Africa Demands....

[tinybear]

Yep. Africa DEMANDS seats on the Security Council and more cash, plus erasure of debts. Not 'ask'. Demand.

By KHALED AL-DEEB, Associated Press Writer Tue Jul 5, 5:14 PM ET

SIRTE, Libya - African leaders, ending a two-day summit Tuesday, said they want two permanent seats on the
U.N. Security Council and asked the international community to fulfill pledges to help their continent battle poverty.

The declaration by the African Union summit comes ahead of Wednesday's Group of Eight industrialized nations meeting in Scotland and amid growing international calls for the world's richest nations to do more to help Africa combat poverty and encourage development.

Some 47 African heads of state were joined by U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan, Arab League leader Amr Moussa and
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. It was the highest-level conference held in Libya since the one-time pariah state returned from the international cold after agreeing to compensate relatives of victims from several bombings linked to Tripoli.

The declaration passed Tuesday sent a plea to the G-8 summit to fulfill past promises made to help Africa end poverty and increase development and investment.

It also said two African countries should be given permanent seats on the Security Council and five non-permanent seats.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050705/...african_summit

So, what do you think, folks? Shall we give in to their DEMANDS or what?

[Matt W]

Shall we give in to their DEMANDS or what?

Well, if you're going to extend the security council, it would make sense to have a permanent African voice. Personally, I like this bit:

The declaration passed Tuesday sent a plea to the G-8 summit to fulfill past promises made to help Africa end poverty and increase development and investment.

How about rephrasing your question, tb? Shall we actually do what we said we'd do?

[PatrickHenry]

Quote by: tinybear ? Shall we give in

Hee, hee! You identify with the UN? Or the US/globalist policy makers? WE? That is charmingly naive, tinybear!

I call that group "THEY."

[tinybear]

Quote by: Matt W Well, if you're going to extend the security council, it would make sense to have a permanent African voice. Personally, I like this bit: How about rephrasing your question, tb? Shall we actually do what we said we'd do?

So you think we should cough up the dough, eh, Matt?

[tinybear]

Quote by: PatrickHenry Hee, hee! You identify with the UN? Or the US/globalist policy makers? WE? That is charmingly naive, tinybear! I call that group "THEY."

I said 'we' 'cos USA is one of the G8.

[Matt W]

So you think we should cough up the dough, eh, Matt?

I certainly think 'we' should stop making empty promises about Africa and actually do something which would help.

[tinybear]

Are we legally obliged to do anything to begin with? And what do you think we 'should' (not 'must') do which would 'help'?

[Matt W]

Are we legally obliged to do anything to begin with? And what do you think we 'should' (not 'must') do which would 'help'?

Who gives a shit about legality? Helping Africa isn't about that! :rolleyes:

The thing about helping 'Africa' is that you cannot apply a 'one-size-fits-all' solution. It's incredibly difficult, as conditions vary incredibly thorughout the continent.

One thing which does keep popping back as a theme, though, is 'drop the debt' - African countries are lent billions of dollars - and most times, can't even keep up with the interest payments. If it's viable for the country lending it, then I would recommend it.

[JBG]

Quote by: Matt W I certainly think 'we' should stop making empty promises about Africa and actually do something which would help.

Debt cancellation is a good idea because prior cash assistance has largely wound up in the Swiss bank accounts of dictators. For the same reason, additional cash assistance would not be a good idea.

[Nono]

The Africans do have a special grievance as practically the entire continent was colonized along absolutely numbskull lines drawn on a big map in Berlin. They're still living with the potent effects of that. So yeah, tiny, they do have grounds to make demands.

Not that I think a seat or two on the SC will help them much.

[gr8fuldaniel]

Quote by: tinybear So, what do you think, folks?

I think after 3105 posts, you should know how to to use the quote function.

Quote by: tinybear Shall we give in to their DEMANDS or what?

We? They are demanding 2 seats on the Security Council. Africa is a continent with many countries in it. I am sure there is some due process for getting a seat. Should bush be allowed 50 seats for 50 states if he were to throw a temper tantrum on the floor of the security council? No, because states are not countries.

Quote by: tinybear Not 'ask'. Demand.

Quote by: article and asked the international community to fulfill pledges to help their continent battle poverty.

They asked (not demanded) for fulfillment of pledges, sounds reasonable to me.

Quote by: tinybear Are we legally obliged to do anything to begin with?

No, but if we make a pledge we may have a legal obligation to fulfill it.

[tinybear]

Quote by: Matt W Who gives a shit about legality?

Lotsa people gave 'a shit about' the legality of the Iraqi War the last time I checked.

[Osborn F Enready]

I think we should be an independent nation, and not tax our people to death to redistribute wealth to all nations but ours.

We are a nation of giving people, and if people had money to donate they would. It is up to the benevolence of society to deem what is charitable, and what is not. Taxes, are never, EVER benevolent.

No matter, this is all part of the global plan for the new century.

[tinybear]

Quote by: gr8fuldaniel They asked (not demanded) for fulfillment of pledges, sounds reasonable to me. No, but if we make a pledge we may have a legal obligation to fulfill it.

So they asked. Let's see their reaction if we refuse, shall we?

There's no legal obligation to fulfill a gratuitous promise. Ask any first year law student.

[Matt W]

Lotsa people gave 'a shit about' the legality of the Iraqi War the last time I checked.

The legality of going to war in Iraq has nothing to do with this, does it? Stay on-topic.

I think we should be an independent nation, and not tax our people to death to redistribute wealth to all nations but ours.

Yes, Osbourn, but what do you think about Africa?

[Matt W]

Let's see their reaction if we refuse, shall we?

Ah, genius reaction, tb. The leaders of a continent battered for centuries by outside interests demands that the world wake up and help, and you'd happily tell them to piss off? Greed is good, I see.

[tinybear]

Quote by: Matt W Ah, genius reaction, tb. The leaders of a continent battered for centuries by outside interests demands that the world wake up and help, and you'd happily tell them to piss off? Greed is good, I see.

Charity is fine until the donees start demand...I mean asking for it as if they have a right to have it and when they say you're worse than a criminal for not giving enough.

[gr8fuldaniel]

Did bush make a pledge to Africa in his state of the Union Address?
Then he should put a stop on the production of a few bombs and divert the funds to fulfill his promise. We do not have an obligation to bomb ANYBODY. But if bush makes a pledge (whether or not it was just to make him look good for the photo-op). If he made the promise he should write a personal check, today. Or resign in shame.

[gr8fuldaniel]

Quote by: tinybear Charity is fine until the donees start demand

They DEMANDED two seats on UN, then asked that pledges be honored

[Matt W]

Charity is fine until the donees start demand...I mean asking for it as if they have a right to have it and when they say you're worse than a criminal for not giving enough.

When you contributed to the state of their continent as it is today, they're right.

Looking down your nose at them just because they have the temerity to use their voices is arrogance in the extreme.