For God’s sake, Bono, please stop!

Fifty years of foreign aid not only has failed to help Africa reduce poverty and create prosperity, but because would-be African farmers and entrepreneurs have to compete against free stuff, the good intentions of the developed world have served to actively undermine its ability to create healthy economies. The first Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED) event - described by The Economist has a “Davos for optimists” - has been held in Africa. This article explains why its fresh approach to building African prosperity might work a little better than the failed posturing of sanctimonious do-gooders:

Africans to Bono: ‘For God’s sake please stop!’

<excerpt:> “We can continue the endless cycle of need and dependency, or you can create jobs, develop indigenous capacity, and build a sustainable future.”
<excerpt:> “Many of Africa’s best and brightest become bureaucrats or NGO workers when they should be scientists or entrepreneurs.”