Who Needs Another Stimulus Check; How 'bout the Hamper Plan?

Zimbabwe's answer to 2,200,000% inflation -- Give out hampers:

Zimbabwe's government is to distribute cheap food hampers to help people deal with inflation of 2,200,000%.

Basic products to last a family of six for a month will cost Z$100bn, the current cost of a loaf of bread, the state-run Herald newspaper reports.

It was launched by President Robert Mugabe who was re-elected last month in a controversial one-man race.[...]

Zimbabweans are suffering chronic shortages of meat, maize, fuel and other basic commodities and most shops are empty because of a price-control policy implemented by the government a year ago.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Zimbabwe's annual rate of inflation has surged to 2,200,000%.

The food hampers are intended to reach all households to be distributed at local centres and at a village level by chiefs and headmen, the Herald reports.

Now here's the kicker of this BBC article:

A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step," central bank governor Gideon Gono said at the launch of the hamper scheme.

"So this is but one step that we have taken as we implement strategies to improve the lives of our people."

Whoa...Central bank governor? They have a central bank in Zimbabwe? Is this "central bank" pretty much just a glorified Kinkos? Minus the apathetic emo employees of course. Because outside of "print more money and larger bills" I don't think the country has much of a monetary policy. Don't get me wrong, Bernake hasn't given us any quotes about our stimulus plan like, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step", so I'm not saying that Gideon is completely pointless, I was just surprised to learn that they had something that they called a central bank.

Full story here.

Our Election Looks Better and Better

There's some evil shit going down in Zimbabwe

Election Monday

As we await the rigged official election results in Zimbabwe, take a look at the numbers behind the country's long fall down.

Zimbabwe's Black Market

What do you do when the price of soap goes up 1,000 times in an hour? Buy it on the black market! In Zimbabwe price controls are causing food shortages which feed a thriving community of illegal traders. Story from The Washington Post.

EU to Assist Dictator in Chad

For all the crap the U.S. takes over Iraq from Europe the old world should really examine some of their own foreign policy decisions. The nations of France and Ireland have promised about 2,000 troops to act as a buffer between Chad and Darfur.

One of the main fears here is that instability will danger aid workers, but Sudan and Chad have been engaged in a constant power struggle. One of the unintended side consequences will be to further insulate the regime of Idriss Deby in Chad. Story from the BBC.

Kickbacks For Cash Flow

Sure, the Japanese prime minister could easily afford his own iPod, but this just seems tacky:

Rock star Bono bowed deeply and gave Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda an iPod at the start of a meeting Saturday to try to get more Japanese support for the fight against poverty in Africa.

The gift broke the ice as Fukuda sat down with Bono, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other major supporters of more aid for Africa.

Again, it's a pretty trivial gift. But still, Jesus Christ, try to follow the rationale here... The gift is to get the Japanese PM to pledge more "Japanese support." That makes it sound like Fukuda-san would just whip out his wallet and hand the poor people of Africa $1000-Yen per person.

But Bono's not interested in Fukuda's money. He's interested in the Japanese taxpayers' money. To make it sound like anything else is underhanded bullshit. Although I don't believe it's a Japanese taxpayer's moral responsibility to give money to the poor in Africa, that's not the point. If any citizen of Japan wishes to send money to Africa via any medium available, he or she is free to do so.

What is disgraceful here is that Bono has the balls to hand the prime minister of Japan anything; be it an iPod, a Pepsi from the vending machine, or a slap on the ass; and expect the prime minister to be more likely to pledge the hard-earned yen of his taxpayers towards Bono's pet cause.

Bono, seriously... I don't want the people of Africa to be poor any more than you do. But can you at least be straightforward about what you're proposing? I'd have so much more respect for you if you'd just say, "I think every person in the world should be forced by his or her government to give $100 per year to the poor people of Africa" than this lobbying of government officials to get them to spend taxpayer money per your demands.

Lets Try to Provide Some Power

The Washington Post reports that power outages have wreaked havoc on the economies of the Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. An explanation has yet to be given, but power was restored to Zambia. It is safe to say that other things are ailing the economy of Zimbabwe besides power outages.

This just really further illustrated the ineptitude of Africa. Until African nations can successfully provide power through a basic infrastructure it is doubtful that they will be able to attract investment to develop.

Cannabis: Africa's Biggest Drug Problem

I understand that the West Coast of Africa has become the latest hot-spot for global drug trafficking. What I don't know, is what size the piece of the trafficking pie is dedicated to marijuana. allAfrica reports:

The Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Ahmadu Giade said at the weekend that Cannabis otherwise known as Indian hemp is the biggest drug challenge in the country and the African continent.[...]

Giade, decried the dangers of hard drugs to humanity and stressed that the destruction exercises is to spite drug barons and also to demonstrate the superiority of law enforcement agents over illicit drug dealers.

According to Giade "the threat of narcotic drugs is palpable. It is difficult to ignore this peril starring at us in the face. Cannabis control constitutes the biggest drug challenge in Nigeria and Africa . This is because it grows effortlessly in the country. This drug has the propensity to destroy our society but we equally have the capacity to subdue it".

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State in his goodwill message said that it is sad that some indigenes of the State are getting involved in the illicit drug trade when they are highly respected as good business men and women.

"Anambra citizen has no business with illicit drugs and I assure you that the State will partner with the NDLEA to ensure that Anambra State and by implication the entire country is completely drug free"he said.

Giade pointed out that illegal drug business is a covert affair that makes drug control a very cumbersome task demanding enormous resources, training and dexterity. The NDLEA boss said that no drug baron wants his drugs seized let alone destroyed because they have paid so much to acquire them.

My title is a bit misleading, as even the official seems to make the distinction of 'cannabis control', rather than the plant itself. I'm sure Nigeria is no friend to drug reformers, but their officials seem willing to honestly admit that policing the drug trade is the problem in and of itself*. That's more than we can say for U.S. drug warriors. Story here.

*Yes, I understand that NDLEA probably usues this rehetoric to demand more money for its efforts. Just because it may be out of self-interest, doesn't make it any less true, or refreshing to hear.

Greater Africa and Balkanization

Listening to BBC World Service this morning I was shocked to hear a rather optimistic forecast for African development due to high commodity prices and relative peace. What is the BBC thinking? While they do acknowledge that corruption is still a major retardant of growth, they seem to overlook the fresh wave of violence that has enveloped eastern and central Africa.

Kenya is still a mess and the failure of it's leaders to reach an agreement will only result in deeper societal divisions and ethnic violence. Furthermore, as a nation that boarders an ocean, it holds the nations of Uganda and Burundi hostage because their goods are unable to reach a port to engage in global trade. Story from the BBC.

The New York Times published an excellent story today on the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This could be called World War III, but is just lost in the seemingly endless cycle of violence in that has pulled in a half dozen other nations. Here too violence is largely based upon ethnic groups.

Perhaps Africa would be better off if a wave of Balkanization swept through the continent. Smaller, ethnically homogeneous nations, are more peaceful on the whole. The lines Europe drew on a map haven't worked, so it is worth a try...

In Nigeria, They Love Corruption!

Its becoming clear that being an anti-corruption figure in the Nigerian government is a thankless position. Corruption is rampant in the state and the training assignment of corruption fighting official, Nuhu Ribadu, only reinforces this culture.

Ribadu, however, has refused to accept his training and is resigning from his position reports the Washington Post. His decision is in response to a statement calling for him to step down by President Yar'Adua. Oh how rare integrity is in the Nigerian government.

A Fishy Election in Kenya

Over the past decade Kenya has steadily emerged as one of Africa's most stable democracies. The most recent round of elections may call that into question. While violence and elections have always been present in Kenya, the most recent manifestation is frightening for the future of democratic institutions.

Incumbent candidate Mwai Kibaki rode a late surge to capture a second term as president. Challenger, Raila Odinga, is refusing to recognize Kibaki as President and many more are questioning the validity of the results. Violence is breaking out with many of Odinga's supporters having taken to the streets in protest AllAfrica reports.

The current situation is tense and harmful to a nascent democracy. With accusations of a rigged election flying about it is doubtful that either side will be able assert a government of legitimacy. Can democracy in Africa ever thrive?

The Dangerous Profession of Fuel Pirating

If you are interested in stealing fuel and selling it on the black-market then Nigeria is the place to be. Thief beware according to the BBC, which reports 34 peopled died stealing fuel and some instances of such theft have killed as many as 260.

Power Struggle in South Africa

The direction of South Africa is up for grabs at the ANC conference. Incumbent Thabo Mbeki is facing a direct challenge to his power by ANC deputy Jacob Zuma. Story from the New York Times.

This will be the classic struggle between calculated, pro-growth policies and populism. Mbeki is attempting to assert that his policies have caused sustainable economic growth, while Zuma is appealing to the people's desire for instant gratification.

Oh yeah, Zuma was charged with rape and corruption, but in African politics anything can happen.

I'm Going To Name My Bong "Mohammed"

Sudan has arrested a British teacher for insulting faith and religion, the British Foreign Office said Monday.

[...]

Numerous media reports say Gibbons was arrested after allowing her class of 7-year-olds to name a teddy bear "Mohammed."

That could be seen as an insult to the Prophet Mohammed, the reports said.

Blasphemy is punishable with 40 lashes under Islamic Sharia law, Britain's Press Association news agency reported.

Just as depressing, both articles I read about this (CNN and The Times of London) quote the high school's director as referring to Gibbons' actions as an "innocent mistake." And the TV coverage on CNN concentrated more on whether or not Gibbons intended to insult Islam rather than whether or not jailing and lashing someone for insulting a religion is a blatent abuse of human rights.

I hope the human rights organizations of the world jump all over this shit. And I hope Ms. Gibbons is freed promptly and safely. Fuck you, government of Sudan.

Were You Watching Big Brother Africa Last Night?

In a stunning development Richard Bezuidenhout of Tanzania has won Africa's hit T.V. show Big Brother. He won the show despite cheating on this new wife and won $100,000. The show features a collection of Africans hailing from countries all over the continent in competition for the large cash prize by African standards.

This show must be extremely entertaining to watch. It must be interesting to see Africans lie and cheat when violent rebellions are not involved. I would suggest an African Survivor, but that maybe to close to reality. Story from AllAfrica.

Oxfam Points Out the Obvious in Africa

A new report released by Oxfam indicates that conflict is hurting African development. What a shocker. Wars cost Africa about $18 billion a year or roughly 15% of its potential GDP.

Did you know that most of Africa’s firearms come from outside the continent? At least all those wars keep Africa from developing the industrial base to produce weapons on their own. For more of Oxfam stating the obvious check out the full report here.

The Flagging Green Revolution in Africa

In Africa, where rural development is largely ignored, many believed that farmers were primed for a green revolution. New seed technologies have shown great promise in the past by spurring the development of East Asia. In Africa, daunting obstacles to development have stymied any attempt to fuel an agrarian boom.

Chronic corruption and local attitudes and poverty have made it difficult for these seeds to catch on. In a place of the world where famine is a realistic possibility, an African green revolution remains a tantalizing scenario, but according to The New York Times complications always arise.

Weekend International Links

In attempt to broaden the appeal of To The People I have decided to post a story from the erudite USA Today. It looks as if President Musharraf will retain power in Pakistan pending final election results and a Supreme Court ruling.

China becomes the land of opportunity for Chadian citizens to dream about. The Washington Post

German Chancellor Merkel endorses 2010 World Cup preparations in South Africa. The Mail & Guardian

The Orange Bloc, lead by minx Yulia Tymoshenko, has gained control of the Ukrainian Parliament. The BBC

Mexican authorities seized 10 Tons of cocaine in Tampico. The LA Times

Depressing, Yet Chuckle-Inducing Headline of the Week

Hungry Zimbabweans Try to Eat Giraffe

More Smart Moves from Mugabe

Robert Mugabe is not known for sound economic judgment and his latest move will not improve his reputation. The parliament of Zimbabwe has passed a bill that will transfer ownership of foreign companies operating in the country into the hands of black Zimbabweans.

This completes his seizure of property owned by Zimbabwe’s white population, which began in 1999 when the state took over the land of white farmers. In a country that lacks the human resource capacity to effectively run these businesses, Mugabe’s plan will ultimately hurt the people of Zimbabwe instead of leveling the playing field. Story from the BBC.

Extra! Extra! Propaganda!

One thing that all of us will miss with the disappearance of so many autocracies is the state run press. No worries, their are still a few out there. In Angola, Africa’s second largest producer of oil, President Dos Santos maintains his grip on power. It is very amusing to look an ANGOP once in awhile, the state owned press which builds up this man’s personality cult.

While the translation from Portuguese to English is a bit spotty at points you get the basic idea. Distract the populous that the profit from their countries immense resources is being stolen by a corrupt few. Well at least they have table tennis tournaments to celebrate national heroes.

Ebola’s Back!

Move over Avian Flu, Ebola’s back. For those of you believe the world is coming to its end, you can celebrate its return. Ebola has resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is probably one of the worst diseases one can get. It has a mortality rate of 50-90%. Cultural traditions have played a role in its spread. In Central Africa mourners often come into direct contact with the body during burial, often infecting themselves. Story from the UN News Centre.

Nigerian Oil Giant Dissolves

All Africa reports that the Nigerian government announced their plans to breakup the state run oil giant NNPC. This is mainly an attempt to eliminate rampant corruption in Nigerian oil. The unbundling of the petrol giant is also expected to increase efficiency inline with the best international practices in a country which has seen production decline due to civil unrest in the delta region according to EIA. Whether this will be done remains to be seen, much hinges on whether President Yar’Adua can effectively fulfill his capacity and hold officials accountable.

Condom Corruption in S. Africa

BBC News reports the South African Ministry of Health has recalled millions of defective condoms due to government corruption. The Zalatex Company allegedly bribed a South African government official to certify 4 million faulty condoms in accordance with national standards. While Zalatex officials are denying these allegations, it's just the latest incident of the ANC’s inability to effective curb the HIV/AIDS rate. Just last year ex-Vice President Jacob Zuma admitting to having unprotected sex with an HIV positive woman. His solution to this? He took a shower.

When a Government’s Incompetence Turns Into Art

An urban landscape ubiquitous with potholes is nothing new. The most disparaging aspect of this is that a government should at least be able to provide a suitable infrastructure to conduct everyday commercial activities. Potholes have never inspired any creative aspirations of my own and usually just conjure up thoughts of the type of person who must be in charge of public works. Often it is of a sordid, unresponsive, individual with stacks of papers on his desk, letting all complaints go to voicemail, and a love of Rob Schneider films. According to the International Herald Tribune, in Uganda these potholes are becoming works of art. Artist paint abstract works on plaster casts of potholes using them as a vehicle to protest the ineffectiveness of the Kampala Government. But understand how big some of these potholes are: [emphasis mine]

Edison Mulago’s pothole is vividly colored with red, yellow and black. Figures in boats grace the jagged surface. "In some of the slum areas, the potholes are so big people are using boats to get across them," he said. But a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Works and Transport, Susan Kataije, said the exhibition was in "very poor taste."

Everyday Kenyans Benefit From Free Markets

The intrinsic value of free-markets has been remarkably absent in one part of the world, Sub-Saharan Africa. This is undoubtedly because of flaws in many African libraries call numbering systems. In an article in Sunday’s Washington Post, Stephanie McCrumme illustrates the broad based growth that is beginning to permeate throughout Kenyan society.

Since 2002, the number of investors has risen from 50,000 to more than 750,000,according to stock exchange executives, with much of that growth coming from rural areas. The exchange's total value has jumped from $1 billion to $12 billion, amounts that are predicted to swell again following the biggest initial public offering in Kenyan history.

The most encouraging aspect of this, is the growth which has manifested in rural areas, places largely ignored by Africa’s urban centrist and statist policies. Greater opportunities in the market are allowing the Kenyan economy to grow at a robust 6.1 % rate according to a new study by the Economist Intelligence Unit,via All Africa.

Snake Bites, Cancer, Infertility -- What Problems Can Urine NOT Solve

From the Telegraph:

A dramatic surge in the popularity of "urine therapy" in Cameroon has prompted the government to ban its consumption and threaten persistent offenders with jail.

[...]

I had haemorrhoids for five years and nothing gave me relief. But six months ago, I started drinking half a glass of my urine every morning and I am practically healed," a shopkeeper from the capital Yaounde wrote to Le Messager newspaper. A magistrate claimed: "For several years I haven't had a hair on my head, but since I started drinking my urine it's started growing again - it's extraordinary."

When do we start seeing the late-night infomercials for fast acting, Urine Magic?

Via Samizdata. Full article here.

Africa, Goldilocks, and Britney Spears' Smelly Naked Crotch

No wonder so many leftists are crazy. Like meth addicts, they never sleep. How can they with problems everywhere they turn. First, famine in Africa. Now, obesity in Africa. They're like Goldilocks. So obsessed with finding the perfect that they're still around when the bears get home. And the bears represent big government and economic ruin. Or something like that. I can't be expected to come up with good metaphors when The Superficial is posting pictures of Britney Spears' naked crotch. My eyes, my eyes, my eyes. (Hint: click on the Shaggy to see the shaggy, you big sicko.)

Anyway, back to the story.

Africa, a continent usually synonymous with hunger, is falling prey to obesity. It's a trend driven by new lifestyles and old beliefs that big is beautiful. Ask Nodo Njobo, a plump hairdressing assistant. She is coy about her weight, but like many African women, proud of her "big bum." She says she'd like to be slimmer, but worries how her friends would react.

[snip]

More than one-third of African women and a quarter of African men are estimated to be overweight, and the World Health Organization predicts that will rise to 41 percent and 30 percent respectively in the next 10 years.

And here's the punchline.

Worldwide, an estimated 1 billion people are overweight, compared to 800 million who are undernourished.

But wait. There's more. If you act now, you get this bonus leftist lunacy.

"It's not true that only the rich have problems with obesity and overweight," says Jean-Claude Mbanya, director of Cameroon's National Obesity Center.

"The poor suffer even more."

I feel a new We Are The World song coming on. I'm sure K-Fed and Michael Jackson can stir up some humanitarian passions, although I'm not quite sure what they'll ask for. To stop shipping food to Africa? Seriously, it's hard being a white man. People are starving in Africa and it's all my fault. Now people are too fat in Africa and it's all my fault. What's next, a news story on how South Africans are now too racially integrated?

Maybe Freedom Really Is on the March

I've been down lately. Who could blame me? The war in Iraq. Run-away federal spending. The near total regulation of every aspect of my life from putting things up my nose to squeezing things out my butt. Too often I fail to really reflect on the positive change that has happened in my life. From the end of national speed limits to the collapse of communism. Today, I at least read some good news. When I was in middle school (early 80s) it was illegal for whites and blacks to get married in South Africa. That law was gone by the time I graduated high school. The entire Apartheid system was eliminated by the time I graduated college. Now, just 20 years after South Africa legalized interracial marriage it has legalized same-sex marriage, becoming the first African nation and the fifth in the world to extend full marital rights to same-sex couples.

I may not live long enough to see the collapse of the welfare-warfare state; but, if I die in a world where low taxes, mostly free markets and equal rights to marriage for all is the norm, I will die happy. Of course, if I can legally smoke crack and order a prostitute on the phone while taking a crap in a good toilet, I will die even happier.

It's Good to Be the King

From the Washington Times:

Fifty thousand bare-breasted virgins danced for the king of Swaziland yesterday, vying to become his 13th wife. King Mswati III, the last absolute monarch in sub-saharan Africa, arrived dressed in a leopard-skin loincloth to watch the ceremony called the Reed Dance, which he has used since 1999 to pluck brides from the ranks of girls dressed in little more than beaded miniskirts.

I'm most intrigued by this news:

The ceremony yesterday was the culmination of a week of preparations, which included the lifting of a royal ban on sexual relations with virgins, decreed in 2001 to rein in the spread of the HIV virus.

How would anyone lose their virginity if it was against the law to have sex with a virgin? (maybe the decree only applied to royalty???)

Days after reviving the ancient ban, King Mswati in 2001 married a virgin and fined himself one cow. Last week, he lifted the five-year ban a year early, ordering thousands of maidens to throw off chastity scarves worn to discourage the attention of scamps and libertines.

"The Reed Dance has been abused for one man's personal satisfaction," says Mario Masuku, leader of the banned opposition party. "The king has a passion for young women and opulence."

All I can say is who doesn't? (and I don't think this is what Hans-Herman Hoppe wants, or maybe it is).

Also, much like the rumored 77 virgins awaiting suicide bombers (that's homicide bombers for you O'Reilly), I have to ask: who wants lots of virgins? I'll take a handful of sluts any day.