I thought compared to politicians of the developed West, African politicians were rather unintelligent, insensitive, corrupt, narrow-minded and undemocratic. I will still place them as far ahead in corruption and being undemocratic. But recent developments in the US and Europe, especially Greece and Ireland, have given me a rethink about intelligence. It seems politicians all over the world are actually different shades of the same colour. As someone put it, 'the abject incompetence of politicians' is universal.
Now I can understand why it is difficult for Republicans and Democrats in the US to find a common ground on the nation's debts, tax increases, spending cuts. It seems no crisis is too serious to set aside their political ambition. Over the years, Republicans and Democrats have pledged to control spending and never fulfilled it. In protecting business interests against what they termed 'big government' and in discouraging regulation of business from speculation, Republicans have created most of the current economic problems in the US. I believe that politicians can't comprehend that our resources on earth are limited, and we can't have infinite wealth.
In Greece, the older generation after enjoying years of luxury on borrowed money would now transfer the burden to the younger generation in form of austerity measures. Ofcourse there is no other solution; the younger generation must pay for the foolery and greed of the leaders among the older generation!
But can we learn from our predicament. I don't think so! It seems politics by its nature don't admit really intelligent and honest people. Sure because a good politician must be a crowd pleaser. So expect a repeat as we have the same attitude and similar crops of poor managers of earthly resources. You can be sure of human nature when it comes to seeking power and wealth.
Monday 18 July 2011
Tuesday 12 July 2011
THE DROUGHT-INDUCED HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN EAST AFRICA
Drought is a recurring problem in East Africa. There has been crop failures every year. The harvest has become worse and more people are becoming hungry. Is the situation going to deteriorate further because of climate change?
The news is already out. East Africa is experiencing the most severe drought in 60 years, which is wiping out cattle and crops, and has left 10 million people in desperate need of food, water and medical care. The drought is affecting areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda.
The worst hit is Somalia which has been described by many as a failed state. Since the outbreak of civil war in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of Somali's territory. Because of the drought, thousands of Somalians are fleeing the southern part of their country to refugee camps in the capital Mogadishu. More than a thousand Somalians are daily streaming across the Kenyan border. Somalian refugees are also arriving in neighbouring Ethiopia.
Children are suffering the worst in the long trek on foot through regions that are dry and without vegetation. UNICEF announced that 65 thousand children in Kenya are at risk of dying from hunger. Meanwhile WHO warned that the movement of the large number of people and the poor hygiene in overcrowded camps is increasing the risk of cholera, typhoid and measles.
The situation has prompted appeals for humanitarian aids from many organizations. Towards the end of last year when the drought was not as severe as now, the UN appealed for half a billion dollar to address food insecurity in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. The response was poor and some people believe that the present crisis could have been prevented by an early intervention. Now aids agencies are talking about a mounting humanitarian emergency, and have launched multi-million dollar appeals.
While supporting the appeals by humanitarian aids agencies, I still believe that aids are short-term solutions to this african malady. Yes it is not just a natural disaster! Africa needs to understand the dire situation of planet Earth, and should embrace a culture of scientific management of its natural resources, population control and drastic reduction of corruption. These are vital for any improvement in the socio-economic condition of Africa!
The news is already out. East Africa is experiencing the most severe drought in 60 years, which is wiping out cattle and crops, and has left 10 million people in desperate need of food, water and medical care. The drought is affecting areas of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda.
The worst hit is Somalia which has been described by many as a failed state. Since the outbreak of civil war in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of Somali's territory. Because of the drought, thousands of Somalians are fleeing the southern part of their country to refugee camps in the capital Mogadishu. More than a thousand Somalians are daily streaming across the Kenyan border. Somalian refugees are also arriving in neighbouring Ethiopia.
Children are suffering the worst in the long trek on foot through regions that are dry and without vegetation. UNICEF announced that 65 thousand children in Kenya are at risk of dying from hunger. Meanwhile WHO warned that the movement of the large number of people and the poor hygiene in overcrowded camps is increasing the risk of cholera, typhoid and measles.
The situation has prompted appeals for humanitarian aids from many organizations. Towards the end of last year when the drought was not as severe as now, the UN appealed for half a billion dollar to address food insecurity in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. The response was poor and some people believe that the present crisis could have been prevented by an early intervention. Now aids agencies are talking about a mounting humanitarian emergency, and have launched multi-million dollar appeals.
While supporting the appeals by humanitarian aids agencies, I still believe that aids are short-term solutions to this african malady. Yes it is not just a natural disaster! Africa needs to understand the dire situation of planet Earth, and should embrace a culture of scientific management of its natural resources, population control and drastic reduction of corruption. These are vital for any improvement in the socio-economic condition of Africa!
Tuesday 5 July 2011
Greece Sets Me Thinking !
Greece sets me thinking! Can we have a perfect economic system? I don't think so; because our economic and political systems are closely linked to our human nature. If humans are perfect, most economic systems, as the social relations of institutions and people, would take on the attribute of flawlessness.
My thoughts on the economic crisis in Greece just buttressed the doubt I had in my early encounter with some theories of economics. I think economics is too obsessed with the creation of wealth. It is more about unlimited riches than scientific management of resources.
Economics always talk about finite productive resources but actually promotes an attitude of limitless production. In capitalist societies that practise market economy, the institutions and people behave in their relationship to productive resources as if wealth can be increased ad infinitum.
The attitude that the growth of wealth is unlimited is what makes me uncomfortable with economics as a social science. To me, the idea that production means or the market should be completely unregulated is a fodder for individualistic and selfish human nature. Our resources for now are limited to planet Earth, and we cannot borrow our way out of uncurtailed spending and misuse of resources!
My thoughts on the economic crisis in Greece just buttressed the doubt I had in my early encounter with some theories of economics. I think economics is too obsessed with the creation of wealth. It is more about unlimited riches than scientific management of resources.
Economics always talk about finite productive resources but actually promotes an attitude of limitless production. In capitalist societies that practise market economy, the institutions and people behave in their relationship to productive resources as if wealth can be increased ad infinitum.
The attitude that the growth of wealth is unlimited is what makes me uncomfortable with economics as a social science. To me, the idea that production means or the market should be completely unregulated is a fodder for individualistic and selfish human nature. Our resources for now are limited to planet Earth, and we cannot borrow our way out of uncurtailed spending and misuse of resources!
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