South Sudan Independant

[Populus Romanus]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Flag_of_South_Sudan.svg/125px-Flag_of_South_Sudan.svg.png

The Republic of South Sudan is now independant! The longest running civil war in Africa (and the rest of the world, I believe) has finally been ended for good. Here's hoping that this country succeeds and does not turn into a terrible disaster like many other African countries. But the omens are somewhat bright, due to the significant oil in South Sudan. Link (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-14089843)

[Centurion1]

that oil is what scares me.


and what does it strive for? to be less of the genocidal nation it was and more like the places of dubious respectability that its neighbors are?

i would say the future os pretty distressing for the worlds newest nation.

[Fragony]

Black people massacred and enslaved by arabs being rewarded with a Northern-Sudan, no cheers from me

[Strike For The South]

Well, It's not like it can get any worse

[Fragony]

Well, It's not like it can get any worse

Just got worse. There is a hidden genocide of blacks happening in Africa

[Populus Romanus]

Just got worse. There is a hidden genocide of blacks happening in Africa Not in South Sudan, that genocide just ended. The situation in South Sudan has therefore already greatly improved. They are not being ritually exterminated anymore.

[Strike For The South]

Just got worse. There is a hidden genocide of blacks happening in Africa

Well it's not exactly hidden.

I mean people are still going to be butchered on an incomprehensible level. No line is going to change that

[Major Robert Dump]

If Sudan can do it then certainly California could follow suit?

[Fragony]

Well it's not exactly hidden.

I mean people are still going to be butchered on an incomprehensible level. No line is going to change that

What about the blacks in North-Sudan? That line is basicly their doom. They will have to flee, ethnic cleansing succes yay. Maybe we should nuke the place once we are pretty sure they are all gone

[Strike For The South]

What about the blacks in North-Sudan? That line is basicly their doom. They will have to flee, ethnic cleansing succes yay. Maybe we should nuke the place once we are pretty sure they are all gone

I'm agreeing with you

I swear if it's not covered in mayo you just look right past it

Fun anecdote: That's the last thing I said to my ex wife

BA ZING

[Fisherking]

If Sudan can do it then certainly California could follow suit?

Who would want to live in an independent California?

I can imagine the first things they would do would be to outlaw meat and smoking and put cameras in your house to make sure you were legal.

[Fragony]

I'm agreeing with you

I swear if it's not covered in mayo you just look right past it

Fun anecdote: That's the last thing I said to my ex wife

BA ZING

Maybe she just didn't really understand you, I don't understand that and I read it 3 times

[Strike For The South]

Maybe she just didn't really understand you, I don't understand that and I read it 3 times

I assume only 10% of my posts are comprehensible, the rest are so cryptic people generally think I have and idea of what Im talking about

When in reality I'm a fool

[Centurion1]

Who would want to live in an independent California?

I can imagine the first things they would do would be to outlaw meat and smoking and put cameras in your house to make sure you were legal.

i believe he means north south cali. south cali being the better half (well san diego at least)

[Fragony]

I assume only 10% of my posts are comprehensible, the rest are so cryptic people generally think I have and idea of what Im talking about

When in reality I'm a fool

Works for me MUHAHAHAHA *cough* ha

[Fisherking]

i believe he means north south cali. south cali being the better half (well san diego at least)

My favorite candidate for secession would be Seattle. But that would be interesting. They don’t want to secede but the rest of the state would be very, very pleased if they did.

For one thing they would have a better chance of getting honest elections.

[Populus Romanus]

I agree with Seattle seceding, Washington would be better off without them.

[Adrian II]

Who would want to live in an independent California?

Every Sudanese.

AII

[HoreTore]

The only thing that has changed is how maps are drawn.

The various peoples of sout sudan are already intensifying their efforts to subdue each other, and the same is happening in the north.

The civil war aint over by a long shot.

[Samurai Waki]

Trouble in Africa? That almost never happens! ... is what I'd like to hear, but sadly the reality is, and arguably has always been pretty bleak. There are a few countries however that may be able to pull themselves out the muck, such as Tanzania and Botswana, but I don't expect the majority to ever achieve real lasting peace.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Wait until China decides to go in. :laugh:

[HoreTore]

Trouble in Africa? That almost never happens! ... is what I'd like to hear, but sadly the reality is, and arguably has always been pretty bleak. There are a few countries however that may be able to pull themselves out the muck, such as Tanzania and Botswana, but I don't expect the majority to ever achieve real lasting peace.

Things are not as bleak now as thry have been:

http://rs.resalliance.org/2011/01/12/africas-economic-growth/

In the prediction for the 10 fastest growing economies of the next four years, 7 of them are in Africa. And contrary to what warman fears, this is not because China isn't meddling, it is because China is meddling. China has given more growth and life to Africa in a couple of decades than what Europe has done since we first started our meddling there.

One thing you might notice that the article text missed about that list, is that all of those countries* are at peace and have a (relatively) stable political situation. In my opinion, peace, and to an extent democracy, is the key here. With more peace comes more economic growth, with more economic growth comes more peace.



*except from Congo, if they're talking about the big Congo and not the small Congo

[Centurion1]

Things are not as bleak now as thry have been:

http://rs.resalliance.org/2011/01/12/africas-economic-growth/

In the prediction for the 10 fastest growing economies of the next four years, 7 of them are in Africa. And contrary to what warman fears, this is not because China isn't meddling, it is because China is meddling. China has given more growth and life to Africa in a couple of decades than what Europe has done since we first started our meddling there.

One thing you might notice that the article text missed about that list, is that all of those countries* are at peace and have a (relatively) stable political situation. In my opinion, peace, and to an extent democracy, is the key here. With more peace comes more economic growth, with more economic growth comes more peace.



*except from Congo, if they're talking about the big Congo and not the small Congo

sigh i dont even want to start this argument...... but nearly none of those countries if any are politically stable or even slightly comparable to the government of a first or even second world nation really.

[HoreTore]

sigh i dont even want to start this argument...... but nearly none of those countries if any are politically stable or even slightly comparable to the government of a first or even second world nation really.

Hence why I added the (relatively)-thingy. Meaning that they are more stable than the other countries in Afica and other comparable countries.

[PanzerJaeger]

Things are not as bleak now as thry have been:

http://rs.resalliance.org/2011/01/12/africas-economic-growth/

In the prediction for the 10 fastest growing economies of the next four years, 7 of them are in Africa. And contrary to what warman fears, this is not because China isn't meddling, it is because China is meddling. China has given more growth and life to Africa in a couple of decades than what Europe has done since we first started our meddling there.

One thing you might notice that the article text missed about that list, is that all of those countries* are at peace and have a (relatively) stable political situation. In my opinion, peace, and to an extent democracy, is the key here. With more peace comes more economic growth, with more economic growth comes more peace.



*except from Congo, if they're talking about the big Congo and not the small Congo

I don't think that analysis is all that positive. Percentage growth can be very misleading. For example, a jump from 1 to 10 represents a percentage jump far greater than a jump from 100 to 110, despite the real numbers being equal. If such growth can be sustained over a long period of time, it can become significant. However, considering the growth is based almost entirely on commodity prices, that is hard to see happening considering the resource curse that is characteristic of such economies.

[HoreTore]

I'm a math teacher PJ, I am well aware of how statistics can be misinterpreted.

And yes, the economies are based on raw materials. But what else can a dirt poor country with little infrastructure and human capital base their economy around? Raw materials will have to be the start. Then, as every other nation has done, they can shift focus later when the infrastructure, level of education, political stability, etc etc allows it.

[Tellos Athenaios]

I don't think that analysis is all that positive. Percentage growth can be very misleading. For example, a jump from 1 to 10 represents a percentage jump far greater than a jump from 100 to 110, despite the real numbers being equal. If such growth can be sustained over a long period of time, it can become significant.

Sure, but let's be realistic here: the difference between 1 and 10 units of economic output if you share it with 10M people is rather more appealing than the difference between 100 and 110M people given how prices will differ in the 1 unit vs the 100 unit stage. It's the same reason a 0.1% growth in the USA might amount to far more than 10% growth in Kenia, but 10% growth in Kenia buys the Kenians rather more lunch than 0.1% growth does the Americans.

[Tuuvi]

I have some hope for the future of South Sudan, a lot of refugees from the civil war eventually ended up in the US, UK etc. and some of them now have college degrees. The ones that choose to return will be taking their skills and their experiences living with a functioning, stable government with them and I hope that they can make a difference.

[PanzerJaeger]

Sure, but let's be realistic here: the difference between 1 and 10 units of economic output if you share it with 10M people is rather more appealing than the difference between 100 and 110M people given how prices will differ in the 1 unit vs the 100 unit stage. It's the same reason a 0.1% growth in the USA might amount to far more than 10% growth in Kenia, but 10% growth in Kenia buys the Kenians rather more lunch than 0.1% growth does the Americans.

That goes back to the resource curse (http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1830). When wealth is found and not created, it is far too easy for those in power to abscond with it. As the article mentioned, the commodity industry might boost GDP, but it doesn't produce many jobs.

[HoreTore]

That goes back to the resource curse (http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1830). When wealth is found and not created, it is far too easy for those in power to abscond with it. As the article mentioned, the commodity industry might boost GDP, but it doesn't produce many jobs.

That has been Congo's curse.

Raw materials are still Africa's main product, but they are diversifying. Economic management(ie. corruption etc) are improving, incomes are rising and China is investing heavily. Is it perfect? No, not at all, noone is claiming that. But the future is looking much, much brighter now than in the 80's and 90's.