How the Chinese must giggle at our puny attempt to play Lady Bountiful.
We should look at every country we splash out the £17 billion aid budget on.
If they have been supportive of the Russian invasion of The Ukraine that aid should be diverted to The Ukraine.
The world economies are moving away from an integrated system of trade and inter dependency in favour of self sufficiency. This has always been the policy in France (they are not, for example, members of NATO and have their own nuclear deterrent, the "Force Frappe").
ReplyDeleteForeign Aid has become an outdated concept. In too many cases it is taken for granted by recipients and corruption diverts it into personal accounts. Western bureaucracies turn a blind eye because it is a huge job creation programme for the "do gooders".
It is time to cancel the UK's £17 billion Aid Programme, out of which real delivered Aid is perhaps 10%?
All financial subventions to third world countries should be in the form of credit for economic activity eg building roads,railways and power stations, with repayment from future income streams or barter for other produce eg bananas, gold and copper.
There are new mechanisms for delivering charity. eg 24 hour news coverage to trigger generosity and compassion and credit cards to to funnel money from givers to temporary emergency relief. The big monoliths like OXFAM are dinosaurs of the past.
It is a new way of helping others that is needed. Efficient, delivered, and focused on calamity events. The Americans have a tiny aid budget, but they are the biggest givers of all (on a case by case basis) when calamities occur.
Lazy, entitled and corrupt regimes in the developing world should not be supported by wasteful and self serving "charities" in the developed world.
And £70 million for China?? What are we smoking?
Aid should also be tied to trade. "We give you money only if you agree to import goods from us". The French are masters at this. Their COFACE trade guarantee scheme is tied to French goods
ReplyDeleteAfrica is wallowing in self pity about the evils of colonialism. They are living with 50% unemployment rates and moral indignation. No attitude of "lets fix it". No attitude of "get up and go". Just corrupt politicians pocketing Aid.
ReplyDeleteTime for some shock tactics. Cut the Aid. Tell these crooks and self pitying that there is everything to play for. They just need to get out of bed in the morning and stop stealing.
Nice sentiments by the Dame but the old dear has never been one for practicality. Cutting foreign aid in the way she suggests is an emotionally gesture (immature in the extreme) that will make not a scarp of difference.
ReplyDeleteIf the West is serious it needs to do three things:
(i) cancel the Credit Cards of all Oligarchs and their families (administratively this is the easiest of things to do)
(ii) stop buying oil and gas from Russia (Europe is financing the war against Ukraine)
(iii) get Ukraine to agree to the Finnish solution ie become a neutral country that neither aligns with the East or the West
I like it. Diplomatic solution. Everyone gets something. Ukraine gets peace. Russia saves face by avoiding NATO encroachment. The West avoids nuclear war.
DeleteWhat a horrible, avoidable situation. For years Russia has been protesting against NATO expansion. Everyone ignored Putin and carried on with provocation. Ukraine wants a "good life" with Europe but ignores the reality that their geography is the buffer between historic enemies of Russia and the West. UKRAINE needs to be neutral and stop trying to play the West off against Russia for their own benefit.
Self inflicted wound?
Ukraine arrivistes need to understand one of life's great lessons. Do not upset powerful people. Keep a low profile and get on with life
DeleteWhat the F are you on about? Don't upset mafia gangsters posing as statesmen? You are evil and bonkers like Putrid, your hero
DeleteObserver....it's it meant to make a scrap of difference: it's meant to send a message to Putrid's supporters that we don't fund mobster run/supporting governments.
DeleteLet's not get into a pissing match 18.00. Ukraine is a deeply corrupt country riddled with corruption. Lots of oligarchs. Just like Russia. Some say worse than Russia. Plenty of Ukraine oligarchs with £20m homes in Kensington. They reckon they are on a par with Russian oligarchs and want to play with the big boys and have their homes and wealth offshore in London. Easier to do that if they are cosying up to the West and enriching London bankers and estate agents and minor Royalty.
DeleteWhat these guys should be doing (to keep the peace) is staying in Ukraine running a neutral country. That way, the Russians will not interfere with them and bomb them.
Get it?
Serious comment in the Hornet. What is going on?
ReplyDeleteHas Cllr Foolish Faulks done property search for dodgy people?
ReplyDelete