China's new "Scramble for Africa"

[Erna]

We have all noticed China's growing interest in Africa. China has also supported a number of African independence movements against Western colonial governments. I spoke with someone the other night who fought on the Rhodesian side against Robert Mugabe, and was surprised when he told me that the Chinese helped Robert Mugabe came into power.

Since then I've done some reading on the internet and noticed that the old term "Scramble for Africa" are commonly used again with regard to the first world's hunger for African resources.

China's favour with African leaders is no doubt a matter of concern for the US. I found this UK Parliamentary debate which includes some interesting facts about China's relationship with Africa, like the fact that China imports more oil from Angola - 38 million tonnes - than it does from Saudi Arabia.

www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/70206-0013.htm

It's a little long winded, and the way they address one another reminds one of the dark ages, but interesting nonetheless.

My reason for this post however, is to talk about Africans. I really don’t want to offend anybody, I have just been wondering about this forever. Why have they progressed so much slower than the rest of the world. Caucasian people are almost like a different species from them, in most aspects – they way we think and operate. I can’t think of a single invention (wheel, automobile, satellite, rocket, telephone etc.) that came from Africa. When will Africans learn to stand on their own feet?

For those of you who like reading, this book gripped me from beginning to end. It’s a biography / memoir of someone who lived through the regime change in Zimbabwe, and gives the reader a good inside look into Zimbabwe, since they don’t have Freedom of Press.

When a Crocodile Eats the Sun – Peter Godwin

(Remember the tissues, this tragic story is not for the faint hearted)

 

[Z...]

My reason for this post however, is to talk about Africans. I really don’t want to offend anybody, I have just been wondering about this forever. Why have they progressed so much slower than the rest of the world. Caucasian people are almost like a different species from them, in most aspects – they way we think and operate. I can’t think of a single invention (wheel, automobile, satellite, rocket, telephone etc.) that came from Africa. When will Africans learn to stand on their own feet?

Oh dear, did you really wanna go there

You said it yourself - the way we think and operate. What makes you so sure thats the only right way?
Who says Africans didnt know how to stand on their own feet before Caucasians started defining for everyone else on the planet what is right and what is wrong?!

 

[Erna]

China's new "Scramble for Africa"

This was not the direction I wanted this to go. I have to emphasize again, that my purpose for this discussion is not to offend. No doubt, the Africans were dealt a raw hand over the last couple of centuries.

Their good-naturedness and they way they trust everybody, were their demise.

This is not a "we are right" and "you are wrong" discussion. This is an "indebt look" if you may, about what makes us so different. We are in the now, so it's rather pointless to keep dwelling in the days before Africa's fruits were discovered.

The sooner they start playing the game (the one the Caucasians invented), the sooner they might actually beat them at it, and maybe, just maybe in the distant future the exploitation might stop.

 

[dant]

Ha Ha... I love the signature quote Erna.
Very funny quote!

 

[Petey of Lone Tree]

I can’t think of a single invention (wheel, automobile, satellite, rocket, telephone etc.) that came from Africa.

Some people might consider these inventions a sign of mankind's DEvolution.

 

[Beau]

My reason for this post however, is to talk about Africans. I really don’t want to offend anybody, I have just been wondering about this forever. Why have they progressed so much slower than the rest of the world.

How do you define progression? I think that question is loaded with a certain set of beliefs, namely that technological/materialistic advances can even be called progression. What are we progressing towards??

Caucasian people are almost like a different species from them, in most aspects – they way we think and operate.

You are painting a pretty broad stroke here. But I agree, in most aspects. The more recent Western societies have been so ponerized that it is problematic to compare the two, imo.

I can’t think of a single invention (wheel, automobile, satellite, rocket, telephone etc.) that came from Africa. When will Africans learn to stand on their own feet.

I don't really see how the two thoughts compare. If people would just leave Africa alone, they would do fine. Inventions have little to do with it, but maybe I'm missing an obvious connection. The technological advancement of society has done little good here in the US, so why would anyone want to import it?

 

[Mr. Premise]

That statement alone, which of course is a HUGE understatement, is enough to account for what you are wondering about. Just read something about the Belgian Congo during colonialism, then about what the western powers did with the Congo after colonialism.

You also might want to read Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel for a good explanation of why Europe took over the world at a certain point.

But don't worry, maybe the "developed" world will soon resemble post-colonial Africa.

No doubt, the Africans were dealt a raw hand over the last couple of centuries.

 

[Azur]

But don't worry, maybe the "developed" world will soon resemble post-colonial Africa.

And this might be the only hope Humanity has, after a generation or two, of ridding itself of the current so-called and misnamed "progress" disease.

The only problem, as I see it, in post-colonial Africa, is that they've been conned into trying to "achieve" western lifestyles as the "benchmark" of living. They've been introduced to the "Man".

And BTW, I wholeheartedly agree that WRITING might have been the most insidious and disastrous (for communication), technological introduction that ever was.

 

[wilecoyote]

I'm from the caribbean, and the 'African Issue' is loaded.

The only problem, as I see it, in post-colonial Africa, is that they've been conned into trying to "achieve" western lifestyles as the "benchmark" of living. They've been introduced to the "Man".

I agree with Azur on that point.

Its just amazing that a continent as old as China and India is nowhere near as organized and united. There is so much infighting amongst the neighbouring countries, states within countries, and ethnic groups within those states. In my opinion, the Africans were already divided so much amongst themselves, and had not solidarity as a continent, that the colonialists from Europe saw the opportunity to take control and spread even more division via religion.
African countries, actually 3rd world countries are breeding grounds for various offshoots of christianity, and new age religions. I recently visited my island in the caribbean, and i discovered a boom in new age churches, fundamentalist churches, and other christianity variants. And what amazes me is the attitude of the new 'converts' to these religions. Their attitude is similar to one who has found some secret treasure, and the only way to find that treasure is to join that church. Funny.

Africa as a continent, can be one of the richest, if not the riches continent. There is an abundant supply of oil, not too sure about gas, there's coal, diamonds, gold and other precious metals. Its true there's alot of desert, but there are fertile areas which can be utilized.
Hopefully, the people of that great continent will wake up and realize their potential, and do some major restructuring.

But then, when one's currency is so low on the global currency exchange market, there would be a greater liklihood of emigration to first world countries to make a living, and escape the poverty trap, thus leaving your homeland to be developed by foreign investors, most of whom are profit driven, and would exploit whatever resource is deemed profitable......OSIT.

 

[Erna]

There is an abundant supply of oil, not too sure about gas, there's coal, diamonds, gold and other precious metals.

Africa has more known gas reserves today than ever. From 6,300 bn cubic metres in 1995, new exploration is expected to increase known reserves to some 17,650 bn cubic metres by 2010. Most of Africa’s known natural gas reserves (78 per cent) are in Nigeria. The rest are mainly in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia and Tanzania.

But then, when one's currency is so low on the global currency exchange market, there would be a greater liklihood of emigration to first world countries to make a living, and escape the poverty trap

...and unfortunately it's usually the highly skilled that packs up and go...

 

[wilecoyote]

Yep, that always seems to be the case. But even those highly skilled workers don't get the better end of the bargain. For example, in England, there are the obstacles of high cost of living, ludicrous rent/accomodation/housing fees, ever increasing public transportation fees eg tube, rail, and bus; and the list goes on.

Whenever i listen to the struggles some other people from 3rd world countries through, the haunting image of the 'foogees' in their makeshift prisons/houses from the movie 'Children of Men' comes to mind, and a loose similarity can be drawn to the so-called 'council flats' of london, and other major cities in the uk.
Actually, in the movie, CofM, the final battle between the rebels and the state police/ptb, took place in what looked like a council flat.

Hopefully China's scramble for Africa would benefit the continent so that there would be less brain-drain and mass emigration, assuming that they conduct business in the open and there is no 'ulterior' motive, or hidden agenda with regards to the native africans.