Niger crisis
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- nicko
Niger, the world's second poorest country, is on the brink of famine. Not through war or governmental corruption but a poor harvest and a plague of locusts have wiped out crops / food. From today the Disasters Emergency Committe is appealing for monetary donations:
http://www.dec.org.uk/index.cfm/…
Further reading:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world…
- Dancer0
This is Horrific.
But surely Governments agreed to pay more aid to African/3rd world country at the G8?
Or was this to just abolish the debt?
- determinedmoth0
Bob Geldof is sat somewhere saying 'I told you so'.
I can't believe it's actually happening after all that.
- determinedmoth0
No that it was ever going to happen overnight... before someone jumps on my back.
- vespa0
they've been forcasting this for months but aid only started arriving last week. heart breaking.
- vespa0
arrgh. where is the actual "donate" button on that site? i'm being stupid i'm sure but can you find it?
- lowimpakt0
this doesn't happen overnight.
the media have been very quiet about this recently.
"The UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs also said that beyond immediate food aid, the world should help Niger improve its agricultural methods to avoid future food crises - but this programme had received even fewer pledges.
He said the $30m requested for both short - and long-term aid "was nothing".
"Europeans eat ice cream for $10bn a year and Americans spend $35bn on their pets each year." "
p.s. fuck the G8 and all their bullshit.
- nicko0
It is heartbreaking. I saw this on the BBC news this morning and seriously got a lump in my throat when I saw the children (soon-to-be dad here).
BTW, I think debt cancellation and famine aid are quite different things. As moth said, it ain't going to happen overnight.
- vespa0
"the media have been very quiet about this recently."
lowimpakt
(Aug 2 05, 05:01)it has been all over the news...?
- lowimpakt0
it has been all over the news...?
vespa
(Aug 2 05, 05:03)
--------------------------it has been building for a while.
- Ludde0
it's fascinating how (often) sane political enviromental organizations lobby against the use of insecticides, because of some ecological breeds bullshit, and makes it impossible for other organisations to give the people a chance to keep the grasshoppers (this is not a metaphor) from eating their harvest.
stupid fucks are saving grasshoppers instead of humans
- vespa0
found the donate button - it's only on the front page (not in "appeals" or "how to help", not very good is it?)
- nicko0
No
- determinedmoth0
I'm pretty sure that these people can't actually afford insecticides.
- JR-Designer0
We have got it bad in London but when you see a situation like this it serves as a serious reality check.
- Ludde0
that wasn't my point, my point is that the other organizations don't have the balls (or "political sense") not to give insectizides
- Ludde0
fuck that went out all to early.
that wasn't my point, my point is that the other organizations don't have the balls (or "political sense") to give insectizides to the people, and give the people the chance to protect 'em selves.
- vespa0
true that jr designer.
or like the 1000 people who were killed last week in bombay in floods and landslides.
- MX_OnD0
it's fascinating how (often) sane political enviromental organizations lobby against the use of insecticides, because of some ecological breeds bullshit, and makes it impossible for other organisations to give the people a chance to keep the grasshoppers (this is not a metaphor) from eating their harvest.
stupid fucks are saving grasshoppers instead of humans
Ludde
(Aug 2 05, 05:06)The use of insecticides would very possibly have further reaching effects, it finding it's way into the water supply would just be a matter of time....
Long term they would do much more damage.
- Ludde0
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/af…
i haven't really read the article but the site with it's advertising and questions is a brilliant example of super-individualism and and corrupt media. i know this isn't anything new but it's good to be reminded once in a while.
- Ludde0
The use of insecticides would very possibly have further reaching effects, it finding it's way into the water supply would just be a matter of time.... ...
MX_OnD
(Aug 2 05, 05:18)how come that we in the western world still use it? and don't die. i'm not aggresive or anything i'm just wondering.