In the world 1995 ,there are
still huge differences between rich and poor developed and less developed
countries . But why ? Who is to blame ?What can we do about it? Many things have
been tied out to solve the problems, but it does it work? It seems bizarre that
we modern intelligent people have not yet succeeded to get rid of the
differences between DCs (developed countries) and LCDs (less developed
countries). We try don’t we? Every year we grant 2% of our Gross National
Product GNP to foreign aid to get a better standard of living (better
agriculture, more and better schools and hospitals, access to health personnel,
medicines, etc).
On the other hand is our “standard of living” the best for LCDs and the one we
should impose on them? For instance , what is the point of giving of giving
complex machinery like tractors and harvesters which need expensive fuel and
maintenance to people who have harvested their crops by manpower of hundred of
years? We know for a fact that the money we grant is not being used adequately.
A lot of the money is taken by the government of the less developed countries
and a great amount of the sum are not being used to the purposes they are meant
for . Bribery and corruption are huge problems in developing countries. It was
more sense to dig wells for people who walk for miles every day to get their
daily water supply than to support officials with BMWs and grand houses.
The World Bank was established and a large amount of capital was poured in
despite of the fact that the Third World lacked the level of infrastructure ,
the economic and social background the skilled personnel to Europe. The failure
of this model of economic development to produce economic well being and growth
for most Third World countries is due to number of factor. These factors include
the concentration of economic resources in the hands of the rich and of
unrepresentative government the exclusion of the large majority of affected
populations from economic decision making and the integration of southern
economies in an international market where they cannot compete equitably.
The Industrialized countries are still holding the less developed countries
down. It’s the DCs who decide coffee- tea and sugar – prices and consequently
exercise indirect control of the countries economy . We also protect ourselves
with high import taxes and low import-quotas. Increasing protectionism in
Northern markets shut off some Third World exports while at the same time the
increased export of some natural resources lumber from forest , for example
created the conditions for rapid environmental destruction. At the same time a
major debt crises developed particularly among those countries in the south that
were producing primarily for Northern markets.
As 1990s began popular movements that included farmers ,workers ,women
environmentalists and community groups in the south were challenging the
adjustment policies and large scale projects that were ruining the poor and the
environment . The goal for these groups is sustainable development .In Africa
there are established with help from among other countries , Norway, mobile
doctors , who visit villages and remote places on regular basis. This way of co
operating with the host –countries has proved to be the best way of “helping”
the developing countries to develop in their own pace and their “Third World”
way.
I guess this is what have kept the Third World countries under developed for
such a long time : That we have imposed on them OUR development with its flaws,
disrespect for nature and other countries and other cultures and the greediness
which threatens to ruin the balance of our environment.