Obama Approves $105 Million in Humanitarian Aid for East Africa

[Judas BentHer]

*Grabs popcorn*

This is better than the shit on TV!

Maybe, but the down side is no residuals! Don't you hate that?

[Minimalist]

If their environment can't support sufficient agriculture they need some capital investment to produce goods to export while importing necessary food - Until they manage that this problem will not end.

I agree, Void. I have a suggestion.


Let's send them all of our republicolibertarianazis and see them use "free market capitalism" to turn the place around. What an advertisement THAT would be.

As far as commerce goes....it would be a nice start if the motherfuckers would stop hijacking every ship that sails by.

[Judas BentHer]

July 4, 2011 Africa-Platform
Border hurdles hinder commerce in East Africa
"...Trade experts said the common market should also help small traders who cross national borders to sell items like farm produce, fish and handicrafts, because they form the bulk of regional trade.

“They (small traders) think this common market is for big firms. At the local level they get a lot of barriers including police harassment,” Ong’wen said, citing a recent study by Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Institute.

Both officials and trade experts said governments should eliminate numerous police roadblocks on highways which slow down movement of goods and create avenues for corruption."

Not to forget the mineral exploitation that occurs in east Africa. SEAMIC established 1977 (The Southern and Eastern African Mineral Centre) utilizes GIS and remote sensing for geological and mineralogical exploration/exploitation.

Further, east Africa's climate has been linked to El Nina since the last ice age. (Article) So, this present day drought isn't anything that's going to be immediately remedied.
While companies that exploit the resources of the region, can certainly be expected to reciprocate by feeding the poor, drilling wells as in the Water Project, and sustaining the culture that is presently starving while Imperialism get's rich.

Come on, do we actually think America or any country that gives money to a starving nation is doing it out of the goodness of their heart?
It's not charity! It's not a sense of altruism. If so, the guerrilla conflict in Darfur wouldn't still be an issue. And rape wouldn't be a new weapon and war crime. However, if a fossil fuel artery was found under the region, believe some nation would be kicking guerrilla ass claiming they're there to free the people from aggression and introduce Democracy.

Which is why, in this instance, when there's plenty of opportunity to alleviate the suffering in east Africa, as many of us do with our donations alone, which of course have to go through government channels, so that the people that money is intended for end up getting a mere pittance. While government permits the exploiter special interests, lobbyists, corporations, to feed off the bones of the people while ripping mother country apart for all that she's got to give. When those exploiters should be footing the bill.
It appears as if the power in east Africa don't care about their own people. As if they just wish those folks would dry up and die. While what's under their feet, is worth a fortune and they're not seeing a dime of it from those who should be paying to sustain them, for the value garnered from being there to rip up and drill, and mine, ( gold, copper, potash, petroleum) what's plentiful for the global market.

We know this! Come on. This isn't a matter of goodness of our heart charity. This is business! It's politics.

Why doesn't politics work for us in the States as regularly as it goes elsewhere, instead of going to east Africa as being just another contributor to the problem of exploitation that makes everyone else have to pick up the slack and prove they give a care even though they have to go through the same corrupt government channels in order to make the most meager chink in the massive problem that starts with precious metals, and uranium, which are the priority.

While we, who opine about how bad it is for "them" use our cell phones full of conflict metals that makes us part of the problem that we think government aid and charity can make up for.
The people of east Africa don't have to starve. But that they are, isn't something that American aid is going to solve. Obviously.

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As far as commerce goes....it would be a nice start if the motherfuckers would stop hijacking every ship that sails by.

Patrols in the area are being stepped up. They should take a harder approach on dealing with the bastards.

Somali pirates killed 4 Americans after hijacking a yacht in February, and the pirates had the nerve to say it was the U.S. warships that started the firefight that got the hostages killed.

Get hard on pirating like was done in the old days. Kill every last one of the bastards captured, gut them and tie them to the rigging of their own ships and leave them anchored so as to send a message to the rest of the pirate crews as to what happens to marauders on the high seas.

And while bleeding hearts would contend, that's inhumane. I'd say, damn right it is! And you have the luxury of that opinion because you're not under the blade of some Somali who's number 6 in the train that's just left the station and is riding you till you die! While your husband watches until his throat is slit.

Damn right it's inhumane to respond with force against force!

That's because piracy ain't patty cake.

[theVOID]

Well, dur, Void. That is about all they can manage, though. What else are they going to export? There is no way that they can export minerals and fossil fuel without it become a slave industry. All they have is baskets, which is kind of my point.

More of a "slave industry" than making baskets?

Even assuming they have no great mineral or oil reserves they could operate factories, there would be good opportunities for them to import primary goods, use them to manufacture consumer goods and export them to the rest of the world, the people working would receive a wage that's by far preferable to starving and having to take aid.

[Cinjin]

*Grabs popcorn*

This is better than the shit on TV!

Grabs a handful of Void's popcorn and finds a place to duck into to avoid the crossfire.

[Shell B]

More of a "slave industry" than making baskets?

Those are fucking expensive baskets. I like them, though.

Even assuming they have no great mineral or oil reserves they could operate factories, there would be good opportunities for them to import primary goods, use them to manufacture consumer goods and export them to the rest of the world, the people working would receive a wage that's by far preferable to starving and having to take aid.

Well, I maintain that all of those things sound wonderful until you put them in a place where a large portion of the population is dead set on exploiting the rest. Imagine a factory in the middle of a country where most of the people are starving and the rest of the people are stealing from those who are starving. What kind of industry do you think would come of that?

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Christ, Judas. You have a bad habit of making sweeping generalizations. I would have no problem with putting violent offenders to death. However, I don't think that a person should be fucking mutilated merely for being a pirate. If they have only committed the crime of theft or even kidnapping, why should they be "gutted?"

[theVOID]

I agree, Void. I have a suggestion.

Let's send them all of our republicolibertarianazis and see them use "free market capitalism" to turn the place around. What an advertisement THAT would be.

As far as commerce goes....it would be a nice start if the motherfuckers would stop hijacking every ship that sails by.

If you can convince their government to let foreign investors in I'll put up some cash myself, we can import materials to manufacture some big dildos so Ted Haggard can have something to play with when he's bored and alone.

[Minimalist]

Even assuming they have no great mineral or oil reserves they could operate factories,

Electricity? Roads?? Functioning ports??? The necessary infrastructure is not there and without stability there is no inclination to build it. Then there are the social issues. It is a muslim state. Women are nothing but brood mares and would risk their lives going to work in factories and, as Shel notes, the men would apparently prefer terrorizing each other.

The militias have to be crushed and disarmed and who is going to do that? Surely not us. We have enough problems of our own.

If you can convince their government to let foreign investors

First - they need a government.

[theVOID]

Well, I maintain that all of those things sound wonderful until you put them in a place where a large portion of the population is dead set on exploiting the rest. Imagine a factory in the middle of a country where most of the people are starving and the rest of the people are stealing from those who are starving. What kind of industry do you think would come of that?

You think a backwards shithole without a factory is better than a backwards shithole with one?

Any improvement to their productive capacity or infrastructure is a good thing, not only for the people employed who don't need aid (meaning the donations they get go further) but it also paves the way for more industry and more jobs.

[Shell B]

You think a backwards shithole without a factory is better than a backwards shithole with one?

In this type of backwards shithole, yes. It would be one more way to exploit innocent people. What would stop the factory from being overtaken by armed assholes and people forced to work in it for nothing? Even in a place like the U.S. factory workers were exploited. Slavery was illegal, so they did the next closest thing. It wouldn't be the next closest thing there. Essentially, enterprises like that would become income for militia. Just like mining became income for militia in Africa. What they need are schools, peace and sustainable agriculture. Factories will come later, but all of that is moot.

Any improvement to their productive capacity or infrastructure is a good thing, not only for the people employed who don't need aid (meaning the donations they get go further) but it also paves the way for more industry and more jobs.

That's the thing, Void. There would be no production for those who need it. There would be no "employed" people. It is not as if they are just poor or just hungry.