Back to the future

Picture courtesy of http://themacwire.blogspot.com

In the 1980’s, Back to the Future was a popular series of films, showing the main character drifting backwards and forwards in time, with the use of a time travel machine.

While I was visiting Mogadishu, I thought what it would be like if we took the car from the film and drove it through time and space straight to the year 2030. One would hope that in 2030 we would see a prosperous Somalia. But what if we travelled all the way and saw no difference? What if people would still be talking, instead of acting?

This is a very serious issue. I imagine the international community has spent more than 55 billion USD over the past two or three decades on relief for Somalia and the Horn of Africa. Do we see any impact made by these billions?

I ask you, is it the right time to stop, think, look back to the future and act? Or will it take another 55 billion USD and some more decades? Will 2030 find us having similar discussions?