Africa

An interesting article from Like a Colon Cleansing on the African reaction to tsunami relief.

Money quotes:

This cannot be explained by racism against black people. In fact, if it were racism, it would be good news, because then we could hope that the world would one day change its ways, or even be embarrassed into responding with equal care and generosity to Africa's tragedies.

Rather, this difference reminds us that Africa has been institutionalised in the global mindset as a failure. The result is that the international aid it receives (most of it official development assistance) has become inelastic; it's unlikely to increase no matter the scale of the crisis.

And

It's something we should be able to understand. If you found a colony of 20 starving beggars on the corner of a Kampala or Nairobi street, and then read in the day's paper the story of the best student in primary school exams, who is looking for money to go on to secondary school because his parents are too poor to afford it, whom are you likely to help?

Most Africans would help the student and let the beggars die, because at least the student is going somewhere.

Accurate self-criticism always gives me hope for the world.