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| Does the black continent deserve reparations at Copenhagen? |
| 2009-12-13 |
| I have read the media in the past week with splashes like “Uganda puts case at climate change summit” and columnists saying “What do scientists mean when they talk about global warming?” Specifically, one article with such a message as “it’s grassroots activists and not politicians who will influence change” got me thinking about what politicians are doing in Copenhagen. Developing countries, especially the African ones, are seeking inter alia, reparations by developed nations to poor nations, but I can’t help thinking that this entire environmental arena is a grand political theatre. Sound science has been thoroughly corrupted with petty agendas and self-centred policies, making me wonder if the real aim here is not one of environmental protection, but of geo-political reshaping of our planet’s economy and power structures. In theory the African argument has some validity and when Uganda, for example, makes its case for adequate funding and sustainable specific public funding for adaptation, complemented with private sector funding, I am sure that’s fair and genuine enough. The problem arises with ensuring that the money is transferred to where it is intended. That’s where we, Africans, fail. There is a reason why third world African countries are developing and have been developing for generations; they have been receiving development aid for eons and they spend the money on weapons in most cases, to repress the masses, most choosing to keep their populace ignorant and in extreme poverty. Africa wants more than $267 billion from the developed world to adapt and mitigate climate change in the continent, and for reparations accrued due to climate change. But my question is, does it deserve this money if it’s not going to be put to its intended use? Can we expect that after receiving these funds, they shall roll out climate change adaptation technology with enthusiasm and offer quantifiable and time specific cut in green house emissions through compliance mechanisms? You see, implementation is a foreign word for many an African country. Nigeria still exports crude oil 52 years after it discovered oil and imports expensive refined products while Ghana and Mali still export crude gold and import refined jewellery from Europe. They still have no capacity to refine and add value to their gold, the key word here is implementing key strategies to add value. Guinea, despite enormous oil wealth, is ranked 115 on the Human Development Index. Is this the type of nation that can implement climate change adaptation technology with enthusiasm after being funded by developed countries? What meaningful and progressive ideas can Guinea’s representative, for example, have to contribute apart from pocketing the per diems in Copenhagen? Back home, Hoima Regional Referral Hospital is given approximately $350 (about Shs640,000) for fuel and due to recurrent and prolonged load shedding bouts, this fuel does not last a week. Without power, people die, in droves everyday. This needless death, notwithstanding, coincides with cars being bought at $120,000 for top government honchos. I’m sure there are a few researchers calculating the mortality rate attributed to power cuts in Hoima Hospital, but there is no doubt those figures and results are not designed for the African politician to consume, for with the level of indifference he has towards his kin, these efforts will come to naught. The figures are designed to target a more sophisticated human being, a being that can empathise with the wretched African native, a being who looks at the plight of an African child dying due to lack of fuel to power a generator and feels emotion stir within him/her. They are definitely for someone from the developed world, because to the African politician, they shall just remain –figures, he can’t implement face saving measures. These are the same African Politicians asking for $267 billion for Climate Change. May God Bless Africa. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #17 The world will soon face a triumphant China, the 21st centruy pwoerhouse, or at least they might be. I cannot wait until they see how an Empire with a certain sense of ethnic and cultural superiority treats the world. The beneficent behavior of the US over the second half of the last century will be replaced with a reptilian coldness and grasping plutocracy from China. You are going to miss us..... |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2009-12-13 23:12 |
| #16 F*ck Africa & those who enable its ineptitude. Not one more cent from us. Charity starts at home. |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2009-12-13 20:46 |
| #15 Ummmm....no? |
| Posted by: Uncle Phester 2009-12-13 20:08 |
| #14 We are rapidly getting to the "....kiss my white Irish ass" stage! |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2009-12-13 18:57 |
| #13 Does the black continent deserve reparations at Copenhagen? 'Reparatios do not go far enough' and obviously the creation of Liberia has not worked either. A system of Worldwide welfare, |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-12-13 16:57 |
| #12 Heck, we paid Goldman Sachs $700 billion for...what exactly? $265 billion for Africa seems like nothing. I say, let's do it, if nothing else we'll drown their problems in a sea of dollars so much that they'll simply have different problems. |
| Posted by: gromky 2009-12-13 15:32 |
| #11 That would be the Bankers and Pols being extorted then to limit their avarice for 'bonuses' and 'expenses', then, BP. I have another idea, let these places have 'Aid' at Credit Card APR's, default... get repo'ed. And Tax the Shee-ite outa their beef and bottled water to the 1st World, Lol, these places have dragged the World down so far there is no 1st World apart from the aforementioned w@nkers. After all, it's 'Global', and that's what they gonna do to me. Fair is what it's all about. CHARGE THEM FOR IT. |
| Posted by: Rhodesiafever 2009-12-13 14:51 |
| #10 A Glabl Welfare state will be as "succesful" as the national welfare states are i.e. Negative for the both the extorted and beneficiary populations. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2009-12-13 14:17 |
| #9 how many billions in "reparations" does Africa get every year that somehow turn into weapons? |
| Posted by: chris 2009-12-13 13:01 |
| #8 In my humble opinion, if your nation wants a hand out you should be willing to submit yourself to foreign rule under the UN Trusteeship council. Nobody wants them, nobody wants to give up their independence so it's a bluff of course. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2009-12-13 12:07 |
| #7 Marxism proved to be the worst ecological disaster ever. Rivers in Eastern Europe could burn while Capitalist societies slowly cleaned and cleaned and at the same time became wealthier. We should all take the planetary disaster to let people know how vile socialism and marxism is for the planet and how positive capitalism is. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2009-12-13 12:06 |
| #6 what, Africa is the key! we should redirect ALL the EU's money to it and let them go hog wild and double their population again, in 5 years this time. |
| Posted by: 746 2009-12-13 11:43 |
| #5 Let Africa Sink. |
| Posted by: Parabellum 2009-12-13 11:26 |
| #4 " Third world African countries are developing have been receiving development aid for eons and they spend the money on weapons in most cases, to repress the masses, most choosing to keep their populace ignorant and in extreme poverty." Wouldnt you? And its only fair that American taxpayers should buy a Limousine and some private guns for M'bekebeke, right? And how about N'gawa over there( the one with the goat dressed up in an evening gown )how about giving him a little too? Congress can spare a measly $267 million. And Denmark will feel ever so much better about themselves for arranging it all. More Caviar? You look FABulous. |
| Posted by: Angleton9 2009-12-13 09:05 |
| #3 Africa, unfortunately, is going to remain a cesspool until we stop funding it. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-12-13 09:04 |
| #2 Sound science has been thoroughly corrupted with petty agendas and self-centred policies, making me wonder if the real aim here is not one of environmental protection, but of geo-political reshaping of our planet's economy and power structures. Well it took you bloody long enough!!! We've been saying that for years!!! |
| Posted by: AlanC 2009-12-13 07:46 |
| #1 Sound science has been thoroughly corrupted with petty agendas and self-centred policies, making me wonder if the real aim here is not one of environmental protection, but of geo-political reshaping of our planet's economy and power structures. Bingo! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-12-13 05:34 |