What We’re Reading 2/17/10

Feb 17th, 2010 11:57 AM UTC
By Robyn Mitchell

The Financial Times: Wealthy countries fail to hit aid target
Many of the world’s rich donor countries will fail to keep promises they made five years ago to increase assistance to the developing world, according to a new analysis by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the official body charged with monitoring aid. The OECD published a report on Wednesday predicting that its rich member countries will fall approximately $23 billion dollars short of their promises made in 2005 around the Gleneagles heads of government summit. According to the report, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand appear on track to meet their various targets, while Japan seems likely to fall well short. Said one senior policy advisor at Oxfam, “This is a damning indictment of rich nations, who can find plenty of money to save banks but precious little to save lives.”

The Citizen (Tanzania): Researchers calls on African countries to unite in war against hunger
Head of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Dr Kojo Aidoo, argued that developing more close links among African countries remains the only viable road map to food security, and is essential for the continent’s economic progress. The advantages are numerous, wider regional markets can open up more opportunities for African producers and consumers beyond the sometimes small markets within their own borders, he said. Aidoo further argued that the creation of a strong network and links with partners from governments and nongovernmental organizations will help farmers access export and domestic markets, thus helping them to gain a better knowledge of sustainable techniques and markets.

The Wall Street Journal: Climate-Research Controversies Create Opening for Critics
The Wall Street Journal reports that the spate of recent controversies about climate research has given fresh voice to a group of scientists who question the mainstream view that human activity is warming the planet to dangerous levels. A UN group, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has been heavily criticized for publishing an unsubstantiated claim that Himalayan glaciers would entirely melt away by 2035. According to the Journal, it is too soon to tell whether the critics’ views will force the scientific community to revisit the prevailing view of man-made climate change. One environmental writer argues that despite the scandal, the facts remain the same. He writes, “It’s important to say that the scandals we’ve had don’t change the fundamental point that global warming is man-made and we need to tackle it. The standard message—that we need to cut a lot of emissions right now or doom is upon us—is not correct.”

The Washington Post: A rebuilding Haiti faces some difficult new issues (Op-Ed)
Washington Post Columnist, Michael Gerson describes his trip to Haiti last week, calling the depth of poverty a shocking experience on par with some of the worst slums in Africa. However, according to sources Gerson spoke with on the ground, the atmosphere of despair has subsided as some of the most basic needs such as food and shelter are being tended to. Gerson maintains that NGOs and Haitian officials are beginning to debate difficult issues, including a sustainable recovery plan. Discussions have involved everything from more direct foreign investment – “the path from poverty for many developing nations” to an increased emphasis on tourism, agriculture and reforestation.

The Financial Times: Fury at unspent funds for Sudan
The Financial Times reports that a fund administered by the World Bank to help south Sudan recover from decades of civil war has spent little more than a third of its money, angering western donors who provided most of the capital. By the end of last year, less than half of the $524 million they had committed had been spent and more than four years into the fund’s six-year lifespan, $343 million still languishes unused. According to the Times, the World Bank’s strict rules on disbursing funds explain why so much has been left unspent. The case highlights a dilemma of relevance to many efforts to help developing countries: a stringent approach towards spending money may result in large sums lying unused, but a more relaxed policy risks wasting the funds.

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