A Sudanese chief distributes a handful
of internationally donated wheat to each family in his village
(EPA/EMPICS)
Problems are global – solutions are global
Aid agencies such as Oxfam call globalisation the biggest challenge
for development of the 21st century. Africa hasn’t benefited at
all. And generally, developing countries’ share of world trade
is dropping.
After years of declining aid budgets, the United Nations (UN)
Millennium Development Goals are for rich countries to spend 0.7%
of their country’s wealth on aid by 2015. Since coming to power,
our government’s spending has more than doubled. But, along with
that of most rich countries, it’s still a long way from the UN’s
targets. In Britain, steps have also been taken to untie aid and
cancel debt repayments.
Aid agencies say that if trade is well managed, poverty will
reduce. They would like to see an end to the dumping of subsidised
foods on developing countries so local farmers can make a better
living. They also call for trade rules to be changed, and for
companies based in poor countries to make sure that workers have
good conditions and are paid a fair wage. The aid agencies are
confident if these things are changed trade will be fairer, allowing
poorer countries a bigger share of the global market. |
