Get the West off Africa's back (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Get the West off Africa's back

I HAVE read G Scott's letters before so I know an absence of knowledge or fact never prevents him from expressing some kind of prejudice or ridiculous opinion. He excels himself with his latest outing on Africa.

The British Empire was drenched in the blood of people in almost every continent. From slavery to theft by greedy and arrogant imperialists, African societies were destroyed.

"Surely it cannot be necessary to go on killing these defenceless people on such an enormous scale," said Winston Churchill about British murder of Kenyans in 1908.

Western banks today continue the plunder carried out historically. All Africa has ever needed was for the West to get off its back.

Let's hope the Make Poverty History events in Edinburgh start to make this happen.

P SMITH

Swindon