Every single day, 30,000 children are dying
This started off as a weblob post but I feel it requires more prominence and I want to start a comment discussion.
I just read this article on CNN that the Bush administration will announce plans to spend $674 million for "humanitarian emergencies" in Africa. BBC News are also covering the story: 'Bush to pledge Africa aid cash'.
"WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Bush administration will announce plans to spend $674 million for "humanitarian emergencies" in Africa during a visit by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, according to a U.S. official."
It carries on to say:
"U.S. officials have made it clear the White House doesn't want to double aid to Africa or forgive debts unless countries weed out corruption and reform their governments.
Bush told reporters last week that developed countries "are not going to want to give aid to countries that are corrupt, or don't hold true to democratic principles, such as rule of law and transparency and human rights and human decency.""
Ok, so let's look at the figures. $674 million is 0.0016% of the US military expenditure alone (2005 FY budget). And under double what the US contributed to the Tsunami relief fund earlier this year.
The final Tsunami death toll, from what I could find out, was around 220, 000. According to Make Poverty History, every single day, 30,000 children are dying as a result of extreme poverty. Which is 210, 000 every week.
"The US has also refused to agree to give 0.7% of its national income in international aid, a long-term commitment Mr Blair wants from all G8 countries."
I'm disgusted.
- leave a comment
13 Comments
Fuck Bush, that’s all you can say!
Dude, I’m with your viewpoint. Tosser – I doubt he knows how to spell the word “aid”.
Although in some terms, I don’t necessarily disagree with the proposed conditions that governments would need to meet before their country is entitled to receive aid. There are some gross human-rights issues in a number of African nations (eg. Sudan) that desperately need addressing. While at the same time, I don’t believe that the US has any right to demand any nation adopt an “american” style of government, which is something I think that the subtext of those reports hints at.
It’s interesting though – cause & effect-wise – what impact donating aid and withholding it, plays in these countries…
I also had a look this morning. America is so stuck up, they wont even give 0.7% of its income. They should come to Africa and see it for themselves then maybe he might think twice.
Uhm, I don’t understand your anger at this. Sure, the Americans have a ton of money to be spent (mostly on the Military), but they are a rather self interested bunch who don’t see this as an investment that they will reap from. And, lets not forget that corruption is a huge issue in Africa .
To put a more personal lean on it – would you give away 0.7% of your pre tax annual income to a beggar with a history of using it for booze?
I think that many countries deserve aid, but sadly there are those countries, which are corrupt, and have no interest in the quality of living conditions and could not be concerned with the suffering of their people. They take all for themselves and let the innocent suffer. It is realistic, but not easy, to try differentiate, between those who will genuinely use their aid for the purpose intended and those who are corrupt. Unfortunately, it is not fair to those who are the ones plagued with famine, and who are trapped in a corrupt country.
Hahaha….you actually thought that Bush cared about anyone out of Texas. Sucker!
*hides*
The American Government was pressured into helping in the Tsunami Disaster (ooh, capitalised and everything). It was also an opportunity to improve their world-wide PR after the abortion that was Iraq (Am I the only one to recall it was “apparently” Osama and not Hussain that was the real villain of “that fateful day”?)
Africa can offer little in viable returns for the current Bush reign of the Americas and as such, as a long-term project, holds little interest to the greedy and short-sighted views of Dubya.
I wanted to move to America. I wanted to be an American. I wanted to feel proud of the Red, White and Blue. Clinton did that for me. Bush took it away.
But wait, there’s more! (as if it ever ends…)
“President George W. Bush’s decision not to sign the US up to the Kyoto global warming treaty (I mentioned that before) was partly a result of pressure from ExxonMobil, the world’s most powerful oil company, and other industries.”
See ‘Bush official changed climate reports‘.
Bush is as much use as a cock-flavoured lollypop. Durka Durka….
In a way Bush can make me laugh.
Well, I was just wondering… shouldn’t you get a link to the Weblob-section in the mainnavigation also?
Re Chris: “The American Government was pressured into helping in the Tsunami Disaster (ooh, capitalised and everything).”:
The original amount pledged by the US Government for the Tsunami relief effort was under half that budgeted for GWB’s re-inauguration celebrations.
To borrow from a Looney Tunes character…. “That’s… depthicable.”
This post is like a homeless person screaming, swearing and shouting at you after you’ve only given him R1.
After you gave his mate R1000 and spent R1000 000 on a new pair of takkies
Leave a Comment
Your e-mail address is required, but will not be published.
07 June 2005
Jo09:42 pm
Hear hear!
I agree with you. This plan – as those before- feel like a very cheep way to ‘keep the customer satisfied’
This is not aid, this is ‘how-to-buy-votes-advanced strategies edition’