Scramble for Africa
Fear of corruption and chaos in oil rush http://www.guardian.co.uk/oil/story/0,11319,979053,00.html Charlotte Denny, economics correspondent Tuesday June 17, 2003 The Guardian
Washington's determination to find an alternative energy source to the Middle East is leading to a new oil rush in sub-Saharan Africa which threatens to launch a fresh cycle of conflict, corruption and environmental degradation in the region, campaigners warn today. The new scramble for Africa risks bringing more misery to the continent's impoverished citizens as western oil companies pour billions of dollars in secret payments into government coffers throughout the continent. Much of the money ends up in the hands of ruling elites or is squandered on grandiose projects and the military.
http://www.catholicrelief.org/get_involved/advocacy/policy_and_strategic_issues/oil_report.cfm.cfm
Bottom of the Barrel: Africa's Oil Boom and the Poor
Sub-Saharan Africa is in the midst of an oil boom. Foreign energy companies are pouring billions of dollars into the region for the exploration and production of petroleum. And African governments, in turn, are receiving billions of dollars.
Africa is fast becoming a key supplier of oil to the United States, which already imports 17 percent of its petroleum from sub-Saharan Africa. In a decade, nearly a quarter will come from the region. More than $50 billion-the largest investment in African history-will be spent on African oil fields in the next seven years.
For media inquiries, contact Cecile Sorra at csorra at catholicrelief.org or 410-951-7215. Many outsiders will benefit greatly from Africa's oil boom-oil companies will make large profits and Northern governments and consumers will secure new supplies. But these benefits cannot be at the expense of millions of Africans.
>From: "Michael Dawson -PSU" <mdawson at pdx.edu>
>Reply-To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org
>To: <lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org>
>Subject: Re: [lbo-talk] RE HOW THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT IS BLOWING IT:
>Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 13:13:50 -0800
>
>Q: How does African poverty today contribute to
>European and North American wealth?
>
>Companion Q: How does G7 wealth contribute to African poverty?
>
>African poverty ---> G7 wealth:
>-- sales of African labor-power and other commodities to G7 at prices G7
>sellers would never tolerate, if the roles were reversed
>-- lack of African good examples helps ensure status quo in world order
>-- lack of African economic growth and prosperity keeps the question of the
>historical/ecological impossibility of perpetual capitalism off the agenda
>a
>while longer: If Africa stays poor, G7 elites can buy more time tricking
>people into believing we live within a sustainable techno-economic order.
>If Africa starts getting rich, this question eventually hits the agenda.
>(Nod and wink to China...)
>
>G7 wealth ---> African poverty
>-- G7 powers refuse to acknowledge the importance of timing and early
>"import substitution" policies in their own success; hence they deny that
>these two factors are now even bigger factors in places like Africa.
>Africa
>must try to parlay itself into a billionaires' poker game that has already
>been played. Late starts and IMF-imposed export orientation cause Africa's
>astounding and worsening socio-economic crisis. There is no other game for
>Africa to play.
>-- There has been no reverse flow of grant aid to repair the damage done by
>slavery and colonialism.
>
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