Development cooperation , the Marshallplan but than different.

Posted on 23 October 2018 by Arjan

This is a nice frame. But the disadvantage is that it is short. Not placed in a context and giving a “positive” value which might be not correct.

The Marshallplan for example. The general idea is that this plan did take care of recovering or rebuilding Europe after the second world war. The Europe that was more or less in ruins. That completely needed to rise from its ashes.

However some nuances are as with everything at its place. The Marshall plan was from 1948 to 1952. Allready before 1948 , namely end of 1947 , the production level from England France and The Netherlands was allready on the level from before the war. For Germany it was a plan that made a reasonable difference. Not all countries in Europe did profit from the plan. Spain was not involved. The countries in the area of influence from the Sovjet Union did miss the boat as well. This because the Marshallplan was a mean to confine the influence of communism. Amerika did make demands in order to participate. For Italy and France it consisted of the measure that communistic parties should be removed or kept out of government. It was close to the fact that Dutch soldiers should have to fight in the Korean war. The Marshallplan did take Europe in the international economic global move of the Western world. It did give prosperity but mainly in the material way.

For the European countries the Marshallplan was reasonable simple to manage. There was one party , Amerika , who was giving the aid. They ofcourse had their whishes. In negative cases we call it demands. But the media will paint that picture. Money always puts a nice appearance over matters.

This brings me to another continent , Africa , that is already receiving aid for decennia. Latin America falls within the same problemacy but there it is going somewhat better. So it is about development cooperation.

Lots of Europeans do think in this case of the Marshallplan and their colonial past. From their colonial past I can mention lot of cases from which they should find them selve guilty. Things that have happened to earn money from Africa. Their raw materials , slavery , exploitation , violence and more. The generations before us made quite a mess of it. I do find myself guilty about that. With my current healthy mind I am now thinking: What where they doing?? Was there no healthy common sense in those days? I culture more important than common sense? The creation of riches for a few more decisive? Humanity only a creation of already achieved wealth? Psychologists should dive into this matter. In my opinion it is within the culture. It is just a pity that the best cultures are nt the strongest ones. That makes it all complicated. We are however from a different generation and should let go of the past and put it in perspective. In a respectful way/

This brings my to the aid and corresponding plans which we are applying already for decennia to the African continent.

It seems wise to have a look at the Marshallplan. Our government had the luck that there was only one party , America , was involved. This is for the countries in Africa completely different. There are many donor countries and even more ngo’s who would like to help. Imagine the situation that you need help open your front door and see a group of hundred people or more. One is giving you this. Another gives you that. Some ngo’s are even using their elbows to get in front of line. You would like to receive structural budgetary help. But the donor countries change their policy with every new election. Ngo’s mostly give aid on a certain area. Water , clothing , food , education etc….. In short based upon a theme and only shortly. Sometimes also not to you but only to your children so to say. Just give me a regular and structural contribution till the problems are solved is what you are thinking. I know best how to spend it in a right way. You can check me if you want but in the chaos of the offered help I am drowning. With me my family , relatives , brothers and country so to say.

This is more ore less the story of what is happening right now. For more details I can recommend the book: Lost in chaos / Verloren by Karel van Kesteren.

Than you will get a better insight of for example bilateral and multilateral aid. How efficient things are going. Just keep in mind that from every 150 billion spend 50 billion are waisted. This is also going to happen with the money we are putting in the energy transition.

The Declaration of Parijs should therefore be much more respected. But the ngo’s do not have to follow this declaration. Some western countries , like America , have their own agenda. Ngo’s have already so much power that they often only follow their own business model. I would be critical with donations. Deepen yourself in the subject and you will see that they often bring more chaos than there already was. One should maybe control all those ngo’s in an objective way by f.e. the United Nations and give them a quality mark.

For more information on ngo’s I recommend the book The Crisis Caravan / De Crisis Karavaan by Linda Polman. She is shortly publishing a new book on this as well.

Donations , the making of.

Posted on 15 August 2018 by Arjan

Just added some details in the sidebar in order for you to make a donation if you like this site , our foundation and the perspectives that we have on this world.
It would be nice that we can continue our effort in making this world a better place.

There is only the information of our bank account number and you have to make a small effort to transmit us your donation. There is no fancy pop-up button. No choices in kinds of payments like paypall , ideal and whatever. No quick way so that your finger is faster than your mind. It really takes time and you have the time to think it over.

Is this a good choice? I do think so. There is nothing more harm full than spending money on the wrong things. It should be spend on things that are worthwhile and could really make a difference.
Also if money is being spend it should be spend on the real thing.

Let me make this a little bit clear with a small example. If you would like to give a street artist an euro. You can throw it in his box.

But if you use an electronic button he only gets something like 75 cents. The rest is going to the company who provides that button. Every time and all the time. That is a nice business. This goes for all donations in that way.

What is their really added value. I do not think that it is that much. In my opinion its like a legal robbery in small amounts. Again and again.
This is the reason why we are not using something like this.

Maybe a nice consideration for all the other ngo’s.

Migration.

Posted on 21 June 2018 by Arjan

If you look at the map of the world Europe has a lot of connections. Do you know the game Risk ?? Europe is the continent with the most connections to go out but also go in.

Of course there must be a reason for it. If we go back in history. For example the time of the kolonisation. The moment in which the western civilization did perform a longlasting “pillage” over the African continent. Gained its riches and prosperity largely from it.

How would your ancestors have reacted if they had to face that faith. If for example gold , silver , diamonds , family and even your children would have been taken and sold for the wealth and a luxury life of another world.

The African continent has been kept poor and suppressed. Yes there is some development. But that development can hardly keep up with the growth of the people there. But there is aid?? To be honest. A lot is in only words. It goes mostly to the companies from western civilization and their people. The ngo’s , despite their intentions , organize it in such a way that the tasks and responsibilities which should lie with the government and people of that country are with them. It is their business model and they would like to live from it and earn as well.

The IMF and other financial institutions are giving loans to the countries. But they are asking in return respecting of free world trade and no raising of barriers. It is a thought from the neo-liberal western world which creates prosperity according them. They forget to tell that they make and have boundaries and also subsidize their own sectors. Their local markets are protected. Worse even as their production is kept artificially cheap. So cheap that for the African countries it is cheaper to buy abroad than let it locally produce by for example the local farmers. In this way you create even more poverty and dependance. Probably deliberately.

For the people there will not be much other possibilities than to find a better life else where. They don’t have guarantees in life and than it is better to have more children. One of them might do it fine. It will make the growth of the population more rapidly and higher. In time it will go to 4 billion people.

If they are not capable of creating a reasonable existance and life on their own continent they will seek other possibilities. Where?? I would know. Justified?? Surely. If they do not help to solve the problems in a good way and play it fair. Do they want to?? Do not really think so. Leaving family behind is never nice. Guarantees are not given. Dangers are numerous as the western world protects its borders.

Do ask myselve what is going to happen if not thousands or ten-thousands but hundred-thousand or millions of refugees will stand before our borders. It is a question of time. But it will not be long.

Are there solutions?? Yes , but the current world did not make good steps in that direction. They are doing the wrong thing. Again and again.

Are we going to make our social obligations happen in a wise manner?? It it is up to me. Yes !!

Basic Income

Posted on 31 October 2015 by Arjan

Looking at the world it seems that all the companies in the world are trying to maximize their profits. One way of achieving is to do the same work but with less people.

If they are doing this in a smart way , like f.e. with automization , it not so that employees need to work harder to get things done.

But if that is the case the productivity of these employees will suffer on the (mid) long term. There is a limit on workload and stress that people can handle. If you go beyond that the mind and body will say stop and regaining your health will take time.

If however companies are doing it in a smart like with automization there is another perspective I would like to mention. Because automization is in principle nothing else than that we are trying to let (all) the work being done by machines. They do the work and we get the free time to play and do what we like.

This might be an utopia for a lot of people but it should be a goal for the world.

But in order to arrange this the profits that are made should be re-aligned.

Re-aligned to all the people that are playing because machines do their work.

The way to do this would a Basic Income for everyone and without any condition.

Without any condition? Yes.

But than nobody does anything anymore? No , people always want to do something. But now they have the choice and that makes a world of difference.

Than can go out work to earn extra money to buy a boat or a second house. But they can also make the choice to do a study. Take the role of caregiver for a relative. You name it.

There is one distinctive difference with the current situation. It is the choice of the people and not of the companies or the capital. It will change the world from driven by economics and the companies behind it into world where the people make the choices and the rest has to follow.

If f.e. companies are creating products wich are not in line with what the people want or are correct they will hardly get a chance to exist.

( to be continued )

Fair profit for a more social society.

Posted on 30 October 2015 by Arjan

The current society is based upon numbers. The economic value of the people and companies seems to be the most important component that politicians and shareholders are value-ing.

The labour that is being done should be as efficient and as cheap as possible. The companies are producing and delivering products as cheap as possible against the biggest possible margin. Sorry , I should say profit. If that profit is unreasanable high it seems not to be problem. In their own circles it is even considered something to be proud of. For people who are socially moved it is enough just to have a fair profit. They consider it as a “crime” to ask for way more than their added value.

On the other side it also the case if value is added it should be rewarded on a fair basis. So the persons who really made the product should benefit from his work. The manager , the director , the company should get something as well but on a fair basis.

Other point is that the companies are also creating products based upon the philosophy of making profit. Not really if it makes the life of people more worth while or convenient.

Also the unfair profits only create the so called “bubbles”. Like the internet “bubble” , the house-market “bubble” , stock-market “bubble” and so on ….

All these “bubbles” can be considered as quicksand for our individual savings , pensions and our houses. Because banks and pension funds did put the by us saved money in these “bubble” markets we are sponsoring those who are greedy and looking for cashing high unfair profits.

Agreeing on a fair profit whould be a great step for a more social society.

Condemming cashing non added value should be considered as well. This could be done for example by creating a black-list.

Writing it down I realize that we should which such a list. To be continued…

The Social Human Movement

Category Archives: Economics

Donations , the making of.

Fair profit for a more social society.