Neil MacDonald

Armalite or ballot box

Amid all the hype of the General Election launch, I picked out Gerry Adams telling the IRA that the way forward "is by building political support for republican and democratic objectives".  He did fall short of calling on them to disband, but he is telling them that he needs them to do something to get the peace process moving. Of course Adams also needs them to do something to get his election campaign moving.

The £26million bank raid and the scandalous murder of Robert McCartney have shown the IRA to be a criminal band and I'm sure their activities are hugely unpopular with the voters that Adams needs to be elected.  Hopefully, the IRA will respond positively, and not just for Adams' election prospects.

The Northern Ireland peace process has had many false dawns.  I am tempted to say it has had more false dawns than Welsh rugby - and look what happened to them this year! 

Commision for Africa

The Commision for Africa reported back last week - on Red Nose Day. 

Tony Blair takes the presidency of Europe and the G8 later this year and he will use the report to drive change in Africa.  I think this passage from the report sums it up:

Bold comprehensive action on a scale needed to meet the challenges can only be done through a new kind of partnership. In the past, contractual and conditional approaches were tried, and failed. What we are suggesting is a new kind of development, based on mutual respect and solidarity, and rooted in a sound analysis of what actually works.  This can speed up progress, building on recent positive developments in Africa, towards a just world of which Africa is an integral part.

It's good to see "what actually works" is in there as surely this is the most important thing?  Africa is not the West and a different approach is needed. 

It was also good to see that Sir Bob Geldof is part of the commission - he will not put his name to some political talking shop.  I am really hopeful that the commission will bring positive change to Africa.

Walls of Jericho

Gordon Brown's Budget is dominating the media today but I was pleased to see that Israel has started withdrawing troops from the West Bank.  It is only five towns, including Jericho and Bethlehem, but how often has Israel retreated from anywhere?

Clearly there is a long way to go, but if you look at the Northern Ireland peace process, there was no quick fix.  It has taken many years of doing little things to build trust and discredit the old ways to get Northern Ireland where it is now.  Hopefully, the McCartneys will be able to speed up some of the changes.

Steady progress will be required so that Israel dismantles the walls round all the Palestinian areas.  The Palestinians also need to show that they can control the militants.  Perhaps the Walls of Jericho are a fitting first step on the roadmap to peace.

Tsunami

What can I say about the tidal wave and its aftermath?  It is so difficult to put anything into words - the pictures tell the story far better than any words can. It also shows that we humans cannot control the forces of Mother Nature.

Good to see Gordon Brown leading international efforts on debt relief.  This will provide a moratorium on debt re-payments so the money can be spent on reconstruction. Indonesia and Sri Lanka pay about £3billion each in debt interest and clearly this would be better spent on rebuilding shattered communities. It is also pointless for the West to give emergency aid with one hand - such as the wonderful response by the British public - and then take it back in interest payments.

Need to make sure that needs of Africa are not forgotten.  The Tsunami was an horrific event, brought vividly into living rooms by TV, in a similar way to the September 11th attacks.  September 11th concentrated the minds of world leaders and brought money to fight global terror.  The Tsunami must concentrate the same minds to find the resources to fight global poverty - especially as poverty and injustice is the best recruiting sergeant for global terror - so that in 2005 we can start to Make Poverty History.