Just finished a mind-blowing book about the relationship between humanitarian aid, war and war crimes that has really caused me to think long and hard about my recent trip to Cambodia and also my plans to return...and where I (and my companies) donate money.
Engineers Without Borders Australia - with whom I toured Cambodia - have the very practical aim of giving expert advice only until a local business is sustainable on its own...and then retreating from the project. In true "ginger beer" fashion the engineers keep a low profile and just get on with what needs fixing, solving or improving. A really good model.
Polman queries whether Henri Dunant's original ethos for the Red Cross to be "impartial, neutral and independent" is possible in today's war zones and uses potent examples in Rwanda and Afghanistan to make her point. Probably the best read for me in the past three years. I bought mine at Siem Reap airport and the cover is apparently different in the US version but the content remains controversial and thought-provoking. Do it!
Engineers Without Borders Australia - with whom I toured Cambodia - have the very practical aim of giving expert advice only until a local business is sustainable on its own...and then retreating from the project. In true "ginger beer" fashion the engineers keep a low profile and just get on with what needs fixing, solving or improving. A really good model.
Polman queries whether Henri Dunant's original ethos for the Red Cross to be "impartial, neutral and independent" is possible in today's war zones and uses potent examples in Rwanda and Afghanistan to make her point. Probably the best read for me in the past three years. I bought mine at Siem Reap airport and the cover is apparently different in the US version but the content remains controversial and thought-provoking. Do it!
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