Richard Miller
Richard leads a team of people who are working hard to try and reduce poverty in the world.
These people persuade others to get involved in campaigns that make a difference to poor people’s lives; they work with governments, the media, schools and businesses; and they raise money for ActionAid’s work around the world.
ActionAid also works in over 40 other countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean – listening to, learning from and working in partnership with over nine million of the world’s poorest people.
The deadline for questions is May 28, 2004.
Questions and Answers (June 8, 2004)
Q: [from from Jim] Do you think poverty will ever be gone for good in the distant future?
A: I think we always have to have a vision and hope - that is what provides motivation and energy to strive for a better, fairer and more just world. A fairer world in which poverty is ended is possible if the right choices are made. We know from progress in many countries over the last 50 years that real progress is possible and that we have the resources and knowledge to banish poverty - what we need is the will. The Millennium Development Goals set a realistic series of targets that Governments around the world have signed up to as being achievable by 2015. That is not far away at all and so, if they can be achieved in just the next 10 years, then surely there is no reason why we cannot banish poverty for good. Unfortunately we are not making progress on the Millennium Development Goals because the resources are not being made available and political will is lacking.
Q: [from from SHERICE BLAIR] What is it like to be in India? Do they have good schools there. HAVE YOU RODE AN ELEPHANT.
A: I am afraid I have never been to India but I do know that they have some very good schools there and also some very poor schools. India is a very diverse country of over a billion people with a huge range of contrasts within it. However I have ridden an elephant! But that was in Africa with just a blanket slung over it and holding on to the guide in front. It was very uncomfortable because elephants have very large strong backbones!
Q: How many countries, where ActionAid works, have you visited? Which is your favourite country and why?
A: I have only recently joined ActionAid but I have been working in development for over 20 years and during that time I have visited about 12 of the countries where ActionAid works. One of my favourite is Ethiopia. It has such a rich culture heritage and the people who live there are very proud of their traditions going back centuries – Ethiopia was never colonised. It has stunning mountain scenery and the people are very independent and hard working - not at all like the image of Ethiopia that is often portrayed in the west.
Q: What is the best thing about your job? What is the worst thing about your job?
A: The best thing is getting to meet some of the people that we work with around the world and the diverse range of ActionAid staff. There are many brilliant people who work for ActionAid and they are very committed to what they do and have many fascinating stories to tell. They are a dynamic group of individuals. I think one of the worst things is all the e-mails I have to answer! Since ActionAid works in 40 countries around the world a lot of correspondence and sharing of information is carried out by e-mails and it is hard work to keep up with them all!
Q: Why is there still poverty in the world after all the work that ActionAid does?
A: The work that ActionAid does makes a real difference to the lives of millions of poor people around the world but more needs to be done and there needs to be a much greater transfer of resources from the rich world to developing countries if we are to have a much greater impact on poverty. In addition we need to change the global structures that stop poor countries from developing and encourage dependency. Terms of trade in particular are stacked against the developing world. High debt burdens means countries are putting resources into paying off debts rather than improving their education systems. And Governments throughout the world need to be more accountable to their own citizens and spend money on priorities that will really help countries to develop further.
Q: What makes you angry?
A: Injustice that I have witnessed in many countries around the world. Children who have had their childhood stolen because of war or having to go out to work at a very young age. Young men and women and children who are dying from HIV/AIDS -when they could be kept alive if the resources were there to buy the necessary drugs. And I hate cynicism and apathy - there is so much we can do to make the world a better place and we can all play our part.
