West’s priorities an indictment of us all

THE excellent article by Caroline O’Doherty headlined ‘Should claiming space cost the earth?’ hits the nail on the head (Irish Examiner, August 11).

Rarely have the skewed priorities of powerful nations come into such stark contrast as in the case of the Discovery space mission and that of the famine in Niger.

Here is a prime example of money - billions - being no obstacle when the will is there.

A fraction of that dedication, determination and funding by governments of the west would have prevented the suffering of the millions in Niger.

It just goes to show, yet again, that the west has no problem at all spending the big bucks when there is a benefit to it.

That we can have astronauts repairing shuttles in space, yet we cannot eradicate famine in Africa is an indictment of mankind.

John O’Shea

GOAL

PO Box 19

Dún Laoghaire

Co Dublin