An argument for positive protection

摘要

For the first four years of this century the leather industry appears to have been obsessed by just one topic: China. So it's a welcome change to contemplate matters happening elsewhere which could benefit us all. The elsewhere is Africa, the only continent to have grown poorer in the last twenty-five years. Figures show that there are still 315 million people living in absolute poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, surviving on less than a dollar a day. Huge numbers lack access to basic services such as clean water, health and education. Incessant conflicts have resulted in the death and displacement of millions; diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB are taking a huge toll on its peoples. Africa has had to deal with all this pain while the rest of the world enjoys increasing developmenr and prosperity.