Leaders Agree on Debt Relief for Poor Nations - NYT
Leaders Agree on Debt Relief for Poor Nations - New York Times: "The world's richest countries agreed Saturday on a historic deal to write off more than $40 billion of debt owed by the poorest nations. The debt relief package backed by finance ministers from the Group of Eight industrialized nations is part of a British-led effort to lift Africa out of poverty." (bugmenot.com for full story)
This is great news! I'm going to write my congressional leaders now and pass my appreciation on to them. The next step comes in early July, when the G8 will meet to vote on "boosting international development aid by $50 billion a year" to Africa now that their debt has been canceled, then increased fair trade relations are needed of course - as that is essentially the only way modern nations can develop - especially those on the African continent. Bush's current stance is that increased aid to Africa is 'not in the budget', and his $680-million concession of food aid to the Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia (in respone to Blair's visit) was already budgeted for. There is concern that the funds would go to governments in Africa that are still corrupt and be wasted. Note: the current issue of People magazine has a note about Brad Pitt's committment to the ONE Campaign to end poverty in Africa.
This is great news! I'm going to write my congressional leaders now and pass my appreciation on to them. The next step comes in early July, when the G8 will meet to vote on "boosting international development aid by $50 billion a year" to Africa now that their debt has been canceled, then increased fair trade relations are needed of course - as that is essentially the only way modern nations can develop - especially those on the African continent. Bush's current stance is that increased aid to Africa is 'not in the budget', and his $680-million concession of food aid to the Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia (in respone to Blair's visit) was already budgeted for. There is concern that the funds would go to governments in Africa that are still corrupt and be wasted. Note: the current issue of People magazine has a note about Brad Pitt's committment to the ONE Campaign to end poverty in Africa.
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Only 2 nations approved by Millennium Challenge Account so far: Madagascar and Honduras
iht.com article
Bush pledges to aid Africa reform
Wants to funnel money through Millennium Challenge Account, setup to disperse funds to developing countries, but only 2 have been approved now since 2001. Critics say it is "too beaucratic"
History of US aid to Africa, enlightening
One big topic of concern, along with teaching abstinence, is the US funds for development addressing sickness and AIDS: "Its donations can only be used to buy drugs approved by the US drugs authority, the FDA, which excludes many cheaper generic drugs and favours American manufacturers." So, developing nations have to pay as much for drugs as we Americans do!
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