West is neglecting Ethiopia's hungry, 14 million face death

[joycem10]

Eithiopia was technically not a european colony. it was the only independent nation in africa until slightly prior to the onset of WWII when Italy attacked and annexed Eithiopia as a colony.

Eithiopia has a long history as a civilization in east africa. I'd even like to see them in Conquests.

 

[SanPellegrino]

The problem with Ethiopia, like nearly all african countries is not that they couldn't build an economy or can't harvest enough food. It is just that their political/society systems are too unstable. There is always war, rebellions, uproar. Under that circumstances sending food helps nothing, first would be to help install a stable system, otherwise all help fundings usually end in the wrong hands of dictators, corrupt officials.

 

[Kentonio]

Exactly and yet no-one has the guts to go in and interfere for fear of being accused of racism and imperialism. Its a sick world we live in sometimes.

 

[MrPresident]

Kentonio, there is also the problem of having troops die in a country far away doing something that doesn't relate to national security. The public generally doesn't like that, at least on a large-scale.

 

[SunTzu]

Originally posted by Kentonio
Exactly and yet no-one has the guts to go in and interfere for fear of being accused of racism and imperialism. Its a sick world we live in sometimes.

As long as the US isn't leading the charge i doubt the forces will be called imperialist let the french send in 1,000 troops there to save the people, no oil in ethopia anyways

 

[Crowpocalyptic1]

Unfortunately, even if I were to donate all my spare cash, people would still go hungry. That's nature's way of saying there's too many people... We can't feed everyone, so some people must die off to accomodate... what do you think SARS is all about? notice how it started in China (or at least first showed up in significant numbers), the most populous part of the world.

Starvation and Disease happen. There's nothing I can do about it. You can't do a thing about it, neither can Dubya, Tony Blair or any other world leader.

It happens, and it's called survival of the fittest, those who can get what they need survive, the others don't.

 

[SanPellegrino]

well, crowcalyptic, although I agree with you in some parts, it sound a bit harsh. I think every human being has the right to live long and prosper, but I think the main problem isn't the theoretical ability to feed all people (I think it is possible) but the societies they live in. As long as the Africans kill each other every humanitary aid is just a waste of resources.

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

Originally posted by Crowpocalyptic1


Starvation and Disease happen. There's nothing I can do about it. You can't do a thing about it, neither can Dubya, Tony Blair or any other world leader.

It happens, and it's called survival of the fittest, those who can get what they need survive, the others don't.

1. At the G8 summit Chirac had a plan for saving Africa. His proposal was shot down by, as he termed them, 'his American friends."

2. So you think human beings are animals, how amusing.

 

[pawpaw]

maybe " his good american friends " shot it down because the french have been such friends to us lately

 

[eyrei]

Originally posted by Dr. Dr. Doktor


1. At the G8 summit Chirac had a plan for saving Africa. His proposal was shot down by, as he termed them, 'his American friends."

2. So you think human beings are animals, how amusing.

Care to elaborate on this plan? Often politicians put forth ridiculous ideas in order to force their 'friends' to shoot them down. This is, of course, the nature of politics...

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

Originally posted by eyrei


Care to elaborate on this plan? Often politicians put forth ridiculous ideas in order to force their 'friends' to shoot them down. This is, of course, the nature of politics...

No I can't elaborate on it, since there was hardly any discussion on it at the summit. Presumably because there there was nothing to discuss. I think Chirac had presented a kind of working paper, that is not very specific but rather outlining what needs to be done. I am simply refering to what Chirac said at a press conference. Chirac is of course one of the more trustworthy politicians now, relatively speaking...

 

[eyrei]

Originally posted by Dr. Dr. Doktor


No I can't elaborate on it, since there was hardly any discussion on it at the summit. Presumably because there there was nothing to discuss. I think Chirac had presented a kind of working paper, that is not very specific but rather outlining what needs to be done. I am simply refering to what Chirac said at a press conference. Chirac is of course one of the more trustworthy politicians now, relatively speaking...

I trust Chirac no more and no less than any other politician. This whole thing sounds like a political ploy to me.

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

Originally posted by eyrei


I trust Chirac no more and no less than any other politician. This whole thing sounds like a political ploy to me.

More like a conspiracy. The Canadians were in it too.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWSG8/0626_africa-cp.html

 

[Greadius]

From the article:

The plan, devised and adopted by Africans, would see billions of dollars in aid and investment tied to good governance.

But countries such as the United States, Japan and Russia have shown little interest in the New Partnership for Africa's Development -- or NEPAD -- plan.

Canada was also struggling to get an agreement from the world's wealthiest countries to commit 50 per cent of their foreign aid to the stricken continent.

According to the NEPAD plan, rich countries would increase debt relief, aid and long-term investment.

In return, participating African countries will commit to standards of good governance and human rights, which they will police.

So... basically, the French decide how to spend billions of our dollars so that the African governments start behaving themselves in a half-decent way and they would police it to make sure they comply?

Idiocy... sheer and simple. Here is my proposal: drop a few billion in the lap of Botswana for good behavior and democratic conduct.

On a completely unrelated note: how is it that Japan can support our foreign policy 99% of the time, and practice it almost identically, yet never takes any of the heat we do?

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

Originally posted by Greadius

So... basically, the French decide how to spend billions of our dollars so that the African governments start behaving themselves in a half-decent way and they would police it to make sure they comply?

Idiocy... sheer and simple. Here is my proposal: drop a few billion in the lap of Botswana for good behavior and democratic conduct.

On a completely unrelated note: how is it that Japan can support our foreign policy 99% of the time, and practice it almost identically, yet never takes any of the heat we do?

That is 5 billion per year, so 50 percent of that would be 2,5 billion. How much did the war cost again? 80?

Your plan sounds disturbingly like the one proposed by mr. Bush.

All right then, I wan't a full report on human rights and democracy in Botswana. By tomorrow!!

 

[Greadius]

How do you think I became such a fan of Botswana?

Its not a paradise compared to, say, where most of us rich, fat & happy folk live, but its as good as its gets in Africa as far as freedoms & opportunity go. Which is particularly amazing seeing its a landlocked country made mostly of desert.


I think its a joke that we're bribing anti-democratic leaderships to put up a better farce and then police themselves.

 

[SanPellegrino]

Originally posted by Dr. Dr. Doktor


Chirac is of course one of the more trustworthy politicians now, relatively speaking...

Uh, I really don't think so, there have been corruption issues on his government (some kind of "black treasure") and he made friends with Mugabe, a Dictator of the worst kind.

btw a plan to save africa sounds naive to me, it can only get better by time and continious help on political and social affairs.

 

[floppa21]

S'long's I got steak and beer in my belly, I could care less about Ethiopians. If anything, let's put em out of their misery. "The West is neglecting..." In my case, it ain't neglect, it's 'don't give a f***!'

 

[SunTzu]

thats nice

 

[Dr. Dr. Doktor]

Originally posted by SanPellegrino

Uh, I really don't think so, there have been corruption issues on his government (some kind of "black treasure") and he made friends with Mugabe, a Dictator of the worst kind.

Mugabe was elected democratically. Maybe he is S.O.B., but he used to be Britains S.O.B., now he is a french S.O.B. which somehow makes him much worse.