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Meager Harvests in Africa Leaves Millions at the Edge of Starvation
New York Times | June 23, 2002 | Rachel L. Swarns

Posted on 06/23/2002 3:20:44 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife

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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Does anyone think that overpopulation is the cause of such horrible starvation?

If the people in the affected areas had less kids, then there would be more food for everyone else.

It seems that Malthusian principles are at work here (at least on a limited scale).

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally against abortion, but perhaps the effective use of contraceptives would help these people in the long run.

41 posted on 06/23/2002 8:45:27 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
What they need in Malawi is some cake.
42 posted on 06/23/2002 8:46:28 AM PDT by bert
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To: another cricket; Cincinatus' Wife
You do have a good point. And maybe I was being short sighted by my original comment, as I am not aware of individual situations going on in Africa.

And believe me, I do sympathize with any starving human being.

I just could not make any sense out of someone having to sell a constant, renewable food source for one that is not.

43 posted on 06/23/2002 8:46:52 AM PDT by Vigilantcitizen
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To: Momaw Nadon
Does anyone think that overpopulation is the cause of such horrible starvation?

No. While there are too many people with too little food the situation is not caused by overpopulation but other factors. To quote for the article above:

Until recently, Zimbabwe was one of the region's more stable and self-sufficient countries, and neighbors often turned to it for help during food shortages. But the government's efforts to seize land from white farmers, who own more than half the country's fertile land, have disrupted production greatly. The combination of severe drought and farm seizures has been disastrous.
Production of the corn crop in Zimbabwe plunged by nearly 70 percent this year, leaving almost half the population in need of emergency food. With triple-digit inflation, a limp currency and rising unemployment, Zimbabwe can barely help itself, let alone its neighbors.

The problem is not too many people but not enough planting and harvesting. This is partly caused by the drought but mostly caused by stupidity in high places.

a.cricket

44 posted on 06/23/2002 9:13:59 AM PDT by another cricket
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To: another cricket
bttt
45 posted on 06/23/2002 10:02:50 AM PDT by timestax
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To: Momaw Nadon
Education is the key.
46 posted on 06/23/2002 10:37:49 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: viligantcitizen
I understand what you meant. On the face of it, it doesn't seem to make sense but when you look at their options, it does. I know you weren't being flippant.
47 posted on 06/23/2002 10:40:02 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: LaGrone
Bump!
48 posted on 06/23/2002 10:42:25 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
I guess we gotta keep giving them food forever!!
49 posted on 06/23/2002 11:24:47 AM PDT by timestax
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
What can America do to help give them that little extra push over the edge? That is the only way to get these people to fight their government. Mugabe was educated here in America, and he learned all he ever needed to, about using race to destroy a nation's cohesiveness. Mugabe is what Jesse Jackson aspires to be. Perhaps if we got rid of the Jesse Jacksons, Al Sharptons, and Louis Farrakhans of the world, and shipped them all over to Zimbabwe, they'd learn that division of a nation, is the destruction of a nation. You can ask Abraham Lincoln what a nation divided is about.

I for one am willing to let Zimbabwe die, in order to make an example of what a true despotic nature communism has. Let the blacks of Zimbabwe learn that the only wage that communism pays is death. I have nothing but contempt for them, and our leaders who say we need to pay their way. I know the white Europeans who settled the land in the first place, did just fine on their own, of course that was up until the blacks settled into the region. If the creators and settlers of that land truly wanted it back, they would ask America for arms, instead of food, or money, which is what Robert Mugabe is asking for. Mugabe doesn't want food for his people, as he has turned away boatloads of it. He wants to crush any resistance by starving them out, and then giving them just enough to stay alive. Anyone who knows what Communism is about, knows this is how they destroy any kind of insurgency.

First they break the people, by starving them, and killing or jailing anyone who speaks out against them. They confiscate the land, blaming one group for all of the other people's problems. Then they let the land die off, so that no crops are being grown. Then they put the survivors to work on these farms, and give them a pittance to live on. Pretty soon, you have all of these workers doing nothing but toiling on lands that aren't even theirs, and have no hope of purchasing. This is the beginning of what will be the most oppressive society in the world. If you thought Hitler was a bad guy, watch what happens to Mugabe's Zimbabwe if he isn't assassinated. Mugabe won't stop with Zimbabwe, once he's conquered that people, that disease will spread to other nations, weaker nations, and soon, Africa will make the old Soviet Union look like America in 1789. There is an agenda here, and we're watching it unfold. Africans cannot govern themselves. If you look at North Africa, Subsaharan Africa, and most of South Africa, where blacks have become the majority, there's nothing but chaos, and a lack of education. The only way these people can govern themselves is through harsh means, and tribal law. White Europeans have no business trying to teach them any other way to live, because they can't live like Europeans, or Americans. The reason is simple, They are incapable and unwilling to become civilized.

50 posted on 06/23/2002 12:23:38 PM PDT by MadRobotArtist
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To: Cincinatus' Wife
Let's airdrop food directly to the people. Enough to get them strong. Include guns and ammo in the food drops, to help them set themselves free.
51 posted on 06/23/2002 2:44:17 PM PDT by technochick99
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To: Momaw Nadon
Perhaps they are overpopulated if they are reverting to a stone age economy, but would not be if they were living in a developing nation. Thus, the nature of their government may define the answer to your question.

52 posted on 06/23/2002 3:35:06 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
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To: technochick99
Are you eliciting donations, or anticipating uses for tax dollars?
53 posted on 06/23/2002 3:36:27 PM PDT by DeaconBenjamin
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To: MadRobotArtist
After Zimbabweans stood in lines for up to three days to vote, knowing Mugabe's terror squads were at work and the vote was rigged against their opposition, I know they want to throw out corruption and install democracy. They want stability, education, property rights and free speech, all those things that kindle prosperity.

You're correct about communism, it is the death knell of humanity.

54 posted on 06/24/2002 2:40:16 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
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