Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

[CyberPhobic]

Who shocked bout dis?


Link to the story

[jah_yout]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Who shocked bout dis?</div></div>

no one should be...
but most people of african descent really don't have much cares about the continent...

the real question is who isn't grabbing land in africa...&amp; cheap cheap too;

china &amp; india immediately come to mind...their exploding populations mean they will not be able to feed their own populations soon..

africa is the most coveted piece of real estate on earth...everyone seems to know this except africans themselves;

but the prophet garvey warned of the destruction awaiting us if we failed to protect our own even as others covet it

[SandiF]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

I'm not and it is not anything new.. look at countries such as Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania... I mention the latter two as Masai's are displaced off their ancestral lands for investors. Some of the African leaders are all for filling their own coffers.

The article fail to mention which foreign investment companies but we can make a guess it would be Chinese, European and perhaps US based companies. Foreign investment is needed in African nations, however buying or renting arable land from African land owners for next to nothing isn't good...neither is making it impossible for outside investors for improving production.

[MsPeaches]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa



Here in Ghana in the Brong-Ahafo Region - Ghana's most famous 'bread basket' - 500,000 Hectares (a hectare is much bigger than an acre) of prime agricultural land are now under cultivation by foreign investors to grow Jatropha, a plant that is used to produce 'bio-diesel'. The chiefs are up in arms because this is seriously affecting food security in the area. In a small country like Ghana this is absolutely,outrageous. Never mind about the burgeoning population of CHINA - the Ghanaian population is also burgeoning and will need this land to grow FOOD! :bexbed:

[SandiF]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

MsP, who leasing and/or selling out the lands? What the government (local and state) have to do with it? Just recently reading about how the Masai's in Kenya are losing their prime ancestral lands that are used for cattle raising. Looks like the Kenyan gov't have other ideas for it which include outside investors.

On the subject of Jatropha, it nuh toxic to people and humans and supposed to be invasive. Is it grown in controlled area? Mi scared when non-native plants are planted in areas it is not intended. Thinking of that viney viney weed they took from somewhere and planted in Florida... to this day I don't think they area able to control its widespread invasive growth.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MsPeaches</div><div class="ubbcode-body">

Here in Ghana in the Brong-Ahafo Region - Ghana's most famous 'bread basket' - 500,000 Hectares (a hectare is much bigger than an acre) of prime agricultural land are now under cultivation by foreign investors to grow Jatropha, a plant that is used to produce 'bio-diesel'. The chiefs are up in arms because this is seriously affecting food security in the area. In a small country like Ghana this is absolutely,outrageous. Never mind about the burgeoning population of CHINA - the Ghanaian population is also burgeoning and will need this land to grow FOOD! :bexbed:

</div></div>

[johnnycakes]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

jah-yout:
but the prophet garvey warned of the destruction awaiting us if we failed to protect our own even as others covet it
[/quote]


The question is: when has there ever been protection in Africa from this or any type of economic colonialism?

The people with big money can do what THEY want in a capitalist economy.

The African nations have pretty much adopted the habits and customs of the colonizers; same religions, same exploitive economies.

Does anyone really think that capitalism and egregiously corrupt government can lead to anything good in Africa? or adhering to the colonialists religion which teaches subservience to all authority?

[Derek]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">MsP, who leasing and/or selling out the lands? <span style="font-weight: bold">What the government (local and state) have to do with it?</span></div></div>

Aren't they the people agreeing to the land grab, while collecting a little private pocket money?

[jah_yout]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: johnnycakes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">jah-yout:
but the prophet garvey warned of the destruction awaiting us if we failed to protect our own even as others covet it
</div></div>


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The question is: when has there <span style="font-weight: bold">ever </span>been protection in Africa from this or any type of economic colonialism?</div></div>

a few thousand years ago up to the european middle ages there were world powers in africa...so the term 'ever' not quite correct

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The people with big money can do what THEY want in a capitalist economy. </div></div>

they can do that in pretty much any economy

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The African nations have pretty much adopted the habits and customs of the colonizers; same religions, same exploitive economies.</div></div>

to some extent yes, but that is oversimplified...as others have adopted religions of africans in the past &amp; in the present

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Does anyone really think that capitalism and egregiously corrupt government can lead to anything good in Africa? </div></div>

no, but it's bigger than capitalism...
the world powers have always conspired to control africa's resources-- this is not a mystery; and they still do


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">or adhering to the colonialists religion which teaches subservience to all authority?</div></div>

that's oversimplified...islam is big in africa yet north africans did some uprising-- which flies in the face of your 'subservience to authority' claim...
yes foreign religions has been harmful to africa/ns in many ways but there are far bigger forces at work here...

garvey had it right all along...
africa for the africans!

[Derek]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: johnnycakes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">jah-yout:
but the prophet garvey warned of the destruction awaiting us if we failed to protect our own even as others covet it
</div></div>


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The question is: when has there <span style="font-weight: bold">ever </span>been protection in Africa from this or any type of economic colonialism?</div></div>

a few thousand years ago up to the european middle ages there were world powers in africa...so the term 'ever' not quite correct</div></div>

Even Ethiopia had an empire that stretched into Arabia

[Blackstar*]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Derek</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SandiF</div><div class="ubbcode-body">MsP, who leasing and/or selling out the lands? <span style="font-weight: bold">What the government (local and state) have to do with it?</span></div></div>

Aren't they the people agreeing to the land grab, while collecting a little private pocket money? </div></div>Apparently local leaders are pocketing as much as a bottle of JB Scotch! I posted a number of articles and links in Intl. News in a thread about &quot;Black-Led Countries&quot; (link) .

It's like black people cannot learn the lessons that our ancestors have taught us. SMH

[johnnycakes]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

no, but it's bigger than capitalism...
the world powers have always conspired to control africa's resources-- this is not a mystery; and they still do



jah_yout,

The money from Africa's resources is going into the pockets of CAPITALISTS; those who previously owned most of Africa, and not to the people of Africa.

Were the countries of Africa and/or the rich industrialized countries socialist the problem would not exist.

The problem is ENTIRELY one of capitalist economic colonization.

But I do understand the need for those who still support capitalism and neo-colonialism to attempt to point the finger of blame elsewhere.

[MsPeaches]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa


SandiF, it's the government that is selling out the rights of the ppl - not so much the present one as their predecessors. There are a few corrupt chiefs that can be bought but mostly it's the government. The ones who are supposed to be controlling the land are the chiefs, and some are good but there are also some 'rotten apples'.

Jatropha is indeed a native plant - and a very beautiful one at that, with large mallow-like pink flowers, a bit like a Datura, but it's the sheer size of the plantations that is the problem. IMHO if 20 hectares of land are required too run two vehicles, THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE!

Jatropha is a wild plant that grows easily and just about everywhere. Ppl make hedges of it to fence their yards. Just you can't grow it and FOOD on the same piece of land at the same time, and when so many farmers are displaced it has to cause great harm to the society.

[Wahalla]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

Is the principle any different froom forginers owning property in jamaica?
I thought Jatropha could grow in deserts? Why waste resources?
Want to bet these corporations that grow Jatropha are considered ethical and have access to the funds?
Why did the ghanaian goverment give these corporations property rights?

Africa has waste swathes of land that are currently under productive in terms of the current models of development. Unless another model is proposed then the next ten years will see this pattern repeated. So what does any one offer? Apart from moral outrage?
Are any of these corporations ghanaian?

Land cannot be considered idle.

[Blackstar*]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wahalla</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-style: italic">Is the principle any different froom forginers owning property in jamaica?
I thought Jatropha could grow in deserts? Why waste resources?
Want to bet these corporations that grow Jatropha are considered ethical and have access to the funds?
Why did the ghanaian goverment give these corporations property rights?

Africa has waste swathes of land that are currently under productive in terms of the current models of development. Unless another model is proposed then the next ten years will see this pattern repeated. So what does any one offer? Apart from moral outrage?
Are any of these corporations ghanaian?

<span style="font-weight: bold">Land cannot be considered idle.</span></span> </div></div>That's how Europeans and subsequently Americans justified the land grab in the New World including the displacement and genocide of the Taino.

I need an extra room for a study, so let me go take over the spare room in my neighbour's flat.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa

Laws can always change This return the lands to local use in the future.

Remember How the US reacted When Michael Manley unilaterally bought all the lands that the bauxite corporations owned then leased them the mining rights?
well if the Africans come to their senses sometime in the future That could be the result.
Thst wont stop the US from covert It overt invasion though.

Since the Monroe doctrine has not been repealed.
The middle class US citizens are always available as fodder for the military or as taxpayers to support it.