If we believed everything that we are fed about Africa by charity groups, it would not be a very savoury place to visit.
All children seem to be either starving or dying of nasty diseases, and have flies permanently attached to their eyes.
Water is only available to those who have had European/American do-gooders install wells and pumps.
Marauding gangs of lunatics slaughter everyone who hasn't learned The Koran by heart.
Ebola is rife, and will end-up killing most of Africa's population, unless they haven't already succumbed to Tsetse, snake bites, or Malaria.
Children can only attend school if sponsored by kindly Europeans/Americans.
Most of African wildlife will soon disappear if not 'adopted' by even more kindly Europeans/Americans.
Everyone above the rank of junior clerk has a Swiss bank account, stuffed with foreign aid money.
And all girls are married off by the age of 8 years old.
Over the past few years I have not seen a single charity ad' that does not represent Africa as being one huge open sewer, with the sick and dying littering the streets. Isn't it about time that the real face of Africa was presented a little more accurately?
A little more charity from the charities, and tourism might suddenly explode. It would probably be the financial saviour of many African countries.
29 comments:
I totally agree. We are brainwashed by what the media tells us. I sometimes feel that you learn more from bloggers than you do from the official media. I've learnt how tough it is for the average European to get a job or if they have one, live on their wage. We certainly dont see that here on TV.
Hey, Australia gives charity too!!!!! Just saying...
Yes I know you do Lynda. By European/American I really meant ALL 1st world countries. Sorry.
I completely agree. I went to Gambia about 8 years ago and it was nothing like they portray. Everyone was happy and well fed. I was told by one African that there they only needed western money if they wanted western things as everything else they could provide for themselves and had done for centuries.
I have a friend who visits Senegal annually. She always says it's the most beautiful country with totally beautiful people. I bet the charity folk would find something nasty to say about it.
Looking at Angola cro
Reminds me of tom gowans
I emailed him three weeks ago...still no reply
Somtimes you say things that other people think but do not dare to say.
The portrayal of poor sick starving children is obviously never a nice thing to see, but I wonder why so many children are brought into this situation.
If the poor people can't support themselves, how do they expect to support yet more children?
Perhaps the money might be better spent on a programme of birth control?
I also suspect that many are being encouraged, through handouts, to remain in areas that cannot sustain human life.
Hope he hasn't succumbed to his leg troubles; I'm sure it hadn't healed properly.
I'm fearless, Yael.
I heard from him about a fortnight ago. Still alive just really busy I think. On for setting up a workshop over there.
The press have far too much power and ability to influence now.
But do they know it's Christmas?
Good point, well made.
Jean
x
You are absolutely correct. There are also cities and towns in the US that are plagued with poverty but they are seldom shown because we don't want to see. Homelessness and hunger has no borders.
Only the Chinese have the nous to see Africa differently.
There is 'lotsa' money in Charity, ya know?
And, boy, have they seen it. The new colonial power.
As long as Santa brings dosh.
That's good news. We all miss him.
I do wish he would update us....I've been wondering if Tom is ok.
Tempered with a good chuckle. Its the way you tell'em.
You have hit the mark again!
Most of Italy is actually part of the African continental plate. If we gave Italy back to Africa the boat people could go there by normal ships instead of leaky sardine cans. That way there wouldn't be thousands of Africans drowning in the sea every year.
It's terrible to say, but my generation grew up on commercials that had children with stick arms and bloated bellies and huge eyes and flies on their mouths, etc. We sort of became immune to it I guess.
Good to hear that Tom in Angola is actually still alive…I was wondering!
I noticed it. Wish I was but I am not.
The trouble is that all those adverts by the aid agencies make all those countries look far too scary to visit. I have friends who have just returned from their holiday in Namibia = not by any means the first time they have been - they find the country amazing. Me - too many creepy crawlies for me I'm afraid.
I always check his blog for more news... was wondering where he was at. Good to hear nothing untoward has happened to him.
Jo in Auckland, NZ
And yet it's a wonderful country.
Post a Comment