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Does the black continent deserve reparations at Copenhagen?
I have read the media in the past week with splashes like Uganda puts case at climate change summit and columnists saying What do scientists mean when they talk about global warming? Specifically, one article with such a message as its grassroots activists and not politicians who will influence change got me thinking about what politicians are doing in Copenhagen.Developing countries, especially the African ones, are seeking inter alia, reparations by developed nations to poor nations, but I cant help thinking that this entire environmental arena is a grand political theatre. Sound science has been thoroughly corrupted with petty agendas and self-centred policies, making me wonder if the real aim here is not one of environmental protection, but of geo-political reshaping of our planets economy and power structures. In theory the African argument has some validity and when Uganda, for example, makes its case for adequate funding and sustainable specific public funding for adaptation, complemented with private sector funding, I am sure thats fair and genuine enough. The problem arises with ensuring that the money is transferred to where it is intended. Thats where we, Africans, fail. There is a reason why third world African countries are developing and have been developing for generations; they have been receiving development aid for eons and they spend the money on weapons in most cases, to repress the masses, most choosing to keep their populace ignorant and in extreme poverty. Africa wants more than $267 billion from the developed world to adapt and mitigate climate change in the continent, and for reparations accrued due to climate change. But my question is, does it deserve this money if its not going to be put to its intended use? Can we expect that after receiving these funds, they shall roll out climate change adaptation technology with enthusiasm and offer quantifiable and time specific cut in green house emissions through compliance mechanisms? You see, implementation is a foreign word for many an African country. Nigeria still exports crude oil 52 years after it discovered oil and imports expensive refined products while Ghana and Mali still export crude gold and import refined jewellery from Europe. They still have no capacity to refine and add value to their gold, the key word here is implementing key strategies to add value. Guinea, despite enormous oil wealth, is ranked 115 on the Human Development Index. Is this the type of nation that can implement climate change adaptation technology with enthusiasm after being funded by developed countries? What meaningful and progressive ideas can Guineas representative, for example, have to contribute apart from pocketing the per diems in Copenhagen? Back home, Hoima Regional Referral Hospital is given approximately $350 (about Shs640,000) for fuel and due to recurrent and prolonged load shedding bouts, this fuel does not last a week. Without power, people die, in droves everyday. This needless death, notwithstanding, coincides with cars being bought at $120,000 for top government honchos. Im sure there are a few researchers calculating the mortality rate attributed to power cuts in Hoima Hospital, but there is no doubt those figures and results are not designed for the African politician to consume, for with the level of indifference he has towards his kin, these efforts will come to naught. The figures are designed to target a more sophisticated human being, a being that can empathise with the wretched African native, a being who looks at the plight of an African child dying due to lack of fuel to power a generator and feels emotion stir within him/her. They are definitely for someone from the developed world, because to the African politician, they shall just remain figures, he cant implement face saving measures. These are the same African Politicians asking for $267 billion for Climate Change. May God Bless Africa. Posted by: tipper 2009-12-13 |
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