Millennium Development Goals –
While I think that the goals discussed in this article were good goals, I think that not until last year did anyone think about how each country might have a different cultural backdrop or different funding to achieve the goals, and so a standard set of goals might not be the best approach. I also think that some of the goals would seem a lot less important than others, depending on which country you were from. Take environmental sustainability for example, while this is extremely important, and achieving this goal would fix a lot of issues, in say Africa, I think that the government there would rather pour their money into the medical goals, like AIDS/HIV, which they have such a large issue with. But this said, I do think that the creation of the acceleration framework will allow for each government to specify more and allow the goals to be of more use. One more thing that bothered me a little was that the article didn’t mention aide that was to go to the countries to help achieve these goals, whether it be medical supplies, teaching materials, or anything else, I know that the third world countries would have a better chance of meeting the goals if they were able to get the funds.
Aide vs. Trade –
I thought this talk was very interesting. I really liked that she pointed out that Africa has given aide and without their aide, America wouldn’t be what it is today. I also liked that she pointed out that Africans should not refuse aide, or be on the defensive about it. I feel that in a lot of cases of lower income families/individuals in the US, many are ashamed of getting things like food stamps, when there should be no shame. If you need something to better yourself and your family, then take it and don’t look back. I also liked her idea of a partnership of aide, government, private sector, and the African people. I think that it is important to have private development, which will most often create jobs, and I also think it is important for the government to be there to fix things that the private sector may not find profitable, like health aide. But I also like that she points out the importance of the African people to step up and create a conference with those who are giving to their country and say to them this is what we need, don’t spend money on that because it won’t work. An insider knows a lot more about what is working and what is really broken and the tools that can fix it. Below the video were some nasty comments on the African political structure, and how aide should come only after that is fixed, but I think that by building infrastructure like the video suggests, not only can changes happen faster, because if we waited around for the government to change, we might never get social change, but average African people will also have more power, they will become important economic and social agents, and with education and jobs, they will require changes from their government to accommodate them. So I think that in order to really help people in other countries, like Africa, we need to first ask them what they need help with, and then we need to work with their people, and investors, to create/build infrastructure that will create positive change and investments in the future.
How Does Foreign Aide Fail? –
This article tied in nicely with the previous video. Aide is all good and dandy, but spending it well is what is important. I would think that since such large amounts of money are given in aide, those that are giving it would really make sure it’s going to the right places, so that in the future, they don’t have to give as much, if any. Blindly giving aid to countries creates a vicious circle. I also likes that the author pointed out that the “experts” that determine where the aide should go are not at all experts. The Africans people should really be a part of the aide process and because they aren’t, money is being spent inefficiently. I also liked that the article pointed out some of the issues with giving. Those that give to feel good, and have no real connection to the outcome, give just to give and don’t follow up, or investigate, where they are putting their money. If only there was massive world legislation like SB 40! J The author writes that there is no accountability, no efficiency. I think that this should be a little more obvious then we claim it is, I mean if we are giving so much to make the lives of Africans better, then why isn’t it working, why hasn’t the death rates due to disease significantly lowered, why haven’t we seen the changes that these aide dollars are supposedly creating?
Mercy Corps –
“Mercy Corps helps people turn the crises they confront into the opportunities they deserve”. I liked that it said they give people the tools and support to change their communities and better their own lives. It seems to really put the people at the center. I also liked that the people that work for them, have often also received aide from them in the past, and live in the countries that they are to be helping. This provides them with an inside look at what needs to be fixed, and also gives them knowledge of how it can be fixed. The type of help that Mercy Corps offers is a very long list, which seemed to share a lot of similarities with the MDG’s. They work to create jobs, provide training, education, and a lot of what they do seems to focus on the youth of the countries they are helping. I have always found this to be important. All too often people forget that the youth will become the adults, and without proper education and training, the circle will never change. I think that the goals are to help people help themselves, to get those in need involved with fixing their own issues, while giving them the tools to fix things in the future without assistance. I found Mercy Corps to be very interesting, and having never heard of them before, I am glad that I had the chance to learn about them.
