Dear GKD Members: I share Janice Brodman's feelings about the fact that good NGOs in developing countries do not have a presence, and have little voice, when it comes to dealing with donors, and development issues, as monopolized by the 'North'.
For example, too much of the dialogue in the North is about ending corruption and too little about rewarding the deserving, and not with prizes at global conferences but with funding. One need look no further than this Saturday's, July 2nd Willfull Media Distraction (WMD), orchestrated from England, and supposedly designed to make poverty history, at least in Africa. The voice of Africa has been almost totally absent in the planning, much of which is in the control of a small handful of powerful Northern NGOs who will insure that their own funding sources feel good about the event/affair. They have even barred touching on poverty in England. Forget about the selection of the music, the selection and framing of the issues is not what Africa would have liked to say. Ignoring the history of debt creation and conditionality, ignoring the trade policies of the North, etc. is more likely to confuse the general public than educate it. After the music dies the same old same old challenges will remain, and there will be little new to build on. Development is about doing the right thing right. Good intentions, especially blended with Northern NGO self-service, are not enough. With regard to Africa I would like to see "Make Poverty History" a subtitle in a larger production called "Give Africa A Voice" - or more properly, "Let Africa's Voice be Heard". Why is asking so little seen as asking too much? Sam Lanfranco York University ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
