Africa

[anotheoldgit]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1 258762,00.html

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1 252349,00.html

Millions upon Millions of Pounds/Dollars are pumped into Africa ever year, along with vast amounts of other Aid, (Irrigation, Schools and Medicine etc) and yet the continent as a whole is still living in the dark ages.

Will there ever be a time when it will be able to stand side by side with the rest of the World, if not what else is needed to achieve this goal?

[Loosehead]

The trouble is, Aog, is that they are in a constant state of tribal conflict, no amount of aid can sort out the basic problem. They all want to be Chief. Most of the continent has small bands run by warlords in a constant state of skirmish with each other. Africa on paper at least should be a wealthly and prosperous continent, but they just cannot help self destructing. Look at Zimbabwe, perfect example, Mugabe wants a pure shona tribe and doesn't mind if he screws the entire nation in the process. It just pains me at the effort the West puts inm charity work, comic releif, band aid etc etc, when all they are doing is pi55ing into the wind. I fear for South Africa next, they seem already to have started the same process that Mugabe did a few years ago. Africa is the target of so much aid, so little of which, sadly, does any good.

[Gromit]

War is undoubtedly a factor contributing to Africas continuing problems, but a greater influence in shaping the continent was colonialism by the european powers. The Europeans mostly took Africa's wealth from natural resources and exported the money home. Little of money was spent on infra-structure or event housing. But it is still plentiful in resources, and now most countries are independent of their european masters.

It doesn't help that the wealthy northern and western countries subsidise their food and agricultural production which means we sell cheaper than it cost to grow. Poorer nations are denyed markets for their produce because we undercut them.

Instead of giving aid, we should stop EU subsidies, create a level playing field again, and buy from Africa, and let Africa create its own wealth to improve life there.

Obviously, this will not happen. A capitalist run economy needs poor (cheap) people.

[BooldawgsMrs]

Also drought and continued crop failure are a large part of the problem, thus denying the tribal Africans the basic facility of self-sufficiency. The bottom line is they largely live in an un-sustainable environment, without the means to create revenue or to be able to fend for themselves.

[Zen]

http://www.ecademy.com/module.php?mod=blog&uid =83811&s=&cat=&seen=1

Where your Aid money goes...............

[johnizere]

that says it all, Zen.

[maxximus]

"Economic hit men (EHMs) are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars. They funnel money from the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other foreign "aid" organizations into the coffers of huge corporations and the pockets of a few wealthy families who control the planet's natural resources. Their tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex, and murder. They play a game as old as empire, but one that has taken on new and terrifying dimensions during this time of globalization. I should know; I was an EHM."
John Perkins, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

[Gromit]

Very impressed with his thread. Good answers, 3 stars all round.