Foreign Aid Is Good ??

[Mats]

We in the West have seen countless appeals for aid to Africa. Here, Andrew Mwenda argues that instead of helping Africa, the aid is actually keeping countries poor. Leaders in Africa find it more profitable to lobby aids donors than develop industry in their own countries.
TED: Andrew Mwenda_takes_a_new look at Africa

[ejm]

Andrew Mwenda argues that instead of helping Africa, the aid is actually keeping countries poor.

And what are your views on this, MEF? Have you always thought the same thing or has your view changed after having heard Mwenda?

(It puts me in mind of the dilemma about buying fairtrade coffee over nonfairtrade coffee. Is it right to further punish the grossly underpaid workers by boycotting what they are producing or is it better to only support the fair trade producers? And how do we know that they really are fair trade?)

[Lawless in Lotusland]

1. Some argue for fair trade rather than more aid or free trade. I must watch Mwenga's talk, though.

2. Regarding purchasing fair-trade coffee. If we all did this, there would be more pressure on other companies to start doing it. Most of us don't buy things in order to ensure we support the workers who make them. Not unless it's a cute neighbour kid at the door selling chocolates for a cause we don't much care about.