Chasing the dots … Divide and Fool

It’s official. The Pope approves of the latest Harry Potter film; another earth shattering decision to influence our lives for generations to come; Papal bull! Reminiscent of the recent disaster tourism junket to an ‘earth shattered’ area where the EuroGits, plus their mates, coughed up cash for the Italian begging bowl, encouraged by cohorts of delicious babes, no doubt spurred on by nasal and erectile stimulants.

Yes, the G7 plus any number you care to think of, who met to discuss the economic mayhem, proved their intellectual flaccidity by failing to agree on anything. The bankers have outsmarted them!Thanks to Obama, they did institute the ‘2nd degree’ and made futile promises to reduce global temperatures by 2050. Brilliant. Previous commitments on greenhouse gases have been totally ignored and, anyway, those committing will all be well dead by 2050. Credibility was not helped by Chinese Hu running off to sort out his own tribal problems.The nations represented show a total disregard for the principle of an equitable world. Their citizens have 80% of world spending power, produce 90% of greenhouse gases and due to their regulatory incompetence, screwed up the world financial system. They continue to suck money from poorer nations to bolster their own unsustainable inflated wages and prices. They will not accept that their ‘productivity improvements’, and hence inflated wages and standards of living, were stolen by using neo-slavery in poorer countries who have, by colonial intent, weak negotiating positions!The big clothing chains who rely on child labour for cheap products, the G8 truck driver who get ten times the salary of his (harder working) African equivalent, the interest rate differentials and commissions charged by G8 countries to poorer nations, multinational manipulation of food prices in developing nations to counteract consumer resistance at home, are all examples of the rich screwing the poor.Protestations about supply and demand, risk and political instability are not valid as their agencies promote such situations. No wonder Ghaddafi says that African migration is about Africans reclaiming their stolen heritage; maybe he is right! Africa must stand up to these bullies.It was on this basis this writer in letters to this paper (June 7/ July 13, 2007) argued that the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) the EU was trying to impose on Namibia were a potential disaster, especially the ‘new generation trade’ (hi tech stuff). Signing would have put our financial systems into the global arena, a total disaster we avoided. Fortunately, despite the ‘best thing since sliced bread’ mentality, Namibia and others reversed the ‘ja baas’ mentality and we, as a country and continent are now fighting for justice. Well done Namibia, South Africa and Angola.The duplicity and bully tactics of the EU, especially the EU trade commissioner Ashton of Billinge, is now exposed. It was close. But how to progress now the playing field has changed; we still need co-operation, trade and friends. The China option is real, but as recent events show, presents risks. The US is becoming a better option. However Europe, with its cultural ties, will remain an important partner, but now on more balanced terms.The real option is for Europe to shift its support from selling finished goods and technology on credit, let’s make locally that’s needed regionally. Look at energy, wind generators, CSP power, nuclear waste storage and reprocessing …. put added value into Namibia. True co-operation as equal partners. World markets have changed. African market growth benefits all. Put environment into the EPA pot! Stop playing games; ‘Divide and Fool’ is dead.csmith@mweb.com.na