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The Africa Problem?
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Will Africa always be the place to look for an example of people suffering? Will there ever be stable responsible governments who can compete on a global scale with Europe and the US?
Or will it always be a bit shitty?
Or will it always be a bit shitty?
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Personally I really dont see any country in Africa getting its act together any time soon. And thats really depressing. Even South Africa, too many of the middle classes left once it all started to go wrong.
Reasons? AIDS is a big one, history of corruption, unreliable harvests.....
They don't call me postwhore for nothin! At any rate, i thought it'd be nice to discuss things generally.
No more than anywhere else. Look at the Balkans, and Asia and you will find people suffering too, for example.
I've just been trying to think of African nations with stable Govts and I can only come up with North African examples... does anyone else know of anything different?
it's the cliche though isn't it?
When you don't eat your dinner your mum always used to say 'there are children starving in africa who'd never leave a scrap on their plate!'
North africa isn't so great is it? Bizarrely I always think of eygpt as middle east. Is that because of a population similarity?
They all have economic and social problems on a massive scale though don't they?
The current SA president, Mbeki, wouldn't admit there was an AIDs problem because it would be like admiting that blacks are inferior to whites to the world.
That can't be good government surely?
rich country gives money to poor african country - african country thinks "oh look we're gonna get money from Britain and France anyway why bother reforming" - african country goes downhill
World Bank gives money to African country - African country has to abide by the rules of the World Bank - rules of World Bank don't help African country very much - African country goes down hill.
There was more to it than that, but that was the general idea.
I think the basic problem is that Africa needs outside help to get out of its crisis. But other countries are unwilling to give help unless they think they're going to get something out of it foir themselves, so they impose all sorts of conditions to their loans which make things worse.
Not to mention the CAP problem........
As for South Africa, its a real shame, such an amazing place somewhat ruined by crime.
in the seventies he made a number of speeches that made my blood boil ...i was convinced he was the most evil human being alive.
he said that for america to have free access to resources and to aleviate growing poverty ...america would have to consider depopulating vast areas of the coninent by whatever means were available ...scary shit.
Of the continent of africa?
What was he taking?
Perhaps not, but fair trade needs to be developed.
Fair trade should mean fair trade, if a nation keeps our animal and enviromental standards then no import tarrif's if it doesnt, then we should impose them.
his reasoning was there was to much misery there to have a hope in hell of ever solving the problems so ...depopulate the place by whaytever means ...giving full access for american companies.
Huzzah Monty python
See how the whole vicious circle thing starts again?
I see your point, and it is a good one.
Perhaps there is no answer to Africa's problems then?
And with the rule being applied to all countries wanting to import into the UK it would be completely fair trade.
nothing but time
Sorry what?
that in time his dream of depopulating africa will come true
Can't really think of any African country that has a stable middle class with no major social or economic problems, i dunno why but when people say Africa i always have an image of starving kids on a desert, even though this isn't completely true its just something i always thought.
most places have been ruined by us in some form:(
how long have they had all these problems though? how much longer can they wait??
It's the same problems Europe used to have, problem is they didn't keep up when Europe and the USA shot forward on the industrail revolution. Mostly because of the slave trade and European colonies.
I have no idea how much longer they can wait, we shall just have to wait and see.
until we're in our graves no doubt..although it would be funny if the situation flipped..and we had all their problems!
well, it wouldnt be funny actually
Do you think maintaining ‘democratic Iraq’ is good for American economy? It is profitable only for a handful of pet companies and Washington bureaucracy but not for the most American businesses.
i never thought of that myself, good point, do you yourself have any opinions on why Africa is in the state its in?