Nothing can save a country that’s misruled

IT is ludicrous to argue that the problems of the developing world can be explained in terms of “an orgy of consumerism” in the developed world (Fergus Finlay, Irish Examiner, April 12).

The main problem, according to the Britain's Africa Commission, is bad governance bad institutions, maladministration and corruption. This is firstly the responsibility of developing countries to put right, and developed countries should support their efforts.

Without improved governance, extra debt relief, more and better aid and improvements in the trade regime will not have much impact on poverty. Band Aid was established primarily to raise money for victims of the famine in Ethiopia at the time.