OPINION FORUMS

SHOULD AFRICA UNITE NOW
It’s a good idea. It would definitely make the continent stronger in putting forward arguments for more favourable terms of trade; etc. I do not see it happening anytime soon though. African leaders would not be willing to concede any portion of their powers to promote this kind of unity. Unity requires that you place the collective good ahead of your own personal needs. Most Africans place their needs ahead of others; some even suffer from the PhD syndrome - Pull Him Down. I don't see it happening in my lifetime. - Nii Ampa-Sowa
MAN KILL MAN - OPINIONS
Violence begets more violence. If each side responds with destructive force instead of seeking for a more amicable solution, then there is very little that can be done to resolve the Palestine-Israel case. In Iraq's case, how else would you expect nationals of a country to react when another country invades your country? I must say however, that it does not make it right. My personal views...Killings are NEVER justified. No man has a right to take another man's life.- Nii Ampa-Sowa


IRAQ WAR - OPINIONS

In 25 - 50 years from now, I do not expect the world to be a better place because of the War in Iraq. What I do think is that people (American and non Americans) would be wiser when politicians present them with evidence that a country possesses weapons of mass destruction. Considering everything that has happened Post 9-11, you can liken the US-led war in Iraq to Iraq invading Kuwait in the early 90s. Only the UN has the right to cross that line. Another lesson to be learned is that democracy does not work in all places... it is case/region-sensitive. If the power wielded by the US is that which gives them the right to destabilize an entire region, then with the full knowledge of China's growing influence in the world, I proudly smile. - Nii Ampa-Sowa
I think the entire world community would have grown wiser in the next two decades due to what Iraq would turn out to be. All of us, both those who support what is going on there and those opposed would learn rather painfully how not to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states. Cultural differences and their implications are too enormous to be grasped by those who are both intransigent and bellicose enough to think that simply by being powerful, the fates of an entire people can be sealed in some closed room somewhere. Safety is likely to be the preserve of non-Western peoples for Iraq is increasingly carving a niche for itself as the nursery for engendering hatred of anything western. That is not something that would create security now and in the future. - Emmanuel


G8 AND AFRICA - OPINIONS

I think the decision reached by leaders of G-8 to give $30b in aid to Africa is akin to treating the symptoms of a disease while leaving the disease itself to fester. Rather than giving out aid that they know will be embezzled by corrupt leaders,they should create more opportunity for African countries to participate in world trade by removing trade restrictions for goods which the African countries can produce more cheaply. This will help reduce poverty and improve working conditions for workers in these countries. - Alice


It is a two-way thing. I think Africa has the ability to progress by itself, but lacks the capacity to do that presently. Solution? Trade should be preferred to Aid at all costs. If the subsidies to farmers in the West and the EU are removed, some headway could be made. As to whether it would happen in my lifetime, the answer is simple: NO. - Nii Ampa-Sowa

I agree with Paanii and Bunmi about the importance of fair trade for Africa. It seems while most of us are so concerned about this all important thing. Our leaders and those seemingly fighting for us, i.e.Bob Geoldorf and Bono, are focusing on aid and poverty programmes. We all know it is not working and the money they give to us with their right, they simply take back with their left. I will also mention that we should not be focusing on UK and US in this issue. At least they did their part when it came to giving the aid promised at Gleneagles. The other rich countries like Italy and Canada are hiding behind them and doing nothing. In fact aid from Italy has rather reduced. Its time we begin to look at these nations too because they are also very complacent in the exploitation of Africa. Fair trade now!! - Prince Abbey