We should all count our blessings every single day.
Those of us who have been fortunate enough to travel, live, work, or study abroad, know in our gut that regardless of the level of economic problems back home at any given point, Americans are in far better economic shape than the overwhelming number of other countries. Exposure to other cultures makes us acutely aware of the level of despair and despondency in developing countries. Routine conveniences that we take for granted -- such as electricity, running water, food, shelter, etc., etc. -- are hardly routine in many of these countries.
From the days of the New Imperialism in the late 19th century -- when superior technology and weaponry enabled many European powers to grab vast quantities of land and natural resources for themselves -- to the post-World War II Cold War period, the Continent of Africa has received plenty of attention from major world powers, most of it unhealthy for its political, economic, and social health. A few years after a wave of independence struggles in the 1950's ensured their freedom, one African country or another was engaged in a fight between surrogates to advance the geopolitical aims of either the United States or the Soviet Union. Over the past twenty years, while some progress has been made, Africa remains largely a forgotten continent. Tragically, it is no longer as useful to the world powers as in the past.
While in the West and in the Eastern Bloc the nuclear threat bred anxiety and hardened political ideologies, in the developing world the Cold War was a covert but deeply pervasive struggle. Here, East and West battled by proxy, turning friends and allies abroad into Cold Warriors on their behalf. Across Africa, the struggle for ascendancy between the forces of capitalism and communism sparked coups and revolutions, fuelled rivalries with 'aid and assistance,' and brought about political schisms through espionage and 'dirty tricks.' It was on these distant battlefields that the Cold War was fought.
For a myriad of reasons historical and otherwise, famine conditions today in the Horn of Africa are at a desperate point where your help is needed to alleviate hunger, starvation, and death.
East Africa Food Crisis: 48 Hours of Action
This weekend, Daily Kos is participating in 48-Hour Fundraiser hosted by environmental websites and nonprofit organizations to benefit the 12 million people struggling for survival in the East African countries of Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya and Djibouti. Last week, the United Nations announced famine -- already declared in two districts -- is likely to spread throughout southern Somalia. This week, the UN issued a warning that food insecurity in northern Uganda is sufficiently alarming to raise the possibility that the country might become the fifth nation impacted by the worst drought in the Horn of Africa in sixty years.
Also participating in this weekend of action are 350.org, Oxfam International, WiserEarth, tcktcktck, DeSmogBlog, MIT Climate CoLab, BPI Campus, Climate Change: The Next Generation, RedGreenAndBlue.org, Cool HIVE, MedicMobile, and The Enough Project.
Over the course of the weekend, experts in the field of humanitarian assistance will join environmental writers to outline the history of the region and detail how geopolitics, colonialism, ongoing civil wars, climate change and geographic vulnerabilities have combined to create the perfect storm now ravaging East Africa.
Each participating organization is choosing its particular group for donated funds. Daily Kos is donating all monies raised to directly support the work of Oxfam in the Horn of Africa. Please add $.01 to your donation so it ends up being $5.01, $20.01, $50.01, $100.01, and so on. This will enable Oxfam to keep track of all Daily Kos donations.
Click here to Go directly to Oxfam's donation page.
Please read this if you live outside the United States - to make a donation, click this link and scroll down a bit to find your country. If not listed, please Google Oxfam in your country.
|
|
Historically, both individual Americans on their own initiative as well as our government acting in the national interest have shown incredible generosity in helping other countries in times of crises.
In 1940, when Great Britain alone was left in Western Europe to confront Nazi aggression, President Franklin Roosevelt justified the Lend-Lease aid program in simple terms. Though not a perfect analogy for the present food crisis in Africa, FDR invoked the idea of lending your neighbor a garden hose to put out the fire engulfing his house. That help proved crucial for Britain (and other allied countries) in "putting out the fire" and defeating the Axis Powers. A new world emerged from the ashes of World War II. While perhaps not satisfactory to every country, it was, nevertheless, a vast improvement over the turbulence and turmoil that defined the inter-war years from 1918-1939. (see an enlarged version of this editorial cartoon and read Rob Rogers' excellent comment in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
It matters little what the complicated reasons are for this unprecedented humanitarian crisis unfolding in four countries in the Horn of Africa for the past several weeks. The relevant fact is that millions of people in these countries need our immediate and generous help.
In recent days, it is encouraging to see the Obama Administration accelerate its efforts to provide much-needed relief. However, the magnitude of the problem is enormous. This recent BBC report and PBS video summarize the alarming developments (but also provide a ray of hope) in the Dadaab Refugee Camp in Northeastern Kenya
- A severe drought has affected almost half of Somalia's 10 million citizens, who are facing starvation.
- 1,500 Somalian refugees are arriving every single day at Dadaab, making it the largest refugee camp in the world.
- The refugees are fleeing famine, drought, and an intense civil war between the Somali government and Islamic militants in southern Somalia.
- Due to acute malnutrition, people are dying every day. The spread of cholera and measles is widespread and camp organizers see "no end in sight" to the crisis.
Donate now - Donate to Oxfam America
Against heavy odds, Oxfam is one of the non-governmental organizations doing remarkable humanitarian work to improve the lot of hundreds of thousands of refugees streaming into Kenya. In doing so, it is also creating jobs and providing hope for the dispossessed
Oxfam is scaling up its operations in order to meet the increasing demands for access to safe water and sanitation to prevent the spread of disease.
Cash-for-work initiatives offer the refugee community an opportunity to earn an income. It also helps reinforce some dignity for the workers, knowing they are helping to provide for their family. Men and women are paid between 250 and 500 Kenyan shillings (about $2.70 to $5.40) per day depending on their skill levels. Jobs for men include constructing latrines, reporting on dead livestock so they can be removed before spreading disease, and clearing new land for relocated families. Oxfam has employed women to help collect and dispose of the piles of packaging discarded from newly erected tents and materials.
Read more about Oxfam's humanitarian efforts in the Horn of Africa.
There are many other organizations involved in this worthwhile cause. With your help, we can make Daily Kos one of the biggest -- if not the biggest donor -- to participate this weekend. I know for a fact that you have proven over the years that this blog cares about many more things than just the political and policy concerns of the day.
Donate now - Donate to Oxfam America
A very important way in which you can help is to elevate these diaries to prominence by recommending each and every one of them. If you are a Group Administrator, feel free to republish this and other diaries (schedule below) in your DK4 groups. It has been said in the past by Markos and others that for every community member who participates in a diary, there are approximately 10 "lurkers" who actually read it without ever recommending or commenting. Obviously, we'd like for this blogathon to get maximum exposure.
On this blog, there is no shortage of passion when to comes to vigorously debating politics and policy on a daily basis. However, when this prolonged economic recession has dampened their spirits and sapped their energies, all of you have also exhibited great concern through gestures large and small for the well-being of your fellow community members. I am painfully aware that these are not the best of economic times for many of our members. But, that state of affairs in this country always begs this question: compared to whom? Now, it is time to look beyond our shores and help our fellow human beings in East Africa. They are amongst the poorest of the poor on this planet. They have virtually nothing left. Through your generosity, we can help restore some small sense of dignity and self-worth for a few of them.
Please help as much as you can. Thank you.
Donate now - Donate to Oxfam America
Remember to add $.01 to your donation so it ends up being $5.01, $20.01, $50.01, $100.01, and so on. This will enable Oxfam to keep track of all Daily Kos donations.
Please read this if you live outside the United States - to make a donation, click this link and scroll down a bit to find your country. If not listed, please Google Oxfam in your country.
|
|