Make Poverty History

In case you're wodering what that banner is in the top corner of this page, its a link to the 'make poverty history' webpage. Dont get me wrong, I'm no hippie charity anarchist freak, I just think what they stand for is really admirable, although I dont believe for one second that what they do makes any difference. Its a shame really, cause what they stand for is really honourable, but naive, you cant fix a country by throwing money at it, and thats what every charity does. The money doesnt get to the people that need it, instead it fills the pockets of the corrupt African leaders that run their own countries into the ground. But that doesnt stop the pleas for billions more money to be thrown at the continent, I think its become trendy for 1st world countries to do that, you know, its the latest in-thing, just like the flavour of the month, look like you care.

My solution? let them ruin the continent, let them destroy it so bad that things have to start from the very begnining again, build things up from nothing, that way there is nothing to change, just a new way of doing things to be implemented from the beginning. Africa has been this way forever, or at least until the colonial invasion etc etc.

'A murderous dictator, his rapper son and a $700m-a-year oil boom. The grounding of a mystery plane, allegedly carrying mercenaries, has focused attention on the West African state of Equatorial Guinea and itsdespotic leader.' (Random internet news site, July 2005)
Stories like these are not uncommon in Africa, but yet nobody does anything about it. The 'rapper son' of the president of above mentioneed country, recently went on a spending trip to South Africa, where he bought the latest Lamborghini Murcielago and a few other sports cars. So how is that supposed to help alleviate poverty? When your own leaders dont care about you why should anyone else? I love Africa, its my continent, and even Thabo Mbeki, the president of my country cant do much to help the situation, hes the leader of the African Union, an institute that was set up to help unite Africa, to get the countries to help each other out. I remember a time when a policy called NEPAD was something that got people talking, a buzzword, but one with potential, it gave hope, made people believe that change was possible, but I havent heard that word in absolute ages now, I think its been forgotten, and life goes on.

Well thats my politics rant for now.