I think the Western World should follow the Chinese model:
"Perhaps the most compelling evidence that Africa is now a business destination is China's new love for it. While the old superpowers still agonize over Africa's poverty, the new one is captivated by its riches. Trade between Africa and China has grown an average of 30% in the past decade, topping $106 billion last year. Chinese engineers are at work across the continent, mining copper in Zambia and cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo and tapping oil in Angola. Nor is this merely exploitative. China bought its access by agreeing to create a new infrastructure for Africa, building roads, railways, hospitals and schools across the continent. The current crisis is not expected to affect China's march in Africa: on the contrary, with the West's plans in Africa on hold at best, Beijing views it as an opportunity to extend China's lead. "We will continue to have a vigorous aid program here, and Chinese companies will continue to invest as much as possible," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in South Africa in January. "It is a win-win solution." Dambisa Moyo, who wrote Dead Aid, says those who need convincing about Africa should ask themselves if they are convinced about China, "because if you back China, you're backing Africa." Ecobank CEO Ekpe says part of the explanation for China's zeal for Africa is a new way of looking at Africans. "[The Chinese] are not setting out to do good," he says. "They are setting out to do business. It's actually much less demeaning.""
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Sunday, 15 November 2009
The Romeo and Juliet Effect
The theory of psychological reactance states that when people lose their freedom of choice or action, they try to get it back. This apparently can have an impact on unmarried couples whose parents choose to interfere or object to their relationship. The Romeo and Juliet Effect does not apply in every case, but the adverse effect of increased feelings of "love" does happen occasionally as a reaction to its forbidden nature.
My parents once strongly objected to a relationship I was in, and I chose to ignore them, becoming very protective of the relationship. Most of my friends experienced something similar, but since then we have all pseudo conformed to their concept of appropriate.
They were more tactfull about their approach a few years earlier, when I was dating somebody of a completely different bakground. They used the oldest trick in the book, reverse psychology.
My dad broached the subject, "You've been together for two years, do you see a future with him?" I automatically reacted, "No, don't worry, no intention of marrying him!" And the most simplistic reaction followed, "Why not?"
"What do you mean why not?! he's Muslim... and Syrian... oh Lebanese educated father of mine... and raised in Saudi Arabia...?" He arched his eyebrows at me, "And all this bothers you?"
"It doesn't bother you?" I was just a little confused.
He babbled something about being a humanist, and then asked me if the whole background thing was the only issue I had with him.
Well of course, I had my 'other' reasons, I just never bothered to formulate coherent thoughts about them because I never had to. In fact all I ever had to say was 'religion', and everybody would nod in clear and unanimous agreement.
My dad caught me offguard and made me deal with all the real reasons I didn't want a future with that boy.
The boy still thinks we broke up over religion...
My parents once strongly objected to a relationship I was in, and I chose to ignore them, becoming very protective of the relationship. Most of my friends experienced something similar, but since then we have all pseudo conformed to their concept of appropriate.
They were more tactfull about their approach a few years earlier, when I was dating somebody of a completely different bakground. They used the oldest trick in the book, reverse psychology.
My dad broached the subject, "You've been together for two years, do you see a future with him?" I automatically reacted, "No, don't worry, no intention of marrying him!" And the most simplistic reaction followed, "Why not?"
"What do you mean why not?! he's Muslim... and Syrian... oh Lebanese educated father of mine... and raised in Saudi Arabia...?" He arched his eyebrows at me, "And all this bothers you?"
"It doesn't bother you?" I was just a little confused.
He babbled something about being a humanist, and then asked me if the whole background thing was the only issue I had with him.
Well of course, I had my 'other' reasons, I just never bothered to formulate coherent thoughts about them because I never had to. In fact all I ever had to say was 'religion', and everybody would nod in clear and unanimous agreement.
My dad caught me offguard and made me deal with all the real reasons I didn't want a future with that boy.
The boy still thinks we broke up over religion...
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