 ✭✭✭Senna


    VladamirP wrote: »
    Aid to Africa is a scam, it's being plundered by the west for it's minerals, here this article will save my fingers.

    The world’s $58 billion scam of Africa
    http://thisisafrica.me/world-scams-africa-unbalanced-reality-aid-africa/

    While I kind of agree with the sentiment, that's the worst wrote, badly researched, biased and condenseding article I have ever read.
    Africa is huge, the whole country does not depend on aid and you cant just take the figures that suit you, ignore African business and pull a figure out of your ass.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 850 ✭✭✭Hans Bricks


    Botswana is apparently doing quite well for itself independently. Perhaps the rest of Africa should look to it for example ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,798 ✭✭✭goose2005


    The African population is predicted to grow from 1 to 4 billion by 2100, so any rise in the economy is likely to be swallowed up by the rising population


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 193 ✭✭VladamirP


    Senna wrote: »
    While I kind of agree with the sentiment, that's the worst wrote, badly researched, biased and condenseding article I have ever read.
    Africa is huge, the whole country does not depend on aid and you cant just take the figures that suit you, ignore African business and pull a figure out of your ass.

    Sorry can you provide me with a better example, my point is Africa should be very rich, it has what the rest of the world need and want, but instead of paying, they take.

    Africa is a continent made up of lots of countries, but it's the most plundered continent on the planet and has been for a long time, gold, diamonds, oil, uranium, to name just a few of the natural resources being stolen from under the poor's feet by western and Chinese companies with the help of western backed dictators.

    I hope one of these links will be up to your standards.

    Stop the Plunder of Africa
    http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/10/opinion/global/stop-the-plunder-of-africa.html

    Africa loses $50bn a year in plundered resources
    http://mg.co.za/article/2014-05-07-africa-loses-50bn-a-year-in-plundered-resources

    Undermining Africa's wealth
    http://www.osisa.org/economic-justice/blog/undermining-africas-wealth

    Africa’s resources still plundered by corrupt officials
    http://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/special-report/2014/05/08/africa%E2%80%99s-resources-plundered-by-corrupt-officials/


    https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/33/27/97/332797cb12055f3ac6a38a99c3ee0e60.jpg

    https://www.courses.psu.edu/test/test100_hkr/AFIM/Jpegs/NR_W.jpg

    https://afrospear.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/afi.jpg

    http://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/77bcb314-8b51-4dbd-97bc-75076963f7a4/6612b0a7-25de-4b7f-8886-41c3296f92afimage8.png


  • Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 94,516 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    Targeted Aid works best and Ireland is one of the best in that regards.

    Trade would be better but too many one-sided treaties for that.


    Zambia would be doing a lot better if all it's copper exports weren't routed through a small village in Switzerland to avoid giving them a share of the profits.

    Overall the cash flow is out from Africa and that's one reason why we have so many economic migrants heading our way.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,681 ✭✭✭the_pen_turner


    i never give to any of those charities. all the money is wasted.
    they send all this money to fund stupid things like schools (they are nowhere near ready for schools), computers, fancy cloths,

    they need to reduce the numbers in these areas to levels that the land can support. do this with contractption and castration.
    then help them farm the land so that they can support themselvs

    then when there is a decent foundation built you can start raising the level of acidemic education.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 193 ✭✭VladamirP


    i never give to any of those charities. all the money is wasted.
    they send all this money to fund stupid things like schools (they are nowhere near ready for schools), computers, fancy cloths,

    they need to reduce the numbers in these areas to levels that the land can support. do this with contractption and castration.
    then help them farm the land so that they can support themselvs

    then when there is a decent foundation built you can start raising the level of acidemic education.

    But they can't be empowered or shown how to be self sufficient, that would eventually lead to bigger thoughts and aspirations, God forbid they might even start thinking of kicking the multinationals out.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,327 ✭✭✭✭Donald Trump




  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 193 ✭✭VladamirP




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,117 ✭✭✭✭Junkyard Tom


    I bless the rains down in Africa


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,229 ✭✭✭LeinsterDub


    Africa is a very big place lots of it doing quite well


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 638 ✭✭✭Skommando


    How many people do we have to move from Africa to Europe before Europe works out that's not a solution ?


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 13,445 Mod ✭✭✭✭JupiterKid


    Africa is a very big place lots of it doing quite well

    Some as in a few, African countries are doing ok. But most clearly aren't. Deeply corrupt governments interested only in feathering their own nests, corrupt wealthy elites, the kleptocracy and a hugely impoverished populace.

    Wars, famines, rampant disease, poor or no infrastructure, superstition, FGM, child soldiers, refugees, overpopulation.

    Utter dysfunctionalism.

    Good article on why aid to Africa is not alleviating poverty:
    http://www.spectator.co.uk/2014/01/why-aid-fails/


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 13,445 Mod ✭✭✭✭JupiterKid


    If the level of aid to Africa since the 1950s hadn't been forthcoming, would things have been different?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 193 ✭✭VladamirP


    JupiterKid wrote: »
    If the level of aid to Africa since the 1950s hadn't been forthcoming, would things have been different?

    If the amount stolen from Africa since 1700, hadn't been invaded and colonized wasn't nearly as high then yes Africa would be a totally different place.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,299 ✭✭✭Dick phelan


    The problem is corruption and populations being too big, There is wealth in Africa the problem is it's all controlled by very corrupt governments who give nothing to help their people, a lot of the money we send ends up going to either the CEO's of the charity or warlords, corrupt governments ect. The harsh truth is it is better for us if plenty of poor countries still exist, imagine how expensive goods would be if we actually had to pay handsomely for the raw materials, How much would clothes cost if their were no sweatshops?

    If we really wanted to help Africa we could but the reality is deep down we like things to remain as they are, people throw a few quid in the trocaire box or whatever to make themselves feel good and to feel like they are doing something to help, reality is all that stuff is a waste of money. What Africa needs is stable government and fair trade deals but that's not to our benefit so it won't happen.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,449 ✭✭✭✭pwurple


    Aid won't counteract us drying up a continent by ignoring climate change.

    You can have all the diamonds in the world, but if your crops fail, you either fight with your neighbours for their stuff, or flee north (hello calais).

    People are so surprised by everyone flooding out of africa. As if we'd stay there while it's being scorched by the west.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 193 ✭✭VladamirP


    pwurple wrote: »
    Aid won't counteract us drying up a continent by ignoring climate change.

    You can have all the diamonds in the world, but if your crops fail, you either fight with your neighbours for their stuff, or flee north (hello calais).

    People are so surprised by everyone flooding out of africa. As if we'd stay there while it's being scorched by the west.

    You can't eat gold or diamonds.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 413 ✭✭Merowig


    Africa is not colonized any longer - you can't blame the West for its problems. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait etc also sold with success their ressources.


    Vladimir That you posted that link http://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/special-report/2014/05/08/africa%E2%80%99s-resources-plundered-by-corrupt-officials/ and that one http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/10/opinion/global/stop-the-plunder-of-africa.html is more than ironic - as Koffi Annan himself was involved in corruption!

    Africa is responsible for itself.
    China and Western companies pay for the ressources - they don't occupy and take as you claim.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 193 ✭✭VladamirP


    Merowig wrote: »
    Africa is not colonized any longer - you can't blame the West for its problems. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait etc also sold with success their ressources.


    Vladimir That you posted that link http://www.cnbcafrica.com/news/special-report/2014/05/08/africa%E2%80%99s-resources-plundered-by-corrupt-officials/ and that one http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/10/opinion/global/stop-the-plunder-of-africa.html is more than ironic - as Koffi Annan himself was involved in corruption!

    Africa is responsible for iself.
    China and Western companies pay for the ressources - they don't occupy and take as you claim.


    Ohh shut up.

    Of course Koffi is corrupt, they all are, all elites are corrupt, in every country.


    And yes they do, you get a list of foreign companies in Africa, taking their goods, and I'll get a list of national companies putting it back into said country, guess who'll have the longer task, not me.


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