Bono, Africa, G8
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Is the G8 neglecting Africa?
It is true that the G8 has made and not kept its promises to Africa. But there is another side to the coin. Africa's leaders have failed to keep their part of the bargain -- not just to the West about proper use of the aid funds, but to their own citizens in terms of human rights, accountable government and rule of law. However much one empathizes with Africa, the truth is that corruption and the absence of the rule of law are the biggest problem, not the lack of aid. The solutions must come from Africa itself. What makes things difficult is that African rulers use the poverty of their citizens -- more often than not, caused by them -- as an excuse to ask for more aid. Africans like me are sick of the tired excuse that the West is to blame, the colonialists are to blame, or that by telling African leaders the blatant and sad truth they are being "racist." Africa has been independent for far too long to use racism and colonial heritage as excuses for its woes. For how long should they be potty-trained on democracy? - Lereko Obonyo, Kenya
I do not agree with Bono and Geldof that the G8 are neglecting our "responsibility" to Africa. They are neglecting the fact that government must extort money from us for their pet causes, whether we the people support the cause or not. And what of the hypocrisy of Bono moving his band's business to a low-tax country to avoid exactly the extortion that he now demands of my government on me? Neither man is certainly hurting for money. Why aren't they living like common folk and giving the extra to Africa themselves? - Jamie Extract, US
Africa has not felt Germany's European leadership in terms of relief and development in Africa. I saw what Tony Blair has done about the debt cancellation in Africa. What did Angel Merkel sacrifice for the development of Africa? A high-powered delegation including the German president visited my country, Sierra Leone. Since then I have not felt any impact. Please do something about this. - Alusine S. Kargbo, Sierra-Leone
I agree with Bono and Bob Geldof that G8 countries are neglecting commitments to Africa. - Dumitru Florea, Romania
Why doesn't he just quit yapping? Tell him to give some of the hundreds of millions of dollars he has made to these poor people. My money belongs in my pocket. It is sickening that I saw Bono at Ouest on the Upper West Side on Mother's Day and he left half his food on his plate when the waiter came to clean up. - William, US
A UN of democracies and dictatorships?
I think the creation of a Democratic Caucus within the United Nations would help solve the problem of the existence of dictatorships or other kinds of governments in the world, without leaving anyone out of the UN. Promoting the cause of democracy is the best way to inculcate this kind of government in countries with no regard for human rights. - Jose Nigrin, Israel
A Democracy Caucus might be useful if the democracies would stick together, demand changes in the UN Charter, clean up the corruption and back it up with the combined position that they will withhold funding unless their requests are met. The US should start by refusing any funding for the renovation of the UN headquarters in New York and intimate that the UN may be told to vacate the building and find a location in another country without US funding if it fails to meet the conditions of the Democratic Caucus. - Max Lester, US
