"Why Africa does not need a new Marshall Plan"

When Bob Geldof decided earlier last year to relaunch his song for the Ethiopian Famine of 1984 for Christmas 2004, he could not have imagined that on Boxing Day 2004 a tsunami would strike Asia. What is he now to do? Organise another big concert and raise more money? Would he then have to repeat that exercise 20 years on when another earthquake/tsunami/ famine strikes? Is there no end to this treadmill of giving and giving?

Gordon Brown has an answer to such queries. He has a threefold initiative on debt, trade and aid which he takes to Africa on a trip tomorrow. Trade is straightforward as Brown wants the Doha round of World Trade Organisation talks to be completed. This means the rich countries have to deliver on their promise of cutting export subsidies which wreck the rural economies of the poor countries. But debt and aid are more complex.

Full Article : independent.co.uk