Lack of political will impoverishes South African fishermen

"When my belly is crying I must fill it. I can sit on the side of the road and beg for bread, but there is the bread right there," says Hahn Goliath, a fisherman in the small village of Doring Bay on South Africa's West Coast, as he points furiously at the Atlantic Ocean. [Full Story at IPSNews.net]

A summary of the situation is that the allocation of fishing licenses allocated by the South African government does not include the subsistence fishing community, who have to try and eek out a leaving on the recreational fishing rights which are inadequate. For the details please refer to the main article.

While the problem is clear and alternative solutions and recommendations are available, there is a lack of urgency and political will to make things right. Is there an epidemic of indifference among African politicians or has there been an “explosion of bozos” among the ruling class? (For more about “explosion of bozos”)

In harmony with the poverty inflicted on our South African brothers and sisters, I am reminded of this impassioned plea made by Sylvia Earle to protect the world’s oceans. In the middle of our crises and struggle for development there is an opportunity for us on the continent not to fall into the same pillaging practices that are plaguing our Western and Eastern cousins, and which have and will continue to affect all of us – directly or indirectly. How? I am not too sure but I can ask the questions and hope that you might have the answers.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala: Let's have a deeper discussion on aid

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Foreign Minister and Finance Minister for Nigeria, gave an insightful talk at last year's (2007) Ted Conference held in Arusha, Tanzania. She spoke about the need to have a more sophisticated debate on the role of aid, government, private organizations and African individuals to make progress on the continent. Watch the YouTube Video.

What I found to be of particular interest was her point that African's do not have a voice. After mentioning that she started the first opinion research organization in Africa to find out about the concerns of the people, which are jobs, she went on to criticize external organizations for not seeking out the counsel of Africans in drawing up their plans to donate aid.

This lack of voice has been a recurring theme in my discussions with others about the challenges facing the continent. When leadership is deaf to the needs of the people, or worse still seized by force and coercion, the people lose their representation and the good of the majority is not served.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala also recounted a powerful story about when she was 15 and her 3 year old sister contracted malaria. She walked 10 kilometers to the nearest physician who was able to provide simple therapies that saved her life. This was made possible through the assistance of aid donors. She also gave for further examples of how Ireland and Spain have used aid from the European Union to develop their economies through infrastructure development.

I agree with the point that she is making. In shaping the future of the African people the discussion needs to be more sophisticated than taking up reactionary positions of pro-this or anti-that. It has to be an inclusive discussion that "leverages the good will" directed towards Africa to build a prosperous and sustainable future, that includes aid, government, private organizations and individuals.

Comments - Development Drums Podcast episode "Sophiatown"

Another podcast review. I like listening to podcasts while I work on other things.

I heard something quite interesting on this podcast, Development Drums episode "Sophiatown", that features Alex Cobham from Christian Aid and Stephen Devereux of the Institute for Development Studies. It was mentioned by Alex Cobham that tax is an important ingredient for development and government revenue. Alex offers the view that as much as $160 billion a year is lost by developing countries because they are not able to enforce tax laws due to difficulties in finding tax evasion culprits who hide their funds overseas. To put that figure into perspective, President elect Obama's entire foreign policy earmarks $107 billion for next year, 2009. Do you see why I don't think we need more aid?

They also discuss the dangers of using genetically modified foods in Africa and other possible solutions to the food crisis. I believe that a profit driven model (because we CAN and SHOULD be making wealth not begging for it) that targets high tariffs and other market distorting practices by developed countries will go a long way to improving the future of agriculture, and the economies, in Africa and the world in general. Don't take my word for it, read what the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has to say about that.

Share your ideas and have a listen to the podcast.

Obama's Foreign Policy

“We need to invest in building capable, democratic states that can establish healthy and educated communities,develop markets, and generate wealth.”

That is what I appreciate most about Obama's vision because it includes supporting small-to-medium enterprises as well as state institutions. Unfortunately, several promising African states have not been able to live up to their potential because of backward and corrupt habits which drain the life out of the entrepreneurial and progressive population. I hope that change will come to our African institutions through reaching out to sustainable and socially-aware private groups. "Reaching-out" shouldn't mean "hand-outs" let's see some sustainable business plans please.

Africa needs to own its wealth so it can shape its destiny.

For more about Obama's foreign policy:http://www.barackobama.com/2007/10/02/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_27.php

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