Videoconference allows worldwide aid discussion

Videoconference allows worldwide aid discussion

by Tristan Vawters
The Shorthorn (University of Texas at Arlington)
March 30, 2005

CAPTION: Robert Gonzalez, political science senior and UTA’s Americans for Informed Democracy chapter president, speaks to New Delhi representatives via videoconference Tuesday morning in the Social Work Complex. Indiana University, Oxford University and Earlham University chapters also participated in the discussion on aid relief and global prosperity.

In a videoconference between India and students in the United Kingdom and the United States on Tuesday, representatives from New Delhi argued that sending relief aid to underdeveloped countries does not make way for prosperity but rather increases poverty.

About 20 UTA students and participants from around the world explored the role of the United States and other prosperous nations in providing aid.

The university’s Americans for Informed Democracy chapter conducted the videoconference, where the primary focus of discussion was international prosperity and global development. UTA attendees left most of the talking to the other participants.

The other institutions involved in the debate were Oxford University, representatives from New Delhi, Indiana University and Earlham College.

Students and chapter members, who viewed participants on a 40-inch screen, took in judgments of how aid should be administered to low-income countries.

“Aid has made Africa poorer,” an India representative said. “If you give aid to bad governments, it will continue to be the same story — it doesn’t reach the common people.”

An Indian woman who recently visited Africa believes the aid given to that county is misdirected.

“There has been a lot of money going to things that are not culturally acceptable,” she said. “Economic aid will come in for schools but not for the roads to get to the schools.”

According to http://www.aidemocracy.org, India’s government, which was shaken by the Dec. 26 tsunami, initially refused aid believing that it could cope on its own. The United Nations and the World Bank went to India in February to assess the affected areas. The two produced a report, which put India’s reconstruction needs at $1.2 billion. Despite recent trends to grow economically and regionally, India’s original position caved in.

Another India representative said he thinks his country needs to correct things internally before considering aid.

“The most important issue for India is to fix themselves with or without aid,” he said. “The crime rate is too high, there are a tremendous amounts of regional disparities, and there’s a tendency to ignore the poor and tribal people.”

Another India representative said relief aid should be given to poorer countries to promote world cohesiveness.

“We are an international community,” she said. “The richer countries can contribute to improve social upliftment for areas that are deprived.”

Women’s studies freshman Sarah Davoodi said it was necessary for countries to help each other.

“There’s a lot of people in our government that are only out for themselves,” she said. “We can’t be ignorant and turn a blind eye to other countries.”

Economics sophomore Travis Malone said the event helped increase relations between nations.

“It’s a beginning step toward international dialogue and improving the world,” he said.