Latest comments posted about China's environmental footprint in Africa on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/741-China-s-environmental-footprint-in-Africa http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/741-China-s-environmental-footprint-in-Africa I am an african and I get so angry when I read comments about people in western counries who seem to know a lot about africa when they know absolutely nothing. The only thing they know is the absolutely biased images shown by western media, not all african countries have evil politicians and apparently over the past years governments have been improving not at a fast as most would like but slow gradual improvement . I think people should stop treating africa as if it is made of morons. Africans are learning and more are aware of their human and political rights. people should stop dwelling at the negative aspects of China's involvment. Africa's are not as stupid as most you people think . They know the threats china poses to them because they have learned from the past. Africa does not need a babysitter because as you all know that has done more harm than good. African problems must and will be solved by Africans as more are getting empowered, and equipped with information. Western ideologies are not a solution to our problem. All Africa need is someone to treat them as an equal. People have to understand that foreigners cannot bring change to a nation but the people themselves can. Fri, 08 Aug 2008 02:00:38 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-7745 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-7745 This issue is a prime example of a lot of what's wrong with the world today. The governments and coporations of countries are only concerned about the people within their own borders or personal profits. Probably, if you asked an average person from any country, if the life or quality of lifemof someone from their country, differed from the importance of that from someone from a different country, they would say no. However, that clearly does not reflect how the government and major companies act. Governments often act thinking only of the consequences within their own country, their constituents. Corporations act off economics, profits. Every developed nation does it. So, if a Chinese timber company can deforest Africa to prevent destroying its own environment any more and make a large profit, the government and the company see this as beneficial. The concern for outside of the imaginary lines that mark the edge of our countries is not there in the more powerful members of our society. And the real problem is, this situation in Africa is probably unusual, because we know about it. Economic imperialism like this is probably happening in several different ways in every third world country, and 90 percent of the time, the citizens of the developed world don't find out. Leaders of our nations need to start thinking globally, outside of their own nations borders. We can agree we're all equal as people right? We just need to get everyone to act like it. -Rick Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:22:35 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-7305 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-7305 The article does give little attention to the other nations, of which there are many, that are currently exploiting Africa for it's resources. It is good to bring attention to issues like these. China, along with many other places, should focus more on national sustainability. If these exploiting countries had better management within their own borders, maybe they wouldnt need to look to Africa so much. Mike P. Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:19:07 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-7297 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-7297 I like the dialogue here and I believe it will put the ongoing situation into a better light of understanding. Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:11:24 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-2015 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-2015 I don’t think China should be responsible for the government corruption, human right violation and global competition in Africa. However, Chinese companies do need to increase their environmental standard and show more corporation responsibilities in their operation abroad. As a Chinese, I am willing to admit that Chinese government doesn’t show enough supervisory action on these oil companies (even I have no specific data but just some local news on this issue), intended or unintended. Therefore, for maximizing profit oil companies may neglect or decrease their environmental and workforce responsibilities on the abroad operation. However, this is a universal problem for all the oil companies all over the world. For Chinese oil companies, technical limitation is the main barrier for them to take their environmental responsibility. On the other side, western companies have more advanced technology and experiences on this issue. Therefore, rather than argue who is the worse player in Africa, why not cooperate with each other to explore the energy and contribute to Africa? It’s quite possible that as the African economy boosts, their bargaining power will also increase, which means Chinese companies won’t get so much control as easy as now and have to pay more on different aspects including the environmental investment. So it’s also a self-adjustment process. Yi Liu, China Tue, 27 Feb 2007 18:39:21 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1975 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1975 Comment #4 correctly points out the hypocritical advocacy of human rights by Western governments, especially as this applies to China in the African context. However, this view must be amended in two respects. First, to incorporate a villification of the "West" as a historical enslaver of "Africa" into the argument is inappropriate. The colonial policies of the 19th century, undergirded by a racist and eugenicist Zeitgeist, have little to do with the reality of today. Nor are culprit and victim monolithic units: the Africa policies of European nations have always varied considerably, as have their effects on the diverse realities of African nations. In addition, many non-governmental actors from the "West" have an independent history on the continent, and their opinions should be judged as independent. Secondly, negative features of China's conduct in Africa, especially regarding the environment, should not be condoned simply because Africa is impoverished or the "West" is laden with colonial history. To infringe upon an African nation's national parks, for example, in order to search for oil is a deplorable act, because it breaches international regulations that all nations should abide by. Even if some European governments may have ulterior motives for criticizing China's role in Africa, Chinese officials and business leaders should recognize that respect for environmental laws is in the best interest of the international community as a whole. Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:55:01 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1473 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1473 With regards the various comments about China’s ‘exploitation’ of the African continent, it has to be said that a number of issues have to be acknowledged. It is true that China may invest in African countries without setting conditions as to whether the countries concerned treat their respective populations fairly. It may also be partly true that so called cheap Chinese products are being foisted on an unstable market and the local labour force is being exploited in the form of ‘wage slavery’. But for all this there is the issue of who would otherwise invest in Africa as a whole. Much of the criticism about China’s investment in Africa comes from America and other western nations. But both historically and currently, these nations have exploited labour forces and other nations to procure their resources. Sino-African trade accounted for more $55 Billion in 2006. President Hu Jintao said in a recent statement that, “A new China-Africa strategic partnership is a shared desire of our two people, it is also the calling of the times. We must sustain the momentum of this trend by maintaining close friendship treating each other as equals, and working closely to promote mutual beneficial cooperation, and common development.” During his recent 12 day tour of the African continent Mr Hu said he was "looking for strategic and mutual friendship" in Africa. China’s interest and investment is by no means altruistic. China relies upon Africa for over 30% of its oil imports. Despite criticism from African leaders, including South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, there is an acknowledgement of the importance of Chinese investment into Africa. South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki backtracked on earlier criticisms recently, when he said, “From our point of view, China is indeed one of our critical, most important economic partners globally. And that will increase.” China has helped build a number of infrastructural projects over many decades. These include roads, railways and most recently telecommunications networks. But it is China’s failure to criticise human rights, that has brought the loudest voices. David Monyae, from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, speaking on BBC’s The World, said that whilst many welcome the trade China offered, there was disquiet. There was “a need to emphasise the issue of human rights … particularly in countries like Sudan” he said. Speaking in defence of China, Yan Xueting, Tsinghua University, said that the issues pertaining to Sudan are not representative of Chinese investment in Africa as a whole. He said although he, and his country, supports the UN in sending peacekeepers to Sudan, China has a “principle of not interfering in domestic affairs of foreign countries”. He said his country would join any peacekeeping force that was mandated by the UN. But there was, he said, “a difference between advice and interference” and China would not use force to implement change. Also speaking on this contentious issue was Anver Versi, editor of African Business Magazine, who said much of the criticism was exaggerated. During the Cold War, “interference was common place” by western governments and the Soviet Union and “no-one was talking about governance” he added. He said that it was “patronizing to Africans, by talking about conditionalities [preconditions]; suggesting that Africans cannot rule themselves unless you hold them in tight reign.” Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:44:53 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1572 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1572 Yan Xueting added that whilst help and advice can be given, “we cannot force countries to accept these kind of decisions.” With regards cheap Chinese goods flooding the market and whether African markets need protecting, Yan Xueting claimed that China does do not export goods that can be made in the countries concerned. The absolute truth of this may be in dispute, but the very nature of globalisation brings with it risks to local economies. This is true both in European and US markets as well as African ones. But Yan Xueting said that by investing in factories on the African continent, China was providing new employment opportunities. Indeed, while Anver Versi said he was no advocate for the Chinese, he acknowledged that China’s investment in Africa was good for the African people as a whole. “The Beijing Construction Company, which is State owned, was in Sierra Leone before the end of the war. They built one of the hotels, they built the houses of parliament, they’ve built government offices…but the problem with the Chinese is the Chinese workers”. Western nations are less concerned over the rights of African workers than they are for China’s increased position in a global economy. But where other nations have declined to take risks in investing in unstable or fragile regimes, China has taken the initiative. In the long term both Africa and China will prosper. As to how African workers are exploited it must be remembered that many have died from cancers associated with the mining of Uranium for western companies over many years. Rio Tinto Zinc which continues to mine Uranium in Africa has blocked many attempts to take the company to court besides well documented cases of Uranium miners dying from cancer associated with radiation. One worker who worked at the mine from 1977 to 1982, told the BBC that when he started working at Rossing in Namibia, "Nobody had a mask there, nobody, at the mine... they never offered them a mask. We were told it was quite safe, it's low grade.” Little is said of this exploitation of African states, perhaps because it affects western interests! [RBW - tvnewswatch.blogspot.com] Mon, 12 Feb 2007 17:46:02 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1573 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1573 African nations have the ability to govern themselves. Like China, they do not need China and Western countries to teach them how to do it. In the past, when the Western world enslaved Africans, why was there no discussion of democracy or human rights? China has been continually attacked by Western nations for its "bad record" of democracy and human rights. The West is still doing so, and now criticises China's engagement in Africa. This is because Western nations find themselves confronted with a formidable commercial rival - China. Just look at the global events taking place in our world today: have western human rights rescued Iraq? Moreover, if we consider the current circumstances in Africa, an impoverished continent where many people still hover on the edge of subsistence, it is all the more ridiculous to speak of democracy and human rights. Capitalism's intrigue of waving the banner of human rights and democracy in order to reproach developing countries is already outdated in this day and age. It cannot render positive results; it will only strengthen the solidarity of developing countries, and of course, that is what capitalist countries least want to see happen. Fri, 09 Feb 2007 13:35:17 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1463 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1463 "African countries" do NOT "give more investment chances to Chinese". African elites and leaders do. The anti-Chinese sentiment that is developing in parts of Africa is proof of the gap between the welcome elites are giving to China and the "ordinary" African. Let us be honest here: many if not most African presidents could not care less about whether or not China is exploiting the assets of their countries. What they are concerned about is that they get a cut. The fact that the Chinese do not ask pesky questions about democracy, human rights and where the money is going is an added bonus and gives the PRC a competitive edge over Western companies. Of course, the West exploits Africa too. But the fault in Sino-African relations at the moment is not necessarily solely or even mainly with the Chinese - it is with the lousy African governments who allow exploitation to carry on and who have not promoted broad-based sustainable development. Given that we are now forty-plus years after independence it is time to move on from Africa-as-the-perpetual-victim mentality. Ian Taylor, St Andrews Thu, 08 Feb 2007 16:18:30 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1430 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/741#comment-1430