On 16 December, Consortium Dubai, the city’s newest networking group held a benefit dinner titled ‘In Honour of Africa’. Riding on the crest of the wave made by the international film festival, the event brought together a panel of speakers from the worlds of art, film and music to encourage the leading lights of the city’s business scene to become active in the campaign to eradicate poverty - not only in Africa but across the world. Aging Irish rocker and activist Bob Geldof was a natural choice of speaker for Consortium in their inaugural charity event, given his position as self appointed spokesperson for the beleaguered continent. What probably came as a surprise to his hosts, was the direction of the singer’s famous ire towards the moneyed citizens of the UAE.
When a couple of eminent Emirati businessmen made a polite comment about the UAE’s generosity in giving to Africa, Geldof’s immediate response was to wave a furious finger at the room and loudly retort that any number of the people present could reach into their pockets and write a cheque for the total amount of aid given to the Africa by the country in the past year, without feeling a dent in their finances.
Bob is still angry, and maybe he always will be. But he has a point, how much is the UAE doing to help? And how many of the promises made by world leaders to rid the world of poverty are being kept?
The international effort (or lack of it)
Last year saw a massive step towards global recognition of poverty and planted the seeds of a grassroots movement among the general public in countries across the world to hold leaders accountable for the non-deliverance of the MGOs (Millennium Development Goals). Through the intense celebrity-endorsed campaign that was Make Poverty History, something was awakened in the public conscience. Shaking off some of the pervasive apathy that has come to characterize the attitude of the rich countries towards the poorest nations of the globe, 2005’s emotive campaigns jerked tears and tugged pockets. Gleneagles delivered in Kofi Annan’s words ‘the greatest summit on Africa ever’ – with agreements being reached to 50 of the 90 proposals outlined by the Commission for Africa, set up by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to recommend how Britain should take a lead on the issue. But is this enough?
As the UAE’s economy grows at an exponential pace it will become more and more difficult for its citizens to sit back and allow other countries in the region to tackle the issue of poverty, be it in the shape of aid to Africa or charity closer to home. In Bob’s words; ‘We cannot leave Africa suspended outside the economic net of the planet. To die of want in a world of surplus …[is] not only intellectually absurd but morally repulsive’.
Geldof’s furious invective is born of frustration. His long-term campaigning for the leaders of the western world to adhere to their promises of consistent debt relief made in 2000 has been vocal and unremitting. Time Out has the impression that although much of his vehemence is directed towards those politicians who, true to form, have attempted to renege on promises made, a significant proportion of his wrathful rhetoric is directed towards those who have yet to stand up and be counted as active participants in the campaign to put an end to poverty. As he said in his speech on December 16, ‘The politics of emotion can only take you so far. All the tears in the world have never kept a human alive. Practical action does that. Cash and politics, oil and water.’
Although cash and oil are two things the UAE has in abundance, the Emirates policies on poverty, international aid and sustainability are opaque, with statistics stating donated amounts not published or made accessible to the public as a matter of course. It’s difficult to see exactly what the UAE government’s policy on international development is. Each separate emirate has its own agenda and the situation is, all in all, somewhat cloudy. Geldof’s accusation that ‘the entire region of the Middle East, which has one of the greatest financial dynamics in the world, does very little to help,’ may be based on the fact that few figures are available and that private doners very rarely declare the amounts they give as aid or otherwise. Muslims are instructed to give a proportion (2.5 per cent upon an individual’s wealth above the nisab or minimum income) their unspent income as alms or Zakaat, as directed by the five pillars of Islam. Although revealing the amount you give to charity is frowned upon, the Koran suggests that this is an acceptable practice if it encourages people to make greater donations.
Anish Katturkaran, an 18-year-old student juggling his A-levels and running around the country in an attempt to rouse interest in the campaign is the face of the Make Poverty History in the UAE. He explains: ‘Most of the richest member states of the United Nations have done nothing as yet to adhere to the MDG proposals. The Make Poverty History campaign in the UAE was launched late in September last year and as yet, has only received the go-ahead for one event; the White Band day walk in Media City. In the past five years it has become increasingly difficult for charities without direct patronage to organize fundraising events – hence what we are trying to do is raise awareness, which will hopefully result in more flexibility and support with regards to fundraising in the future.’
The cultural issues at the heart of the African poverty problem are governance and politics – the lack of an infrastructure by which aid can be efficiently distributed being one of Geldof’s main bugbears. Barbara Castek, the CEO of Dubai Aid and Humanitarian City explains: ‘There are four levels of aid. At the very top is the political level, with decisions being made by one administration or another which will have a long-term impact upon the country in question. The second level is economic, and as such is dependent upon politics. Beyond this is development and then charity. Charity is the very bottom immediate level at which people react and feed money into disasters – development is where we need volunteers.’
The message is somewhat confusing – it seems that simply giving money is not enough; skills and awareness and the turning around of government structures must come with it. Much of the frustration felt by those such as Geldof who have extensive experience in dealing with the governments of both countries which need aid and those supposedly providing it, is aimed at the inefficient means by which it is distributed. If countries like Kenya can slide into famine whilst massive grain surpluses sit in silos destined for the overseas market, something is going terribly wrong.
What is not being done?
Recently allegations of inadequate financial support have been levied against the oil rich nations of the gulf by the western press. ‘If Dubai has set itself the goal of being a new model city state economy, multicultural, for the planet […] then it needs to take its responsibilities very seriously,’ said Geldof. ‘The Emirates need to up their game with regard to their responsibilities to the world’s poor.’
Barbara Castek has high hopes for the UAE’s future role as a hub for development; ‘Although we live in a world where 92 per cent of the world’s population go home hungry and only eight per cent is content, things are changing. The Islamic culture of donating anonymously makes it difficult for a dynamic giving culture to emerge. However, the UAE is a major contributor to Arab aid relief efforts in Africa. To date, the continent has received Arab aid amounting to almost US$38 billion, close to half of the total aid channeled through Arab development organisations. We hope that Dubai Humanitarian and Aid city will become the dynamic focal point for NGOs in the region. The more organizations who base their Middle Eastern operations in the UAE, the more a culture of development will emerge within the country.’
People power
So who can help? The power of one person to make a difference is often grossly underestimated. Bob Geldof’s gruff calls for the individual to take action is echoed in the campaign manifestos of charities throughout the world. However, without easy access to information, the individual can feel impotent and incapable of making a significant impact. Nonetheless humanitarianism, as Barbara Castek is eager to point out, is a state of mind. ‘Start at home or in your workplace – communicate with those around you especially the guy who makes the coffee or mans the door. And aid is not just a question of money. If you are not a millionaire, be a skillionare and contribute what you can do or know. If you are unskilled, well, then be a thrillionare and spread the word.’
Take action
1) Sign the GCAP. Global Call to Action Against Poverty campaigners have helped to get Trade Justice, More and Better aid and Drop the Debt onto the political and media agenda like never before. Another name will make all the difference.
2) Get involved. The Make Poverty History organisation in the UAE are currently planning events for 2006 – look out for updates on their website www.makepovertyhostory.ae and sign up and participate.
3) Volunteer. Dubai Humanitarian and Aid City are currently campaigning to get people involved – if you are interested in volunteering put your name forward and join the database. Contact the organisation on 04 368 0202 for more information.
4) Spread the word. Being a ‘thrillionaire’ may sound cheesy, but enthusiasm for a cause will spread a positive vibe as well as encouraging others (who may be better positioned to help) to contribute skills and services. Poverty is not exclusive to Africa, there are huge numbers of people living in the Middle East whose lives do not in any way reflect the comparative wealth of the area. By raising awareness at a local level you will be doing your bit to make a difference.
By Michelle Madsen, February 2006 (Time Out)
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