$500 Billion and Counting - Blog Topic #10

When problems in Africa are talked about in the news, printed in magazines, or sprayed over the internet Americans are reminded that they should feel bad for people suffering and donate to help those in need.  Since 1960 foreign nations have donated over $500 billion dollars in aid to the suffering nations of Africa.  Although these intentions are good at heart, we may be actually causing other problems instead of helping fix the problems already present in Africa.  A majority of the money sent to Africa is swallowed up by corrupt leaders and governments and does not help the people actually suffering.  People have donated clothes and other items to families in need in Africa.  These goods rarely make it to the intended families and are instead sold in markets to make easy an easy profit.  All of the money and goods donated since the 1960s has caused Africa to become dependent on other nations.  We sought to help Africa get back on their feet, but have actually made them less likely to be self sufficient then when we started.
  To help build the Africa that can use its resource rich land to benefit all, we will have to help establish better trade, industry, and infrastructure.  We need to teach them to help themselves and to help rid the continent of corrupt leaders and governments.  Before anything productive can be done there needs to be a major shift in how countries are led.  Without a proper, responsible leader a country cannot move forward to come out of its recession.  Africa is a beautiful and resource rich land deserves a new face that does not include corruption and poverty.