We all know what is going on with Iran and its threat to shut down the Gulf and the strait of Hormuz where 16 million gallons of the worlds crude passes through every day including Iran's. However we do not hear much about Nigeria.
Union threatens oil production shutdown in Nigeria: The growing protests and attacks from a radical Islamist sect have also put additional pressure on a government already facing popular dissent following the removal of the fuel subsidies. Analysts warn that could raise political risks in a nation with a young democracy and a history of military rulers.
Nigeria is pumping oil at its lowest level in 25 years, following militant rebel attacks on facilities operated by Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB) and Chevron Corp. (CVX), a senior Nigerian oil official said. Nigeria, which has been overtaken by Angola as Africa's biggest oil producer, is now estimated to be producing oil at between 1.2 million and 1.5 million barrels a day, the oil official told Dow Jones Newswires, the lowest level since around 1983. "Things are very bad now in Nigeria," he said on the sidelines of a major oil summit here between producers and consumers.
It just blows me away knowing Africa was divvied up at the Berlin Conference and after Colonization ended new lines were drawn up dividing Muslim people and others that hate each other, and what we did in the same regard to the middle east. The conference ushered in a period of heightened colonial activity on the part of the European powers, while simultaneously eliminating most existing forms of African autonomy and self-governance. Berlin Conference 1884: The divvying up of Africa
The so called civilized countries raped Africa taking all the natural resources they could take it order to feed the machine of the industrial Revolution. The industrial Revolution: Natural resources and sustainability
We took what we wanted reset the boundaries putting traditional enemies in the position of fighting for ownership and not having the resources to support themselves and left. Africa as you know for most is a beautiful but harsh environment Despite what we hear as an effort to help Africa here too we are not the solution but the problem.
As you know, Hillary had been visiting Africa! We supposedly often "help" Africa and let them know about it as often as possible. Hell we created much of their trouble with the exception of their natural environment which is getting more harsh and we probably contributed to that too. So you have to agree with Kenyan's when they cheered Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga when he declared that we in Africa do not need any lectures from the West. Damn straight they need the tools and the training to help themselves.
She should ask why is Africa at war with itself and admit why. She should ask why is Africa poor and admit we have not given them the tools to help themselves. Despite our so called help More than 300 million people south of the Sahara have to survive on less than a dollar a day. I was caught off guard when I found out that Two thirds of the poorest countries in the world are in Africa, also 34 of the 35 states with the lowest life expectancy. That truly is unbelievable. Please read this grim analysis! Africa: Black Man's Burden - How Continent Subsidizes the West
* In closing, What we did to Africa, the middle east, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan etc is terrible. I reiterate that I am sick of hearing we have done nothing wrong. Hell we have done nothing right! Africa has to be the richest continent in natural resources on the planet and it is one of the poorest! Africa is possibly the largest producer of raw materials in the world.
Mineral and Agricultural resources are mined by peasants earning pennies and taken to the rest of the world to enrich everyone else. The Black man, women, Africa, I am really sympathizing and we have to start making things right. One of our friends said if we do the right thing today much of the transgressions of the past will be forgiven. Let us get started!
James Joiner
Gardner, Ma
http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com
2 comments:
Good points, Jim. We, along with colonial Europe, certainly HAVE screwed up Nigeria and all of Africa. But beyond governments, we must lay the blame squarely at the feet of the greedy petrocapitalists themselves. For it is THEY, the Shells, the Chevrons, the Monsantos, et al, who have been directly responsible for the exploitation, misery, and injustice which has plagued that poor continent for far too long!
From talking to several older people from over there I find that many of the conflicts started in the last ten or fifteen years. But you're right it seems every nation has taken a turn at looting the continent. Pay off a puppet dictator and soon he gets wise to the game and steals for himself.
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