Slow Here

[Lena]

Too bad it's slow here, this forum can be real educational .

[tamachant]

Yeah it is slow, I find it a bit hard as I have limited knowledge on "World Affairs" Im more prone to discuss African issues, but then those often dont interrest everyone as much.....

So Lena what would you like to discuss ?

[Lena]

I'll try .................is the whole continent dying from aids and wars ? Thats the idea you get here. Theres also hardly ever any news on about Africa too.

[tamachant]

I'll try .................is the whole continent dying from aids and wars ? Thats the idea you get here. Theres also hardly ever any news on about Africa too.

Nah. People dont die from Aids, but thats a whole nother story.

[ILWL]

Isn't news from Africa based around a notion of colonial guilt - a mix between 'if it wasn't for us' or 'The blacks are unable to rule a democracy sensibly' ?

[tamachant]

Im sure there is that attitude amongst some. I do tend think if the "European" or my forfathers or whoever the hell they where didnt come here, things may be less unspoilt and more African in the heritage and the Democracy would be run more so like other African countries. Im sure experience must have something to do with running a country but in reality there is a saying..TIA... "This is Africa" and some of what is allowed here would be unspeakable elsewhere. I dont think that a democracy cannot be run properly, its more so why should it, What Africa generates in finance illegally I think surpases what it earns legally by far. And I think that the general Masses are suffering here but isnt that so everywhere.

[ILWL]

'This is Africa' I only know that saying because of the Film: Blood Diamond which I had seen recently.

Actually studied Southern African recently - so I could probably have a discussion on it (If you wanted to)

Personally I have got to the point that in my opinion there is too much emphasis given to the two dimensional approach of Black/White, Right or Wrong etc - I feel people are too obsessed with giving people labels; to either unite them into a huge unrealistic entity or maintaining a divide between people who may actually have something in common. This isn't a condition purely unique to the African experience; but I do feel it is more pronounced.

Lena spoke of this forum being educational and perhaps it is - but if we are talking learning here, surely we are only talking about what someone else has said and taking their word for it.

People will come into this discussion with certain preconceptions based on words that have entered into common usage - which like Love is taken for granted!

[SUPERBAD]

I'll try .................is the whole continent dying from aids and wars ? Thats the idea you get here. Theres also hardly ever any news on about Africa too.

Nah. People dont die from Aids, but thats a whole nother story.

That like saying "It's not the fall that kills you. It's the sudden stop"

[THAT_GUEST]

I'll try .................is the whole continent dying from aids and wars ? Thats the idea you get here. Theres also hardly ever any news on about Africa too.

Nah. People dont die from Aids, but thats a whole nother story.

That like saying "It's not the fall that kills you. It's the sudden stop"

The undeniable result of gravity poisoning!

[tamachant]

That like saying "It's not the fall that kills you. It's the sudden stop"

Not really, people die due to contracting Aids and not having enough knowlegdge and education on how to prevent death related to a weak immune system. Instead they take poisones tablets that kill off bacteria good and bad. But this is just my view and not everyone will agree.

[tamachant]

'This is Africa' I only know that saying because of the Film: Blood Diamond which I had seen recently.

Ive heard it said allot here, I dont necessarily agree that just because Africa is a bit backwards that rules shouldnt apply.

Lena spoke of this forum being educational and perhaps it is - but if we are talking learning here, surely we are only talking about what someone else has said and taking their word for it.

People will come into this discussion with certain preconceptions based on words that have entered into common usage - which like Love is taken for granted!

I think I learn here from other people's views but thats because Im not too concerned about being right as everything is opinion based.

To be honest I think the main problem in most of Africa is poverty. The things people will do when they are desperate and starving can be extreme. But to go back to what you said about running a democracy I dont really know what the solution is or even what it entails. I just find its very corrupt here. Like the police system for example. We have such high violent crime rates because there is no severe punishment, Prisons are too full and the enforcing of the law is so impossible. And yes I think unity will take allot more time, unfortunatelly I think there is still allot of hate within the people of older generations in sa, not so much between the youth.

[Topic Of Gossip]

'This is Africa' I only know that saying because of the Film: Blood Diamond which I had seen recently.

Ive heard it said allot here, I dont necessarily agree that just because Africa is a bit backwards that rules shouldnt apply.

Lena spoke of this forum being educational and perhaps it is - but if we are talking learning here, surely we are only talking about what someone else has said and taking their word for it.

People will come into this discussion with certain preconceptions based on words that have entered into common usage - which like Love is taken for granted!

I think I learn here from other people's views but thats because Im not too concerned about being right as everything is opinion based.

To be honest I think the main problem in most of Africa is poverty. The things people will do when they are desperate and starving can be extreme. But to go back to what you said about running a democracy I dont really know what the solution is or even what it entails. I just find its very corrupt here. Like the police system for example. We have such high violent crime rates because there is no severe punishment, Prisons are too full and the enforcing of the law is so impossible. And yes I think unity will take allot more time, unfortunatelly I think there is still allot of hate within the people of older generations in sa, not so much between the youth.

I think what's happening in Africa now regarding China's investment in the region is very interesting.

China is starting to 'give' many African countries lots of money. In return for this gift they get access to much of the raw materials that Africa, as a minerals rich continent, possesses. They also get influence.

China is going through a major revolution at the moment in terms of its economy. In fact their economy is growing so fast they'll probably overtake the USA (if they haven't already) as THE major economy in the world. Of course all this growth needs huge amounts of natural resources which is where Africa comes into the picture.

With many of the African nations being so poor, with huge national debts and bad infrastructures, they need major foreign investment. The Chinese government has seen this and with its thirst for natural resources and cheap labour to get those resources, Africa has become its new 'best friend'. The African nations think this is great for them as they are getting that all important foreign cash and importantly... with no questions asked.

The Chinese government 'do not care' about the politics of the nations they are dealing with in Africa, which is great news for those African nations who have dictatorial leaderships or regimes with questionable human rights records. For instance president Mugabe from Zimbabwe has recently met with Chinese leaders about new investment, which of course he would not get from the West because of his dictatorial regime.

Britain, the US and Europe have a problem. They don't like what China is doing in Africa i.e. gaining influence and securing resources with its injection of millions of dollars into the region; plus the fact that it is propping up dictatorial regimes like president Mugabe's. However the US, Britain and the rest of the West don't want to piss China off by complaining too much as China makes a hell of a lot of investments in their own countries.

Also the West don't want to tell the African nations 'who they should or shouldn't be' doing business with because of the legacies and guilt of colonialism. So the West is starting to invest more in Africa again because they don't want China to have all of the pie.

So it's interesting times ahead for Africa with all this new investment and interest but I just hope the continent doesn't just become the West's and China's new toy. Toys have a habit of being discarded once you get bored with them, as most of Africa can attest to since the days of colonialism.

[tamachant]

I just hope that whatever relationship is established does benifit both parties fairly, and that Africa doesnt allow there natural rescources to be raped and mis managed in return foir large amounts of money.