Africa is facing a new and devastating colonial invasion driven by a determination to plunder the natural resources of the continent, especially its strategic energy and mineral resources. That’s the message from a damning new report from War On Want ‘The New Colonialism: Britain’sscramble for Africa’s energy and mineral resources’ that highlights the role of the British government in aiding and abetting the process.
Written and researched by Mark Curtis, the report reveals the degree to which British companies now control Africa’s key mineral resources, notably gold, platinum, diamonds, copper, oil, gas and coal. It documents how 101 companies listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) – most of them British – have mining operations in 37 sub-Saharan African countries and collectively control over $1 trillion worth of Africa’s most valuable resources.
The UK government has used its power and influence to ensure that British mining companies have access to Africa’s raw materials. The report exposes the long-term involvement of the British government (Labour and Conservative) to influence and control British companies’ access to raw materials. Access has been secured through a revolving door between the political establishment and British mining companies, with at least five British government officials taking up seats on the boards of mining companies operating in Africa.
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Not mentioned in this article is that the US is providing the military muscle which safeguards these British extractive industries. This is how the "market state" works. We The People pay for security, but corporations receive all the wealth. And those who used to be the owners of that wealth (Africans) get killed, sometimes slowly ... always with cruelty.
Can't have this at all. When the Brits left their African colonies to their own 'self development' the colonies were in good shape. The Colonies started to govern themselves as they were entitled to do as free nations. It has and is entirely up to the Governments of each African nation as to who they do business with. Okay, corruption is endemic but it was always thus. 'Self Development' was the way forward we were told.
ReplyDeletePerhaps, but your interpretation goes counter to the revelations of John Perkins in "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man". John and I had a mutual acquaintance, and I find their side of the story quite believable. Just because there is a sucker born every minute doesn't mean the grifters are guiltless.
ReplyDeleteTo be blunt, once the US saw that the leaders of the developing countries were wide open to any kind of inducement the chase was afoot. John Perkins illustrated the manner of the chase and sub Saharan Africa is now a basket case.
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