Somalia

[Biggest Fan]

Anybody want to jump in on this one (opinion wise)... Personally I feel the 'West' has a huge responsibilty to Africa. Not that make much sense but I think you know what I mean. A scarey awful mixture of todays madness combined with the legacy of sins from the past.

[Dr_Evil_Mouse]

I can't even begin to start sorting out the history of the country to say anything useful, aside from saying that the Congress of Berlin (1878 ff.) probably stands as among the biggest piles of steaming grief that Europe (and the Ottoman Empire) ever visited on the rest of the planet (and there have been entirely too many). And that's already way too fatuous a thing to have said as it is, so I'll stop right there.

What was it that got you thinking about Somalia, BF?

[Birdy]

the West has washed their hands of Africa a long time ago.

[guigsy]

What was it that got you thinking about Somalia, BF?

it was reported yesterday that islamic militants seized the capital.

The militia’s victory unifies the Somali capital for the first time since 1991, when warlords forced out its government and ushered in “years of extreme violence and anarchy,†writes the Post. An Associated Press report, reprinted by both the Globe and the Citizen, suggests the Islamists’ victory has nonetheless sparked fears that Somalia could become a haven for suspected terrorists; the militia is allegedly linked to al-Qaeda. Omar Jamal, director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, says the situation is "is exactly the same thing that happened with the rise to power of the Taliban†in Afghanistan. The Post reports that the warlords are backed by the CIA, which sends them covert cash payments of $100,000 to $150,000 a month. It notes that many of the warlords have now fled the capital, taking shelter in other parts of Somalia and neighbouring Kenya.

[Biggest Fan]

So Dr. Evil... it's not just me then... where to start in that part of the world in that particular country can make ones head spin (more than once).

[SmoothedShredder]

the West has washed their hands of Africa a long time ago.

Except of course for the debt/deficit which we are saddled with... started before I was born, but gee-willigers, I hope it's gone before I am. And I believe that Africa's worst days are behind it... call me the eternal optimist.

[Sarahbelle]

it's so upsetting and sad the state of this huge continent. I think it's a repressentation of the entire world! Everyone stems from african decent and it's a part of everyone. I wish there was more that we were all doing....

[SmoothedShredder]

I believe that when the world turns, acknowledeges, and effectively 'helps' Africa, and it achieves a state of stability comperable to the sercurity and opportunity we have here in Canada, then we can begin to feel that the world is a great place to live. Until then there's work to do... and I worry that just 'working' might not nescecarily be getting us closer to this global goal.

[SmoothedShredder]

Russia takes the lead:

Russia to write off part of debt of poor nations

Last Updated Sat, 10 Jun 2006 22:32:20 EDT

CBC News

Russia says it will write off about $700 million US in debt owed by the world's poorest countries.

Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin made the announcement on the eve of a G-8 finance ministers meeting on Saturday in St. Petersburg.

The move to forgive debt reflects Russia's oil-fuelled wealth and its desire for equal footing with the world's top eight industrialized countries.

The G-8 ministers, including Canada's Jim Flaherty, were to issue a statement Saturday on measures to combat poverty and improve energy infrastructure in developing countries.

G-8 highlights economic strengths

The finance ministers have already released a communiqué saying the global economy is "still strong" despite a week during which prices on major stock markets fell and interest rates rose.

They said while the U.S. trade deficit and China's trade surplus remain major concerns, "global growth remains strong and is gradually becoming more broadly based.''

"However, downside risks from high and volatile energy prices and widening global imbalances remain," they said.

The Dow Jones stock market index finished its worst week in a year on Friday, marked by a selloff by investors who are worried that higher rates will stifle growth.

In Toronto, the main index of the TSX lost 4.3 per cent of its value this week as slumping commodity prices and worry about higher interest rates took their toll.