Let's look at the priorities

As the Bank of England prepares to offer a credit crisis rescue package I was drawn to the diary story from the BBC describing conditions in a clinic located in a Sierra Leone slum. I don't know what the most recent statistics on world poverty are today, although I am sure that a quick check on Oxfam or World Vision might reveal some current numbers, but when you balance the effort going into correcting the world banking fiascos against that devoted to improving the human condition of those living in abject poverty, you can't help but wonder when priorities will change.

Any astute observer watching the credit largesse of recent years could see the problems with credit and finance looming, same as anyone watching the New Zealand finance market over the last few years could sensibly predict the collapse of some of the financial institutions here. Much of it was concerned with 'getting rich quick' and it was evident that we were simply having trouble stored up for later - and here we are at later.

During the build-up to this particular credit crunch, the needs of people in Sierra Leone and many other places around the world are sidelined by most and helped only by a faithful few. Then comes a bit of Western drama and their needs will retreat even further into oblivion as we all become preoccupied with our own worries on the mortgage, our savings and keeping down a job.

But I can't help but think that the next big problems are not going to be centred around the credit crunch. It won't be too long before the biomass fuel debacle comes to fruition. With the same mentality that engineeered the credit crunch, those wishing to get rich quick - and of course, brandish their green 'credentials' at the same time - have been investing in biofuels. So now what? Because they are processing crops into fuel, at vast cost and with little impact, food shortages worldwide will be the order of the day. And not before too long either I would suggest. And who will be the first people to suffer? You guessed it, those already living in poverty as the richer world scrambles to feed itself last and prop up its old systems of government and economic stability.

Don't know about you, but I think it is time for a rethink.