Friday, March 2, 2007

The Problem with Bill Gates' Philanthropy in Africa...

...Is that it appears to help, but in the end does more damage.
Bill Gates, the world's richest man, on Friday delivered a snub to the ethical investment movement by saying his foundation should concentrate on grant giving, rather than judging the social impact of businesses in which it invests. (FT)

Now Gates is investing in a project called the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which seeks to fix the problem of hunger by promoting high tech farming.
But promoting technological solutions that have done so much damage (like GM Crops) is simply irresponsible. Besides, there is a an abundance of food in the world, it is just distributed unfairly. Things like unfair trade policies and subsidies are a huge part of the problem. Monocultures and environmental degradation in vulnerable regions is another.
From Stuffed and Starved via zmag
The Gates solution ends up exacerbating the problems facing the poor, shoring up institutions and companies that scalp poor farmers. And then they offer a band-aid, one that helps the wound go septic.

Philanthropy isn't meant to be like sausage-manufacturing - yet every step of the way in the Gates plan for Africa, from endowment investment to the agricultural spend, induces nausea. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. Microsoft's chief software architect has spent a career developing technological patches, and then patches for those patches, and so on. If one were uncharitable, we might see the Foundation itself as a patch for his falling personal stock in the 1990s. It does rather seem that Gates' generosity is charity in its worst form, a mode of self-aggrandizement. Such is the narrow vista, and greatest tragedy, of the world's richest man. (The Rest)


There is a major flaw in the Gates vision; the solution to major third world problems like hunger is not charity - it is justice. Imagine the benefits if Gates put his considerable money and influence behind programs for justice instead of these controlling, damaging acts of "charity".

The Week in Review

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March 4 - Candlelight vigil in front of the White House for prisoners of Conscience in Ethiopia

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-Part 2 of Prof. Al Mariam Interview (forward to 18 min.)

More on the Confusion surrounding the missing westerners in Ethiopia

-Kidnap Britons spotted in Ethiopia
-Ethiopia accuses Eritrea over missing tourists
-Eritrea denies kidnap accusation
-British search team sent to Ethiopia

The Week in Review

  • Monday - February 26, 2007

  • [U.S. silence worries Ethiopians] - [Hundreds Hospitalized in Somali Unrest] - [Ugandan troops in Somalia this week: Somali president] - [US warship tackles Somali pirates] - [Activists' trial halted again] - [Ethiopia second lowest in World chubbiness survey]

  • Tuesday - February 27, 2007

  • [Index on Censorship nominates Yalemzewd Bekele for Award] - [UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs humanitarian news and analysis] - [ETHIOPIA-ISRAEL: Waiting Falash Mura languish in squalor] - [Lewit: AP Reporter sacked by VOA ] - [Ship hijackers caught in Somalia]

  • Wednesday, February 28, 2007

  • [Open letter from... Accused number 44 under the Case File Engineer Hailu Shawel] - [March 5 court news, Addis Abeba (satire)] - [Gossip column on Tamrat Layne ] - [Foreign suspect detained in Ethiopia Protests his innocence ]

  • Thursday - March 01, 2007

  • [Families of the Detained : Victimizing Innocent civilians in the name of defeating Shabia is a crime] - [US ambassador working to get political prisoners released] - [First AU peacekeepers land in Somalia?] - [Uganda Denies Peacekeepers In Somalia ] - [ our force will not disarm Somali militias: Museveni]

  • Friday - March 02, 2007

  • [Confusion over westerners missing in Ethiopia] - [Nation Celebrates Adowa Victory 111th Anniversary Today] - [Reuters: Blasts shake Somali capital Mogadishu ] - [AU chief supports press freedom]





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Confusion over westerners missing in Ethiopia

Check back with ETP for more news throughout the day

Also in the news:
[Nation Celebrates Adowa Victory 111th Anniversary Today] - [Reuters: Blasts shake Somali capital Mogadishu ] - [AU chief supports press freedom]

International:
[Top Taliban official nabbed; Cheney visit one reason?] - [Swiss accidentally invade Liechtenstein] - [Prodi reconfirmed as Italian PM ] - [Verizon launches mobile TV service] and more of today's top stories!

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Click on picture to see full size
(Picture - The controversial Article XVII, part of the Treaty of Wuchale, signed on May 2 1889 -- which eventually led to the battle of Adwa)

Donald N. Levine writes, "Those who would deny Ethiopia’s long existence as a multi-ethnic society must be embarrassed by the facts of the Adwa experience.

If the empire consisted of nothing but a congeries of separate tribal and regional groups, how then account for the courageous collaboration of 100,000 troops from dozens of ethnic groups from all parts of the country?

How then explain the spirited national patriotism of such diverse leaders as Ras Alula, Ras Mengesha, and Ras Sibhat of Tigray, Ras Gobena and Dejazmatch Balcha of the Mecha Oromo, Dejazmatch Bahta of Akale Guzae, Wag Shum Guangul of Lasta, Ras Mikael of Wollo, Negus Tekle-Haymanot of Gojjam, Ras Wole of the Yejju Oromo, Fitawrari Tekle of Wollega, Ras Mekonnen of Harer, as well as Ras Gebeyehu (who died fighting at Adwa) and Ras Abate of Shoa?"
(More on the Battle of Adwa and its significance...)

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March 2 - worldwide candlelight vigil for prisoners of Conscience in Ethiopia

March 4 - Candlelight vigil in front of the White House

100,000 letters-in-ten-days campaign

Surely, by now you have heard of the 100,000 letters-in-10-days campaign, but have you participated yet? (More...)_____________________________________________________


Ethiopia: Nation Celebrates Adowa Victory 111th Anniversary Today

The 111th anniversary of Adowa Victory in which Ethiopian patriots won decisively over an Italian army who invaded the country with a motive to colonize, is being celebrated colourfully today, the Association of Ancient Ethiopian Patriots said.

(Picture - King Menelik and his wife Empress Taitu)

Here in Addis, the Victory will be celebrated at the Menelik II Square beginning at 8.00 a.m. with a joyous crowd coming together to pay homage to the galant patriots, who maintained Ethiopia's record as a nation never to have been colonized.

The Victory served as a great inspiration for Africans to stand up against colonialism.

According to a programme set by the Addis Ababa City Administration, the brass bands of the Ground Forces and the Federal Police played tunes befitting the Day marching the main streets of the city beginning at 4 pm yesterday.(More...)

Confusion over westerners missing in Ethiopia

There is confusion over the fate of some 15 foreigners whose reported kidnapping in Ethiopia sparked a flurry of diplomatic activity. The tourists include 11 French nationals and a number of Britons, several linked to the government and one said to be the wife of a senior UK official.

Ten of the missing are now reported to have been located after calling their tour operator in Addis Ababa. They said their satellite phone had not been working.

It had been claimed the westerners were seized a few days ago in the remote and inhospitable Afar region.(More...)

Also see:
-Fifteen foreigners feared kidnapped in Ethiopia

Reuters: Blasts shake Somali capital Mogadishu

MOGADISHU, March 2 (Reuters) - At least six explosions rocked the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Friday, witnesses said, a day after Ugandan peacekeepers started arriving in the lawless Horn of Africa country.

Witnesses said they heard mortar bombs being fired in the direction of the coastal city's port in a reminder of the formidable task awaiting the African Union (AU) mission intended to help Somalia's government pacify the anarchic country.(More...)

AU chief supports press freedom

A delegation of concerned press freedom Advocates flew to the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to meet the continental body's Chairperson, Alpha Oumar Konaré.

Mr Konaré assured the delegation of his office's support for press freedom in the continent.

The trip was part of mechanisms being undertaken by freedom of expression organisations in Africa to correct repressions on journalists in most African countries, particularly in Eritrea, Gambia, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia.

The delegation comprised of officials of The African Editors' Forum (TAEF) and the Network of African Freedom of Expression (NAFEO). It was led by the TAEF President, Mathatha Tsedu of South Africa. Other members include Macharia Gaitho, Emrakeb Assefa and Saidou Arji of Kenya, from Ethiopia and Ghana, respectively.(More...)

Champions League preview

St George of Ethiopia and Desportivo Maputo of Mozambique progressed when their respective opponents withdrew

African Champions Ahly begin the defence of their title in Bulawayo on Sunday when they take on the champions of Zimbabwe, Highlanders.
Ahly, recent winners of the African Super Cup, were among six sides given a bye to the second round.

They will play their first match without midfielders Mohamed Barakat and Mohamed Aboutrika who are both injured. Tunisia's Etoile du Sahel, Morocco's RAF Rabat and Ivorian champions Asec Mimosas.(More...)

Today's Top Stories

-Morocco's King pardoned 9,000 prisoners to mark the birth of his daughter
-Top Taliban official nabbed; Cheney visit one reason?
-20 dead as tornadoes hit Midwest, Southest
-Swiss accidentally invade Liechtenstein (What began as a routine training exercise almost ended in an embarrassing diplomatic incident)
-Prodi reconfirmed as Italian PM
-Danish police expect more clashes (Police in Denmark are braced for more violence after the eviction of squatters from a youth centre in the capital Copenhagen)
-Verizon launches mobile TV service
-Prisoner caught with grenade where?




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