SAVE AFRICA?

abre les ojos · Guru

SAVE AFRICA?

GWAN · Member

To re-locate to the 'Warm Heart' can be a tricky matter.

This is my take: If you went to West for educational advancement and managed to do so, your entry into the job market may be a lot smoother than if you do not have the 'papers' to compete with folk that have remained in the land of the lake and mudfish. I know of comrades who are caught up between a rock and hard place right now. They went to the West [or is it east !] for that pursuit of educational advancement but somehow got caught up in the economic quagmire of survival that in spite of passage of time that 'paper' has remained illusive.For this lot, it is becomes a question of ego. When they compare the station of their comrades in the 'Warm Heart' with their own they just can't imagine that they may have to accept a lesser station in the job market. Hence, 99.9% of the time this lot is stuck in the West and muse about what could have been.

Then there are those who have that 'paper' and simply got a juicy deal in the West that they have stayed. I would not mind too much about them. So long you do not become obnoxious as to lose your identity and roots.

There are also those whose 'paper' just means that they just can't find that job and job satisfaction in Malawi [by reason of our own level of advancement].Let's say you did nuclear physics or aeronautical engineering ...

Then there are those whose life was going nowhere in the Warm Heart. They didnt have the papers to advance in Malawi etc etc. They go West in pursuit of those low end blue collar jobs. This lot should not dare dream of going back home to stay unless their re-entry strategy is well worked out and they will be 'okay'.This lot is better off in the West and can do something with their life so long they are smart.But ...again dont lose your identity and roots...

abre les ojos · Guru

YOU ARE DEFINITELY MORE KNOWLEDGABLE ON THIS TOPIC THAN I COULD POSSIBLY BE. COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER.

MY POINT ALSO INCLUDED THE FACT THAT MOST OF AFRICAN DIASPORA ARE ALL TALK. I'M NOT SAYING WE SHOULD BE MORE THAN THAT BUT I'M JUST STRESSING HOW IT IS.

I LOVED YOUR POINT ABOUT NUCLEAR PHYSICS ETC. TRUE. IT DEPENDS WHETHER YOUR DEGREE WOULD BE USEFUL TO AFRICA AT THE PRESENT MOMENT. I KNOW MINE ISN'T.

amdala · Senior Member

guys you say the right words... however lets take the 'west-migration' as a problem to the warm-heart, then try to find a solution to halt the exodus.

the warm heart has lost 'professionals' to the West, and you know what almost all walks of proffesioanalism have been hit. medical side have suffered most, doctors, nurses, lab staff, plus plus! teachers- i know a few, soldiers well just look around, tourism and Entertainment- beach boys, the girls, everybody is flocking! the list is long... and some even flock 'unwantedly'....blame the west for everything.

soutions? blackout. help.

abre les ojos · Guru

EVERY LIVING THING, AND I MEAN "EVERY" WHEN IT BOILS DOWN TO THE BASICS, WILL ALWAYS REVERT TO ITS MOST BASIC NEED. THAT OF SURVIVAL. HELL WITH CULTURE, NATIONALITY, ECONOMICS, POLITICS. PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS MIGRATE TO WHERE THEY WOULD FIND A BETTER LIFE. TO "GREENER PASTURES" AS THE CLICHE SAYS. ITS THAT SIMPLE. TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HAVING A BETTER LIFE FOR MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN, PATROTISM OR ALL THAT PAN-AFRICAN RHETORIC DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO ME.

THE LIFE EXPECTANCY IN MALAWI IS 38 YRS. 38 FOR CRISSAKES!!! STATISTICALLY I WOULD BE DEAD IN ABOUT 9 YRS. WHAT ABOUT MY KIDS, WITH THE HIGH INFANT MORTALITY RATES; ALL THE NURSES AND DOCTORS ARE LEAVING LIKE YOU SAID.

I'M NOT PROMOTING MIGRATION, I'M RATIONALISING IT. AT THE END OF THE DAY ITS RATIONALITY THAT DRIVES IT. THE MONEY IS OVER THERE - WE'LL GO THERE TO SEEK IT. IT'S S SURVIVAL INSTINCT PURE AND SIMPLE. WE CAN STAND THE RACISM OR ANTI-IMMIGRATION RHETORIC FROM POLITICIANS OR RIGHT-WING PUNDITS; IT A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR IT. PERSONALLY I ENJOY BEING AT THE FORE-FRONT OF TECHNOLOICAL INNOVATION ETC. I LIKE TO AFFORD HOLIDAYS IN SPAIN OR MIAMI OR INDIA.

BUT THE PARADOX IS. IF EVERYONE THOUGHT LIKE I DO THEN WHICH WAY AFRICA. INDIA HAS THE MOST MIGRATION IN HISTORY. BUT AFTER SO MANY YEARS; THE ECONOMY IS PROGRESSING AT BREAKNECK SPEED. THEY HAVE LEARNT FROM THE WEST. MADE MONEY THERE AND ARE NOW PLAYING IT AT ITS OWN GAME. NOT WAITING FOR HANDOUTS.

SO WHAT AFRICA NEEDS IS NOT RELIEF. WHAT AFRICA NEEDS IS JUSTICE. AND IF THE WEST DOESN'T PROVIDE THIS (WHICH WE KNOW WILL NEVER HAPPEN) THE NEW GENERATION OF AFRICANS I.E. US, WILL HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DO WHAT INDIA IS DOING. OR TO A GREATER EXTENT, CHINA.

WHILE THE WEST IS MOANING ABOUT 35HR WEEKS AND MINIMUM WAGE AND WORKERS RIGHTS, INDIA IS USING IT TIME ZONES TO INVENT 35HR DAYS. THIS IS THE ETHIC THAT AFRICA NEEDS. WHEN WE BLACKS ARE MOANING ABOUT COLONIALISM ETC, THE WEST ARE HAPPY BECAUSE THE MORE WE DO SO THE MORE IT TAKES OUR EYES OFF THE REAL ISSUES THAT ARE KEEPING AFRICA BEHIND...

Black Panther · Senior Member

A lot of time when people say help - they are thinking that they need to 'save the world' we all help our churcehs every by donating $5 or what ever- how much would you have if you donated $3 to ur church and $2 to Malawi at the end of the year - about $100 you could dontae back home to a worthy charity. Do your research on the charities firts though b4 you pick one to send to.

Help can come in several ways - the DC 6th July celebrations this year have all there money going to charity - these are Malawians in the USA helping Malawians. Has this been done before by any other Malawian community abroad ? The Malawian association there also does charitable work that contributes to the development of Malawi. Although they are not donating millions of dollars - the mentality and their hearts ar in the right place. people dont have to move back to Malawi to help Malawians. They can even help Malawi by helping the Malawians that they know - this help will eventually spill over to other sectors etc...like a domnio effect.

everyone has the ability to hlep out in there own way. you can volunteer. teach your skills, donate money, 'walk' , make poverty history, etc...

The Live 8 crew is trying to 'Save Africa' - we need to 'Save Ourselves ' too - I agree . Why would u want to hlep clean up ur neighbors back yard when the kids in that family dont give a damn how the yard looks ?

abre les ojos · Guru

HELP IS A GOOD THING. I AGREE. BUT THINK ABOUT IT. AFRICA HAS BEEN RECIEVING AID FROM THE WEST SINCE THE 70S. LOTS OF AID. MORE THAN OTHER ASIAN STATES. BUT HOW COME ITS GOING BACKWARDS WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS PROGRESSING? HUH?

BECAUSE LACK OF CASH ISN'T THE PROBLEM. AID ISN'T THE PROBLEM. TRADE IS. LIKE I SAID AFRICA DOESN'T NEED RELIEF, IT NEEDS JUSTICE. IF THE EU REMOVED ITS AGRIC SUBSIDIES THE MONEY AFRICA WOULD GENERATE FROM THAT IN A DECADE WOULD BE UMPTEENTH TIMES MORE BENEFICIAL THAT A BILLION MARCHES OR CONCERTS OR SHORT TERM LIBERAL GUILT DRIVEN STUFF. THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE AND I CAN GIVE MANY MORE. EVEN IF YOU CANCEL A POOR MAN'S DEBT THAT MIGHT REDUCE THE BURDEN BUT IT WOULDN'T PUT MONEY IN THIS POCKET IF HE DOESN'T HAVE A JOB.

AID AID AID. WE'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE AND IF WE DON'T HIGHLIGHT THE REAL PROBLEMS, WE'LL BE DOING ANOTHER CONCERT IN ANOTHER FEW YEARS.

YES THEIR HEARTS ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE BUT AFRICA NEEDS HEADS, NOT HEARTS. THE PROBLEM IS POLITICAL.

THEY WILL BE MARCHES, DONATIONS COUTLESS TV PROGRAMMES ON AFRICAN POVERTY AND DISEASE. BUT FOR A SHORT WHILE. THEN EVERYONE GOES BACK TO THEIRS LIVES AND NOTHING REALLY CHANGES.

IT A SHORT FIX.

Black Panther · Senior Member

It is a short fix - but it shouldnt be the only fix - my main point was that CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME. WE AS MALAWIANS need to also be prepared to make some sacrifices, financial or otherwise and give AID. AID is not necesarriyl monetray- i mentioned in my reponse that by AID it could be teaching , mentoring, giving money (if u dont have that type) but eveyone should be able to give what they can. AID is not a bad thing. Part of the reason that American and other counties suceed is b.c there are people that really do believe in the 'freedom' and 'democray ' stuff and will do anything to keep that thriving. they will make sacrifices for the ghoodness of those values ( regradless of whether we think they exist or not those people that are doing the sacrificing do and that what counts) - Malawians have nationalism , but not a national concioness - pls. Read Franz Fanon the breaks it down in the 'wretched of the earth' - this is fundemental in understading the way we think - but to get back on track

AID is not a bad thing - some one AIDED some one to get where they are. We are poor so that another nation is rich... We AID other nations by keeping them rich - we provide labour, money time, slaves etc... More money has been pumped in to ASIA to build up economy- Japan post WW2 was given a ridiculous amounts of money and Asian countires were given fairer trade deals - we need to work on that aspect - status quo.

- this is what the Live8 thing about , like they say in the commerical " WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR MONEY" - they are trying to raise awarness - they have a list of the thing that they are advocating including fair trade agreements for Africa, etc... so before u start knocking live AI go to the web page and see what they are really trying to do.. they are getting lumped in to theis ' give a man fish ' kind of deal - but they do have an outline of issues that they are tyring to tackle that will even out the status quo - they do realise just like u that its the status quo that needs to be changed - As long as someone is paying attention , even for a short while - it better then nothing - It may not change the lives of everyone , but it will change the lives of some -

-- Edited by Black Panther at 22:47, 2005-06-13

game · Guru

as human beings we all go through changes in life thats inevitable,whether you try to rationalise migration or irrationalise it its all relative.

just remember africa cultivated you,and try your level best to pay back.

sweet mother land.

Lady B · Senior Member

Game , you couldint have said it better , but as human beings in this world , we all have choices , and we make these choices pending on where we coming from and where we are headed , i would love to go back home . but the more i think about it the more i realise that they will be nothing for me there .....

question is .... how long we can one stay away from MotherLand ???

*Kiss*

abre les ojos · Guru

WELL I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO SAY. BUT I'LL SAY ONE THING 'THOUGH. HARD AS IT IS FOR ME TO SAY, BUT MOST OF THE THINGS THAT I IDENTIFY WITH, THINGS THAT HAVE CREATED MY IDENTITY AS AN INDIVIDUAL. MY INTELLECT. MY CHARACTER ARE NOT IN AFRICA. THAT IS WHY I DON'T LIVE THERE. THE PEOPLE I KNOW, LOVE, HATE DEBATE WITH. COMMUNICATE WITH; IN FACT, MY WHOLE WORLD AS I KNOW IT IS OUT OF AFRICA. AM I PROUD OF IT? AM I ASHAMED OF IT? NO! I'M INDIFFERENT TO IT. IT IS MY LIFE AFTER ALL.

BUT THE HARD QUESTION IS. CAN WE REALLY SAVE AFRICA? NO WE CAN'T. LETS FACE IT. NOT IN OUR LIFETIME.

WHY? BECAUSE THE POWERS THAT BE WILL NEVER LET IT HAPPEN NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE TURN UP AT THE G8 SUMMIT OR MARCH THE STREETS. NO MATTER HOW MANY ROCK STARS SHOUT OUT LOUD.

THE PROBLEM IS AFRICA DOESN'T NEED AID IT NEEDS TRADE. JUSTICE! AS LONG AS THERE IS A WORLD BANK AND IMF THEY WILL NEVER BE THAT JUSTICE.

DON'T BELIEVE ME... READ THE CONDITIONS THAT THE G8 FINANCE MINISTERS HAVE DRAFTED TO THE POOR NATIONS TO QUALIFY FOR AID RELIEF. IT IS EVEN WORSE THAN BEFORE!

I WON'T BORE YOU WITH THEM; THEY ARE MUCH TO LONG. BUT MARK MY WORDS. THIS MAKE POVERTY HISTORY THING IS JUST BOLLOCKS. DON'T BE FOOLED BY ITS SO-CALLED GOOD INTENTIONS. ALTRUISM NEVER BROUGHT ANY COUNTRY OUT OF POVERTY, ONLY SELF-INTEREST DOES.

Black Panther · Senior Member

abre les ojos wrote:
MOST OF THE THINGS THAT I IDENTIFY WITH, THINGS THAT HAVE CREATED MY IDENTITY AS AN INDIVIDUAL. MY INTELLECT. MY CHARACTER ARE NOT IN AFRICA.

~ you couldnt be more wrong. The mere fact that your a member of this forum shows us how u identify yourself and whom with - Being African is part of your identity no matter what you say or think. You can take the African out of the bush but u cant take the bush out of him...u know what im saying. Your an individual , true but ur an african one- why should we put all africans in a box and say u cant posees intellect, u cant be individualistic, and u cant be this...Africa, you are diverse and this is why it is a great continent - albeit in chains.

THIS MAKE POVERTY HISTORY THING IS JUST BOLLOCKS. DON'T BE FOOLED BY ITS SO-CALLED GOOD INTENTIONS. ALTRUISM NEVER BROUGHT ANY COUNTRY OUT OF POVERTY, ONLY SELF-INTEREST DOES.

~ They dont have to be alturistic to even the playing field there is enough reousrces in thei world for eveyone. The G8's not saying share what u have - give money- they are saying make the trade agreement fair - what follows is up to us really... Look im not saying its all peachy - the whole thing but at least someones doing something- we cant sit here in our plush chairs and complian and bitch and moan about it- if ur not a part of the solution - u are part of the problem.

abre les ojos · Guru

LET'S BE HONEST, A MILLION G8'S WILL NEVER SOLVE AFRICA'S PROBLEMS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT SEVERAL FORCES PROFIT FROM THE FACT THAT AFRICA, SUB-SAHARAN THAT IT HAS THE HIGHEST RETURNS FROM THE LEAST AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT. THE IMF & WORLD BANK WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

MAYBE THIS WOULD MAKE AN INTERSTING READ.

http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2005/06/14/spin-lies-and-corruption/

I'M NOT SAYING THAT BOB GELDOF AND CO. ARE NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE, BUT THE TRUTH IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS NOT GOING TO WORK. FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE WESTERN POPULATIONS AFRICA IS FAR AWAY AND UNIMPORTANT. TO MULTI-NATIONALS IT ONLY A DUMPING GROUND FOR EXCESS CHEAP STUFF AND ARMS.

WELL TO US AFRICANS, IT SOMEWHERE WE ARE RUNNING AWAY FROM. I, BEING ONE OF THEM.

ALL THAT STUFF ABOUT ONE PERSON MAKING A DIFFERENCE AND CHANGING THE WORLD IS TYPICAL HOLLYWOOD AND IT'S NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN.

MAYBE WHAT THE WHOLE AFRICA NEEDS IS FOR ALL ITS LEADERS TO DO A MUGABE AND "STICK IT TO THE MAN". EVERYTHING ELSE HAS FAILED....

Black Panther · Senior Member

Sorry, didint mean to imply that a million g8's would solve it I was reffereing to the Live 8's purpose being to put pressure on the g8- my bad... but anyways... its better then nothing. Some people can not sit back and simly say - this wont work here and ths wont work there , they actually do it...

Also people like Mandela, Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Gueverra, etc... these people are not a figment of Hollywoods imgination, they are there and they were one person and they did make a difference. there cant be millions of people like that floating around - but dont be the one that discaouraged young Michale Jaskcon or young ghandi by saying - it aint gonna happen - but then again - most of these people made it inspite of people trying to hold them back and disuade them so maybe what ur saying will benefit a La Mumba amongst our midst - lets up lift and encourage eachother instead of throwing around negativity.

abre les ojos · Guru

GHANDI, MANDELA ETC. WELL, YES THEY DID ACHIEVE GREAT THINGS. BUT THEY DIDN'T LIVE IN A VACCUM. THOUSANDS, OR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED ON THE GROUND. A LOT OF TIMES, DYING TOO FOR WHATEVER CAUSE.

IT ISN'T JUST IMPORTANT TO HAVE A GOAL OR A DREAM BUT OTHER FORCES IN THE ENVIRONMENT. POLITICAL, ECONOMICAL, HAVE TO BE CONDUSIVE FOR IT TO TAKE HOLD. TAKE FOR INSTANCE SLAVERY IN THE US. THE MOST HIGHLY CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO ITS DECLINE WAS NOT A MORAL ONE BUT AN ECONOMICAL ONE. INDUSTRY MEANT THAT THEY WERE MORE EXPENSIVE AND LESS PRODUCTIVE IN PICKING COTTON OR WHATEVER THEY MADE THEM DO. RESULT, CIVIL WAR BETWEEN THE INDUSTRIAL NORTH WITH IT'S SHIPYARDS, COAL MINES ETC AND THE SOUTH WITH THEIR SLAVES.

DON'T MISTAKE PRACTICALITY FOR NEGATIVITY. THAT'S AMERICAN. AFRICA'S PROBLEMS ARE NOTHING BUT PRACTICAL. NO AMOUNT OF EMOTIVE ROCK CONCERTS WILL DO ANYTHING MUCH. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME AND IT SURE WON'T BE THE LAST.

game · Guru

people

i thought mandela was a freedom fighter,and Gandhi and mother theresa were peace makers thats according to their biographies,guevara was a revolutionary,he waged war on white settlers who exploited the lives of native africans in congo and other parts of the world.these peoples actions in no way paved way for development in the region apart from freedom and self belief amongst africans and any oppressed peoples of the earlth.

Bob geldof on the other hand is mobilising and criticising the worlds biggest economies for negrecting africas poverty by acting as the ambassodor and the mouth piece of africans.he is taking advantage of his high profile position to ignite in the worlds economies the need to priotise africa in their assembly.

if poverty in Africa reaches its acme,violence will escalate,and development in the pipeline will come to a halt barricading mass deaths due to lack of medicines in hospitals.Alot of Africans are underpaid and undervalued with small job prospects because the Eu dont want to trade with africa as they dont benefit at all.so Bob geldof and his camp are trying hard to drill holes in this ceiling of ignorance by other EU states and all the donor coutries to start including Africa in their trade manifestos.

abre les ojos · Guru

LIVE 8?

YES ITS RAISING MONEY AND AWARENESS, BUT TO WHAT LONG-TERM CHANGE. THE ANSWER IS SADLY NOTHING. AT LEAST NOT ENOUGH TO BRING AFRICA OUT OF POVERTY PERMANENTLY. WHY THE PESSIMISM? WELL, IT REALLY IS SIMPLE BECAUSE WITHOUT AFRICAN POVERTY THE BALANCE WOULD BE UPSET.

A CASE TO POINT WOULD BE NIGERIA. ALL THAT OIL BUT NOT ENOUGH DEVELOPMENT CASH. BECAUSE THE FOREIGN OIL COMPANIES JUST RAKE IT UP. THE LITTLE LEFT IS DIVIDED BETWEEN DEBT REPAYMENTS, CORRUPTION OR JUST SIMPLY A LACK OF PRIORITY. THE MOMENT NIGERIA STARTS ASKING FOR MORE, SHELL AND EXXON START LOBBYING WASHINGTON OR WHITEHALL TO PUT POLITICAL PRESSURE ON NIGERIA TO DANCE. THE POOR PEOPLE SUFFER.

NOW THIS IS THE CASE TO POINT IN AFRICA. NO LIVE AID IS GOING TO CHANGE THAT SIMPLE TRADE FACT. IT'S CAPITALISM.

SIFT THROUGH ALL THE GELDOF RHETORIC AND WHAT DO YOU HAVE? EITHER LIBERAL, GUILTY PATRONISING SERMONS OR JUST PLAIN SELF-DELUSION.

NEXT YEAR AND IN 10 YEARS TIME WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER SAVE AFRICA CONCERT. AFRICA IS BECOMMING THE LAST PLACE TO SERIOUSLY EXPLOIT SEEING THAT ASIA IS ALMOST COMPETING AT WESTERN TERMS. THEY ARE NOT READY TO CHAGE THAT NO MATTER WHAT SOME AGEING ROCK STARS SAY.

Black Panther · Senior Member

there is a formula for all social movements in history from the womens movements to liberation movements - (those that have taken sociology classes & probably political classes should know what Im talking about) a critiacl step in a socail movement that leadds to long term chnage include what is termed as "conciousness raising " ( term was , i believe, coined by Marx to describe how socilism will eventually be the way.... " - simply, concioness raising is using media, newspapers, tv, magazines etc to tell the masses of people that they have a common problem and to identify the real cause of the problem - without people with the same problems recognises who there common eney is - a social movement or change can never occur - ( thie is why dictators always ban magazines papers etc) it is the first step though. Once conciouness is raised it paves the way for the next step ... grouping together and mobilising in units.

This is what the live 8 is doing conciouness raising - telling the world that we have a common problem and identifying what the reasons are (with all of africas problems when pple say blame africa and others say blame colonilism- there will never be a consensu and never be a movement) - What I was trying to say was that Yes, all the other leaders were nont individuals in the whole of there movments the were part of a movement but becasme key figures- they mobilised pple. they led the way and they inspired otheres- knowledge and conciousness - being aware of what is going on and who is to blame is a big part of political change & social movements.

abre les ojos · Guru

THE TRUTH ABOUT AFRICA'S ISSUES IS SIMPLE. WEST NEEDS TO EXPLOIT. WHY? LOOK AROUND YOU. WATCH TV. IF GAS PRICES RISE TOO MUCH, INDUSTRY COLLAPSES, THE WHOLE WAY OF LIFE IS AFFECTED. WE NEED OUR CHEAP NIKES AND REEBOK'S. COFEE FOR STARBUCKS ETC. AND AFRICA IS THERE READY AND OPEN TO BE EXPLOITED. COLONIALISM HAS LEFT THE BELIEF THAT THE SUPERIORITY OF THE WEST AND ITS GOODS AND SERVICES ARE SOMETHING TO ASPIRE TO. SO THEY TELL US THROUGH THE IMF & WORLD BANK, HEI, WE'LL GIVE YOU $1BILLION TO BUILD A HIGHWAY. AND OF COURSE PROVIDE THE EXPERTISE AND CONTACTS TOO. SO WHAT HAPPENS? WE ARE LEFT WITH A DEBT THAT WE CAN'T PAY BECAUSE TOBACCO PRICES HAVE DROPPED AND THERE IS NO RAIN FOR OUR CROPS TO GROW. WE BORROW MORE AND CRY FOR AID. THEY GIVE US AID AND DICTATE OUR POLITICS FOR US IN RETURN. OUR POLICIANS HANDS ARE TIED, THEY TAKE IT OUT ON THEIR HUNGRY PEOPLE AND STEAL THE LITTEL LEFT OVER FOR HEALTH AND EDUCATION.

THE IMF SAY OK OPEN YOUR SERVICES TO GLOBALISATION TO RAISE CAPITAL. BUT THATS JUST A GIMMICK FOR EXPLOTATION OF FOREIGN FIRMS. COLONIALISM BY ANOTHER NAME. WE'RE LEFT POOR, HUNGRY AND UNEDUCATED. THE BLAME US FOR MISMANAGEMENT OF THE BILLIONS THEY GIVE US LEAVING OUT THE FACT THAT 70% OF THE AID GOES TO BEAUREACRACY, THE REST IS DIVIDED BETWEEN OUR POLITICIANS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS SEEKING GOVT. TENDERS ETC.

NO PRIZES FOR HOW MUCH IS LEFT TO THE POOR MAN ON THE STREET.

THE ISSUE IS SIMPLE. ITS CAPITALISM. THE DOCTRINE THAT HOLDS IT ALL TOGETHER. NO AMOUNT OF MARCHES CAN MAKE THE US CONGRESS CHAGE THAT. AT THE END OF THE DAY $$$ HAVE MORE CLOUT THAN MORALITY ON THE WORLD MARKET. AMERICA AND EVERY OTHER WESTERN COUNTRY WOULD JUSTIFY ANYTHING IF IT MEANS $$$. IRAQ? THEY WOULD KILL A MILLION PEOPLE IN AFRICA TO KEEP THE HEGEMONY GOING OR TO MAKE IT SIMPLE JUST SO THAT PHARMACEUTICALS WOULD MAKE A PROFIT.

IF AFRICA WERE RICHER = MORE CLOUT = LESS EXPLOITATION. THAT CAN NEVER BE ALLOWED. IF THE LIVE 8 WAS MARCHING TO END THE IMF & WORLD BANK, I'LL PAY ATTENTION. ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT IS JUST TO SELL CDs (WHICH ARE MADE BY POOR FACTORY WORKERS IN CHINA TOO).

game · Guru

panther

first let me say that its better you cross check your posting before putting it out,as i do miss alot of your intelligent contributions due to twisted words.

anyway when you talk about consciousness you should always be aware that your head creates your world,your desires,addiction patterns,expectations,demands and your mental models dominate your perceptions of the people around you.Alot of EU leaders have this negative feeling for Africa,for example remember what putin said about canibalism in the dark continent,it is this kind of steriotype that hinders progress in the developmental issues for africa.

these people live with the distorted version of the african people and are certain that it is the only true picture of the continent,they built a warped picture of the people and situations in africa,their conscious injects in their minds a belief that produces a feedback that continually reinforces and molds their perception,thats why they are reluctant to wipe out all the debts african coutries owe them.these leaders are not just individuals but academics as well who cant wait for a rock star like bob geldof to stick a dead mans coffin on their conscious.

Date: Jun 16, 2005

I look @ Africa, it's past, present & where it's going, and I can't help remembering Charles Darwin & natural selection. Not that I feel Africa is inherently weak, or inferior, I just think some aspects of African attitude & culture will 'filter us out' if left unchecked. African people, especially the leaders should learn to be practical (maybe even COLD and practical). We need to get into the habit of spotting & aknowledging problems where they exist, understanding them, fixing them and making sure they don't surface again, ever. (Mugabe does that but I don't mean it in that context ofcourse!). To appreciate my point, all you need to do is to take a 'snapshot' of Malawian political activity (taking the gravity of what should be our priorities into account) and compare it to that in the western/far eastern nations.
I would have thought that decades of hardship, death, and oppression in all its forms would do the trick but no, Africa still has a lot to learn and it's way too much.

abre les ojos · Guru

PRECISELY!!

PERCEPTIONS OF AFRICA ARE SKEWED BY INNACURATE STATISTICS PUT OUT BY NGOS (WHO NEED THEIR CASH) GOVERNMENTS (WHO NEED SYMPATHY) THE WESTERN MEDIA (WHO NEED SENSATIONALISM) AND RESERCHERS (GRANTS). THIS IS THE NEW COLONIALISM. IT USED TO BE AFRICA NEEDS THE WEST BECAUSE THEY ARE BARBARIC, UNCIVILISED HEATHENS. NOW IT'S BECAUSE THEY LIVE ON "LESS THAN A DOLLAR A DAY". MY GRANDFATHER IN ZOMBA DOESN'T NEED A DOLLAR A DAY OR THE INTERNET OR EVEN A MOBILE PHONE. HE IS EVEN BETTER OFF, HAPPIER, LESS STRESSED AND OVER 80. SHOULDN'T THAT REALLY BE THE HIGHEST CRITERIA FOR CIVILISATION? NOT THE WEST WHO CLAIM TO HAVE THE MONOPOLY ON MODERNITY.

HE GROWS THE FOOD HE EATS ND I BET YOU HAS NEVER GONE HUNGRY IN HIS LIFE.

THE FOLKS WHO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT AFRICA ARE READING ALL THESE STATISTICS. NO MAN WHO WORKS IN THE WORLD BANK OR IMF HAS EVER VISITED MY VILLAGE TO SEE WHAT THE PEOPLE NEED. IT ISN'T MODERNITY. IT'S THE BASIC THINGS IN LIFE.

MY POINT IS WITH THIS SKEWED VIEW OF AFRICA WE GET PEOPLE TRYING TO SAVE THE WORLD. IF YOU TELL MY GRANDFATHER THAT HE IS A POOR MAN BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS HE'LL TELL YOU TO GO FUCK YOURSELF. AND HE IS RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

Black Panther · Senior Member

Thats what Live 8 is doing - they are saying - look at these f*cked up policies ! these are the real issues - since media skews everything and pple have solutions for problmes that blame africa for this blam e africa for that blame this person for that - the Live 8 is saying - this is the problem - these are the policies that you can changr to even out the status quo a little. thats all - rasing awarness - conciousness raising. this way all those hater and theories are reading the same thing- division , blaming people incorretly will never help us and this is what we do we argue all the time but we ca not even agree on who to blame or what is the cause for our woes - that is the first step and people are walking... dont stop them.

abre les ojos · Guru

FORGIVE MY CYNICISM BUT WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE. I REMEMBER USA FOR AFRICA IN THE MID 80S. "WE ARE THE WORLD" SAME AWARENESS, SAME MOBILISATION TO SAVE AFRICA. HEARD IT, SEEN IT, BEEN THERE BEFORE. DID ANYTHING CHANGE? NO!

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THEY'RE HEARTS ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE (ON THEIR SLEEVES) AND IN THEORY, IT IS A GREAT IDEA. BUT IT WOULDN'T DO MUCH. BECAUSE IT IS A P-O-L-I-T-I-C-A-L ISSUE. SIMPLE. UNLESS YOU FIGHT EXPLOITATION AFRICA WILL ALWAYS BE POOR. BUT THE PARADOX BEING THE ENTIRE CAPITALIST SYSTEM IS BASED ON EXPLOITATION. THE LEGACY OF COLONIALISM RUNS DEEP AND IT IS ALL EXPOLITATION.

I ADMIRE YOUR IDEALISM. BUT AFTER THE SLOGANS OF "MAKE POVERTY HISTORY" AND ALL THAT JAZZ FADE AWAY, AFRICA GOES BELOW THE RADAR AGAIN AND WE GO BACK TO OUR CUSHY LITTLE LIVES.

THE AMOUNT OF HYPOCRISY THIS GENERATES IS ENOURMOUS. A ROCK CONCERT TO RAISE AWARENESS IS TERRIBLY MISSING THE POINT. THE WAY OUT IS TO RE-CONFIGURE THE IMF & WORLD BANK AND THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. NOT IN OUR LIFETIMES. IF AFRICA CAME TOGETHER AND REJECTED THE WORLD BANK POLICIES LIKE SOUTH AMERICA IS DOING THEN WE WOULD SEE CHANGES. EITHER THAT OR NO AMOUNT OR "AWARENESS" WOULD CHANGE ANYTHING... TRUST ME!