"Famine is man-made"
This is the tagline of a new campaign by the ONE International. It's a campaign that aims to bring awareness to the drought and famine in Somalia to build "political support in the US and around the world for interventions that will stop the suffering today and break the cycle of famine in the future. Most of all, it's about taking action - because famine is man-made."
All well and good, but what about Africa? What about spreading the word in Africa? What about asking Africans to accept that famine is man-made? Where's the clip featuring Drogba and Essien and the like? Where's the call for Africans to take responsibility for the causes and the solutions?
Why not ask everyone to take responsibility? Sure, ask the US and other international powers to accept their contribution - that many of the issues behind "drought, violence and political instability" can be traced directly to the involvement of foreign powers. But also ask African countries to accept their responsibility - that many of the issues behind "drought, violence and political instability" can be traced directly to the actions of domestic powers.
If you follow the links on the ONE site you'll be asked to sign a petition:
to world leaders calling on them to live up to promises already made to invest in things proven to work… early warning systems… irrigation… drought resistant seeds… and of course, peace and security.That petition is directed to members of the G20; a group of 'world leaders' that includes only one African, South Africa's Jacob Zuma.
21st century solutions should be founded on collective responsibility. Describing famine as "man-made" is a step in the right direction, but let's not just look to foreign governments for handouts let's have the courage to call for responsibility and action from those closer to home.
photo credit: worradmu
