How To
Rob Africa; Why does the Western world feed Africa with one hand while taking
from it with the other?
Africa and the rest
of the developing world are often criticized for failing to effectively combat
corruption. While many of these countries have a lot to do to get their
domestic house in order, not enough attention is paid to the systemic global
problems that make it very difficult for even a well-meaning, responsible
African government to put a serious dent in illicit financial flows. Western
financial secrecy and lax regulations make it very easy for elites in
developing countries to squirrel away illicit money, far away from any tax
authority.
In a great new
documentary, Al Jazeera looks at how this is happening and how it prevents the
continent from escaping widespread poverty despite immense natural resource
wealth and an industrious, hard-working, young population. A great quote:
“When these diamonds
came, they came as a God-given gift. So we thought now we are going to benefit
from jobs, infrastructure, we thought maybe our roads were going to improve, so
that generations and generations will benefit from this, not one individual.
But what is happening, honestly, honestly it’s a shame!”
Watch the documentary
here: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2012/11/201211714649852604.html
Review By EJ Fagan
EJ Fagan is the New Media / Advocacy Coordinator for the Task
Force on Financial Integrity & Economic Development in Washington, DC. He
holds the same position with Global Financial Integrity.
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