WFP as the busybody.
Wednesday, 29. March 2006, 01:54:22
Going nowhere fast?
Where I am from, people in debt and continue to remain so always make it look like they "bust a move" by showing how productive they are to the rest of society.
That's fine as long as you know that you as the individual or organization acknowledge in a written agreement that you will have to pay it back in whatever form the lender agrees upon and with bright fortunes ahead it turns out that you reach the black (out of debt) afterall by some incredible effort.
However the opposite which is more common is occurring, the father's debt, bills, etc when he leaves the earth are now the concerns of the son sapping his youthful vitality and strength to pay for the past unfinished business of the father.
When you are in debt and remain so your sole concern tends to be how will I pay this back. You begin unintentionally to neglect things such as health and concerns for others. You try to scheme any leads to "bust a move" such as using one credit card to pay another old credit card debt etc. "High interest" or lenders know they have you where they want you to witness your ruin. They even lobby lawmakers to make it harder for you to declare bankruptcy. They have a menacing grin watching how you scramble to "solve your problem" without any backup protections. After all "high interest" used your payback money to make the backup protection null and void. The trap has been set for future generations.
What to do?
- Being a borrower and having no money in your pocket but an expected loan to pay you begin to ask close family members and friends for some help. Because your "bust a move" got their approval at an earlier point they are willing to give you some money to handle your situation. As always it still isnt enough. You tend to make up as many excuses possible to have them give some money to calm your situation. By this time their view of you change and they tend to see you as a burden than productive when you "bust a move." This has a "sapping" psychological effect on them also.
- Since "high interest" set a trap for you and your descendants to hardly allow you to declare bankruptcy protection which in itself can lead to "debt" with lawyers and the court when its said and done, another alternative is to go a "debt counselors" who help you "consolidate" your debt into one easy payment with lenders. Still it has to go through "high interest" approval.
- Be honest with yourself and others. And nickel and dime it through with the most harsh jobs and occupations even if you die broke trying. No time for other things such as marriage and high educational attainments
- Get into elected office with a "majority like minded individuals" somehow and change things. However "high interest" has the plan to "forgive alone your debts" (think campaign financing) only to protect what they already set in place for "others".
WFP in all this
This individual lesson has already reach "others" so much so that WFP is betting on "others" to pull their situation up into the black.
Really how do you make a profit or pay back money from a "charity donation drive and effort".
Especially when "high interest" is involved.
LONDON (AlertNet) - The U.N. World Food Programme has made an urgent appeal for additional funds so it can continue to feed more than 50 million people in Africa this year, saying it has been forced to draw on its emergency reserves to finance immediate food needs.
"We have put financial systems in place to help ensure people do not starve if donations are not immediately forthcoming,” James Morris, WFP Executive Director, said in a statement. “But these internal loans cannot be repeated if the international community does not step in to replenish funds."
The agency warned that cash in one of its main reserve accounts - which allowed it to respond to the Kashmir earthquake among other crises - has now fallen to a record low balance of less than $20 million.
In the second half of 2005, WFP borrowed from its reserves to feed millions in southern Africa. Although donor contributions have now covered two-thirds of the $113 million used in this operation, there is still a shortfall of $37 million.
Other countries where WFP has had to borrow heavily from its own reserves are the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan. It said it was now seeking “a generous response” from donors.
"Amid increasing pressure on us to respond to crises, we urge the international community to remember that we can only provide as much assistance as we ourselves receive – whether in cash or food. We have to appeal for every cent that we spend on the hungry poor," Morris said.
According to the WFP, the agency provides food to an average of 90 million people every year, including 61 million hungry children, in at least 80 of the world's poorest countries.
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) said on Tuesday that its feeding programme in southern Africa was being kept afloat by loans secured from an internal resolving fund, not the kindness of donors.
More than nine million people in the region are being fed by the WFP this month. As many as 12 million have been estimated to be in need of food aid until the start of the April harvest after drought last year scorched staple crops such as maize.
"WFP persistently appealed for assistance during the second half of 2005 but late in the year it became apparent that not enough food or cash would be pledged in time to help the most vulnerable people through the worst months of food shortages," the organisation said in a statement.
"WFP resorted to an internal mechanism enabling it to finance immediate needs against expected later donor contributions," it said.
It said it borrowed $113 million from the facility between June and December 2005 and has since repaid $76 million, leaving an outstanding balance of $37 million.
The fund is an internal reserve used for emergency responses which must be topped up again.
"If donations are not made quickly enough, we have the financial systems in place to help ensure people do not starve. But these loans cannot be repeated if the international community does not step in to repay them," said Mike Sackett, WFP Regional Director for Southern Africa.
"Loans of this magnitude are only taken if serious consequences, such as loss of life, appear likely and there no other options," he was quoted as saying.
WFP said it still need up to $93 million to provide food for around 5.4 million people from April to December this year.
Aid workers say even in countries such as Zambia and Malawi where maize surpluses have been forecast this year, vulnerable people will require relief because they cannot grow enough for their households or cannot afford to buy food at market prices.
"Even though southern Africa is probably heading towards its best harvest in years, several million people will still need assistance over the coming year, particularly orphans and those affected by HIV/AIDS, who do not have access to income or food stocks," WFP said.
"However, the agency cannot play its part until the outstanding loans are repaid."
Countries that suffered shortages last year included Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Swaziland, Mozambique and Lesotho. But good rains have raised prospects for better harvests this year.
Who are you trying to fool WFP? If people know that you are broke and then all of a sudden they see you with some spending money and inquire where did you get this money? Would they marvel when you say I borrow this money from myself? Of course not, it would just confirm how crazy you really are to them.
This is bad for Africa because once you are in the midst of borrowing alot of other things tend to fall to the wayside when its said and done. Africa is full of examples of IMF and World Bank borrowing disasters. Again it could lead to actual people and their livelyhoods being lost for all we know.
The only credit I do give is that they are the only organization insane and brave enough to attempt a worldwide "hero" effort to thwart thirst and hunger. But I have a feeling that people, organizations, countries, etc don't do things without expecting something of greater value in return. WFP is just the instrument use to do such.
WIDGETIZE