Yay or nay!!!! What say you.....
As I walked to the Belgian Médecins Sans Frontières offices on a misty cool spring morning, I looked carefully back at King Leopoldo II where he sits patiently aboard his trusted steed. He ruled Belgium for exactly 44 years (1865 - 1909) and was the guy who colonized the Congo. Leo personally claimed the land and was authorized to do so at the Berlin conference (1884). His private venture was conducted under the auspices of improving the lives of the local people in what is now know as the Democratic republic of Congo. And arguably - if not Leo....then whom? The Dutch, the Brits?? Someone....Up to 15 million Congolese died during the time that Leo stripped the country of resources which were primarily Ivory and then later rubber. With his vast fortune, he built many public Belgian buildings which were then donated to Belgium shortly before his death. Were the lives of 15 million Congolese better off as a result of Leo's benevolence? I don't think so...and the legacy he left - while lovely in Belgium - still impacts the day to day lives of the peoples of East Africa. What would he have thought of the work MSF is now doing to help clean-up the mess left behind? Hmmmm - ironic.....
I was fortunate enough to be invited to the MSF General Assembly where many of the guiding principles are defined, revisited or abandoned as the members debate the state of affairs within the organization. It's a time for retired, active, associated and otherwise committed humanitarians, to have their say about the direction of the organization. And by all accounts it is going very well indeed. The organization's reputation is very good, the direction is well supported by donors, and I can personally and emphatically say that the dollars so generously provided are being well spent. The organization is responsive, engaged, and effective.
That said - the debate is lively and while respectful, honest and bold. For me - it's a significant departure from the private sector where concerns are wrapped and delivered in the most inoffensive packages or more often - not said at all. The fear of losing your job is not part of the MSF culture or the organizations structure. It's about the beneficiary and not shareholder wealth. It's about doing good work and not just appearing to do so. Fortunately King Leo2 was not among the debaters on the day :)
The Assembly started with a 10 minute presentation from a surgeon who was in the Kunduz hospital when it was bombed. His story is as gripping and emotionally compelling as anything I have ever heard in my life. I believe, as do many others, that this tragedy is an opportunity to bring focus to unsanctioned actions of aggression that are reported with sanitized facts and figures but ignore the messy realities on the ground. It's an opportunity for society to hold states accountable for their illegals actions, their lies and their future actions. "Sorry - It was a mistake" ..... is hardly good enough.
I just got word that a friend in Kenya died yesterday while mis-handling a friend's handgun. As one often says at a time like this - I saw her just last week and she was fine.... such a stupid thing to think. Grace was funny, friendly and fearless. As tender and delicate as a rose petal but tough and fearless when standing for what she believed in. I had planned to write a bit more today but will stop here for now. RIP Grace - my thoughts are with you friends and family
Thank for reading - Layno
