What the Western World sends to Africa is an unemployment benefit. What effect does it have? It creates a dependency. It creates victim mentality. How does a person feel that completely depends on somebody’s well-willing? Good? Most people derive their self esteem from what they do themselves, with their own hands/heads. And not from gifts. So, if we really wanted to help we should be serious about helping. And this is only possible if its not US and THEM, but if we regard ourselves as equal partners in the same game.

However, at the moment we (the West) have way more bargaining power then the rest of the world. Some countries are quickly catching up – Brazil, India, China, Indonesia, South Africa. They are not doing well because we want it, but because they are actively creating their new futures. They chose their OWN ways. They increase their bargaining power and this way we HAVE TO listen to them even if we dont want. For the rest the rule is still on our side: its either our way or the highway.

The victim mentality, that we actively foster with our gifts, together with the sense of powerlessness, of not being able to change a thing creates apathy. Somebody who has been on unemployment benefits for 10 years might eventually give up looking for new things and accept the status quo.

What can we do?

The road to hell is plastered with good intentions. We should keep this in mind when we want to help.

Richard mentioned education (us coming to them and educating them), empowerment (locals who “made it” in the West coming back and teaching leadership to the new generations) and our awareness of what we consume (asking companies for accountability of their actions).

What works?

Education is good, but one should be careful. We bring our education, but is it the most relevant education for them? We might teach high-tech engineers who then wont have any chances to get employment back home since there is no high tech. The Chinese government recognized this problem and focuses a lot on agricultural efficiency education. Without food there can be now rise in living standards. Once you solve this problem you can begin thinking about the rest. Here the role of other developing countries is crucial – trade between China and the African countries is far more important since they are much closer regarding income levels. The West buys coffee and oil in Africa, but can Africa afford our medicine/computers/machines?

Empowerment is good too, but it is still too little being done. Most people prefer to stay in the West once they “made it”. Who want to go back to hopelessness?

Awareness – this is the most powerful tool. When it became public that Nike is producing the shoes in sweat-shops the pressure from the consumers in the West actually forced Nike to introduces social responsibility. This could work with all the other products too. The people who grow our coffee and chocolate, who sew our jeans and shirts and who make our IKEA stuff should be able to afford a decent living. They actually do a decent job. But there are only few people in the West who care about such issues.

Fair Trade coffee has a market share of not more than 10% in Sweden. That means that 90% of our coffee most probably was not produced under decent living conditions. And this goes for many many consumption products. When it comes to money we tend to decide rationally. And rationality here is just what is the cheapest.

So, if we really wanted to help lifting those countries out of poverty we should start to truly care about them. And care is not giving a gift now and then. But to respect the person as an equal trading partner. And to be prepared to pay a higher price for the stuff that brings you enjoyment in your every day life. That way, both parts might benefit equally.

But here is a short video on what might have led to our modern overconsuming society.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5xJZiCbRMQ&feature=player_embedded