The failure of foreign aid and the damage caused by corrupt governments are highlighted in Paul Theroux’s latest book on Africa, “The Last Train to Zona Verde.”
He focuses on Angola, a country with vast oil wealth, political repression, and some of the worst roads, schools, childhood death rates and unemployment on the African continent. Government corruption and greed like this the world over is the biggest producer of poverty and political unrest, while our corporations work with countries like Angola and turn a blind eye to the damage inflicted. The UN has tried to intervene but is underfunded and unsupported by our xenophobic Congress.
If we want to confront terrorism, poverty and starvation, this is not a small issue. It’s the biggest issue in the world.
Morris Earle Jr.
Middlebury