Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/04/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Nathan, Perfectly said. Cheers Jayanand On Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 11:04 AM, Nathan Wajsman <nathan@nathanfoto.com> wrote: > With all respect for the work done by the charities Tina supports with her > work and other well-meaning individuals, I must say as an economist that > while such efforts certainly have a positive impact on the individual > families helped, they can never lift a country out of poverty. What is > needed much more than charity are sound economic policies and access to the > markets of the rich countries. There is not a single example of a country > that has become richer by receiving aid; on the other hand there are > numerous countries, mainly in Asia, that have gone from being as poor as > Africa is today 50 years ago to being at least middle-income countries > today. > > The example most often cited is Kenya and Malaysia. Both countries were > British colonies, both gained independence in the early-to-mid 1960s, and > at > the time of independence their GDP per capita was roughly the same. Since > then, Malaysia has had reasonably stable government, with economic policies > which, while not exactly following the free-market consensus that prevails > today, nonetheless relied on trade, an environment that welcomed foreign > investment and a relatively low level of corruption. Malaysia was never a > big recipient of foreign aid. Kenya, on the other hand, has been one of > Africa's main recipients of aid, whether from the US and Europe or from > multilateral institutions like the World Bank, plus of course innumerable > charities of all kinds. But the country has been run by a string of corrupt > governments who had no regard for the plight of their own people, only for > the state of their Swiss bank accounts. The result of these two respective > paths of development is there today for all to see: while Kenya's GDP per > capita languishes at around $800, Malaysia's is around $6500. Again, these > two countries were at roughly the same level of development 40 years ago. > > Looking at the problem in this way, there is little or nothing charity can > do. If you or I as individuals want to help, do it with your wallet--not by > donating to Save the Children etc. but by seeking out and buying products > made in those countries; and with your ballot, by voting for politicians > who are prepared to abolish grotesque policies like the agricultural > subsidies in the US and Europe which keep poor country farmers out of the > world markets at great costs to them and to Western consumers and > taxpayers. > > Nathan > > On 3-apr-2008, at 21:52, Tina Manley wrote: > > At 03:37 PM 4/3/2008, you wrote: > > > > > It's the lack of real programs, those coming up from the UN just do > > > fail and > > > did fail for so many years, what it makes me mad. It's not > > > photographing or > > > not photographing them. > > > > > > The better industries are the more impoverished we can find, I think > > > you'll > > > agree with this, it's just facts. > > > Pablo > > > > > > > I agree, Pablo, but I don't think we can depend on governments or > > industry to do what is right. Governments and industry look only at the > > bottom line and how to get the most while paying the least. The > > government > > agencies that I have worked with have been based on bureaucracy and are > > only > > concerned with appearances, not actual progress. People who want to help > > should find a charity that they believe in and contribute their time, > > talent > > and money to make a difference. The only way to find out if a charity is > > really making a difference is to visit, unannounced, and see for yourself > > what is happening or volunteer and get involved. If you need > > suggestions, I > > have several ;-) > > http://www.heifer.org > > www.mowaa.org/ > > www.habitat.org/ > > http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ > > > > Tina > > > > Tina Manley, ASMP, NPPA > > http://www.pbase.com/tinamanley/dimes_for_hunger > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > > Nathan Wajsman > nathan@nathanfoto.com > General photography: > http://www.nathanfoto.com > http://www.greatpix.eu > http://www.frozenlight.eu > Picture-A-Week: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws > Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog > Book: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/128276 > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >