Odd place Africa

[Albereth]

The loons who caused the traffic jam in Sandton over the past few days have some interesting ideas.

It seems that the West has woken up to just pouring money into the dark hole that is Africa so now the begging bowl is to be extended to the diaspora.

Okay - to get this straight. A couple of generations ago hordes of people were sold into slavery by either their own country-men or arabs. They were dragged across the ocean and forced to work in the islands of the West Indies and America. And now these people, who had the hardest start in life that I can imagine, are being asked to bail out Africa.

What does that say about African leadership?

[R13...]

Who says they are being asked to bail out Africa? They are being asked to participate in its development.

[Albereth]

Who says they are being asked to bail out Africa? They are being asked to participate in its development.

So you think this is just a weird apology? Sorry we sold your great-nan but we'd really like to hear your thoughts on the cotton industry?

[Mouse]

I'd like to hear what local leadership thinks of this idea after they realise that people were taken out of West Africa to be sent to America as slaves. Would they still be supportive if the descendants of slaves came back to develop the countries that their ancestors were taken from? Or would they complain because they don't get a share of the money?

[OrbitalDawn]

The loons who caused the traffic jam in Sandton over the past few days have some interesting ideas.

It seems that the West has woken up to just pouring money into the dark hole that is Africa so now the begging bowl is to be extended to the diaspora.

Okay - to get this straight. A couple of generations ago hordes of people were sold into slavery by either their own country-men or arabs. They were dragged across the ocean and forced to work in the islands of the West Indies and America. And now these people, who had the hardest start in life that I can imagine, are being asked to bail out Africa.

What does that say about African leadership?

The slaves themselves had terrible lives, but not necessarily their descendents. Many of them have great lives in the USA or Britain today instead of being recruited to be a child soldier or another casualty in the endless civil wars this continent seems to love so much.

But yes, it is another testament to the vacuum of leadership and general incompetence we find in governments on this lovely continent.

They love to hold summits, though. So much easier than governing properly.

[boramk]

I think it would be a generalisation to say that all Africans in Africa, especially its leaders expect free money from Africans elsewhere because of a conversation you heard.

[Fudzy]

I wonder if the US are pumping as much money in as China?

If we were to look at China Mall/Cities they often hire one or two locals, that's probably doing more for the economy than lining the pockets of politicians with 'aid funding'. Teach a man to fish and all that...

[Albereth]

The slaves themselves had terrible lives, but not necessarily their descendents. Many of them have great lives in the USA or Britain today instead of being recruited to be a child soldier or another casualty in the endless civil wars this continent seems to love so much.

But yes, it is another testament to the vacuum of leadership and general incompetence we find in governments on this lovely continent.

They love to hold summits, though. So much easier than governing properly.

See. Some people get over slavery and make a go of it. The mob on this side of the Atlantic can't get over colonization or apartheid.

[Albereth]

I wonder if the US are pumping as much money in as China?

If we were to look at China Mall/Cities they often hire one or two locals, that's probably doing more for the economy than lining the pockets of politicians with 'aid funding'. Teach a man to fish and all that...

The Chinese like to build infrastructure in exchange for mining rights. They then use that infrastructure to facilitate the shipping out of whatever they've stripped from the country. Oh, and they don't use locals for the work. Maybe at a china Mall. But that's small change

[Fudzy]

The Chinese like to build infrastructure in exchange for mining rights. They then use that infrastructure to facilitate the shipping out of whatever they've stripped from the country. Oh, and they don't use locals for the work. Maybe at a china Mall. But that's small change

Yeah I know, the point I was making is there's mostly mutual benefit.

[nightjar]

I think it would be a generalisation to say that all Africans in Africa, especially its leaders expect free money from Africans elsewhere because of a conversation you heard.

All Africans in Africa, especially its leaders expect free money from any source that's prepared to hand it out.

[Albereth]

Yeah I know, the point I was making is there's mostly mutual benefit.

I am not so sure that it is mutual. I'd say it is very one sided in the favor of china. A road doesn't feed people. It doesn't employ them. But anyway ....

[Mouse]

The Chinese like to build infrastructure in exchange for mining rights. They then use that infrastructure to facilitate the shipping out of whatever they've stripped from the country. Oh, and they don't use locals for the work. Maybe at a china Mall. But that's small change

Can you blame them? Just look at what our workers get up to

[Fudzy]

I am not so sure that it is mutual. I'd say it is very one sided in the favor of china. A road doesn't feed people. It doesn't employ them. But anyway ....

It gives them a road to drive on. Would you rather pay for the GPFP (read: eToll) or the Chinese?