AFRO-NETS> Food for Kofi's thoughts (4)

[Dr Sigmund de Janos <dejanos@home.com>]

Food for Kofi's thoughts (4)
----------------------------

Bravo Dr David Cundall! Your posting touched upon an important issue; 
the self-perpetuation of the development service industry. We reached 
an age when we witness the rapid multiplication of new development 
research organizations, forums, newsletters and conferences with less 
and less funding going to the people in need within the Developing 
World.

The Secretary General of the UN announces the Conference of the World 
Leaders as the highlight of the Millennium Initiative but fails to 
halt the ongoing turf war amongst the agencies of the UN, particu-
larly between the World Bank, the UNDP and UNCTAD.

In consequence, I will not be surprised if the President of the World 
Bank will announce shortly that his organization will also organize a 
Leaders Conference, perhaps, about the same time as Kofi did.

What I find extremely disturbing that the ongoing publishing competi-
tions, talk festivals and related activities are paid for by the tax-
payers of the Industrialized World. As one of those, I expected, per-
haps foolishly, that my contribution would help the people in need 
and will not be spent on the creation of another development database 
in Europe or in North America.

When thousands die daily because of the drought and lack of food, 
when millions of children will have no schooling, when there are 
countries without one Internet connection, than I am unable to find 
justification for the creation of another Report on Poverty, or for 
the gathering of Head of States for the discussion of another Agenda 
for Development.

There is time for diplomacy, but there is time for straight talk and 
dealing with reality. That should be the challenge for the Secretary 
General.

Sincerely,

Dr Sigmund de Janos
Senior Consultant 
Tel: +1-613-731-3461 
Fax: +1-613-731-3286
mailto:dejanos@home.com
http://members.home.net/dejanos/webdoc11.htm 

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