MovieChat Forums > The Girl in the Café (2005) Discussion > I wish I could share in the film's messa...

I wish I could share in the film's message, but...

posted 18 years ago by erniehead123
3 replies | jump to latest

... money won't eliminate world poverty.

Money did not end the starvation in Ethiopia. The money sent during Live Aid was absorbed by the corrupt governments, tied forever in bureacratic red tape. For the profoundly good intentions the well-off Western world may have for the holocaust going on in Third World nations, for all the debt and aid we may throw at them, it's corrupt government bureacuracies, class distinction and racism that create poverty. And will continue to do so... until we recognize the true source of world misery and poverty... Human ignorance.

Oh, and the film is quite good too.

[–] Omi_One 18 years ago

Money by itself wouldn't eliminate world poverty but without it programs that would help cannot be make. Human resource is another important pillar, volunteers lot of them are necessary.

And you are right the battle is against human ignarance...

"don't give a fish, teach how to fish"

[–] jmandoli-1 17 years ago

I agree with you that money wont solve the problems. Thats why people adovocate the Debt-Aid-Trade approach (reducing or eliminating the debt that countries owe to the IMF and World Bank, increasing aid to poor countries and changing trade laws and encoraging fair trade as opposed to free trade).

You cant disagree that those are bad things that wont help poor countries. I agree with you that discoraging corrupt governments is a key component of eliminating extreme poverty in the 3rd world but this is a complicated question. Do we eliminate corruption by increasing US presence in foreign countries in order to make sure theyre doing the right thing or do we remove our presence completly in order to encorage government self esteem?

[–] nubbytubbybiatchesgalore 16 years ago

the american delegation makes this point in the movie. literally trillions have been spent in aid to africa with little to show for it because of government corruption.