Eliminating the Culture of Dependence in Africa

It is 2013 and the West still sees Africa as very dependent on foreign aid. In fact the word “dependent” is pushing it because Africa does not need all the foreign aid she receives. Yes, some economies are still in need of it but most of it is not used well or appropriately.   Africa has been deemed “dependent” on foreign aid for some years now. The West keeps injecting foreign aid into Africa yet it seems to be getting poorer and more” dependent” by the years. The notion of poor African countries needing foreign aid to survive is getting old and very ineffective, especially when there seems to be no results.

In my opinion, the West does not really care about the welfare of Africans that is just the image it is trying to portray. You know that “so many people are dying in African and it is our civil duty to help” image.  It is all profit centered. If there was no money to be tapped from Africa, foreign aid wouldn’t be so prevalent- or even be there at all. It is like a bargain, I give your country money for development (even if the money really isn’t used for development) but I get first dibs on your Country’s resources. The west does not care about human rights in African countries neither do they care about corruption. If the West puts in the same amount of energy it puts in foreign aid into fighting against the breeching of human rights and corruption, these countries would do so much better.  Foreign aid is crippling African countries and thwarting them from breaking out of the very old realm of colonization. The culture of giving Africa foreign aid is slowly teaching Africans to be complacent, uncreative and needy.  

In my opinion foreign aid should be temporary; it should be given to countries in large sums only after wars, natural disasters and other such ailments that can potentially destroy a country’s well being. It shouldn’t be given on a long term basis especially.

 The West needs to stop perceiving Africans as beggars and vice versa. Africa existed and thrived  before she became the white man’s burden, before colonization, before the whole idea of us needing “foreign aid” , so why would it stop existing and thriving if foreign aid stops?

 “ True independence would come to Africa only when the continent boosts its internal trade and rids itself of its dependence on external aid," Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan said during a state visit to Botswana in September 2012.

-  Jasmine Mbadugha

For in depth information, read these articles:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123758895999200083.html

http://allafrica.com/stories/201304050919.html?page=3

http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/spiegel-interview-with-african-economics-expert-for-god-s-sake-please-stop-the-aid-a-363663.html

Catholic Churches and the Culture of Corruption

Recently, the Catholic Archbishop of Durban, Wilfrid Fox Napier  said  pedophilia is a psychological "illness, not a criminal condition" to defend his fellow priest(s).The South African cardinal told the BBC that it is the priests who were abused that go on to abuse children in the future. I was really confused when I read that statement,  I really don’t understand how that is going to solve the problem of priest molesting kids. Priests should know better regardless of what may have happened in their past. Their position warrants them as a moral leader, if anything they are going to make those children clinically depressed and “carry on” the culture of pedophilia.

Also, in another similar case, the archdiocese of L.A covered up for the sins of one of the priest in his diocese, Father Mahoney. The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles sneakily covered him up and paid the bill for his “mental treatment” in a church run mental centre. After a few weeks, he was simply allowed to minister again. Just like that.  No formal punishments. No suspension. Just “treatment”  to relieve him of his pedophilic lifestyle.

I hope the new pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio ( also known as Pope Francis) does something about all the corruption that has been going on in the Catholic Church, he seems to be very humble and opts for n austere  life- like most priests should!! He also has a lot of strong views on corruption and other controversial issues in the church. Hopefully Pope Francis makes eradicating corruption –amidst other pressing issues of course- one of his priorities.

- Jasmine Mbadugha

Oscar Pistorius, the African O.J Simpson?

On the wee hours of Thursday morning, Valentine’s day, Oscar Pistorius was arrested for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. She was found dead in Oscar’s Pretoria home with four gunshot wounds- two to the head and two to the upper body. Oscar and his legal team claimed it was not premeditated murder; he supposedly mistook Steekamp for an intruder and shot out of self defense. As much as I want to believe his side of the story is true, the facts just don’t add up.  Pretoria is a very affluent neighborhood; it is a gated community with security guards always on the watch. And from the pictures I have seen, his house seems pretty secure. Even if he feared there was an intruder, how did he manage to shoot her four times without noticing her voice or figure? Why did he have a gun casually in his bathroom?  Pistorius’s case is very similar to that of American footballer O.J Simpson who allegedly shot his wife dead . Is Pistorius going to become the African O.J Simpson? Even if he is found guilty, without the ‘proper evidence’, he will most likely be set free. National heroes (especially in Africa) aren't as easily prosecuted. 

Oscar Pistorius is a household name to many South Africans, and Africans alike. Dobbed as the “blade runner”, this endearing young man made world history last summer by becoming the first double amputee to run track in the Olympic Games. Oscar Pistorius was born without a fibula, making him an amputee before the tender age of one. Even though He went through rough times, Oscar never let his situation define him. He rejected pity and rose against all odds, making himself a worldwide known Paralympics star.

How this man who serves as an inspiration to many ended up in such a situation is beyond me.  Just last year, I was in awe of his courage and determination. I drew inspiration from him, and now this? His trial was moved to next Tuesday, I guess all we can do now is watch, and hope that he doesn't become the African O.J Simpson.

- Jasmine Mbadugha

For more info, read : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21475873

Palestine's Oppression

t’s so hard to believe that Palestine used to be an independent state before, now all they have is the West Bank and Gaza strip.  The oppression of the Palestinian people began with the migration of the Zionists. Zionists were overzealous Jewish people seeking a land to settle down in. They found one: Palestine.  With the help of the British and the U.N the Jewish people were able to take over Palestine. They called it Israel and left the Palestine’s with only the West Bank and the Gaza strip- which is getting smaller and smaller every day. 
It does not take a genius to figure out that the Palestinians are being oppressed. This conflict goes back to the issue of colonialism and “white” supremacy; in this case the Jewish people are acting as the Colonists. The history of Palestine and Israeli says it all- Israel is in the wrong. Over seven hundred and fifty thousand innocent Palestinian men, women, and children have been killed and yet Israel is still being supported.

  

I am very pro U.N. involvement but I am beginning to question their motives because I feel at this point they aren’t doing much to help the Palestinians recover their land and their human rights. It has been sixty years since Israel’s founding but there are still many Palestinian refugees who have not found a permanent home. The Gaza strip now holds many Palestinian homeless people and is also underfunded by the Israeli government. People die there every day and it seems as if no one notices.  Even at that, it’s crazy how Palestinians are discriminated against and dehumanized in their land. They are subject to discrimination in almost every aspect of life: from education to housing to healthcare. 

I know it might seem like the Israeli-Palestine conflict does not really affect the average American, after all, it is all the way in the Middle East right? Well, wrong. Israeli is reaping the benefits of YOUR tax dollars.  Studies have shown that Israeli-not even up to the size of New York- have received most of your foreign taxes. In other words you are giving Israeli more money to mistreat and oppress more Palestinian people. We as Americans and global citizens should be more empathetic towards people in other parts of the world.  

 We can start with small things like educating ourselves and shedding light on the matter-or go all out like Mona and protest (By the way,  watch the video of Mona exercising her rights to free speech below if you want to feel inspired to do something). 

§  (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/26/mona-eltahawy-arrested-for-spray-painting-anti-jihad-subway-poster_n_1915832.html

If you want to educate yourself further on the Israeli/ Palestine conflict you read the articles below.
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/flash/world/israel/IsraelHistory.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/09/hague-warned-abstention-palestinian-statehood-vote

- Jasmine Mbadugha