A Word from Africa No 15
September has been clouded by the collapse in disappointment of the World Trade Organisation Conference at Cancun, on which the future of the poor of Africa so largely depended. Africa is convinced that, given an open and fairly regulated marked worldwide, and given the intercontinental cooperation which Nepad promises, the many problems associated with Africa's poverty can be solved. The catch lies, of course, in man's inhumanity to man, the failure to meet a desperate situation with disinterested remedies.
Perhaps, with an eye to looming elections, the World Trade Organisation representatives of the developed nations appear to have clung to the retaining of subsidies and infernal supports of production which effectively banish large swathes of Africa from equitable trading and within Africa, influenced perhaps by memories of; recent colonialisation, but also in some cases because of governments' attachment to a unrestricted power the nations, invited ft subscribe to 'peer-review', allowing Africa states to appraise one another’s success failure in good governance, have shown' reluctance and a good deal of scepticism ;jeopardising what is a crucial element in structure of Nepad and its attraction to possible investors in African economies.
This is where the Pope's Intentions, and our prayers, have a special importance for Africa. from December to March, the emphasis is on the Small World of God's family in December our uniting to alleviate the suffering of the world; in January, an end to wars and injustice because we are members of God's one family; in February, peaceful coexistence in the Holy land all of whom worship the one, same God; and in March, harmony between peoples issuing from respect for the peace and prosperity and a call to each one of us to pray that humanity may speedily discover that Christ’s way of selfless loving is the way to ifs salvation.
James Fitzsimons SJ
Perhaps, with an eye to looming elections, the World Trade Organisation representatives of the developed nations appear to have clung to the retaining of subsidies and infernal supports of production which effectively banish large swathes of Africa from equitable trading and within Africa, influenced perhaps by memories of; recent colonialisation, but also in some cases because of governments' attachment to a unrestricted power the nations, invited ft subscribe to 'peer-review', allowing Africa states to appraise one another’s success failure in good governance, have shown' reluctance and a good deal of scepticism ;jeopardising what is a crucial element in structure of Nepad and its attraction to possible investors in African economies.
This is where the Pope's Intentions, and our prayers, have a special importance for Africa. from December to March, the emphasis is on the Small World of God's family in December our uniting to alleviate the suffering of the world; in January, an end to wars and injustice because we are members of God's one family; in February, peaceful coexistence in the Holy land all of whom worship the one, same God; and in March, harmony between peoples issuing from respect for the peace and prosperity and a call to each one of us to pray that humanity may speedily discover that Christ’s way of selfless loving is the way to ifs salvation.