African aid: helpful or hazardous? http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/african-aid-helpful-or-hazardous-0022175
-- Rahul On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 10:30 AM, James Dailey <[email protected]> wrote: > Aid that fails to empower or enrich a local economy, within their terms, is > bad (economic) development, even while being advantageous > geopolitically/politically. Much is written about this and the counter > campaign to Tom's Shoes campaign is well expressed at A DAY WITHOUT DIGNITY > http://goodintents.org/in-kind-donations/a-day-without-dignity. (seconding > Fritz' recommendation below). > > But, do we want to disengage companies and individuals from learning more > about how many people on the planet actually live? Is it for entirely > cynical reasons that a company like TOMS Shoe's undertakes "A Day without > Shoes"? How do we achieve a more just political-economy if not by rewarding > companies that "give back"? How realistic is it to move a company from bad > development to slightly better development to good development (even when we > can entirely agree on that). It's easy to be against it, but I don't > believe it's that simple. > > This past week I heard an inspiring talk by a founder of a US company where > the net profits are remitted back to the community, via a democratic vote of > the employees and community on their priorities. The primary purpose of > that model is actually redistribution of wealth - not to the wealthy class - > but to the community at large. Achieving such a model in the international > development space seems nearly impossible given all of the forces against > it, but a starting point would be to say to TOMS Shoes - instead of giving > shoes to a community, why don't you offer them a choice: Either shoes or > cash given to specific NGOs or Health Clinics or even, a local shoe > production company X? Obviously there are lots of reasons NOT to do that - > but channeling the human impulse to help and to feel good about helping is > something we should work on in the real world. > > James > > > > On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 5:01 AM, Fritz Meissner <[email protected]> > wrote: >> >> Good Intentions are Not Enough (http://goodintents.org) is a great >> website that I've found generally has something useful to say about >> any given popular development movement. I found the article below from >> a link on that site: >> >> "charitable gifts from abroad can distort developing markets and >> undermine local businesses by creating an entirely unsustainable >> aid-based economy" >> >> >> http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679628/the-broken-buy-one-give-one-model-three-ways-to-save-toms-shoes >> >> Regards >> Fritz >> >> On Wed, Apr 11, 2012 at 4:15 AM, Mustafa Naseem <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > This is a really interesting conversation that was also covered by >> > Foreign >> > Policy as well. >> > >> > >> > http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/10/11/haiti_doesnt_need_your_old_tshirt >> > >> > The article and the comments are pretty interesting. Thought I'd share >> > it >> > with you guys. >> > >> > Best, >> > Mustafa >> > >> > >> > On Tue, Apr 10, 2012 at 8:08 PM, Yaw Anokwa <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> Re: Shoes destroying economies >> >> >> >> I don't have any data on local shoe production. The closest thing I've >> >> found has to do with clothing. In "Used-Clothing Donations and Apparel >> >> Production in Africa", Frazer reports, "Used-clothing imports are >> >> found to have a negative impact on apparel production in Africa, >> >> explaining roughly 40% of the decline in production and 50% of the >> >> decline in employment over the period 1981–2000." >> >> >> >> http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2008.02190.x/full >> >> >> >> Re: Why not do both kinds of aid >> >> >> >> The world only has so many resources (money, time, attention, etc) to >> >> devote to problems. Why spend the time and energy on things that we >> >> know don't make a difference (but do make us feel good about >> >> ourselves). That is, maybe we should be focusing on getting local >> >> workers to build latrines and wells instead of using those same >> >> resources to ship shoes and shirts to Africa. >> >> >> >> >> >> On Tue, Apr 10, 2012 at 18:08, judy wawira <[email protected]> >> >> wrote: >> >> > Hello >> >> > >> >> > I am from East Africa, and my family could afford shoes. >> >> > Unfortunately >> >> > at >> >> > one point in primary (for 2 years) I had to go to school barefoot >> >> > because >> >> > that was what my headteacher thought was a good school policy. >> >> > >> >> > later on as a clinician working in many remote parts of the country, >> >> > including Narok among Maasai community famous for wearing the >> >> > 'Akalas' >> >> > (http://www.uzanunua.com/listing/5324-akala-open-shoes/) ; at one >> >> > point >> >> > a >> >> > fashion statement, I am yet to see anyone die from hookworm >> >> > infestation >> >> > >> >> > Malnutrition, pneumonia, measles, malaria, Diarrhoea diseases remain >> >> > leading >> >> > killers of under 5 year olds. And ultimately better facilities with >> >> > oxygen >> >> > and critical care, safe and efficient blood processing facilities, >> >> > and >> >> > provision of essential drugs may avert these untimely deaths. The >> >> > solution >> >> > is not as simple as my statement, but 3 monthly deworming of children >> >> > as >> >> > part of schools programs i think can better control diseases like >> >> > hookworm >> >> > without having people walk barefoot. >> >> > >> >> > I think its time to get our priorities right, there are real problems >> >> > that >> >> > we can help in these areas and leave people feeling dignified. >> >> > >> >> > My 2 cents >> >> > >> >> > Judy >> >> > >> >> > On Tue, Apr 10, 2012 at 8:29 PM, Nathan Barthel >> >> > <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> >> >> >> A thought or two: >> >> >> >> >> >> 1. "going barefoot is the least of the concerns of folks who >> >> >> live in these communities where health and employment are the >> >> >> biggest >> >> >> problems" - The website actually lists health as a major reason why >> >> >> they >> >> >> want to supply shoes. You mention East Africa and Hookworm is a >> >> >> real >> >> >> problem there: >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hookworm_disease_world_map_-_DALY_-_WHO2002.svg >> >> >> There are long term impacts to an individual who is left untreated >> >> >> for >> >> >> hookworm and can potential stunt someones both physical and mental >> >> >> development. Clearly not a good thing for 'development'. >> >> >> Additionally, the >> >> >> disease is spread by not wearing shoes and stepping in contaminated >> >> >> matter - >> >> >> this wouldn't be a problem if they were wearing shoes. >> >> >> >> >> >> 2. I've heard the argument before that giving T-shirts or shoes etc >> >> >> destroy the local economy. I understand the logic, but does anyone >> >> >> have a >> >> >> source or data to back it up? And why can't their be room for both? >> >> >> Someone who is focused on giving and someone else who is focused on >> >> >> building the economy etc. Does giving shoes really destroy a local >> >> >> economy? >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> 3. I remember quite well the whole 'million t-shirts for Africa' >> >> >> I'm >> >> >> not going to write what I want to, but essentially I felt the whole >> >> >> thing >> >> >> was juvenile. On all sides. It seemed like some sort >> >> >> of peculiar 'turf >> >> >> war' over development. >> >> >> >> >> >> Anyway, I suppose my ultimate thought is that this might not be the >> >> >> most >> >> >> effective form of 'development' but I'm not sure how much it really >> >> >> matters. >> >> >> I'm certainly more of a 'trade' guy, but I think there is room for >> >> >> both. >> >> >> Essentially, are the shoes or t-shirts for >> >> >> Tanzania or Bangladesh or Bolivia really a problem that needs to be >> >> >> addressed? And, my second thought is that it appears to me that >> >> >> getting >> >> >> people shoes who don't have them and/or perhaps simply encouraging >> >> >> their >> >> >> wear, might ultimately be pretty helpful in combating some >> >> >> serious disease problems - and therefore development as well. >> >> >> >> >> >> Ok. I'm done. Just drove for 10 hours and was feeling punchy. >> >> >> -Nate >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Tue, Apr 10, 2012 at 5:24 PM, Yaw Anokwa <[email protected]> >> >> >> wrote: >> >> >>> >> >> >>> I got an email today about TOMS One Day Without Shoes. >> >> >>> >> >> >>> According to http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com, today is "the day >> >> >>> we >> >> >>> spread awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a >> >> >>> child’s >> >> >>> life by taking off our own. Why? Millions of children live without >> >> >>> proper footwear, exposing them to injury and disease every day." >> >> >>> >> >> >>> I think this is a reasonable thing for our community to discuss, so >> >> >>> I've put my response to that email below. Any thoughts on One Day >> >> >>> Without Shoes or the TOMS model? I'd love some pushback... >> >> >>> >> >> >>> ---------------------------------------- >> >> >>> >> >> >>> As your friendly neighborhood global development cynic, I should >> >> >>> point >> >> >>> out that in places I've worked (mostly East Africa), shoes are >> >> >>> widely >> >> >>> available and very affordable. Even if shoes were not readily >> >> >>> available, going barefoot is the least of the concerns of folks who >> >> >>> live in these communities where health and employment are the >> >> >>> biggest >> >> >>> problems. And so what makes this TOMS advertising campaign >> >> >>> frustrating >> >> >>> to me is that it's been shown that donations of clothing and shoes >> >> >>> destroy economies in these very communities. >> >> >>> >> >> >>> This year there was a campaign called "A Day Without Dignity" that >> >> >>> touched on some of these issues. >> >> >>> >> >> >>> "Why has it become so easy for people to start feel-good campaigns >> >> >>> that no one asked for? There are a thousand things this village >> >> >>> needs >> >> >>> and nowhere on the list are t-shirts and shoes..." >> >> >>> -- TMS Ruge from Uganda at >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> http://projectdiaspora.org/wp-content/2011/04/05/shoes-the-least-of-our-problems/ >> >> >>> >> >> >>> "TOMS, there are many ways for you to really make a difference. >> >> >>> Invest >> >> >>> in and share your expertise with local shoe businesses, leading to >> >> >>> sustainable jobs. Donate some of your profits to support >> >> >>> educational >> >> >>> institutions, leading to more opportunities. These are things that >> >> >>> people want, and promote their dignity. If you're not willing to do >> >> >>> that, please drop your current marketing approach which oversells >> >> >>> your >> >> >>> impact, encourages self-absorbed charity, and is an affront to the >> >> >>> dignity of the materially poor." >> >> >>> -- Marshall Birkey at >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> >> >> >>> http://marshallbirkey.com/economic-development/aidwars-toms-shoes-vs-dignity/ >> >> >>> >> >> >>> If you are interested, you can find out more at >> >> >>> http://goodintents.org/in-kind-donations/a-day-without-dignity and >> >> >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EaSlKqs6Fo >> >> >>> >> >> >>> I do think it's important to raise awareness, but it's also >> >> >>> important >> >> >>> to be cautious when it comes to issues of global development. It's >> >> >>> almost always more complicated than it seems. >> >> >>> >> >> >>> _______________________________________________ >> >> >>> change mailing list >> >> >>> [email protected] >> >> >>> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> >> change mailing list >> >> >> [email protected] >> >> >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >> >> >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > -- >> >> > Judy >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > _______________________________________________ >> >> > change mailing list >> >> > [email protected] >> >> > http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> >> > >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> change mailing list >> >> [email protected] >> >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> > >> > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > change mailing list >> > [email protected] >> > http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change >> > >> >> _______________________________________________ >> change mailing list >> [email protected] >> http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change > > > > > -- > James Dailey > skype: jdailey > > > _______________________________________________ > change mailing list > [email protected] > http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change > _______________________________________________ change mailing list [email protected] http://changemm.cs.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/change
