At this site you will find a red star and a label "New! Africa's Debt - Fueling the fire of AIDS (April 2003)." Click on the small pdf link to go to a piece making a two-prong case for the cancellation of national debts in African nations. Prong one argues that Africa's debt is a grave threat to its ability to provide health care, especially for the mounting number of HIV/AIDS cases, and education. Prong two argues that Africa's debt is illigetimate on four counts.
What do you think? Why?
Posted by Donald Douglas at October 27, 2003 08:47 AM | TrackBackDebt cancellation in African countries in general, & Nigeria in particular, seems to be a catch 22. If debt is not cancelled, and no progress is made in stopping the siphoning off of oil and other revenues by graft, funds will continue to be unavailable for critical health, education & welfare needs of the impoverished masses. But if the depbt is cancelled,and no progress is made in stopping the siphoning off of oil and other revenues by graft,funds will continue to be unavailable for critical health, education & welfare needs of the impoverished masses. It would seem that the only way the US might make an impact on the unmet health and social needs is to require a few good-faith changes in accountability of those in power as a pre-condition for our continuing purchase of their exports and their receipt of foreign aid from us.
Posted by: joyce passos at October 30, 2003 02:19 PM