Africa Demands....

[Matt W]

Not in the slightest.

[Samildanach]

The fact is whatever is in the history books we have a moral obligation to help our fellow humans.
All that is left to decide is how.

[Badger]

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?

What are you raving about?

We've imposed policies which have absolutely DEVASTATED Africa for our own benefit.

AFRICANS WORK FOR NEXT TO NOTHING SO WE CAN GROW RICHER.

[tinybear]

Africans work for next to nothing so their corrupt and dictatorial rulers can live in luxury and every few years or so they get raped, maimed and murdered. Yeah, and guess who is demanding more aid from the west? Yep. Those corrupt dictatorial African rulers. Gee, shall we give in to their demands, ya think?

[Nono]

Sadly, an African seat or two on the SC would probably change absolutely nothing for the average African. Still, it isn't every day the UN undergoes this sort of change so it isn't surprising that demands are being made. After all, tiny, what do you think all the fuss has been about between the Chinese and Japanese recently? The Chinese are sitting pretty at the UN -- they're on the SC but don't pay for anything. The Japanese, on the other hand, pay bigtime and aren't on the SC.

This is politics.

[Badger]

Africans work for next to nothing so their corrupt and dictatorial rulers can live in luxury and every few years or so they get raped, maimed and murdered. Yeah, and guess who is demanding more aid from the west? Yep. Those corrupt dictatorial African rulers. Gee, shall we give in to their demands, ya think?

So you're saying Western economic policy has not ravaged Africa :rolleyes: ?

If so, you're denying accepted fact.

Yes, corrupt African leaders are a problem. The West is partly responsible for that situation. BUT...it's only part of the problem.

Africa is subject to an economic trap - a trap which ensures we benefit from the toils of starving Africans. We force Africans to buy OUR goods while refusing to allow them access to our markets. THIS IS THE REAL PROBLEM. Free trade? There's no such thing!

[Badger]

Africans work for next to nothing so their corrupt and dictatorial rulers can live in luxury and every few years or so they get raped, maimed and murdered. Yeah, and guess who is demanding more aid from the west? Yep. Those corrupt dictatorial African rulers. Gee, shall we give in to their demands, ya think?

So what do you suggest as a solution to the African problem?

[castille]

There is no realistic Utopian solution.

[tinybear]

So what do you suggest as a solution to the African problem?

Let the UN organisations enter the corrupt African nations and take charge of poverty relief, giving food and education directly to those in need and without going through the government. Yes, that would be interfering with the countries' sovereignty. But tough. Take it or leave it.

[mr.perfecto]

The UN peacekeepers would probably just use it as an excuse to rape.

[tinybear]

Those are the UN soldiers. The UN relief workers are a different kettle of fish.

[Matt W]

UN Organisations and other charities do that already, tb, in several cases. There's simply not enough to go round right now - though the $50bn pledged by the G8 should help.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4666769.stm