A Rant at a Charitable cause

[Papewaio]

Africa has many problems, but excessive negativity from outsiders is, IMO, one of them.

Excessive negativity is hardly the reason millions die of famine, millions get their houses bulldozed, millions die of aids or millions die in inter tribal warfare.

Nor will flagellation by rock concert resolve the very real issues.

[Navaros]

Live8 certainly was soliciting for money; just in a more indirect way than is usual

they were saying that normal people should pressure their politicians to send average joe's hard-earned tax money to go help strangers in a foreign land rather than helping the starving/homeless etc. in their own country first

and it's true that the billionaire celebrities should sell a few of their mansions and donate that money if they really wanna make a difference. but of course that's not gonna happen.

[kiwitt]

I agree somewhat with Gawain here again. I am reminded of an old saying

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

This is how the richer countries should help the poorer countries: Education !

[Lemur]

Kiwitt, I think you got the quote mixed up. The correct version is: "Give a man a fish and he owes you one fish. Teach a man to fish and you forfeit your monopoly on fisheries."

[Xiahou]

Kiwitt, I think you got the quote mixed up. The correct version is: "Give a man a fish and he owes you one fish. Teach a man to fish and you forfeit your monopoly on fisheries."

You're on to something there. Africa needs trade, not aid.