Great start to your series. I can’t wait to read more!

I think it’s interesting that Tony you bring up Bono, and Maev, Dambisa Moyo (author of Dead Aid), as they are polar opposites intellectually to this debate: Bono representing the Bob Geldorf: The West must give generously to “help” Africa perspective and Moyo: The West fuels corruption and never lets Africa stand on its own two feet perspective.

Crazily enough, Moyo went head to head with Stephen Lewis and 3 other “experts” at a debate here in Toronto recently. You can watch Moyo’s statement on the web here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enDmHgJC4eY

and Lewis here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WClqi4Yr3Ys&feature=related

Lewis and his book, “Race Against Time” was the original inspiration for this Trilogy so it’s interesting to see his ideas clash against new ones that have crept into the debate since we began our workshops. I also think that intellectually he blows Moyo out of the water (”I find her statistics suspect and misleading”). His emphasis on finding ways to deliver resources to the women of Africa separate him from a lot of the advocates of simply propping up corrupt states that are unresponsive to their population.

Nevertheless, even Lewis admits that Moyo has written such a popular book that it has effectively framed the debate on the issue.