Make it the Financial Responsibility Act

growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development
growth without development

....is useless.


Should iron ore mined in Nimba or rubber grown in Maryland serve only to install air conditioning in Monrovia?

Re-write the Financial Autonomy Act. Make it the Financial Responsibility Act.

EarlyBird
http://www.liberianature.blogspot.com

Chinafrica (13) Watching for PRC Influence in Africa

Western Leaders Monitor China-Africa Summit
The Nation (Nairobi)NEWS17 May 2007Posted to the web 16 May 2007Nairobi
The summit between African leaders and the Chinese government and business leaders in Beijing was being carefully monitored by Western governments who are concerned at the way in which China appears to be flouting agreements over the environment in its search for new markets.

A large number of Africa's 53 states were represented in last week's meetings, with most sending their heads of state, including five that recognise Taiwan.
China announced a package of measures covering aid, trade and social development for Africa during the summit of 48 African leaders amid concerns from rights groups about links with Sudan and Zimbabwe.

The summit underscores China's deepening links with Africa, whose mineral and oil wealth it covets and whose countries form an important strategic bloc vote in world bodies.
"We take great pride in China's strong and warm friendship with Africa," Chinese Vice Premier
Wu Yi said at the opening of the ministerial conference.

"We should, with an eye on new developments, fully tap co-operation potential and draw on each other's strengths to broaden and upgrade co-operation."

China's trade with Africa is expected to top $50 billion this year, and while the summit is largely about handshakes and banquets, analysts also expect it to be an opportunity to cement trade and investment deals that have been in the pipeline.

China and Liberia have signed a preliminary deal to allow China's second-largest state oil and gas firm, Sinopec Group, to explore for oil and gas in the West African state, Henry Boima Fahnbulleh, Liberian Assistant Minister for African-Asian Affairs, said. Ghana was close to finalising a $600 million deal with China's Sino Hydro Corporation to build a 400 megawatt hydroelectric dam in the north of the West African country.

A Chinese consortium also recently signed a $3 billion iron ore deal in Gabon, which includes extending a railway and building a bulk commodities and container port.

"It would be remiss of me if I failed to mention the very commendable step that was taken by China to facilitate greater access for commodities from Africa," Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Minister Seyoum Mesfin told the conference.

Ground-breaking
Chinese leaders have already made ground-breaking visits to East Africa earlier this year, including the visit by President Hu Jintau to Kenya in April.

Beijing's interest in African natural resources mostly centres around oil and prospective new oilfields but also includes concessions for copper and cobalt, iron and platinum, timber and cotton.

With its economy growing by around nine per cent a year over the past 10 years, Beijing is in need of new natural resources to feed this growth.

The quid pro quo for Africa has been enormous, with new trade deals being signed and Chinese promises to develop the infrastructure such as the major road, rail and bridge building programme in Angola.

By the end of last year, China had invested around $6.27 billion in Africa. This investment has helped boost GDP growth across Africa as a whole by around 4.4 per cent since 2001. Africa's economy grew by 5.5 per cent in 2005 and is expected to do even better this year.
But the largest impact has been in two-way trade, which jumped from around $10 billion in 2000 to around $50 billion this year. According to London's Financial Times, the trade balance is slightly in Africa's favour.

With growing economies, programmes to rebuild shattered infrastructure, developing trade links and more investment planned, many Africans have criticised Western governments for their negative attitude to the developing Chinese presence.

Copyright © 2007 The Nation. All rights reserved.

BIG DEAL

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has signed into law the MineralDevelopment Agreement (MDA), giving Mittal Steel, the right to beginmining operations at the former holdings of the LAMCO JV Company inNimba and Grand Bassa counties.

The Liberian leader said, "And now Mittal Steel can go to work, createsjobs for our people so that they fetch income for themselves." Congratulations!

Of course we do not know all of the secret clauses agreed to in NewYork and Monrovia, but we have a better deal then ever before. This isa major milestone for Liberia. The ratification and signing of the MDAsays to the world, we are open for business on an equitable basis. Wewill no longer neglect our citizens or the environment.

The delay was worth it, but the struggle continues under the new termsof the MDA. In the May 8 article in The Analyst (Monrovia), it statedthat it was time for Mittal Steel to "show its juice," Indeed they arethe biggest pineapple in the bunch. However, the folks that need tostep forward to show what they are made of are the Liberian people.One, to not squander this opportunity, and two, to hold Mittal to thedaylight clauses of the contract that promote their corporate socialresponsibility and environmental conservation pledges.

Mr. Joseph Matthews, General Manager of Mittal Steel Liberia, we holdyour foot.

Anthropogenicagent

A Deliberative Carbohydrate Economy

I received a bit of fan mail related to my, "Burn up Your Own Crops!"
http://liberianature.blogspot.com/2007/04/burn-up-your-own-crops.html

Thanks.

Stop and think.

For the first time in 60 years, the carbohydrate economy is back on the public-policy agenda.Wemay be changing the very material foundation of industrial economies. Whether and how we effect that change can profoundly affect the future of our natural environment, our rural economies, agriculture, and world trade. It is an exciting historical opportunity, but one we shouldapproach with deliberation and foresight.

- David Morris, The Once and Future Carbohydrate Economy, April 2006

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EarlyBird