First Aid, not Band Aid
Two words. Dambisa Moyo. She’s been on the international press lately and, as luck would have it, she’ll be in town next month. It’s funny that one random event (a workmate’s email) could lead to a turning point in my life (meeting Australian living treasure, Thomas Keneally), which in turn promises to fill up another page in my things-to-reminisce-about-when-I’m-old-and-gray online diary (hopefully seeing Moyo in the flesh).
Many of the articles/book reviews I’ve read so far on Moyo repeat the same chapter and verse about her book Dead Aid (how Live Aid is bad for Africa) and her background (Ivy League-educated, super-achieving parents).
Dambisa Moyo, author of Dead Aid
But no matter how unoriginal the articles are, the truth keeps shining through. After all, how many people have the gumption to say that charities endorsed by well-respected celebrities will ultimately keep struggling nations economically stagnant?
Not that Moyo is the first to say this about First World charity. It’s been discussed in academic circles before. But Moyo is not your typical economist – no sign of grey hair, oversized spectacles and a mustard bow tie here. Instead you have an absolutely stunning and incredibly smart woman going against the grain. Moving mountains with her intellectual menace.
Question: If Moyo had been your stereotypical economist – more specifically, white and male – would her “idea” generate as much publicity and debate?
Answer: Perhaps not. But the good thing is that we finally arrived at a point when we can have a better debate on a perennial issue: world peace (barring the question of faith, aren’t all forms of discord a question of money?).
As a finance journalist and a Filipino-Australian migrant, I know exactly what Moyo is talking about. In a roundabout way, sending money to the Philippines has the perverse effect of creating an uneven playing field between those who have to work hard for their money and those who rely on others for their income (but this raises a whole ‘nother set of issues outside finance and more to do with the Filipino culture).
The difference is that while my views largely rested on a hunch, hers were on hard data. Easy money on a grand scale can cripple countries, as corrupt politicians have shown time and time again.
So, I tip my hat to her. That said, Bono, Oprah and Sir Geldof all had good intentions but it’s high time to change tack. Let Eastern Europe take centre stage. Let China rise again. Let India shine. Let Africa spring back to its old, glorious self.
It’s high time economic power is distributed evenly around the world, not just in certain pockets.
Note: Moyo will be at the Sydney Opera House early next month as part of the “Festival of Dangerous Ideas”, an inaugural event co-presented by the Sydney Opera House and the St. James Ethics Centre. More info on www.sydneyoperahouse.com/Dangerous. See you there!
