Tell me about it – someone (name withheld) was threatening to read me the riot act.

I guess I better pull my finger out.
Darius Stone ´s last blog ..Haiti: Self Interests And Hidden Agendas of Aid Agencies Aren’t Helping

I’m still trying in denial about that Robertson balderdash and indeed the 700 Club!
shikomsa´s last blog ..Crest Securities et al.

That said, I have followed the Haiti situation a bit and from the sidelines. Here in Denmark, on Saturday there is a TV relief bada bing bada bang thing to raise money for women in Africa and the victims of Haiti, as they are advertising it. All royalty, stars and anyone who thinks they are someone will be out in all thier star shinining power, once again saving the poor african. Me I don’t know but the whole thing just rubs me so wrong, hence “Mrembo, unashinda” self analysis.

To end, did you all hear how Pat Robertson of the famed 700 club said ati.. “God is punishing Haiti for having made a pact with the devil to get the French out of their island” look for the video on youtube and see this man spew his nonsense and what irks me to no end is that some stupid Africans will still continue to give him money or whatever.. while he spews out his ignorance..

wacha tu.. as you can see me I have lots of issues.
mrembo´s last blog ..Food and stories

Simple, yet so effective. Couldn’t have put it better.

@Nyambura. I guess many who see the stench choose to know when to fight out the vultures. I have no doubt that folks are still doing what they can.

Nevertheless, the vanity parade as someone eloquently called the vulture activity is hard to ignore.

Kellie my dear – of course I was pulling your leg. I have no cotton picking idea if the so called Sisters of Guayando are a relief agency let alone if they exist. I was just exercising creative licence to achieve an effect…and trust you to go and google them…

The media are as much a tool for vanity as they are for information.

Shiko. The fact that this is pretty much a fundraising exercise for some makes it all the more dodgier.

I was watching Al Jazeera’s bit on this and I agree with you. I mean, IMF stepped in prompty to offer the already debt ridden Haiti with debt (nicely packaged as aid), at interest which was only waived when there was un uproar.

Then France. Haiti’s taken 120 years to compensate France for loss of it’s colony, but now steps in to adopt the orphaned babies. Seriously??
It’s no secret that black people (I’m black so this isn’t racist) are more intellectually gifted, so lets adopt these babies, more resources for our country.
In the meanwhile, splash this in the news so we can appear gracious.
I could go on and on…
kellie´s last blog ..Unfinished Business

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/world/europe/23iht-doctors.html?ref=global-home

Of course they’ll tell you they’re doing something – it’s the classic hook line and sinker sucker punch to convince you to donate money.

The irony is that there’s probably more local grassroot organisations in the towns and villages that are more effective and are the right groups to carry out this work.

But these guys will set up camp there for the next 20 years. Any funding application with Haiti on the summary will probably be escalated.
The thing for me is that I don’t really have a problem with specialist humanitarian organisations like Red Cross and Doctors without borders (MSF). What they do is simple, straight forward and crystal clear. In fact, they provide a vital real time service when it’s needed most and they have been doing it for over a century.
What I have issue with is with the rest of the bunch classifying themselves as Aid and development agencies. They usually don’t have a defined role, they compete with each other for funds, publicity, influence and power – in that my brand of development (read imperialism) is better than your brand.

As for budgets, believe you me, they work in 5 year cycles – not 3. 3 years is for hard times, but Haiti just made it pay day.

Cold Turkey. I make a distinction between emergency relief of the kind provided by Red Cross and Doctors without borders. They are critical frontline services that’s needed in the thick of the disaster, and both Red Cross and MSF doctors do a fantastic job.

There’s a difference between them and the aid and development industry ala the Oxfams and Action Aids.

Aid agencies were cutting back and re-structuring. Hard economic times in last few years in the west meant the donations were not as high as usual. Then Haiti earthquake and voila their CEO’s and financial officers are seeing their budgets for the next three years well catered for. So dramatic phrases like “imagine the earth trembling beneath you…..” will be around for some time to ensure funds are raised.