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Page added on January 19, 2018
Africa Has Shitloads Of Resources
Anyone who knows me — or has read my resume below — will understand why I have to comment on the horrendous outburst by the President of the United States on January 11th. I heard Jesse Watters on Fox News explain that the s***hole remarks were just harmless bar talk, but if we can agree that the White House is in fact the office of the most powerful administration in the world — and not a bar — then the following will make sense. If you think the White House is in fact a bar, you have nothing to worry about and I would suggest you stop reading further.
Africa will skip the mistakes of western industrialization
I have friends in Zambia, an African country south of the equator with borders to DR Congo, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania. Lucky for the many proud tribes of Zambia, they have a history of nonviolence and diplomacy, so they always strive for peace with their neighbors. I am not implying that disputes never occur, but on the scale of things, this is a very peaceful place on earth. However, we must of course acknowledge that extreme injustice is common in some countries, like DR Congo and South Sudan, and a lot of African countries have problems with corruption and nepotism, but this is not the same as saying all of Africa is in turmoil.
All African countries have relations to the United States. All kinds of relations. Commerce, education, socioeconomic, medical, development, tourism. No wonder they react so strongly against Trump’s inconsiderate outburst. But in my view, there is one particular reason why it is not wise, for any country, to place itself in bad standing with the African continent: natural resources.
1.2 billion people live in Africa on 30 million km2 of land. In comparison, China is 1.4 billion people sharing 9.6 million km2. The potential of natural resources on the continent of Africa is mind boggling. Apart from the obvious abundance of minerals and metals, the scale of potential exploitation of solar power and agriculture alone could make Africa a new technological superpower of the future. In other words: If we scoff at Africa and its people, they will do just fine by themselves.
Africa can feed the world
Africa represents 20% the world’s total landmass, and a lot of that land is good for agriculture. As an example, let me mention Kafue River Flats of central Zambia covering an area of 152,000 km2 of the country. That area alone, if cultivated, can feed the entire populations of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa combined. Just add conventional technology. In comparison, Denmark utilizes 26,000 km2 for agriculture, which results in food products that can feed 15 million people. Upscale that to the Kafue Flats and you have potential food production that can feed 88 million people. And this is just one tiny example, in one of the 55 countries of the continent.
Africa can power the world
600 million people in Africa have no access to electricity, but that number is dropping fast. Solar has really made traction on the continent. The potential is humongous.
More than 85% of every square meter of Africa’s surface can in theory be used to produce about 2,000 kWh of photovoltaic electricity each year. This translates to the theoretical reserves of Africa’s solar energy being 60,000,000 TWh/year, which accounts for almost 40% of the global total. If you were to utilize just 1% of this, you would have peak electricity production in the daytime of 6.8 TW. The world’s total electric energy consumption at any given time is about 16 TW. Storage? Batteries and/or global HVDC supergrids are bound to solve that. The world will end up being solar powered, and Africa has the opportunity to be the first continent completely off of fossil fuels.
Africa is a technology hotbed
High-profile technology ventures are becoming entrenched in major African cities. 4 years ago IBM started rolling out its AI framework called Watson in Africa, starting in Nairobi under the name “Project Lucy,” saying it would help to address continental development obstacles as diverse as medical diagnoses, economic data collection, and e-commerce research. IBM is investing 10 years and $100 million into this project, and I would not be surprised if it pays off big time.
The impact of information technology on the continent is of paradigm-shifting proportions. Look at how fast cell phones got into the hands of hundreds of millions of Africans, skipping landlines all together. They have used mobile phones for payment for more than a decade. Medical technology combined with educational technology is spreading so quickly that the so called “Girl effect” is kicking in. Rising population numbers is not due to many children being born anymore. World average is actually down to 2.5 children for every woman. Longer lives is the reason that we are aiming for a world population of 11 billion, which is very much on the shoulders of the old industrial world.
Africa will not succumb to bullying
Africa is in general skipping all the tiresome trial and error that the industrial world has gone through. Is that cheating? Not really. Africa has taken its toll (and still is) on war, racism, famine, disease, etc. Even though I have never witnessed direct danger in the 6 African countries in which I have lived and travelled, I do know a lot of people who have been mistreated — mainly because they were poor.
OK, so ambassadors representing all African nations state that they are “extremely appalled at, and strongly condemn the outrageous, racist and xenophobic remarks by the president of the United States of America.” And, they understandably demand an apology. Will they get that? Probably not as long as Trump is ruining running the world’s most powerful country. The peoples of Africa will not forget this insult, and they have all the necessary human potential to rise up to prosperity on par with the rest of the world — and beyond.
“Towards a Peaceful, Prosperous & Integrated Africa” is the clear vision of The African Union, and I will let them get the last word:
“We therefore call for the President of the United States to restrain himself and ensure that he espouses the values that the United States people have been known for.”
Kafue River Flats stretching south from Itezhi-Tezhi. Jesper Berggreen 2014
95 Comments on "Africa Has Shitloads Of Resources"
Hello on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 2:14 pm
>> Africa can feed the world
The people of africa can’t even feed themselves. But need free food and donations from europe and usa.
>>>Africa is a technology hotbed
Hahahahahahahahaha.
Sorry, I guess that’s true. Some negro invented the high five, I guess, and wearing pants at knee level.
Davy on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 2:36 pm
Some of the worst of climate change will impact Africa around the same time Africa tries to grow population becuase of its demographic profile. I don’t see how that will have a happy ending.
Harquebus on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 3:02 pm
Just because they can doesn’t mean that they should. Must we consume ourselves into oblivion?
“We are subject to the same biological laws as any species, Vogt said. If a species exhausts its resources, it crashes. Homo sapiens is a species rapidly approaching that terrible fate.”
“Population will fall, he says now, either when people choose to dramatically reduce birthrates or when there is a massive die-off because ecosystems can no longer support us.”
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/book-incited-worldwide-fear-overpopulation-180967499/
Boat on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 3:31 pm
In 17 years Africa has added the population of the US. The average age is close to 19. Seems like MM or mak wrote this.
onlooker on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 4:02 pm
If that is true don’t expect the Africans to benefit much from it.
Plantagenet on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 4:42 pm
IF Africa is so great then why are so many refugees fleeing from it?
Mad Kat on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 6:29 pm
“Africa Has Shitloads Of Resources”
That’s why China is there and the Empire is trying to steal them. Nothing new here.
BTW: “… the world will not peak in agricultural land prior to 2050. However, most projections suggest a peaking of land expansion in the timespan between 2020 and 2040. Our measured agricultural area appears to be most closely aligned to the FAO/IMAGE projection, which is characterised by a very slow increase in areal extent over the coming decades before peaking around 2040.” (2014)
https://ourworldindata.org/yields-and-land-use-in-agriculture#agricultural-land-use-per-person
The article leaves out a lot of things that would increase food production, not decrease it, in many countries. They only count hectares, not numbers of crops per year as can be produced in places like the Ps and Africa.
twocats on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 6:33 pm
although I wouldn’t be too hopeful, its really hard to say what africa would be capable of given that
‘“Africa Has Shitloads Of Resources”
That’s why China is there and the Empire is trying to steal them. Nothing new here.’
same reason all developing countries remain “developing”, they keep getting whacked down, robbed, and overthrown every so often.
Mad Kat on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 6:38 pm
Plant, if your country was invaded by the US who is stirring up trouble and murdering your neighbors, would you want to stay? Think about it.
“The Pentagon’s Africa Command will tell you there’s one military base on the entire continent. Don’t believe them.” Look at the map. These are only some of the ‘occupied’ African countries today.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/09/us-military-bases-africa/ (2013)
Since this article, more countries have been added. Resources, Resources, Resources. The greedy, murderous, plundering US is everywhere. It needs to be brought down. Now.
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 6:43 pm
Here are five peer reviewed scientific studies authored by top experts that prove beyond any reasonable doubt that global civilization will collapse within the next decade.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800914000615
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652617304225?via%3Dihub
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3574335/
http://sustainable.unimelb.edu.au/sites/default/files/docs/MSSI-ResearchPaper-4_Turner_2014.pdf
http://www.feasta.org/2012/06/17/trade-off-financial-system-supply-chain-cross-contagion-a-study-in-global-systemic-collapse/
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 6:44 pm
Simple really….when the World Economy Collapses everything shuts down…the end….The collapse will be absolutely horrible..There is no collapse or horror movie ever produced that has even come close to imagining what the collapse of BAU might look like. I’m talking about every corporation and every social program going bankrupt at once.I’m talking about people eating people. I’m talking about the Worst Catastrophe to ever happen in the history of mankind. Nothing has ever, or will ever come close.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652617304225?via%3Dihub
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921800914000615
http://www.energybulletin.net/sites/default/files/Peak%20Oil_Study%20EN.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3574335/
http://sustainable.unimelb.edu.au/sites/default/files/docs/MSSI-ResearchPaper-4_Turner_2014.pdf
http://www.feasta.org/2012/06/17/trade-off-financial-system-supply-chain-cross-contagion-a-study-in-global-systemic-collapse/
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 6:44 pm
Existing oil reserves are scheduled to begin a catastrophic crash within 1 to 3 years. When it hits the economic and social damage will be catastrophic. The end of Western Civilization, from China to Europe, to the US, will not occur when oil runs out. The economic and social chaos will occur when supplies are merely reduced sufficiently….
https://imgur.com/a/6dEDt
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v481/n7382/full/481433a.html
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421509001281
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030142151300342X
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016236114010254
http://www.geo.cornell.edu/eas/energy/the_challenges/peak_oil.html
http://www.scribd.com/document/367688629/HSBC-Peak-Oil-Report-2017
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 6:47 pm
The US appears to be quietly preparing for nuclear war with North Korea
http://www.businessinsider.com/us-appears-quietly-preparing-nuclear-war-north-korea-2018-1
I hope the US nukes NK and then hits China and Russia! We need to knock off some oil demand worldwide and depopulate. Its either us or them…..Can’t afford to be neutral on a moving train madkat! LOL
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:00 pm
Madkat
General Mattis “”If you challenge us, it will be your longest and worst day,” he warned Russia and China
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42752298
USA USA!! you chinks are going down!
Mad Kat on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:04 pm
“Full Spectrum Arrogance: US Bases Spanning the Globe”
““What are they doing there? What are they needed for? In some cases, it’s thousands; in some it’s ten thousands. There are 50,000 troops still in Germany, still winning World War II three quarters of a century later. It’s insanity and of course it costs hundreds of billions of dollars. People who think that we’re running low on money and we can’t afford things should understand that we could afford anything we wanted if we didn’t do things this stupid.””
https://www.globalresearch.ca/full-spectrum-arrogance-us-bases-spanning-the-globe/5626489
“They hate us for our freedoms.” Bullshit! They hate us because we are killing them. The Empire needs to be taken down. Now!
Mad Kat on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:06 pm
MM, you are an idiot! Do you think Chicago is out of range of the Chinese and/or Russian missiles and nukes? Better buy that gun and ammo so you can off yourself when the sirens blare warning you of incoming. LMAO
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:12 pm
“USA USA!! you chinks are going down!”
Mad Kat is a US American MM.
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:29 pm
Madkat
Do you really think China or Russia want to take on the US and all of our allies. Like Europe, Israel, Australia, Japan, South Korea? I think not!
Mad Kat on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:31 pm
Greg, MM’s retention rate is zero.
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:31 pm
Greg
But the fuck out..If you have no arguments or links to talk about..Stop chiming in to criticize others…You are nothing but a debbie downer!
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:33 pm
Madkat
General Mattis “”If you challenge us, it will be your longest and worst day,” he warned Russia and China
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42752298
USA USA!! you chinks are going down! And Vlad the bad needs to pay for hacking our elections and putting that pig in the white house!
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:36 pm
I believe it’s actually butt the fuck out MM.
And how does the fact that Mad Kat is a US American citizen, criticize him?
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:36 pm
I believe it’s actually butt the fuck out MM.
And how does the fact that Mad Kat is a US American citizen, criticize him?
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:44 pm
“And Vlad the bad needs to pay for hacking our elections and putting that pig in the white house!”
That pig is your commander in chief MM, and it was the American people who put him in the White House.
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:45 pm
And it could have been much worse, if a certain somebody else had of been voted in.
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:53 pm
Greg
I knew you would be a trump supporter..Do you really think Hillary would have been worse? she was academic scholar. But I know you love Trump because you are a ignorant blowhard uneducated moron. Just like you Greg…
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:55 pm
Greg
The American people choose Hillary she won the popular vote by 3 million. And she won the exit polls in NC,PENN,FL,WIS,MICH…The election was hacked and everybody knows it…Even that NSA leaker proved it. And Russia was busted hacking into the election systems in ILL,FL, ARZ, weeks before the election. Even Trump didnt think he would win. And he didnt.
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 7:58 pm
That pig is your commander in chief..For someone who calls governments tax farms. You are sure fast to obey the authority..I am an anarchist! I hate all governments and wish them all gone. NO GODS, NO KINGS, NO MASTERS!
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 8:00 pm
Greg
That commander in chief pig should be arrested and charged with a war crime for firing missiles at Syria. Without any proof they did anything wrong or authorization of war from congress. LOCK HIM UP!
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 8:03 pm
What about Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Ukraine MM? Were those your commander in chief pig’s doings as well?
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 8:12 pm
“Do you really think Hillary would have been worse? she was academic scholar.”
Hilliary is pure evil MM. Trump is just a blowhard megalomaniac.
JuanP on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 8:34 pm
MM, Do you understand that the popular vote is irrelevant in the USA’s electoral system? And, I, for one am really happy that Hillary lost the election. I don’t like Trump, but I prefer him to Hillary because she is a narcissistic psychopath. Trump is just a narcissistic clown. And, I was telling my wife a couple of days ago that Trump has made me laugh more in this last year than all the previous US presidents in my life. I honestly look forward to three more years of enjoying his outrageous behavior. The guy is a riot for god sakes! I also enjoy watching and hearing all the self righteous people who hate Trump bitch and moan about him. Tomorrow my wife and I are going out for dinner and a movie at the Miami Jewish Film Festival. We are going with two Jewish friends who are rabid Democrats from Vermont and friends of Bernie. I am looking forward to making them mad by defending Trump just for the fun of it. As a matter of fact, I will start campaigning for Trump 2020 today. Here it goes: Elect Trump for US president!
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 8:45 pm
Greg
How is Hillary pure evil exactly? She dedicated her life to public service. She tried to pass universal healthcare in the 1990’s..Yea a real evil person indeed..
And about Bernie..Billionaires can’t buy bernie…If you brag about Trump you are just displaying what a total fucking idiot you are…Which I am sure your friends already know that.
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 8:48 pm
JuanP
Like I said before if I need my lawn mowed I will call you okay?
JuanP on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 9:09 pm
Mm, I think you are confused. I do not need to work for a living and I don’t mow lawns. I don’t work for others or for money; I only work for myself and for the pleasure I derive from a job well done. I am very comfortably retired. I think lawns are a terrible waste of resources and I wouldn’t waste a second on them. I haven’t mowed a lawn for money since I was a child. All the things I do are for fun, to learn, and to help those less fortunate like you. Do you understand how YOUR country’s electoral system works? I do. LOL! You are quite pathetic! Do you realize that not a single visitor to this website respects you? Do you know why?
JuanP on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 9:24 pm
MM “USA USA!! you chinks are going down.” How old are you? That sounds like kindergarten playground BS, and stupid BS at that. And if you fell for that Putin BS you are more foolish than I thought. Do you do anything at all besides hanging out here. I went to take a shower, came back, and you had already replied to my comment. Have you ever done anything productive? I am curious; please share with us one useful thing that you’ve done in your life so that we can stop thinking that you are a completely useless, ignorant moron. I really hate having such a low opinion of another human being. Give me something to hold on to!
JuanP on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 9:27 pm
And, MM, if you can’t tell that Hillary is a sociopath and/or psychopath you are not as bright as you think. She has behaved as one for decades in a very public way. That bitch is completely insane!
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 10:13 pm
JuanP
If I my some dishes washed I will call you okay?
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 10:14 pm
“Like I said before if I need my lawn mowed I will call you okay?”
If you aren’t even willing to put a little bit of effort into your life at 30, it is highly doubtful that you will ever even own a lawn, and putting down someone who is magnitudes above you in both intellect, and stature, isn’t even remotely smart. If I was Juan, I wouldn’t even hire the likes of you to shovel out my septic tank, for 5 bucks an hour.
You act as if you think that you are something special MM. You aren’t. A 30 something unemployed nobody, likely living in a run down apartment complex somewhere, that somebody else is paying for.
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 10:30 pm
“If I my some dishes washed I will call you okay?”
By the sounds of things, it is highly doubtful that you even own a set of dishes, worthy of washing.
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 10:48 pm
Triggered are we Greg? LOL
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 11:00 pm
Greg
Trump has lied more than any president in history in his first year..He has spent more tax payer dollars flying to his elitist resorts than any president in history..He has tweet numerous fake news stories…He promised four and half percent growth and we got two and half. He has scared away international investors and devalued the dollar to its worst year in fifteen. He admitted to grabbing woman by the crotch. And payed thousands to a porn star he banged while he was married. He has five kids from three baby momma’s. He has made several racist and prejudge remarks. He has totally embarrassed America and pushed are friends away in Europe and our enemies closer together…And he has brought the world on the brink of nuclear war in his first year. And he committed a war crime against Syria. He doesn’t even sleep all he does is tweet and watch fox news all day and like a parrot “repeats”…And you think Hillary would have been worse than this?
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 11:03 pm
Greg
Trump thinks Doctor are injecting innocent children with vaccines giving them Autism. He thinks climate change is not real..He thinks Obama was born in Kenya…He thinks the deep state is out to get him…He is a total paranoid lunatic who tweets in all capital letters like a crazy person with no impulse control.
Oh now I see why you like him Greg…He is just like you! Two paranoids of a feather!
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 11:04 pm
“Triggered are we Greg? LOL”
We? I’m doing just fine MM. When I was your age, I worked my ass off. I had a plan, and after 30 some years of sticking to that plan, I’m golden. 🙂
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 11:06 pm
Trump isn’t my president MM, he’s yours.
I could care less who you guys voted into the ultimate control over your country.
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 11:07 pm
“And you think Hillary would have been worse than this?”
Absolutely.
MASTERMIND on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 11:17 pm
Greg
Did Obama do any of that stuff? NO…Hillary would have been a respectable and sophisticated leader like him.
You are just an uneducated moron who doesnt want any woman to be autonomous because you have a small dick.That is why all you do on this forum is put down others. You add nothing of substance. I have never even seen you link one story at all. At least Madkat can make an argument and find some fake news or disinformation to back it up. Im done arguing with you dude…Feel free to talk as much shit as you like….Have a nice life!
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 11:29 pm
“Did Obama do any of that stuff? NO…Hillary would have been a respectable and sophisticated leader like him.”
Now that’s just crazy talk MM.
“You are just an uneducated moron who doesnt want any woman to be autonomous because you have a small dick.That is why all you do on this forum is put down others. You add nothing of substance. I have never even seen you link one story at all. At least Madkat can make an argument and find some fake news or disinformation to back it up. Im done arguing with you dude…Feel free to talk as much shit as you like….Have a nice life!”
You are one seriously deluded individual MM, and while I do appreciate your concerns for the well being of my life, my life is wonderful, without your concerns, thank you very much.
GregT on Fri, 19th Jan 2018 11:55 pm
You came to this site MM, with your all caps sig; MASTERMIND. You link to articles and studies that most here have long since been aware of, and have discussed. Your conclusions are not reflected in the articles that you link to, over, and over, and over again. You continuously call people who are much smarter than you could ever dream of being, idiots and morons. You are 30 something years old, and already need to take a year off from work. You are a racist asshole, and a complete idiot MM. You will never amount to anything at all in your life, with the fucked up attitude that you have.
I would also like to wish you a nice life, but that is not something that anybody else can do for you. Get your head out of your asshole dude, grow up, or face the consequences of your own stupidity, and immaturity.
Mad Kat on Sat, 20th Jan 2018 12:43 am
Greg, maybe MM and Davy are twins? I see more and more similarities every post. Delusional insanity rules their lives. Immaturity, ignorance, arrogance, sloth, and support of the blood soaked Empire. All seem to be shared traits. No respect for age or experience. I hope they are not an example of most Americans, but…