Saturday, December 17, 2005
Guest Post 1: Response to Paul Theroux, Africa, Bono etc
This was a note written by Sheri Willoughby, in response to the previous post linking to the Paul Theroux op-ed in the Times. Sheri is with the World Resources Institute.
Why I still love Bono
Debt-relief – What is Theroux's bone with debt-relief? Forgiving third world debt is a step in the right direction for Africa – and Bono has been a highly effective champion for it. The next step is to change the lending & governance systems to prevent crippling debt from happening again.
AIDS – When Theroux was a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi – this wasn't part of his paradigm. Now 15% of the population has HIV or AIDS and the average lifespan is 39 years old. That Bono is raising awareness and money to fight this and other preventable diseases should help Theroux stomach Bono's 10-gallon hat & sunglasses!
I do agree with Theroux that the "more money" platform is flawed in the current way that international aid money gets dispersed (i.e., almost none getting to the intended recipient; its tendency to destroy nascent local markets, feed corruption, legitimize dictators).
However, I thought Theroux's argument that Peace Corps volunteers led to Malawi's unraveling via brain drain gave the Peace Corps way too much credit. In which developing countries don't educated people try to leave to seek better opportunities and/or support their families back home? Theroux's final conclusion that Africans need to stay in their countries in order to work out their problems is unrealistic.
I agree with Bono that there is no justification for extreme poverty in 2006 – and yet the decisions we make, the leaders we choose, and the policies we support effect that status quo. Bono is doing his job as a rock star to inspire us to change the world, and then he's going out and changing it himself. Rock on, Bono!
Why I still love Bono
Debt-relief – What is Theroux's bone with debt-relief? Forgiving third world debt is a step in the right direction for Africa – and Bono has been a highly effective champion for it. The next step is to change the lending & governance systems to prevent crippling debt from happening again.
AIDS – When Theroux was a Peace Corps volunteer in Malawi – this wasn't part of his paradigm. Now 15% of the population has HIV or AIDS and the average lifespan is 39 years old. That Bono is raising awareness and money to fight this and other preventable diseases should help Theroux stomach Bono's 10-gallon hat & sunglasses!
I do agree with Theroux that the "more money" platform is flawed in the current way that international aid money gets dispersed (i.e., almost none getting to the intended recipient; its tendency to destroy nascent local markets, feed corruption, legitimize dictators).
However, I thought Theroux's argument that Peace Corps volunteers led to Malawi's unraveling via brain drain gave the Peace Corps way too much credit. In which developing countries don't educated people try to leave to seek better opportunities and/or support their families back home? Theroux's final conclusion that Africans need to stay in their countries in order to work out their problems is unrealistic.
I agree with Bono that there is no justification for extreme poverty in 2006 – and yet the decisions we make, the leaders we choose, and the policies we support effect that status quo. Bono is doing his job as a rock star to inspire us to change the world, and then he's going out and changing it himself. Rock on, Bono!
