NationStates Jolt Archive

Unfortunately it looks like there is risk of famine in Zimbabwe.

People get so wrapped up in the Middle East, we forget the rest of the world.

Link here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4002295.stm)

Don't forget the others
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4001481.stm

Farm production has drastically fallen in Zimbabwe since land seizures of white-owned farmland began in 2000, with more than five million people receiving food aid last year.
This isn't unexpected.

Don't forget the others
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4001481.stm

Yeah, I only wanted to point out one though.

It's like you can't read the news anymore.

This isn't unexpected.

I think it's unexpected how much it fell off though. Zimbabwe used to export food to the entire region. I wonder if this will have a domino effect ?

Unfortunately it looks like there is risk of famine in Zimbabwe.

People get so wrapped up in the Middle East, we forget the rest of the world.

Link here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4002295.stm)

Once they did have an excess of food, but once you kick out the white farmers who grow your food then everyone starves (because the idiots who take over farms can't farm properly).

Once they did have an excess of food, but once you kick out the white farmers who grow your food then everyone starves (because the idiots who take over farms can't farm properly).

It's not quite that simple.

A lot of this is more than just kicking out the white farmers. It's also how they did it.

and sudan, somalia, eritrea, ivory coast
Western countries should raise their aid funding to the level they promised in 1980. which is 0,7% of GNP. Only four countries give that much (Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark)

and sudan, somalia, eritrea, ivory coast
Western countries should raise their aid funding to the level they promised in 1980. which is 0,7% of GNP. Only four countries give that much (Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark)

That's part of it. But the governments of all the above would like as not squander any aid (it has been known in the past). It's a catch 22 situation.

Yeah, I only wanted to point out one though.

It's like you can't read the news anymore.
Yes, I undestand what you mean. I just remembered that article when I saw the one you linked. I thought the topic was saying the same thing "UN in forgotten crisis appeal"

Yes, I undestand what you mean. I just remembered that article when I saw the one you linked. I thought the topic was saying the same thing "UN in forgotten crisis appeal"

Oh no doubt that the type of direct aid needed to help in emergencies is lacking.

It would be nice though just to have to worry about natural disasters for a change, not man made ones.

At some point somebody is going to have to figure out a way to bring decent goverenance to the whole area though, without invading it or playing politics.

One thing I am in favor of is a point of purchase tax of 10,000% on diamonds, to cut of the supply of money to rogue militias. That might help a bit.

That's part of it. But the governments of all the above would like as not squander any aid (it has been known in the past). It's a catch 22 situation.
I know, these UN fundings are pretty useless, they should change the methods of giving aid. Of course some emergency funds are always needed but I've noticed that many smaller organisations have better knowledge of how to help the people, not the government. They should rather teach people how to help themselves.

One thing I am in favor of is a point of purchase tax of 10,000% on diamonds, to cut of the supply of money to rogue militias. That might help a bit.
Good idea, but I thought 95% of all diamonds were owned by some Dutch company.

I know, these UN fundings are pretty useless, they should change the methods of giving aid. Of course some emergency funds are always needed but I've noticed that many smaller organisations have better knowledge of how to help the people, not the government. They should rather teach people how to help themselves.

Yeah NGOs can work pretty well in some cases. The problem is as long as those governments remain in power, then it sucks for the common guy.

Good idea, but I thought 95% of all diamonds were owned by some Dutch company.

Yes, kimberly debeers.

But, and I'm sure you have heard of them, many of the illegal millitias in Africa are funded by "conflict diamonds", which get laundered through the system.

Do we really need so much jewelry, it's not like it serves any purpose.

But, and I'm sure you have heard of them, many of the illegal millitias in Africa are funded by "conflict diamonds", which get laundered through the system.

Do we really need so much jewelry, it's not like it serves any purpose.
First about the governments. You know they have a proper government in Somalia again. But as always, it's useless. those warlords don't give rat's ass about who's the legitimate leader. I can't see any solution to that problem. Maybe trough education they will, very slowly, be able to change things. I believe education is one of the main issues here. It helps in so many levels.

Diamonds..yes I know. I think these small "roque" nations around Congo are the worst. and i agree. Diamonds are useful in several industries, but as jewelry, nobody needs them.

Yes, kimberly debeers.

But, and I'm sure you have heard of them, many of the illegal millitias in Africa are funded by "conflict diamonds", which get laundered through the system.

Do we really need so much jewelry, it's not like it serves any purpose.
Not all diamonds are used for jewelry. Many are used in industrial ways. Diamond drills for example.

but as jewelry, nobody needs them.
Of course they do. They are nice and glittery. And a girls, or man's best friend. Also they can be usefull as an investment.

First about the governments. You know they have a proper government in Somalia again. But as always, it's useless. those warlords don't give rat's ass about who's the legitimate leader. I can't see any solution to that problem. Maybe trough education they will, very slowly, be able to change things. I believe education is one of the main issues here. It helps in so many levels.

Diamonds..yes I know. I think these small "roque" nations around Congo are the worst. and i agree. Diamonds are useful in several industries, but as jewelry, nobody needs them.

Yes I do know about somalia's government. I think when these nations get legitimate but weak government, we should work to build regional coalitions to provide military aid. Of course, this aid should be from other democracies in the region to prevent it seeming like imperialism, AND, the offered troops should fall under the command structure of the local military - again to prevent charges of imperialism. This would assist these governments tremendously, plus strengthen regional ties and stability. Just a thought, but hell we've tried everything else.

As to the diamonds point, I believe now we can manufacture diamonds for industrial purposes, as they do not have to be of gemstone quality. In other words there is no real need to dig them out of the ground anymore. (Plus this would probably be better for the environment.)

Not all diamonds are used for jewelry. Many are used in industrial ways. Diamond drills for example.

You can manufacture those diamonds though. They don't have to sparkle.

You can manufacture those diamonds though. They don't have to sparkle.
They aren't as hard as natural ones.

Plus it would ruin the economy of all diamond exporting countries.

They aren't as hard as natural ones.

You can use them.


here (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.09/diamond.html)

Plus it would ruin the economy of all diamond exporting countries.

Is any one country that dependant on diamonds?

Is any one country that dependant on diamonds?
South Africa for example. Not that it's the countries only export product. But it's a preeeety big one.

South Africa for example. Not that it's the countries only export product. But it's a preeeety big one.

Yeah, now you mention it I think Botswana is in the same boat. But maybe we give them a sweetner while they convert their economies or something, because I'll bet the bulk of the monies realized from diamonds don't go to the countries that mine them anyway so I shouldn't be huge.

Good idea, but I thought 95% of all diamonds were owned by some Dutch company.
Belgian, not Dutch. They have something like a 400-500 year stockpile of diamonds that they aren't releasing to keep the market high. When Zimbabwe tried to challenge their dominance of the market DeBeers dropped prices and crashed the Zimbabwean economy. Hopefully the advent of synthetic diamonds will relieve pressure on the market. Probably not though, people are silly like that.

EDIT - The new synthetic diamonds are near indistingushable from the real ones. Some of them are harder too.

EDIT - The new synthetic diamonds are near indistingushable from the real ones. Some of them are harder too.

Read my clicky.

Yeah, now you mention it I think Botswana is in the same boat. But maybe we give them a sweetner while they convert their economies or something, because I'll bet the bulk of the monies realized from diamonds don't go to the countries that mine them anyway so I shouldn't be huge.
Probably. But still enough for them to not abandon that industry. Plus the miners. It's their living. And most of them just aren't qualified for anything else. Plus I believe they wouldn't be all that pleased if you came down to tell them the good news that mining diamonds is finally stopped. It could start new conflicts.