(June 6, 2009) Before the end of the first period of colonialism African nations were properties of their colonial masters who did what they could to rape the continent of whatever resource they deemed good for the development of their citizens in Europe. Out of nowhere and without any consultation with the people of the African continent, the Europeans met and divided the continent amongst themselves in what has been termed ‘The Scramble for Africa’.
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Geologists reflect on last year’s earthquake in Sichuan
(June 5, 2009) When the Sichuan province was rocked by a massive 7.9-magnitude earthquake last year, many scientists and government leaders were caught off guard. Previous studies by geologists stated that while the area—on the surface—appeared to be seismically active, their research showed otherwise.
Canada’s foreign aid: Big picture versus water wells
(June 5, 2009) Helped by emergence of foreign aid heavyweights, Canada’s mainstream media is taking note of the country’s foreign aid policies.
Good governance can only bolster aid to Africa
(June 2, 2009) The recent debate about aid sparked by Dambisa Moyo’s book, Dead Aid, has polarised the development community. I have long argued that it is investment and good governance, not aid, which will solve Africa’s problems, although effective aid has an important role to play in the quest for sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. Ms Moyo suggests that government bonds can take the place of development assistance. This is unrealistic.
Business big shot: Dambisa Moyo, director, SABMiller
Few people dare to take on the likes of Bob Geldof on the issue of development and aid to Africa — but Dambisa Moyo, who joined the board of the brewing giant SABMiller on Monday, has done just that.
World’s largest hydroelectric project to launch underground power station in 2010
(June 3, 2009) Generators of an underground power station of the Three Gorges project have started installation, and the first underground turbine is expected to be put to use in 2010.
Internet community targets officials’ misconduct
(June 3, 2009) China’s Internet community is becoming a voice for the country to protest against official corruption.
Three Gorges Dam is one long, slippery slope
(June 3, 2009) Back in 2003 Probe International raised concerns that the Three Gorges dam reservoir would not have a consistent height, as resettlement planners promised, but in fact would be sloped – inundating many more thousands of people and costing millions more in losses.
No need to oversimplify poverty
(June 1, 2009) Bill Easterly takes a complex problem, African poverty, and tries to reduce it to a single factor: "the consensus among most academic economists is that destructive governments rather than destructive geography explain the poverty of nations." This is a strange assertion. Geography and government policies both matter.
Governments struggle to assess aid effectively
(June 2, 2009) After the heated rhetoric on FT.com from such eminent experts as Jeffrey Sachs and William Easterley about Dambiso Moyo’s book , Dead Aid , Mo Ibrahim is to be congratulated for restoring sober thought and analysis to the debate about the value of aid.
Lost in the tropics: Sachs’ misguided African geography
The debate on aid to Africa continues. This column argues that it is bad governments and institutions that cause poverty, not bad geography. Making sure aid reaches the poor will often mean not giving it to poor governments.
‘Trade is not aid’
After years when billions have been spent on aid in Africa, donors are now picking up on a new trend to put their money on the continent’s entrepreneurs.
Academics debate the environmental wisdom of mega-projects
(June 2, 2009) A recent article in the Taipei Times examining the mounting criticism facing the Chinese government in its pursuit of massive infrastructure projects.
Where has all the money gone?
(June 2, 2009) A recent article by Lord Aikins Adusei in the Zimbabwe Observer asks some pointed questions of the international aid agencies and developed banks. After nearly 50 years and billions of dollars in loans and grants, he says, Africa remains a poverty-striken continent, rife with corruption and political instability.
Rethinking Aid
(June 1, 2009) Steve Forbes delves into situations where microfinance and venture capitalism can succeed instead of aid.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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Probe International 