media for 4/26

"Nigerian Oil"- National Geographic Magazine

The photo on the front page of Port Harcourt is quite a sad sight to see. The pretty blue sky is stained with black smoke above crowded huts next to gray water. Nigeria is the most populated country in Africa and oil has caused "Nigeria has become a dangerous country, addicted to oil money, with people increasingly willing to turn to corruption, sabotage, and murder to get a fix of the wealth. The cruelest twist is that half a century of oil extraction in the delta has failed to make the lives of the people better. Instead, they are poorer still, and hopeless."

In and of itself, oil is a good thing. It brings the prospect of growth and financial wealth for the nation. It will bring in revenue and jobs to work at the gas plants. Oil is a blessing but also a curse for the people of Nigeria. It is an indirect cause of numerous environmental problems. Oil spills, polluted groundwater, ruined cropland etc. The fisherman talked about the effects of constructing the gas plant. Pipelines are being built through farmland and swamps, barreling through the wetlands. Acid rain now pelts the metal rooftops. Builders tore down the forest which used to protect the towns from the east wind so now the rains and winds destroy the Nigerians' rooftops. This may seem like an irrelevant, seasonal problem but when people need money to rebuild their destroyed houses, it takes a toll on the whole household, economically, financially, socially. People cannot even catch fresh fish... relying on imported frozen fish.

Quote: "With all the oil money coming in, the state doesn't need taxes from people. Rather than being a resource for the state, the people are impediments. There is no incentive anymore for the government to build schools or hospitals....I can say this," Osuoka said firmly. "Nigeria was a much better place without oil." We can see this "natural resource curse" throughout the developing world. For some countries the natural resource has been diamonds. Whatever the case, the natural resource has tremendous potential to boost the economy but the country is left in a horrible economic state, barely able to provide for its own people. It is very paradoxical but happens because rulers have divided interests. In the case of Nigeria, like the said, the government has no incentive to build schools, hospitals or maintain a stable infrastructure. As long as money is coming in, basic social necessities are being ignored.

Quote: "The oil companies, led by five multinational firms—Royal Dutch Shell, Total, Italy's Agip, and ExxonMobil and Chevron from the U.S.—transformed a remote, nearly inaccessible wetland into industrial wilderness. The imprint: 4,500 miles (7,200 kilometers) of pipelines, 159 oil fields, and 275 flow stations, their gas flares visible day and night from miles away." The article talked about how the first discovery of oil was prior to Nigeria's independence in the 1960s. Now, multinational firms are still "attached" to Nigeria. Their pipelines are increasing Nigeria's dependence upon richer countries. In a way, it's a form of post-colonialism. Ironic, but true. Big companies still want to get a share of Nigeria's riches, and none of the profits are benefiting the people.

The oil companies gave out cash to village chiefs or provided health clinics or water tanks to allow them to build a pipeline through their village. While this may seem like reasonable compensation to the oil companies, money doesn't solve everything. The article mentions how projects would be semi-completes and left useless, like incomplete schools, clinics without staff, water tanks without pumps. Providing cash will not put a bandage on the problems the villagers face. Oil is the cause of escalating violence from rebel groups in the area.

"Clinton Signs Oil Deal In Angola"- Reuters

USAID partners with Chevron (US) as a sign of reconciliation. She praises Angola for their rebuilding/peace efforts after 27 years of civil war and encourages them to schedule an upcoming presidential election because the president (in office for 30 years) She also encourages Angola to diversify its market to agriculture. She says the US is interested in investing in Angola's farming sector. This is all in the name of "development assistance" under the Obama Administration.

"America's New Frontier" -Al Jazeera

Question: Can Obama turn US-African relations in a new direction?
People don't know who is in the lead, the military or the state department. There needs to be a balance between diplomacy and defense. The global war on terrorism after the attacks of September 11th effected US relations with Africa, especially concerning oil. President Bush wanted to start getting oil from Africa. New interests in Africa. Competing for interests in natural resources with China.

Question: What role will Africom play and how did it came to be?
It was launched Oct. 2008 to establish "security, stability and cooperation" in Africa, support US policy and partner with US's military groups in Africa. Africa would be suspicious of Africom because of US's history... why would soldiers be involved? This is usually a case for diplomats and development workers. But according to the video it made sense in military terms, however people failed to ask Africa how they felt about it, of course. It seems like military imposition, building US military headquarters in Africa. Africa has a different view from the US, one of non-alignment, they don't want to work under any powers since it has colonial implications, so Africom's progress was downplayed. It's headquarters ended up being in Germany and the leaders in Washington D.C. Africom tried to play down the skepticism.

This Youtube video relates with Clinton's interest in Angola. Before watching this segment I was confused about the connection but after watching this, I understood better. US wants to increase its relations with Africa. Whether its through Africom (military) or USAID (developmental assistance), the US will try to increase its influence and partnership with the continent.