In a message dated 8/11/99 9:03:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, seandr@Exchange.Microsoft.com writes: << Any effective solution must involve building self-sustaining economies in the afflicted areas. For example, we might sell our BMWs, start a venture capital fund, and invest in a new luxury car company based in Somalia (and owned in part by Somalians). If the company takes off, we can all buy several Somalian luxury cars with the proceeds from our investment, which generates even more wealth for us and the Somalians. -Sean >> That would be a wonderful start. But in countries like Somalia we need to get even more basic than that. Food production. Clean water. Something approaching self-sustenance on the most basic level. There are American capitalists working in third world countries doing this kind of thing right now, if that's any comfort. Jim