Africa a Paradise full of resources that has turned into hell
(Map available at Yahoo Images)Africa is a continent that is said to be the place where the human kind was born, however it looks like they started there their journey and left it behind with a wide territory full of natural amazing and unique resources but with huge problems as well as poverty, health issues and violence.
It is even sad to see how for some business man Africa doesn’t exist and how all along history has been exploded and taken as play and resources ground for the European people.So there was a presentation made by Monica Salazar, Ana María Restrepo and Eduardo Martinez, where they talked about Africa as the second largest continent and most populous one.
They also talked about its composition of 54 States full of diversity.
It has a broad climate and many flora and fauna diversity. There jungles and desserts can be found, and like that whole different little worlds.
And from those world resources have always being taking from. Sadly Africa had to suffered slavery and sees how many of its children were taken away to new lands where they have been struggling as in their land for their rights. Mineral resources as diamonds, oil… become bloody because of the exploitation of its people to get these resources and there are conflicts between mafias around it. That has also made that some of the cooperation focus on Africa comes with a second interest. People come willing to help them improve health, education, sanitary conditions, alimentation… but some of those helping are interested in getting into return some piece of the resources available there.
(Photo taken from Getty Images. "Two indri lemurs (Indri indri) on tree branch, side view" by Kevin Schafer)
So personally, I think the world has to wake up and see the mess history has left for many people there and how even the successful examples as South Africa still lack of a real egalitarian treatment to the people living in Africa, and we all should seek to protect our natural and cultural resources available there as the same time we improve people’s lives.
Question: What has made South Africa a successful case in the African context?
One of the key elements of the success of Africa has been the role of the civil society.
People have a voice and they fight for their rights. They have overcome together hard problematics as the apartheid, which still has some consequences and hasn’t been completely eliminated but somehow is ancient history and it is an example of overcoming racisms for all the world.
(Photo taken from Getty Images. "GREEN VERVET MONKEYS AT NAKURU NATIONAL PARK IN KENYA" by Joseph van Os)
There are other experiences like the protection of their resources. That is illustrated by Patrick Bond (2002). He analyses in his article “Power to the people in South Africa” how the South African people were able to go against the privatization of Eskon fighting for the rights of energy. And through its associations they did not only avoid that but they also look for better working inclusion and conditions for the whole community and free electricity programs for some people and help to vulnerable groups of people and expanding the services so more people can count with electricity.
There are other experiences like the protection of their resources. That is illustrated by Patrick Bond (2002). He analyses in his article “Power to the people in South Africa” how the South African people were able to go against the privatization of Eskon fighting for the rights of energy. And through its associations they did not only avoid that but they also look for better working inclusion and conditions for the whole community and free electricity programs for some people and help to vulnerable groups of people and expanding the services so more people can count with electricity. Another article that shows the power of people is “Aiding democracy? Donors and civil society in South Africa” by Julie Hearn. She highlights the importance of the civil society for the consolidation of democracy in the Country and how the people make the government protect its rights and fulfill their needs and in turn they meet happily their obligations to that government.
She also talks about the importance of the educational system teaching the importance of democracy and continue that in the society and then in the institution of the political parties and bodies. She finds important and unique in South Africa the higher quantity people encouraging commitment to the democratic institutions and its relation with donor political aid programs.
Another thing, that I found out in this article is the willingness of the civil society to work together with the international community and like that attract foreign aid and then make sure that that aid is used effectively and really represents a benefit for them. That was a key to ensure democracy but also maintain it.
References:
1. Bond, P. 2002. Power to People in Africa: Operation Khansyisa! And the Fight against lectricity Privatization. Multinational Monitor,
2. Hearn, J. 2000. Aiding democracy? Donors and civilsociety in South Africa. Third World Quarterly,21 (5): 815-830
3. Martínez, E. & Restrepo, A.M. & Salazar, M. 2009. Presentation "Africa" part of the subject Organizations and Cultures at the University EAFIT
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