When will Europe and the rich West...?

[fishmaster911]

When will Europe and/or the rich West acknowledge that the problems of Africa are also their problems? People here are moaning about the immigrants and asylum seekers yet their government does nothing about the bad regimes in those countries, prime example Zimbabwe! People do not see that by buying coffee they contribute to Third World poverty...! Then these same people, sit and carp about African inferiority and that they deserve what they get, how dare they try to shed off their colonial masters in the past and now they are paying for it? Hey Mr West try paying a fair price for your goods and stop selling arms to dictators....!

[flnastyax]

I asked that question about 50 years ago when I was 16 - I am still waiting for an answer - meantime it is not only Europe and the rich West but the problem will increase due to the rising economic powers of China and India -all YOU can do about it is behave as you suggested, ask your family and friends to do the same -it is a drop in an ocean, but you will be able to live with yourself!

[Fisherman23]

When will the likes of you stop guilting us? I struggle to get by every day and I do not need to hear that I should give up even more just so I can restore some 19th century karma. Do you not realise that certain debts cannot be cancelled lest we plunge ourselves into a huge crisis?? The UK already had to be bailed out by the World Bank once, it cannot afford to need this again.

[fishingful]

How does buying coffee, a South American product, hurt Africa? I'm confused on that one. Problems in Africa don't directly affect America and they don't offer any strategic significance which is why we have left them alone for the most part.

[fishingful]

The West has been putting money into Africa by the bucket load for years and years but it's a bottomless pit.Doesn't seem to be that money is the answer. Doesn't seem to be that democracy is the answer (Liberia has exactly the same constitution as the USA? yet it's a hole).What is needed is for AFRICANS themselves to solve their own problems, perhaps an entirely new political system of their own might emerge, perhaps they might rise up and conquer half the world like Genghis Khan, but whatever they do they can't blame others for their problems.

[Fisherman23]

I really couldn't care less about 'problems' in Africa. If they spent the aid they've been given properly instead of using it in corruption etc - and told people to use contraception instead of producing babies which they can't afford to feed they'd all be better off, and why should I worry about them at all? - THEY don't worry about ME, except to send me letters telling me I've just won their lottery and will I send them my bank details please ! ! !

[Fisherman23]

Europe or and the rich West will never acknowledge anything pertaining Africa MJ.this is how it happened: the West in general civilised before Africa (Sub-Saharan) Just at the eve of its civilisation Africa encountered a problem- the visitors arrived from the West. Africa being Africa, welcomed them with open arms. " this is seemingly a rich continent" said the visitors. "but the owners seem to be taking their time exploiting it, let us pretend to be frank, then we will tie their hands and enrich ourselves with everything" so it was.Now Africa is trying to find its feet and because the world has developed so much we can not start from the King, Emperors,,, and work our way to civilisation we are shock to find ourselves in the midst of so evil a world, as if that was not enough, the very visitors that knock us on our heads and run with all our bases are the purported gods.but Africa being Africa are willing to start peacefully.the West will never worry.

[fishingful]

Stop barffing in the wind, what is your question or are you making a statement? Do some research on coffee please. South africa is one of Africa's biggest arm suppliers. What are you carring on about?

[flnastyax]

I love you for asking that question. Thank you for being brave enough to step and say "hey...this is not on". most people, in this world, lovely as they are, would prefer to be ignorant about this topic. The poverty and bad stuff over that side of the globe could end tomorrow - there's no reason why it couldn't (some people will say "but there's not enough MONEY!... I say create more money, it's not impossible). They think "that's them, not me, so what". They think it doesn't affect them, but it does, on some level, or another. I think celebrities could do more to help out... i mean i've got no qualms about people living luxury lifestyles like celebs do, but when there's this disgusting outrage happening then it's just sick. People just don't care... such a shame...

[fishingful]

Prime example Zimbabwe! - indeed.And what has the ANC (the South African government) the most influential voice in the region, done about it?Absolutely nothing!They have adopted a policy of "quiet diplomacy" while millions suffer and starve under the rule of Mugabe and millions more flee across the border into South Africa.Who better than African governments to sort out African problems? When Western or European companies or governments want to help/voice their opinion they are told to mind their own business and told that it's because of them that the country is in the shape it's in!Africans are traditionally subsistence farmers (providing only enough for the needs of themselves and their families.So where's the logic in kicking out all the white skinned African Commercial farmers (and we are talking about white families who have lived in Africa for many generations) who provided the bulk of the food for the nation?There are Eastern countries which have been just as "poor" as some African countries, who susequently managed to pull themselves up.(Certain European and Eastern European countries have certainly had their tough road back too.)But I guess for as long as certain African countries are willing to play the blame game we will see little change and lots of postings like these.ps.1 The biggest supplier of Arms to the Burma Military dictatorship is China and Russia, and "innocent" South Africa supported their vetos thereby cancelling a decision by the United Nations to urge the Burma military dictatorship to respect human rights.ps.2 I think you meant cocoa and not coffee.