29 May 07
Originally posted by Bosse de NageChina is helping in building lots and lots of roads. At the end of those roads are lots and lots of huge Chinese manufacturing outlets!
Getting rid of Ghaddafi would be nice. He owns Mugabe, for a start.
China is trying its hand at the old African game.
I'm not sure who's trying the new one.
29 May 07
Start by putting a stop to farm subsidies in the US and Europe.
Next provide strong incentives/encouragement for African countries to heavily invest in education.
Stop the IMF from dictating bad policies to African countries
Cancel debt and stop offering more loans for unnecessary projects which will just create future debt. I was shocked to discover that the World Bank is pushing my home town to accept a loan to renovate a game park a mere year after much of Zambias debt was canceled. A significant portion of tax money used to go on servicing debt that had accumulated over many years and much of it was borrowed for projects that did not necessarily benefit the people.
29 May 07
Originally posted by mikelomChina is going to get a big bite taken out of their butt. Eventually, they will be accused of being abusive "colonialists" and tossed out. Then all the wonderful buildings/hospitals/factories/cities that they built will be taken over by the locals, and guess what? It'll all go to waste and detiorate until someone else comes along to help them.
China is helping in building lots and lots of roads. At the end of those roads are lots and lots of huge Chinese manufacturing outlets!
29 May 07
Originally posted by Sam The ShamBit like the States then.....
China is going to get a big bite taken out of their butt. Eventually, they will be accused of being abusive "colonialists" and tossed out. Then all the wonderful buildings/hospitals/factories/cities that they built will be taken over by the locals, and guess what? It'll all go to waste and detiorate until someone else comes along to help them.
29 May 07
Originally posted by twhiteheadVulture funds...
I was shocked to discover that the World Bank is pushing my home town to accept a loan to renovate a game park a mere year after much of Zambias debt was canceled. A significant portion of tax money used to go on servicing debt that had accumulated over many years and much of it was borrowed for projects that did not necessarily benefit the people.
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/campaign/he/actions/vulture_donegal.htm?ito=1485&gclid=CNSkrNi1s4wCFSdPEgodlQwDSw
29 May 07
Originally posted by Bosse de NageThe World Bank and other big lenders are loan sharks.
Vulture funds...
There is a fine line between a bank providing loan facilities which can be enable you to buy a house and a money lender providing you with money to waste on gambling. Even back in the days of the New Testament money lenders had a bad reputation.
The problem as I see it is that the World Bank lends money for things they think will look good such as wildlife conservation etc. But this is not necessarily what is best for the country in question. Its not that I am against wildlife conservation its just that if we cant afford to do it now then what makes us think we can afford to do it 20 years from now plus 20 years worth of interest? And if we cant afford to educate our children then we shouldn't be splashing out on the wildlife.
Of course the decision makers don't see it that way, all they see is what slice of the pie they get. So I hold the money lender (World Bank) partially responsible. If it was a gift then I wouldn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth but it isn't, its a loan.
29 May 07
Originally posted by twhiteheadWell if the World bank are loan sharks, they're very poor ones, since they end up cancelling vast amounts of debt to the countries they try to help. Seems to be a no win situation for them, give away billions and get criticized for being loan sharks, or don't give away billions and be declared racist. Just what do you want?
The World Bank and other big lenders are loan sharks.
There is a fine line between a bank providing loan facilities which can be enable you to buy a house and a money lender providing you with money to waste on gambling. Even back in the days of the New Testament money lenders had a bad reputation.
The problem as I see it is that the World Bank lends mo ...[text shortened]... was a gift then I wouldn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth but it isn't, its a loan.
29 May 07
Originally posted by Sam The Sham"Giving away billions"--like transferring the debts contracted by the former colonial powers to several newly independent African countries (Mauritania, Gabon, Algeria, Congo-Kinshasa, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, etc.), in total contravention of international law?
Well if the World bank are loan sharks, they're very poor ones, since they end up cancelling vast amounts of debt to the countries they try to help. Seems to be a no win situation for them, give away billions and get criticized for being loan sharks, or don't give away billions and be declared racist. Just what do you want?
Lots more... http://www.cadtm.org/article.php3?id_article=2622
29 May 07
Originally posted by Sam The ShamIf its a gift I have no problem with it. I do have a problem with encouraging a poor African nation to take a loan they cant afford for something they don't need. And why would they be declared racist? Whats that got to do with it?
Well if the World bank are loan sharks, they're very poor ones, since they end up cancelling vast amounts of debt to the countries they try to help. Seems to be a no win situation for them, give away billions and get criticized for being loan sharks, or don't give away billions and be declared racist. Just what do you want?
29 May 07
Originally posted by twhiteheadIs the goverments fault for accepting a loan it can't burden itself to repay.
If its a gift I have no problem with it. I do have a problem with encouraging a poor African nation to take a loan they cant afford for something they don't need. And why would they be declared racist? Whats that got to do with it?