A bit more serious today...

For the most part the posts of the past couple of months have been fairly fun and actually quite pleasant for the most part. Though after being in Sri Lanka for all this time, I think I've finally come to the point where some things are a bit 'indigestible' for me. A lot of it has to do with politics (sigh, what doesn't these days), and more so the lost potential of a nation as well as the belittling it receives at the 'well-meaning' first world countries. Of course there is a lot more than just that, the attitude of common people and how easily they are mislead in the simplest means sometimes (this is a problem everywhere). It has come to a point that I need to vent a little or I might explode in a cascade of assaulting verbal diarrhea on the next hapless person to ask 'how's your day going?'.

I guess I should explain a little about how it came to this point, I've been doing a lot of reading mostly for my own interest and as well to gain an understanding of this country and the habits of people. As well I've been studying history (always a dangerous area to venture) to see how things got the way they are, and if any patterns emerge. Though one thing has shown itself to be quite clear - interference of foreign powers for their own self interest.

The reason this frustrates me is that most people in the west (believe me growing up in Canada I know the attitude more than I care to admit) have this self satisfying image of themselves as the champions of democracy, selflessly going to other countries bringing peace hope and the word of god (well, not the last part so much anymore - I need another time to rant about that particular topic). People seem to think that when countries like Canada give aid, it is like giving food to the needy or, lending a friend a helping hand. I appreciate that it is a noble sentiment but the amount of damage foreign countries do - and continue to inflict leaves me in a rage sometimes. It is only through the efforts of local activists that harmful policies are rejected, I shall give a few examples of the 'generous' support given internationally.

The WB (World Bank) decided that Sri Lanka should increase exportable goods, and recommended converting vast fields of paddy (rice fields) to grow gherkins... yes gherkins. Rice is a basic staple of the local populace but the WB said it was an inefficient use of land "it would be more productive and lucrative to the farmers to grow gherkins for export". Actually they are probably right in that regard except that they are looking at the extreme short term, fortunately local community groups realized this and strongly opposed the plan, encouraging local farmers to keep growing rice.
Then the world hit a food shortage... the price of food is going up everywhere, Canada, Sri Lanka, I mean everywhere, especially when it comes to imported goods. Now, if Sri Lanka had fully initiated the WB plan we would have a wondrous supply of gherkins for export, though would have to import most of the rice people required for daily sustenance.

This isn't the only area where WB influence has caused harm, they are pressuring the Sri Lankan government to privatize the education system. Currently all levels of education in Sri Lanka is free - yes, even university. There are some problems and competition is fierce but if someone has absolutely no money but wants to study... the opportunity is there, no need for student loans or having parents save for years just to receive education. There was a network of community schools in remote areas which gave the country one of the highest literacy rates in the world at 95.7%. With the move to privatization so far 700 local community schools have been closed forcing students to travel long distances and making education inaccessible for some.

I know that some people honestly try to help but it is just so misguided that one wants to scream, and trying to convince people of how they are hurting a country by introducing half-baked or ill-conceived methods is met with some amazingly stubborn ignorance and denial. I really should devote a more thought out post for this topic but haven't had the patience to wait while the frustration continued to build on a daily basis with every person I talked to and fact I learnt. Probably what is really scary is that the west is forcing Sri Lanka to make the same mistakes they did in regards to industry, the environment and social policies. For example there are species dying across north America with wildlife habitat reducing at a steady rate. Sri Lanka has devoted one of the greatest percentages of it's land mass to national parks, even since the times of ancient kings 2500 years ago wilderness was considered precious and vital to the survival of the people entrusted as 'guardians' of the land, not owners. It was custom for farmers to always leave one section of their fields to grow freely for birds and local wildlife to use, that practice was discouraged as an 'inefficient use of land' by the WB.

There shouldn't even be a food problem in Sri Lanka either, fruit trees grow on the side of the road like weeds - WEEDS! Coming from a place where you couldn't grow anything for 6 months of the year and even then the climate and conditions allowed only a select number of viable crops - it's pretty freaking amazing.

What I find hilarious is the fact that people in Sri Lanka can lead the type of life that westerners dream about. Warm climate fresh foods and friendly people, having the option of taking it easy or working hard depending on the day. Then people in Sri Lanka wan the type of life glamorized in the west, surrounded by glitz and glamor, driving expensive cars, with high-tech electronics and modern conveniences. Actually both images don't take into account a lot of problems associated with the lifestyle choices, but trying to convince people of the reality is always a challenge.

What really bugs me, I now realize is that the west is trying to export a broken system to Sri Lanka and the rest of the world. If you don't believe it is broken, then I have some excellent sub-prime mortgages to sell ya!