Message-ID: <0.a9783888.256d7cc2@aol.com> Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 12:39:14 EST From: mailto:AXEOXALA@AOL.COM Subject: Re: From South America: Re: Road to Pan-Africanism - another To: mailto:DEVEL-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
In a message dated 11/24/99 8:16:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, mailto:trastor@TRUEVISION.NET writes: << Also all indigenous organizations are being lefting out of this project, despite all the territory WRI wants to map for "forest protection" porpouses, is crowded with aboriginal communities, But in the meetings of this project I was present, and those peoples of WRI and the Venezuelan richs NGOs talks about the indians like the perfect colonialists... Like racists... Is annoying... >>Jose,
Thank you for sharing and I would very much like to learn more from you about this situation, as well as your work in Venezuela.
The extent to which foreign ngos, despite some perhaps good intentions, displace local civil society work does need to be taken into account. However much some of those ngos resent the "imposition", they won't be able to stop the progress of this discussion in its real-world applications.
The future may hold that such projects will eventually, by pressure, fall into the hands of the indigenous people, and despite the idea that they won't be able to handle the responsibility - of their own lands, their own lives, their children's lives - they will most likely do even better.
In a message dated 11/24/99 8:55:25 AM Eastern Standard Time, mailto:CLabadie@T-ONLINE.DE writes:
<< Today we are still denying the most important resource to African countries: donations for local research investments! We still prefer to grant a fellowship for some bright students and to invite them to immigrate outside Africa. It isn't slavery but it will have the same effect as slavery has had. One can only show respect to scientists such as Dr. Bagabo who chose to return at the expense of his own scientific career. >>
Such scientists do indeed deserve tremendous respect. It is interesting that while foreign ngos are jumping into opportunities in Africa, many African scientists and other professionals are convinced that they have no future in their field unless they leave their countries. This creates a dearth of African expertise on African problems. However, there is a very pleasing trend of discussion AND action among African professionals resident in the West to return their talent to projects in Africa. I know of many such projects.
There are also positive trends of foreign ngos choosing to hire more local people - not just to clean up around the local offices, file papers, answer phones, or to carry bags, equipment which always reminds me of those Tarzan and other such movies where the great white explorers (hunters, treasure seekers, scientists, etc.) use the natives to carry their gear. Some progressive ngos are hiring more local people - with the grants they receive on the behalf of these people in need - do to more substantive work, providing training, resources and also providing a positive image for local people that "one of their own" can be part of the solutions, rather than waiting for big foreign ngo magic. The value of this is so very denegrated by some foreign development "specialists." I do not understand how they can without shame be this way.
I wonder what kind of resistance some foreign development ngos will have against local ngos getting stronger and the return of Africans from the West to do work in their home countries? Upon what basis will they attempt to prevent such progress? Will the argument be that these people aren't qualified? That they aren't as experienced or intelligent or educated as the non-African ngo staff? Will they attempt to portray such people as part of the problem, or as holders of the "underdeveloped" level of thinking that the "developed" non-African ngo representatives have come to correct? Or will the foreign ngos simply say that they own the work, own the "territory?" Will they attempt to prevent funding, appeal to their home countries to not give aid to these local ngos, or perhaps to these countries, if they are not found to be "open" to the foreign ngos.
When the nation of Eritrea made moves to limit the power of foreign ngos they received a tremendous backlash, and it is unlikely that there was a lack of glee among some of those ngos when the country ended up in war, requiring assistance. However, this action by Eritrea was noticed and applauded by many, and certainly won't be the last - and isn't the last - motion in this direction. Like slaves plotting the escape from a plantation or the building resistance to the colonizers among colonized people, such moves are made quietly even more than they are made publicly. Yet, some foreign ngos wouldn't think so because they are convinced of the permanent dependence, intractable problems and their own dominance.
Someone passed this quote on to me and it seems reflective of some modern day "missionaries" though they would not put it in such open, direct terms.
"The Negro is a child, and with children nothin can be done without the use of authority." Missionary Albert Schweitzer, M.D. 1961
nicole