AFRO-NETS> Needed: Food for a depressing thought

[Claudio Schuftan <aviva@netnam.org.vn>]

Needed: Food for a depressing thought
-------------------------------------

After reading an exceptionally long list of e-mails I received the 
other
night I fell into a pessimistic streak. I was thinking how the road to
heaven is paved with good intentions. And this is what came out:

SO WHAT...

1.- So we organise, expose, rationalise, denounce, analyse, network,
liberalise, accuse, mobilise, study, decentralise, communicate, priori-
tise, implement, point a finger at, develop, monitor, evaluate, (reana-
lyse), measure, research, publish, present, advocate, persuade, corre-
spond, orient, contribute to a list server, meet, declare, assess, leg-
islate, decree, (reorganise), define, negotiate, devolve, fund, train,
invest, capacitate, (reorient), build, seek answers in the internet,
strengthen, deliver services, educate, give credit to, (redefine), pro-
vide literacy, procrastinate, lose our temper, despair, dismiss, re-
form, impose conditionalities, ...or throw money at...

2.- And then do all the above some more...

3.- But what does this really do to stop the relentless march towards
pauperisation, polarisation, globalisation, desperation, exploitation,
conglomeration, monopolisation, transnationalisation, 'IMFisation', de-
preciation, masculinisation, centralisation, global speculation, de-
valuation, degradation, privatisation, depletion, erosion, deforesta-
tion, malnutrition, corruption, unfair competition, pollution, domina-
tion, oppression, repression, growing gaps, fundamentalism, authoritar-
ian regimes, SAPs, mergers, ill-health, disempowerment, growing inequi-
ties, free market excesses and abuses, maldevelopment, social unrest,
trade imbalances, displacements, refugees, tribalism, and nepotism ?

4.- So who are we really failing, serving, fooling, satisfying, help-
ing, cheating, speaking for, representing, defending, misleading,
pleasing, empowering, condoning, letting get away with, supporting (by
design and by default)?

Does anybody out there care to add to this list... or make it rhyme...
or help me out of this terrible mood?

PS: Where has the big picture gone? And what are we doing about it?

Claudio Schuftan
Hanoi, Vietnam
mailto:aviva@netnam.org.vn


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