An opinion piece in todays NY Times [Link:] highlighted the slow decay of a localized economy in Afghanistan because of aid from foreign governments, particularly the United States. This is sad because what will happen to these people when the money runs out, food aid dries up, and the troops go home?
The goal of aid should be to allow systems adapted and suited for a particular location thrive. This way the system is sustainable when the international aid is gone. In general, what works best in the United States will not work very well in Afghanistan or Haiti or Mali or wherever because the conditions on the ground are so different. Furthermore, creating systems based on local knowledge creates a bond between the community and new institutions that increases the likelihood of survival.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” – Author Unknown
My Green Misadventure 