Aid to Africa

27 May 2009

By Michael Holman

Arena (Michael Holman): Of course aid corrupts. The evidence is there, from Congo to Kenya. And who can doubt that most aid to Africa does not work:  a greater percentage of Kenyans today live in poverty than at independence some 45 years ago, despite billions of dollars of foreign assistens. 

 

Aid to Africa: not only mad, but dangerous to receive. 

Spirited general who fought for the poor

26 June 2006

By Michael Holman

If wars have their unknown warriors, whose sacrifice enlightens and inspires survivors, then Susie Smith should be celebrated as an unknown general in the global battle against poverty. 

For three decades Smith, who died in Oxford last week aged 55, fought for the poor - first as a foot soldier in Africa and for the last 10 years as a compassionate and inspirational counsellor at Oxfam, the international developtment agency.