http://www.physorg.com/news106017082.html

This shows how many people in Africa are desperate and not serious. How much money is Ethiopia going to make with this senseless tour? Is that how the blind Ethiopian leaders expect to develop their country? The US is also arrogant by luring a poor country and its stupid leaders with some money to get its hands on the most fragile and precious human fossil. How many Americans are going to see it? Next time it will be a US tour of the Coliseum, The Pyramids or the Taj Mahar.

The fossil is seemingly priceless. It's sad that something that lasted a few million years might be ruined by people over the course of a century.

I hope no one evil is involved with its transport.

I am all for fossils touring the US, a country where 61% of people are knuckle dragging creationists. I see no problem with taking knowledge to the people in the hope that some of it will actually sink in.

As to Ethiopia, I said to someone 23 years ago that the more that survived now (1984), the more there would be to be a problem 20 years from now. Much of Africa is a basket case of minor dictatorships, wars, diseases with too many people wanting handouts. Charities and loans have poured billions into the sub-continent over decades without making a real difference. I don't see any change coming in the forseeable future.

I'd have to disagree on whether a difference is being made, actually. The trick is to not think of Africa as one place. Some places are doing better than others.