In an unprecedented press release today, a spokesperson representing the African Union and a conglomeration of aid agencies criticised the West's 'myopic focus on food and medical supplies, to the detriment of raising awareness and painting murals'

They went on to say, 'In the past, we recieved a steady supply of gap-year students, celebrities and corporate CSR programs from Europe and the US. We began to tackle the core issues that are holding back out continent, namely mural-less walls, children who have never appeared on western television and a dangerous scarcity of backpackers.'

'Now this vital support has declined in favour of more 'trendy' schemes such as food, building wells, malaria nets and education. In the short-term, our biggest issue is awareness. Without charity bashes, celebrity visits and, vitally, pop singles to raise awareness, soon even our own people are in danger of becoming unaware of our problems.'

'In a very real sense', he added.

The coalition government has yet to comment on the spread of unawarety, but Jonty Rutland, head of UK student charity 'Banter', welcomed the statement.

'Banter have been campaigning on African issues since we were founded last semester. The ultimate frisbee team sponsored us £112.52 to dress up as nurses, nearly some of which went to the most needy African causes. Our members have also travelled to Capetown to volunteer, help out in bars and play cricket to raise awareness. When will the government man up and face it's responsibilities?'

The fresh controversy comes as other charitable causes are going from strength to strength. New legislation in the state of California obliges filmmakers to increase the amount of environmental preaching in their productions by 4%. They also can no longer pursue the practice of 'bundling', where a studio loads one film with the environmental smugness quotas of others. The sci—fi blockbuster 'Avatar' is estimated to have 'bundled' for at least twelve other films.