Challenges of poverty ‘must be faced’
As the UN launched its Human Development Report in Dublin yesterday, renowned development economist Jeffery Sachs was at pains to drive the point home.
More than 15,000 Africans die daily from the lack of simple medicine, he told the crowd of development workers and journalists at Government Buildings.
"We've launched a whole war on terrorism after 3,000 people died in the US, but eight million people died last year because they couldn't get the drugs they needed," he said.
Just 50 cent of every $100 dollars would be enough to end absolute poverty the UN has calculated.
But the commitment from the world's developed nations to meet that demand by providing 0.7% of their GNP has waned and is nowhere near being met.
Crucially, the US is $60 billion behind that goal, while Ireland currently allocates 450m or 0.41% annually to development aid.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's prepared speech was committed to increasing Ireland's development aid and achieving the UN target, although significant doubts remain as to whether that commitment will be met.
Then there are question marks over Ireland's performance in this year's report, ranking second worst of 17 developed countries for poverty and inequality levels.
But there are more challenging hurdles ahead for Ireland and the developed world which will demand a significantly more painful sacrifice than any number of decimal points of increased aid.
Thanks to trade sanctions such as the Common Agricultural Policy and policies of the World Trade Organisation, European cows and American cotton receive many times more subsidies than the starving in Africa.
Annually, Europe subsidises every cow to the tune of $913 while donating just $8 to each person in Sub
Saharan Africa.
In the US, cotton is subsidised by $10.7m every day while American donations to Sub Saharan Africa are $3m daily.
As president of Mozambique Joaquim Alberto Chissano said via satellite link: "Our goods and services have to have access to your markets."
Bono sums up the problem, saying that the poorest of the poor are not allowed to put their stock on our shelves, yet we pass the plate for the poor of Africa at Sunday Mass.
Nevertheless, Bono and UN development programme administrator Mark Malloch Brown are positive. "We can still change that two-class, two-speed world if we choose,"
Mr Malloch Brown said. "This is the first generation that can actually eliminate poverty from the planet." But that depends on money being forthcoming from the governments of the west and there are no guarantees of that.
Although Ireland was praised by Mr Mallach Brown for "blazing a trail for all donor countries", there is scepticism we will reach the 0.7% of GNP UN target a figure equivalent to the amount of money Ireland already spends on military expenditure.
When pressed by journalists to give a more concrete commitment to development aid, Mr Ahern dodged the question, attacking the media instead.
Afterwards, it was Bono who gave the answer that the Taoiseach should have perhaps given.
"I think he is keeping an eye on the economy because if that spirals he won't be able to give a commitment. I'm sure his intention is to keep the promise and our job is to keep reminding him to do it," he said.
Judging by the current indicators of the Irish economy, Mr Ahern is likely to find it increasingly difficult to meet his commitments and Bono, no doubt, will have his work cut out running just to stand still.
