With all due respect it is subsidies in the EU and America that allow western farmers to produce say beet sugar at a price that undercuts African cane sugar farmers in international markets DESPITE the fact that the african farmer has smaller overheads compared to the western farmers.This artificial way of keep prices down to protect our own farmers is what makes it difficult for under developed and developing countries to compete in the international markets.It happens with all the 3rd world cash crops of coffee,chocolate,bananas,exotic fruits,peanuts etc.Unless the third part of The G8 agreements is met the first two are really irrelevant.Slashing the debt repayments and giving more aid will be a waste of money without the fairer trade practices
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Originally Posted by NEONKNIGHT
Not sure about the bands giving money away (i'm sure they do though!) but it was mentioned by Sir Bob introducing Bill Gates that Bill & his Wife have donated over FIVE BILLION DOLLARS to charities.
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I would have mentioned Bill Gates charitable efforts but for the fact that when ever I have pointed them out in the past most folk still have a downer on poor old Bill grumbling that he still has far more to give away.
Incidentally his efforts to sort out Malaria vaccines is one really important way to prevent so many Africans from dying.Malaria is the LARGeST killer on that continent.Far more than AIDS.