[Kimoraaa]

(Original post by Silver Arrow)
Hurr durr. Very clever response. You haven't even contributed to the discussion, you've just hurled insults at me as you're totally clueless on the subject.

Who's the idiot here?

You are an idiot, I will stand firm with that.

I lived in Africa for 5 years, I could write essays on my personal experience and all I leant whilst studying agriculture and politics in secondary school in Africa, it was compulsory for us to know all about our countries agricultural system. I have also personally witnessed the devastating contrast between the rich and the poor in African countries.

I find it ridiculous that there are people in education today of your age who are can ask questions such as 'is africa cursed ? people are always starving' if you are African (which I highly doubt you are) you have failed badly if you are unaware of the causes of famine in the continent you come from.

The problem spreads through poverty, the agricutural system, the corrupt goverment and their embezzlement, the gap left after colonisation, the lack of correct economic guidance and the level of development in all aspects of society there including education , welfare and healthcare these are part of the factors which ALL make up this problem.

It's not a 'pathetic' thing which you ask stupid outlandish questions about. It isn't something which can be simplified either, it is deep and complex situation.

Do some research rather than spewing garbage on the internet about things you clearly know nothing about.

[mikeylfc1989]

Plenty of reasons that have already been mentioned. Also, think Africa has the lowest IQ in comparison to every other continent...
Most likely, in large part, due to their lack of education but it's likely there is a genetic component at work too.

[Organ]

(Original post by Silver Arrow)
EXACTLY my point. Why can't Africans do that? It's no wonder they always suffer. Despite all the troubles in the Middle East, the Arabs always stick together and have a common ideology (Islam) Iran has nuclear weapons whilst Africa can't even put food in it's stomach let alone build a road.

Iran doesn't have nuclear weapons (yet) and suffers from mass corruption, the Arab states do ensure that the oil wealth is kept in the country, so do places like Venezula and so on. Why can't they? Well in places like Sudan - China has simply supported a brutal leader (who commited genocide against Black Africans) in return for cheap oil. In places like Nigeria the government is in the pocket of people like Shell, BP and CNOOC (the Chinese state-controlled oil firm). I guess it will take Africans willing to demand that the government does something; like tax the companies, ensure environmental controls and so on.

One of the greatest threats facing the people of the Niger River Delta has actually been their own government. The Nigerian government has total control over property rights and they have the authority to seize any property for use by the oil companies. A majority of every dollar that comes out of the ground in the delta goes to the government of Nigeria. As a result of the enormous amounts of sweet light crude that comes out of the delta every day Nigeria has the second largest GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa [16] Despite the wealth flowing into the nation from oil revenues many of Nigeria’s socio-economic factors are worse now than they were 30 years ago [17] According to the World Bank, most of Nigeria’s oil wealth gets siphoned off by 1% of the population.[18] Corruption in the government is rampant, in fact since 1960 it is estimated that 300 to 400 billion dollars has been stolen by corrupt government officials.[18] The corruption is found at the highest levels as well. For example a former inspector general of the national police was accused of stealing 52 million dollars. He was sentenced to six years in prison for a lesser charge.[18]

Nigerians have on many occasions engaged in protests against oil-related corruption and environmental concerns, but are frequently met with harsh suppression by government forces. One example of this occurred in February 2005. There was a protest at Chevrons Escravos oil terminal in which soldiers opened fire on the protestors. One man was killed and 30 others were injured. The soldiers claim that the protestors were armed, a claim the protestors deny.[19] Another, more extreme example happened in 1994. The Nigerian military moved into a region called Ogoniland in force. They razed 30 villages, arrested hundreds of protestors, and killed an estimated 2,000 people.[18]

Makes pretty grim reading.

[The Dark Lord]

For no real reason; it's just a sexy song! (a great one for karaoke btw... just saying, there are lyrics on screen if you're up for it...)

[masterglen3]

(Original post by Silver Arrow)
Why exactly is that? They just allow foreign powers to just come and rape their country? That's like allowing someone to come into your house and rape your mum whilst eating your pizza and drinking your beer at the same times as playing on your Xbox.

LOL, had to laugh there. Fair play sir. I would have put the point over a little more subtly, but a valid point nonetheless.

[Silver Arrow]

(Original post by Organ)
Iran doesn't have nuclear weapons (yet) and suffers from mass corruption, the Arab states do ensure that the oil wealth is kept in the country, so do places like Venezula and so on. Why can't they? Well in places like Sudan - China has simply supported a brutal leader (who commited genocide against Black Africans) in return for cheap oil. In places like Nigeria the government is in the pocket of people like Shell, BP and CNOOC (the Chinese state-controlled oil firm). I guess it will take Africans willing to demand that the government does something; like tax the companies, ensure environmental controls and so on.



Makes pretty grim reading.

I meant nuclear power and it's not long before they acquire weapons.

The resource curse must be an African thing. It's things like this that make me think the whole damn place is cursed. The continent would be better off if all that was in the ground was just rocks and mud.

[Pillow Cases]

The title made me laugh.

[Roshniroxy]

(Original post by Boo!xx)
What I dont get is how, if they are starving, the women are still able to have kids? Would'nt they get amenorrhea and not be fertile?

The same thing I wonder mate

[Yuck]

(Original post by Roshniroxy)
I don't know the answer to that; but the one thing I don't get is that if they can't even afford to feed their children why do they continue to **** like bunnies and have 10-12 kids each, do they have any sense ?! More than half of those kids will probably suffer and die.

...and that's part of the reason why they aim to have large families; to ensure that at least some of their children survive.

[geeksandtherest]

(Original post by Silver Arrow)
Seriously WTF? People pretty much evolved on the continent and have survived for thousands of years and in recent times there are just people starving left, right and centre yet the population is still rising. Why isn't there any farming when there's tons of land just sitting there doing nothing?
You have people in developed countries with grease flowing through their veins while Somalia and it's neighbours slowly turn to corpses in the desert. It's almost like nobody gives a ****.

EDIT: Is Africa just cursed or something? There are a few highlands where food can be grown. Southern Africa was good for farming. Wine is grown in South Africa but the majority of those profits belong to Europeans. Zimbabwe used to be the bread basket of Africa when Europeans were in power and at one time, it's dollar was worth more than the US$. Now it's just beyond worthless.
There are tons of minerals just sat in the ground but all are foreign owned and the continent gets poorer by the second.

When did it all get so FUBAR?

NEGGING? Just grow up and face the facts. It's ignorance like this that allows people to die recklessly with no remorse shown.

I believe that the reason why Africa is always needy in terms of aid such as food, clothing, medical supplies is, first the vast majority of people are idol worshipers. Believe it or not but this has the ability to creeply a person's life or influence the nation's future prosperity.

Secondly: a large number of people are self serving, meaning that they only care about their own individual gains, which in turn leads to corruptions. Affecting countless members of the African community who would have otherwise benefited from the goodwill financial initative organisation set up to provide support the poor and hungry.

Thirdly: a large number of people have adapted a chinesse whisper mentalty. In that they aremislead to believe the western nations will supply their basic needs whenever a disaster happens. Ie by so called charities such as Oxfam creating emotionative campigans and television adverts begging the British nation for financial help. But i could tell you what no amount of western aids can or will ever save Africa nor reduce its poverty. I can even predict in less than 7 years the same images of hungry and dying people will still shown on the television screens.

Only the African people save themselves.The nation has so many hinded treasures, wonders along with natural resources that could be extracted to benefit all African countries. By provding employment opportunities, therefore causing more people to have access to education. But i some how sense this dream that so many in the western world wish or would like to see happen in Africa will never manifest itself into a reality.

I Will conclude with a case study I remember reading in the newspapers a few months age, about the popstar Madonna who adopted a son from Malawi an African country. Basically she "Madonna set up a charity organisation and a team of staff based in the country who were supposed to oversea a construction project designed for building a local school. However this opportunity was never to happen. With the reason being theft and dishonesty of the individuals who were handed the finances to manage the project. But instead ended up getting land from the local residences, (asking them to relocate to other location for the construction project to start on the school). But used the money to purchase luxury goods such as cars, houses for themselves rather than putting the finances towards the designed project. The consequences of these individuals actions therefore hindered the potential future education for the local children, teachers, jobs for the construction trade workers etc. So you can clearly see the massive impact a handfull of individuals actions and distrust causes the poor nation such as Malawi to never progress and become self sufficient.

[thunder_chunky]

Lots of reasons, cursed isn't one of them.

[TheEssence]

No just seriously raped, mismanaged corrupt and deceived. Just as the looters pretended to help up that Malaysian man n stole from him, THE IMF do to to Africa.

[No Man]

It wasn't doing as badly 50 years ago.

[ifstatement]

Ricky Gervais here explains Africa spot on.

[Zoya Khan]

(Original post by Kimoraaa)
You are an idiot, I will stand firm with that.

I lived in Africa for 5 years, I could write essays on my personal experience and all I leant whilst studying agriculture and politics in secondary school in Africa, it was compulsory for us to know all about our countries agricultural system. I have also personally witnessed the devastating contrast between the rich and the poor in African countries.

I find it ridiculous that there are people in education today of your age who are can ask questions such as 'is africa cursed ? people are always starving' if you are African (which I highly doubt you are) you have failed badly if you are unaware of the causes of famine in the continent you come from.

The problem spreads through poverty, the agricutural system, the corrupt goverment and their embezzlement, the gap left after colonisation, the lack of correct economic guidance and the level of development in all aspects of society there including education , welfare and healthcare these are part of the factors which ALL make up this problem.

It's not a 'pathetic' thing which you ask stupid outlandish questions about. It isn't something which can be simplified either, it is deep and complex situation.

Do some research rather than spewing garbage on the internet about things you clearly know nothing about.

Completely agreed with you.

Maybe it's the people who have the power and resources to help and make a difference and still don't are the cursed ones.

[sclez1]

(Original post by Roshniroxy)
I don't know the answer to that; but the one thing I don't get is that if they can't even afford to feed their children why do they continue to **** like bunnies and have 10-12 kids each, do they have any sense ?! More than half of those kids will probably suffer and die.

That's why they have to have the kids, because they desperately need people to work on the infertile land, so have 10 kids in the hope that 5 of them will survive to help them work the land. Maybe thats cruel, maybe not, I'm just saying that's why.

[Cornish student]

Many african countries are in heaps of debt, with heavy interest. A lot also have corrupt governments. As a result, the land they do have (which is suitable for farming) is used to grow cash crops such as coffee and cocoa. Obviously the native population cant just eat cocoa and coffee so they starve.

[Roshniroxy]

(Original post by sclez1)
That's why they have to have the kids, because they desperately need people to work on the infertile land, so have 10 kids in the hope that 5 of them will survive to help them work the land. Maybe thats cruel, maybe not, I'm just saying that's why.

Well it's cruel, especially because the land is 'infertile'.

[Silver Arrow]

(Original post by ifstatement)


Ricky Gervais here explains Africa spot on.

He's just racist and silly in that video.

[DJkG.1]

(Original post by -aimz)
The hot dry climate makes it difficult for farming...no farming = no food.

It's hot and dry in the deserts of Arabia... but they managed with irrigation alright.