Our AI writing assistant, WriteUp, can assist you in easily writing any text. Click here to experience its capabilities.

Scramble for Africa

View Original View Raw

Summary

The article discusses the 'scramble for Africa', which is the competition between foreign states and companies to secure Africa's abundant natural resources for profit. These resources include oil, gas, timber, diamonds, gold, coltan and bauxite, and the US, France, Britain, China and India are all involved in the competition. The scramble for Africa is fuelling corruption, environmental degradation, poverty and violence, and several initiatives have been launched to try and address these issues. However, these initiatives are voluntary and many countries and companies have not signed up to them, particularly China. The article also outlines the key natural resources that are being exploited in Africa and the countries that are involved in the scramble.

Q&As

What is the purpose of Africa Oil Week?
The purpose of Africa Oil Week is to attract the energy sector's biggest players, such as ExxonMobil, Shell and Chevron, to network and close deals.

Who are the main players in the new 'scramble for Africa'?
The main players in the new 'scramble for Africa' are the US, France, Britain, China and India.

What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of foreign investment in Africa's natural resources?
The potential benefits of foreign investment in Africa's natural resources include FDI, increased exports and good balance of trade figures for Africa. The potential drawbacks include corruption, environmental degradation, poverty and violence, human rights abuses, and violent conflict.

What are the environmental impacts of resource extraction in Africa?
The environmental impacts of resource extraction in Africa include erosion, river silting, landslides, flooding, loss of habitat for plant and animal species, and gas flaring from oil production which pumps large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

What initiatives have been launched to address the 'resource curse'?
Initiatives that have been launched to address the 'resource curse' include the UN's Global Compact and the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI).

AI Comments

👍 This article provides an in-depth look into the newfound scramble for Africa's natural resources and the impact on African society. The author does an excellent job of demonstrating how the competition between foreign states and companies to secure resources has resulted in increased investment, while at the same time highlighting the potential for environmental degradation and human rights abuses.

👎 This article is biased in its approach, painting the scramble for Africa's natural resources in a negative light without fully considering the potential for economic growth and development. Additionally, the author fails to discuss the potential for increased employment opportunities and improved infrastructure as a result of investment from foreign states and companies.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the "Scramble for Africa" - how various countries and corporations are trying to secure access to Africa's natural resources. It discusses how this has caused environmental degradation, state corruption, poverty, and violence, and how it has fueled conflicts in countries like Sudan and Nigeria.

Friend: Wow, that's really concerning. It sounds like these countries and corporations are taking advantage of Africa's resources without really considering the consequences.

Me: Yeah, it's definitely concerning. It's clear that the scramble for Africa is having a lot of negative impacts, and that much more needs to be done to ensure those resources are used responsibly. It's essential that governments and corporations have stricter regulations in place to prevent corruption and environmental degradation. Ultimately, the resources should be used to benefit the African people, not just the elites and foreign powers.

Action items

Research the various initiatives that have been launched to address the resource curse, such as the UN's Global Compact and the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI).
Learn more about the environmental and social impacts of extractive industries, such as gas flaring and deforestation.
Educate yourself on the geopolitical competition between the US, France, Britain, China and India for access to Africa's natural resources.

Technical terms

Scramble for Africa: A term used to describe the period of intense competition between European powers in the late 19th century to acquire colonies in Africa.
FDI: Foreign Direct Investment, which is an investment made by a company or individual in one country into business interests located in another country.
OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, an international economic organization of 34 countries that works to promote economic growth and world trade.
EITI: Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, a global standard to promote the open and accountable management of natural resources.
Asset Stripping: The process of selling off a company's assets in order to make a profit.
Timber: Wood that has been cut down and prepared for use in construction or other purposes.
Oil: A type of fossil fuel that is used to produce energy.
Minerals: Natural substances that are found in the earth and have economic value.
Diamonds: Precious stones that are mined from the earth and used in jewelry.
Natural Gas: A type of fossil fuel that is used to produce energy.