400 billion Eurozone bailout

Whilst Africans starve.

At the best of times it is difficult to fully understand global politics, in particular how big financial interests and political power blocks look after each other and when it suits, trounce upon those with little or no power.

Domestically we have been given a rare glimpse of how one of the most powerful men in the world came to manipulate, not only successive British governments but also those we pay to protect us. The Metropolitan police force. It is truly the stuff of a John Grisham novel, only more exaggerated.

But if we dare to take a look beyond our shores another truly shocking truth is being laid bare, more frightening, and more heartbreaking. One that leaves one us with an utter sense of powerlessness and anger.

Europeans powerful nations cannot afford to let Greece financially collapse. Even euro sceptic Britain knows where its financial bread is buttered when it comes to the money markets. If Greece were left to default on its debt Britain’s economy will be as affected as along with those nations in the Euro zone.

Greece has already been given 100 billion Euros, it needs another 120 billion, and it could still default. Others who have dipped into to the EU pot include Ireland who recently was given a 90 billion euro bailout and Portugal 70 Billion. The figures are truly staggering, and although no real money passes hands initially, if a country cannot pay then collectively nations and banks are left with that debt. It is a crisis but millions of people are not in danger of dying as a result of it.

On the African continent however, the draught and now famine literally puts millions of lives at risk. At the moment thousands are dying and many are suffering in a way that would be grotesque if it were happening to animals. But the real grotesqueness is laid bare when we see the wealthy nations are prepared to pump in nearly 400 billion Euros to maintain our lifestyles, and yet 10 million people could be saved from starvation with a sum of around 1.5 billion. So 400 billion to bail out corrupt financers and Governments who either encouraged or turned a blind eye to it rampant greed, juxtaposed to 1.5 billion to save 10 million people.

I felt utterly sick the other morning whilst listening to James O’Brien on LBC radio, spurring bile about whether or not , ‘we should help the those Somalis’ who he condemned as ‘Islamists’. I wanted to tell O'Brien, that not all Somali’s are ‘Islamist’, but more to the point did he not have a shred of humanity for those who are in most need.

We are witnessing an old order that will probably not lose its power base, but has had its murky dealings somewhat exposed. Those who care about justice and equality would do well to learn how they have operated and learn fast. Furthermore, with this new found knowledge we must challenge their corruption and lack of compassion by becoming a new generation of decision makers, and business entrepreneurs. A generation that nurtures talent and strives for greater equality, and where necessary ensures that those desperately need our help find it, unequivocally and with God’s speed.

Simon Woolley

Picture: A Somali infant receiving medical attention