More Nonsense

Friday June 10, 2005 - 5:55PM EDT

With all the recent hub-bub over "African Debt Relief" I just have to make the truth known, so that morons with no knowledge of history can realize what is going on. First off it is ludicrous that these rich nations are promoting "African Debt Relief" as if it is some kind of altruistic act. Not only that but promoting debt relief as a pathway to relieving the issues of the nations of Africa. Debt relief is a sham and will do absolutely nothing to relieve the problems there. It will just make the rich nations feel good about themselves with the following subtext, "hey, we plundered your resources freely for the last few centuries and we will still continue to do so, but now you don't have to pay us for it". First off, whether they cancel african debt or not, african nations aren't going to pay a freaking cent to them. Mainly because they can't. What I want to see is those countries wise up and give the collective finger to the so called creditors and tell those bitches "hey, since you plundered our resources freely for the past few centuries we don't owe you a cent, in fact you owe us double what we supposedly owe you". That is what I want to see. It is sad to see decent people get wrapped up in this debt relief sham and not see the real problems. Somone has painted them a distorted picture and that is all they can see.

Let's take the example of the royal dutch shell company. Basically they have been pludering Nigerian oil since the 50's when oil was discovered in Nigeria. How is it that, Nigerian oil reserves are controlled by foreign companies that export most of the profits elsewhere? That is bogus. I don't see anyone plundering Alaskan oil and exporting it to Russia (there are numerous reasons for that but you get my point). My point is they let that shit go on in Nigeria and then want to talk about debt relief. Damn fools.

Furthermore, as echoed by some, although some of what he has to say is irrelevant nonsense, one unintentional subtext of African Debt relief is that we are better than you. It is not something that anyone says or anyone is even subversively trying to get across it is merely residual re-inforcement of a heirarchy. The stance should not be one of debt relief, it implies some type of inadaquency on the part of the debtor. In the world forum, implying such inadaquecy is an idealogical blow to the people and their leaders. Inadaquacies exists for sure, but they are more concrete inadaquacies, more tangible things. Not inadaquecies in an idealogical sense. Implying that somehow these contries lack the compentency to understand debt and repayment. What they lack is the concrete resources. So African bebt relief is improper avenue to address their problems.

Some might say that, the numbers say this and the numbers say that. That african nations have real debt and there are mounds of records to back it up. Well I say phooey. The current system was designed at the advantage of those in power. Not purposefully, it was more of a natural development. People simply did what was best for themselves as we all are taught and we all have done since man walked upright. Besides disregarding the concrete numbers gives governments and companies a chance to do what they do best, fudge numbers and break rules.

The organizer of Live8 has faced criticism over the concert for many reasons. However, criticising him is a fairly empty prospect. The influence of the concert in real world politics is infinitesimal and so is the money raised by the concert. The real criticism should be heaped upon Bush and Blair's recent announcements about African debt cancellation. These people are supposed to be leading the world and they have not a clue, or if they do they hide it. That is what the media should be covering, not Live8 criticisms. Besides the organizer of Live8 is doing the only thing he knows how, promote concerts, so although he may be off-base at least he is giving some kind of effort. The audacity that Bush and Blair have to suggest cancellation of "debt" is disgusting. They have to know better than that. Even with the covert and overt shenanigans of world leaders you wish in the back of you mind that they know what is going on and will someday make a smart move when it counts. So far, all have disappointed.

I am reminded of a news story I read a while back about Nigerian women protesting the local Chevron refinery by staging sit ins at the factory. They wanted the company to provide more money for local development. It was a small example of someone standing up but and realizing what is going on.