Monday, June 13, 2005

This Is So Exciting!

4 Comments:

Blogger Urban Chick said...

and me, i'm so proud because it was my great leader who poked dubya in the ribs!!

in spite of everything, i'm still a fan of mr blair (**ducks to dodge flying vegetables**)

5:17 AM  
Blogger Tania said...

It's a great start. But canceling debt can't be the end of it--we have to help these countries develop the infrastructure they need to be economically self-sufficient. I hope this is a sign that the industrialized West has realized that they will also benefit when the so-called developing world actually sees some development.

6:34 AM  
Blogger Kate said...

I'm not sure about that, Tania. The world can't sustain the kind of industrial development we have already. In my opinion, we should scale back, not try to "help" (pressure?) other countries to join us in our madness.

Anyway: what if they don't want it? What if they prefer a more sustainable agricultural life? Who are we to impose our way on them, when our way is destroying the planet? Isn't that just another form of colonialism? White people telling non-white people how much better things will be when they are more like us?

(OK: disclaimer: Obviously I know that people in the countries we are talking about all have different points of view and many of them do want more western industrialization, but not all.)

I have a good friend who worked in Nigeria and Uganda for the Heifer Project, and she talked about the resentment that many people there felt towards the West and it's stubborn claim that "we know better".

Just some things to think about.

7:08 AM  
Blogger Kate said...

I just reread my response, it's kind of feisty for no real reason.

Plus, T didn't even say anything to provoke that big lecture. I just get all worked up about things sometimes and randomly pontificate!

Please forgive. :-)

2:34 PM  

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