Why is the West not concerned about the plight of Africa?
145092
Since de-colonization, the West has paid very little attention to Africa. Yes, food is sent to some regions, occasionally, but we haven't helped nearly as much as we could (there's a genocide in Darfur, by the way. how many people know that?) Africa has very little resources to interest the West. Is is also a very unstable region, which is why no one wants to move their business there. Because the economy is so poor, there is more poverty and instability; the cycle never seems to end. In the near future, as China further develops its economic power, you'll start to see a lot of the low wage manufacturing jobs move out of China and into Africa.\n\nThe best way for you to help is to ask questions and get other people interested. There is a really great start up program called One Here, One There. It's a pilot program starting at Stetson University in Deland, FL and hoping to go nation-wide soon. For one $20 donation, you can send a child in Africa to school for an entire year. Books, transportation, everything. For one year. (for more info, contact Stetson University)
1014656
The answer is simple on undebatible, the war against militant Islamics effects more people in more places then anything else.  If we fail, the results for our future generations will be dreadful.\n\nI have to sidetrack here and respond to an answer previously given by se_rodd\n---------------------------------------------------------------------------\n  The most important thing going on right now is the AIDS epidemic in Africa. The numbers are staggering on how much the continent of Africa is destroyed by the virus. What is more staggering is that the only thing needed to preven this is money. Instead the US would rather use its money to fighting an injust war instead of saving lives. \n---------------------------------------------------------------------------\nWhy the @#%# is Africa our responsibilty?  We give more money to Africa then all other nations combined.  And this is not enough for you?  What would happen in the worst case scenario and every single person living in Africa died from Aids, I don't see what the world would miss all that much.  What is the great importance of a continent full of people who can't even master the use of a condom.
155511
Why can't Africa help itself? Last I checked we have a COUPLE of problems over here.
435542
Sadly, civil war/genocide in sub-sahara Africa just isn't important to Americans because it doesn't really have an ecomomic impact on them or our country like the illegal Mexican immigration issue.  If they had oil, if their refugees were flooding across our border, or even if we shared a common culture (and sadly maybe skin color) you can bet more attention would be paid.
1009794
Sub-Saharan Africa is by far the poorest region in the world, and there are numerous other serious problems with the area that the governments in Sub-Saharan Africa need help to overcome.\n\nThe most obvious problem in this region is extreme poverty. this has proven to be the only area in which the UN's first MDG may not completed. in Sub-Saharan Africa, HALF of the people live on LESS THAN $1 A DAY. Poverty in Africa has cost thousands of lives and, according to Jeffrey Sachs, breeds terrorism. Mr. Sachs' statement is supported by the fact that there are in fact Al-Qaeda locations in Sub-Saharan Africa and the group's first attack was in Africa.\n\nAnother problem is the disease. HIV/AIDS is extremely prevalent, as well as countless other deadly diseases such as tuberculosis and parasitic diseases that are long extinct in other areas. the H5N1 Bird Flu Virus strain was also detected in Nigeria this February, which poses a serious threat to sub-saharan Africa and the entire world because: 1)it is very likely the disease will spread rapidly because birds have not yet been quarantined and, given the scarcity of food, it's very unlikely infected birds will be slaughtered 2)flu experts have said that the H5N1 Bird Flu virus strain, though not humanly communicable at the moment, may become communicable through humans, which would put the entire world in great danger\n\nyet another unfortunate aspect of Sub-Saharan Africa's current state is war. Civil wars have been raging in this area for numerous years, and the crudely drawn territories left by the countries like France and Portugal, of which many sub saharan africa countries were colonies, cause on-going dispute. There have been 200,000 killed as a result of civil war and countless other refugees. As Bob Geldof said, "if this scale of destruction was occuring in Europe, people would be calling it World War III...and rushing to provide aid."\n\nInarguably, sub-saharan Africa is in a dire state and needs to get rid of its problem.\n\nAnother reason the U.S. should give aid to sub-saharan africa is because of its rich natural resources. The area has massive amounts of colton, which is used in cell phones. The area also has oil wells (that are being bombed in wars), in quantaties so great it could provide the U.S. with 10% of its oil.\n\nPerhaps the most pressing reason we should give aid to this region is little known. In 1970, the United States of America, along with over 20 other developed nations met at an UN Earth Summit and pledged to give .7% of their Gross Domestic Product. This was to be acchieved by 1975. Yet, over THIRTY YEARS LATER, the United States is only giving .16% of their GDP, and is giving the very least of those 22 countries who pledged money, %-wise, a highly despicable thing, considering the U.S. is one of the most affluent nations in the world.\n\n\n\nTHE CONS:there are corrupt governments that will embezzle the money. Sub-Saharan Africa has been given billions of dollars and they have not improved their state at all; in fact, the more money they get, the worse they become. This si because the corrupt governments get richer and more powerful with every dollar in aid that they get; in fact, the former president of Nigeria was found to have smuggled over $500 billion.\n\nYet another reason we should not give aid because even if it reaches the citizens, it's not always used properly. For example some country(i forgot which one) used their aid money to build a highway, although there were barely any cars in the country. Countless projects have been poorly placed and left unfinished\n\nfurthermore, aid creates independence, which actually hampers their development. For example, Asia was once equally as poor as sub-Saharan Africa. From 1976-2000, they received significantly less aid than Sub-Saharan Africa, yet grew much more.\n\nthus, aid given will be useless and there is no way to make sure the money is properly spent...which lea
1056638
Damn good question..  I ask you? Africa has diseases galore, no food for it's existing populations but this Right Wing Fundamentalist administration will only give them Aid if contraceptives are taken off the family agenda. Gosh, no wonder the chinese are becoming the friend of the oppressed.\n\nmadbaldscotsman, I have gone to England 27 times over the last six years and lived there for periods up to 6 months. They have always thought of Americans as arrogant, stupid and self obsessed, and they are our friends. The mainland Europeans only want the dollar and never, ever, want to see an American, let alone live with one. No, Moore is not the reason. Don't fool yourself. The political heirarchy has a lot to do with it. Would you want Bush as a friend and mentor?
671858
Because in the scheme of things, the rest of the world doesn't care about Africa.  The biggest and wealthiest nations support other countries.  But they don't support places like Africa, Haiti, Jamaica, etc.  What do these places have in common?  The race of most of the inhabitants of those places is the same.   It's a culture and ethnic reason why they are so far behing.  Costa Rica doesn't have that problem.  India doesn't have that problem.  Spain doesn't have that problem.  You think about it, and it will become clear.
115171
I don't think that this is necessarily an African problem.  I think that in order to successfully cultivate a democracy that the people have to have a deep inner desire for that democracy.  They have to want it to work.  In a lot of countries we're trying to do some nation-building, and in such we're trying to help other countries become democracies, but that only worked for us because we wanted it.  We can't force it on people as we're finding out all over the world.  If there are people against a democratic form of government (and if the people who are for it aren't for it strongly enough), then there are too many ways they can muck it up for everyone else.
375862
Yes the current problems in Africa are as a factor of colonialism. During colonial days the whites mistreated Africans so badly, that when the new leaders came to power the just copied the same things the whites were doing in the office. The biggest problems facing Africans are corruption, poverty, jobless, illeteracy and lack of good leadership. The leaders in government are not concerned about changing Africa for them all they care is put more cash in their pockets, coz they have given up on trying though they never even tried. though up to today still the west is crushing Africa down, by selling the war lords weapons and even financing them.thats why there are so many rebels who dont even know why they are fighting, and most of them are children.
950769
Probably becuase poverty is always a relative concept. Being the richer nations they probably still see Africa as the "Dark Continent" back from their sea-faring days.\n\nThat said...\n\nMost other countries probably have more than their share of poverty in their own country to be worried about poverty in another country.
102741
Tribalism is the root of Africa's problems.  Similar to Hitler's genocide, but no one cares.  Africa offers some natural resources.\n\nMuslim extremists are now expanding in Africa.  Sudan is a prime example.  The Arab Sudanese government is trying to destroy the native African Sudanese.\n\nEven when the West help them, there is corruption.  They will take the donated grains and sell it to the poor.  Somalia is basically a country run by gangs with big guns.  Warlords rules Somalia.  Each having its own rules and killing whomever they want.\n\nWith such instability and corrupted government, insurgencies start.  This combination will limit investments from companies and make the situation worse.  No food, no economy, but a lot of guns.  Millions are dying and their own people/government do not care.
224561
oh !john c. America doesn't have any interest there. What products does the eastern part of africa export to the usa? can't think of anything ? and that is why america won't do anything. if we were a country that was focused on humanity then yes we would be over there in a new york minute.It makes me so mad! because there are millions of people dying there! it also has a lot to do with race wheteher we want to admit it or not.Throwing a million dollars to them means nothing if a evil dictator gets it!
191952
yup. America as a whole is only interested in helping /destroying countries that get into it's way / hurt it.\nthere has been Aid , dont get me wrong, and we have accepted refugees FROM YUGOSLAVIA but, there is little media concern which means the general population cannot pester the government to spend more than it wants.\nthere is also crisis in burma, Africa,south america where the loss is like 20x worse than 9/11 but that gets virtually NO PRESS.
91226
There's no doubt Africa is in a bad way right now.  However, we must remember that most African countries are less than 50 years old.  Even the US was still having problems at that point.  Africa was more exploited by colonizers, and so it only makes sense there are more problems.  However, progress is being made.  Democracy is the way of rule in many countries, having progressed from dictatorships-- Ghana is a good example.  Botswana is doing well economically (comparatively).  Africa is moving forward, and that in itself is cause for hope.
947166
Although I do not know if each individual country in West Africa (Africa is a continent not a country) has government paid health care I will generalize.....\n\nIt resembles the US in that the people who can pay to maintain good health or get medical attention get it and those who can't pay don't get any or get less quality care.
1139795
Err you want proof?\nThe Continent of Africa is turning slowly but surely into a vast uninhabitable desert.\nNot fun for the animals let alone the people!\n\nSomething to think about next time you use your energy wasting tumble-driers!  That's why there's Wind & Sun, not because hanging your washing out MAKES YOU POOR!\nOnly an American could come up with a Crook o S**T like that!
534007
One reason could be because a lot of people don't even know that Africa is a continent and not a country.