News for today's 2018: 09/11/12

CHINA’S WINNING STRATEGY IN AFRICA

7:21 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7jVps7ks2qB2rMmeURMJjrLNhgZF67m7QPL2UcMbeXlR935EmpKKXe50OqOJASXqPNMcYkCbnn68I1BEJgrVcMboKpRkq3PUO8icgKOPhJ2ZCksaiDW8aaKKEfPhbYE2TtPjmqgAo9wx/s1600/1450042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7jVps7ks2qB2rMmeURMJjrLNhgZF67m7QPL2UcMbeXlR935EmpKKXe50OqOJASXqPNMcYkCbnn68I1BEJgrVcMboKpRkq3PUO8icgKOPhJ2ZCksaiDW8aaKKEfPhbYE2TtPjmqgAo9wx/s400/1450042.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 3.75pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THAT CHINA’S RISE IN AFRICA AMOUNTS TO NEO-COLONIALISM AND IS RESENTED BY AFRICANS, IS A NOTION EXISTING PRIMARILY IN THE MINDS OF WESTERN ANALYSTS</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There are stark differences between Beijing’s and Washington’s foreign policies, and nowhere are these more obvious than in AFRICA.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">GLOBAL REALIGNMENT OF POWER IS TAKING PLACE</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Contention between CHINA and the UNITED STATES is extending far beyond the current hot spot of the SOUTH CHINA SEA. As CHINA’S economy continues its rapid expansion, a truly global realignment of power is taking place. Regions that were dominated by the West for centuries are now coming into CHINA’S orbit, challenging AMERICA’S position at the top on a once-unipolar world.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This trend is particularly evident in AFRICA. The UNITED STATES is now seeking to counter CHINA’S economic and political inroads in the AFRICAN continent. The AFRICA policies of both the US and CHINA are important not only in their own right, but also because these policies serve to indicate the significant differences in these two powers’ general foreign strategies and world views.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AMERICA WILL STAND UP FOR DEMOCRACY AND UNIVERSAL HUMAN RIGHTS</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsb7KuzEtWDhZPbsXFn5zcTeDRht-CC40i65Qtu3DxRbpzdVOmD4g_cWNnx5hMb8C_pHNZ9BNr_ManKT9qOD8oVAdw8ksHG79Ytxc5m9N-pRXaFVelGguq_-7k2lU7FYERy851LnF7I_Q/s1600/610x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsb7KuzEtWDhZPbsXFn5zcTeDRht-CC40i65Qtu3DxRbpzdVOmD4g_cWNnx5hMb8C_pHNZ9BNr_ManKT9qOD8oVAdw8ksHG79Ytxc5m9N-pRXaFVelGguq_-7k2lU7FYERy851LnF7I_Q/s400/610x350.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">US Secretary of State <b>Hillary Rodham Clinton</b> has been quick to question CHINA’S relationship with AFRICA, and highlight the purported difference in AFRICA policy between the US and CHINA. During her visit to Senegal (the first stop of her AFRICAN tour), she promoted "a model of sustainable partnership that adds value, rather than extracts it". She went on to promise: "AMERICA will stand up for democracy and universal human rights even when it might be easier to look the other way and keep the resources flowing."</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">These comments have been widely understood as thinly disguised swipes at CHINESE efforts in the region. CHINESE state media reacted swiftly, saying Clinton’s words constituted "cheap shots". An editorial from the official Xinhua news agency, titled "US plot to sow discord between CHINA, AFRICA is doomed to fail" stated:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"<i>CHINA’S booming economic relations with AFRICA have stemmed both from their time-honored friendship and complementary needs of development. Its genuine respect of and support for AFRICAN countries’ development paths are lauded and welcomed across the continent. The friendly and mutually beneficial interaction between CHINA and AFRICA gives the lie to Clinton’s insinuation.</i>" </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">US INTENTIONS IN AFRICA ARE COUNTERTERRORISM AND SECURITY, WHERE AS CHINA’S ARE ALMOST ENTIRELY ECONOMIC</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">One must sift through the propaganda on both sides to arrive at an objective truth behind the motives of the US and CHINA in AFRICA. Both act in AFRICA to promote the perceived self-interest of their respective nations. While the US speaks of human rights and democracy, counterterrorism and security are at the top of its agenda. Meanwhile, CHINA’S "friendly interaction" with AFRICAN states has an almost entirely economic purpose.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">IN 2009 CHINA OVERTOOK THE UNITED STATES TO BECOME AFRICA’S NO 1 TRADING PARTNER</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibt9AblkDOCHPPR7d0ZQOYVx_Fzy1hUDS67U9G3c2etF1ICj9gIUiLjMsC1P9IBFmr8uM0yojzCIaNr-qg6_4ViCSdE_BS4RPU1WrUYs9LWueysUrGjHLd1svV4dmHUJmjLy_qxb1GtMAx/s1600/2012.03.30.china-africa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibt9AblkDOCHPPR7d0ZQOYVx_Fzy1hUDS67U9G3c2etF1ICj9gIUiLjMsC1P9IBFmr8uM0yojzCIaNr-qg6_4ViCSdE_BS4RPU1WrUYs9LWueysUrGjHLd1svV4dmHUJmjLy_qxb1GtMAx/s400/2012.03.30.china-africa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The raw numbers reveal CHINA’S massive economic impact in AFRICA. Trade between AFRICA and CHINA has more than trebled since 2006, passing US$166 billion last year. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The majority of this figure comes from AFRICA’S $93 billion of exports to CHINA - most of which is raw materials, especially petroleum and copper. AFRICAN imports from CHINA consist largely of consumer and electronic goods. According to Beijing, the past decade has seen $15 billion worth of CHINESE commercial investment in AFRICA. In 2009 CHINA overtook the United States to become Africa’s No 1 trading partner.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">However, CHINA’S footprint in AFRICA extends far beyond the bustling trade in natural resources and manufactured goods. Last month, at the 5<sup>th</sup> Forum on AFRICA – CHINA Cooperation, CHINA promised to lend AFRICAN governments $20 billion. This figure has consistently doubled at the last three forums - in 2006 $5 billion was pledged, and in 2009 $10 billion in loans were agreed upon. Inter-government ties between AFRICA and CHINA were further solidified by CHINA’S building of the AFRICAN UNION headquarters in Addis Ababa free of charge.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BACKGROUND INFORMATION</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: See </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">SUB SAHARA AFRICA, EMERGING MARKETS OF TOMORROW<b> </b><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/argentina-and-africa.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/argentina-and-africa.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The CHINESE government clearly expects dividends on its massive investment in the AFRICAN continent. Many of the loans to AFRICA are focused on infrastructure. New roads, railways and ports, while obviously useful to the AFRICANS themselves, will help facilitate the export of natural resources to CHINA.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEQYOF9ks16S-re92X0ZjauPhITIhBuWeFUFEqvrBfyCot6NwPWQ2D7QOZ78LqB32KqHvXCWjQeS7zA1FZkuNzGGE7jj_PP5IVV3rZ5pLkqAqM1XQz1zAfWP9drOqOnTm5A7X3285qMCu/s1600/china-africa-trade-billion-imports-exports-china-customs-and-national-bureau-statistics-afp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEQYOF9ks16S-re92X0ZjauPhITIhBuWeFUFEqvrBfyCot6NwPWQ2D7QOZ78LqB32KqHvXCWjQeS7zA1FZkuNzGGE7jj_PP5IVV3rZ5pLkqAqM1XQz1zAfWP9drOqOnTm5A7X3285qMCu/s400/china-africa-trade-billion-imports-exports-china-customs-and-national-bureau-statistics-afp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA’S role in AFRICA reveals a singular economic focus. Beijing’s emphasis on economic growth and increasing trade ties with other nations is the defining point of its foreign policy - not only in AFRICA, but also around the world. Much of CHINA’S ongoing economic miracle is based on wealth created through international trade. Its dealings with various unsavory regimes in AFRICA are not a purposeful affront to Western sensibilities, but are rather based purely on economic self-interest.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CONCERNS OVER CHINA’S INCREASING PRESENCE IN AFRICA</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Meanwhile, Western critiques of CHINA’S impact in AFRICA often overlook the opinions of AFRICANS themselves. Undoubtedly, there are some concerns in AFRICA with CHINA’S increasing presence. At the fifth Forum on AFRICA-CHINA Cooperation, SOUTH AFRICAN President Jacob Zuma expressed mild reservations with SINO-AFRICAN relations:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">"<i>AFRICA’S commitment to CHINA’S development has been demonstrated by supply of raw materials, other products and technology transfer ... This trade pattern is unsustainable in the long term. Africa’s past economic experience with EUROPE dictates a need to be cautious when entering into partnerships with other economies.</i>" </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Zuma’s misgivings regarding the pattern of trade represent a common concern among some AFRICAN leaders. However, this by no means is indicative of a general anti-CHINESE attitude throughout the continent.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">According to a 2011 BBC World Service Poll, 82% of Nigerians and 77% of Kenyans believed that CHINA’S economic growth had a "positive impact" on their country.  These were the highest positive ratings of CHINA’S economic rise of any of the 27 countries polled, excluding CHINA itself. This optimistic attitude was mirrored in GHANA (62%), but markedly less prevalent in EGYPT (54%) and SOUTH AFRICA (52%).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Furthermore, the same study found an overwhelming majority of AFRICANS to view CHINA’S trading practices as "fair" - from 88% in NIGERIA to 61% in SOUTH AFRICA. According to the same poll, only 5% of NIGERIANS and 18% of SOUTH AFRICANS viewed CHINESE trading practices as "unfair".</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA’S image problem in AFRICA resides primarily in the minds of Western observers. Although there are significant concerns about unsustainable trading practices, these concerns do not constitute a continent-wide anti-CHINA sentiment.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Charges of CHINESE "neo-imperialism" in AFRICA are primarily based on a pattern of trade: importing materials and exporting finished goods typical is a formula typical of colonial powers. However, the major defining factor of imperialism - military dominance and use of force - is simply not present in CHINA’S AFRICA policy. This is not true of CHINA’S prime Western critics, especially the UNITED STATES of AMERICA.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">IN 2007, THE PENTAGON ESTABLISHED THE UNITED STATES AFRICA COMMAND (AFRICOM), WITH MILITARY JURISDICTION OVER THE ENTIRE CONTINENT</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2apSe1BK_W2_aU6oFCAurOgAO0Dxr0Krl5J7lITIkr5pg0VJHW8VUUAOr_FvEba10R0QEKTsAjtIF3wOEGbhXfL-2P1VFPDETDSWEPGwJxCmd42Dr8pvJnjw7ijrl4eiq7Bk0-WimFlSH/s1600/AFRICOM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2apSe1BK_W2_aU6oFCAurOgAO0Dxr0Krl5J7lITIkr5pg0VJHW8VUUAOr_FvEba10R0QEKTsAjtIF3wOEGbhXfL-2P1VFPDETDSWEPGwJxCmd42Dr8pvJnjw7ijrl4eiq7Bk0-WimFlSH/s320/AFRICOM.jpg" width="249" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">During the past decade of CHINA’S rapidly increasing trade and investment in AFRICA, the United States was primarily focused on "security" issues in the continent. US involvement in SOMALIA’S long-standing civil war has been extensive, with numerous casualties from drone strikes targeting Islamist militias. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ETHIOPIAN and UGANDAN soldiers, backed by AMERICAN weaponry and intelligence, have intervened in SOMALIA to counter the Islamists. Furthermore, in 2007, the Pentagon established the UNITED STATES AFRICA COMMAND (AFRICOM), with military jurisdiction over the entire continent. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s bombing campaign in LIBYA (which earned CHINA’S disapproval) was strongly backed by US firepower.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BACKGROUND INFORMATION</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: See <b>AFRICA AND THE USA</b> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/africa-and-usa.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/africa-and-usa.html</a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA’S COLD HARD CASH HAS PROVED MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE AT WINNING FRIENDS IN THE REGION THAN AMERICA’S MILITARY APPROACH</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The myopic focus of the US on security and counterterrorism gave CHINA an important opportunity to make economic inroads in AFRICA. Nowhere in the world is the foreign-policy focus of these two nations better contrasted than in the AFRICAN continent. While the US was busy been bombing and arming, CHINA was buying, selling, building and lending.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Secretary Clinton’s criticisms of CHINA’S AFRICA policy are likely to fall on deaf ears. CHINA’S cold hard cash has proved much more effective at winning friends in the region than AMERICA’S military approach.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Furthermore, CHINA by no means has a monopoly on dealing with oppressive regimes to promote self-interest. While championing "human rights" and "democracy", the US has made deals with the authoritarian governments of ETHIOPIA and UGANDA to promote its counterterrorism and security agenda. Daniel Kalinaki of UGANDA’S Daily Monitor complains that the US push for good governance is "inconsistent and shifts with its interests".</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">BOTH, THE USA AND CHINA HAVE BEEN WILLING TO STRIKE DEALS WITH UNSAVORY REGIMES FOR THE SAKE OF SELF-INTEREST, BE IT ECONOMIC (IN CHINA’S CASE) OR STRATEGIC (IN AMERICA’S).</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggnGUiabtb0umzEH0aLqVLfd8EEM2Nyx1ApHgCB2CCmOjBOEauMP12j0XfXh44Bc8Ics0yRFEynvGrjX8fx6woEdmgvwTWkH6UtGD-pCVeDlVLW8zxI4sj8ruu62W5d3_gQGkm4O-OvMq/s1600/071811_africa_world_trade_02_rr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggnGUiabtb0umzEH0aLqVLfd8EEM2Nyx1ApHgCB2CCmOjBOEauMP12j0XfXh44Bc8Ics0yRFEynvGrjX8fx6woEdmgvwTWkH6UtGD-pCVeDlVLW8zxI4sj8ruu62W5d3_gQGkm4O-OvMq/s400/071811_africa_world_trade_02_rr.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Both CHINA and the UNITED STATES have extensive interests in AFRICA. Where Washington focuses on combating a global jihadist tide (and ostensibly promoting democracy), Beijing sees a rich potential of natural resources and new customers for CHINESE goods. AFRICA serves to highlight the stark contrast of CHINESE and US foreign policy. Both nations have been willing to strike deals with unsavory regimes for the sake of self-interest, be it economic (in CHINA’S case) or strategic (AMERICA’S).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">As the US "pivots" toward ASIA, it is only natural that CHINA will seek strategic depth in areas that were once dominated by the US and its EUROPEAN allies. If the US becomes more openly determined to contain CHINA’S rise, the ensuing struggle will not be confined to the ASIA-Pacific region. CHINA’S extensive economic ties with AFRICA will eventually pay political dividends.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">written by <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Brendan P. O’Reilly</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">FOR MORE BACKGROUND INFORMATION</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">: See</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html</span></span></a></div>

CHINA’S WINNING STRATEGY IN AFRICA

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Half Dose #109: Sasso San Gottardo

1:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/7924461382/" title="Sasso San Gottardo by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Sasso San Gottardo" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/7924461382_30485accf1_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br />[All photographs by John Hill] <br /><br />My onslaught of photos and projects from a recent trip to Switzerland is pretty much wrapped up, but one project that deserves some attention is <a href="http://www.sasso-sangottardo.ch/">Sasso San Gottardo</a>, a "themed exhibition focuse[d] on the challenges of managing our resources." <a href="http://www.holzerkobler.ch/">Hozler Kobler Architekturen</a> is responsible for the design of the various environments inserted into the tunnels and caves of a former fortress at St. Gotthard Pass. Signs of the fortress are visible from the roadways near the pass, but these glimpses -- doors, sights, concrete masses camouflaged into the mountainside -- do not prepare for the experience inside.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/7924474070/" title="Sasso San Gottardo by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Sasso San Gottardo" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8302/7924474070_456749ba33_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />After walking in the "front door," one needs to follow a long tunnel before coming to the first exhibition space. A small office is located about halfway between the entry and exhibition space, what is surely one of the oddest places for such a thing.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/7924472680/" title="Sasso San Gottardo by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Sasso San Gottardo" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8033/7924472680_cc85b7310c_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />The "<a href="http://www.sasso-sangottardo.ch/en/themed-exhibition/themed-sections/energy/">Energy</a>" exhibit is the first one encountered. Most of it is housed in a room with old control panels and other artifacts juxtaposed with stationary cycles for powering fans and other interactive components. Above is a view into a small room housing wood balls in the configuration of one of those perpetual motion toys. Not all of the pieces are particularly enlightening nor successful in how they work, but the way everything is inserted into the original rooms is fantastic. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/7924471342/" title="Sasso San Gottardo by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Sasso San Gottardo" height="470" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8297/7924471342_0db8b402ce_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Further along is a space that features a vaulted concrete liner within a larger room (above); lighting in the interstitial space gives off a green glow that is visible from a distance along one of the tunnels. Hanging in the middle of the space is a metallic sculpture that maps every space within the mountain. Tracing how far my group had come in our visit, we realized that the exhibitions only scratch the surface of the circuit of tunnels and caves -- many kilometers were beyond what we'd traversed. In particular, the Armament and Garrison are historical sections open to the public, but they were unfortunately closed at the time of our visit.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/7924469776/" title="Sasso San Gottardo by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Sasso San Gottardo" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/7924469776_cdd2d6c57d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The "<a href="http://www.sasso-sangottardo.ch/en/themed-exhibition/themed-sections/mobility-living-space/">Mobility and Living Space</a>" room (above) is odd -- not for the metal-grid floor, moody lighting, and Lost-like countdown on the wall -- but because it is warm, where every other space is a constant cool that happens year-round.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/7924467794/" title="Sasso San Gottardo by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Sasso San Gottardo" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8436/7924467794_362c967e5b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The "<a href="http://www.sasso-sangottardo.ch/en/themed-exhibition/themed-sections/crystal/">Crystal</a>" room (above) displays mountain crystals that were previously found in the area. The room itself is shaped similarly to the natural forms housed behind glass and illuminated from above.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/7924466454/" title="Sasso San Gottardo by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Sasso San Gottardo" height="480" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/7924466454_bc8760489f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />The highlight of the exhibition is easily the large space that is split between "<a href="http://www.sasso-sangottardo.ch/en/themed-exhibition/themed-sections/weather-and-climate/">Weather and Climate</a>" (above) and "<a href="http://www.sasso-sangottardo.ch/en/themed-exhibition/themed-sections/water/">Water</a>". A 5mm layer of water covers most of the space, allowing visitors to "walk on water" on one side or tiptoe across colored steps on the other. In the center of the space is a model of a mountain set atop a map of Switzerland; water dripping from the ceiling trickles over the mountain, showing how water cascades from the peak and pass to different parts of the country.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/7924463082/" title="Sasso San Gottardo by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Sasso San Gottardo" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8452/7924463082_f3cc23e2be_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />Elsewhere are rooms, like those above and below, that are not as raw or natural in their finishes, but which nevertheless exhibit a historical patina. The larger space looks like it served as an office for the exhibition architects, but the way the old laptop, mouse, and even stapler are hot-glued to the desk makes it clear that it's just another display. Regardless, it's nice to see the architectural drawings on the wall after passing through the real thing.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/7924623508/" title="Sasso San Gottardo by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Sasso San Gottardo" height="800" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8180/7924623508_804c39ecd8_c.jpg" width="600" /></a><br /><br />Ultimately Sasso San Gottardo is a strange entity that is more fascinating for admission to the network of spaces built into the hillside than for the exhibitions on display. The latter do spur visitors to think about their relationship to resources like water, energy, and even the weather, but they are most successful when they exploit the potential of the tunnels and caves. For example, the dimming lights and the sound of water in the "Water" and "Weather of Climate" room accentuate the feeling of being inside a mountain, where resources are much more limited, and therefore where one's actions need to be considered more carefully.

Half Dose #109: Sasso San Gottardo

[All photographs by John Hill] My onslaught of photos and projects from a recent trip to Switzerland is pretty much wrapped up, but one project that deserves some attention is Sasso San Gottardo, a "themed exhibition focuse[d] on the challenges of ma…

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 09/11/2012

12:30 PM Tukiyooo 0

<ul class="diigo-linkroll">      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/blog/sticky-note-teaching-tool-ben-johnson?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29">Tools for Teaching: The Amazing Sticky Note | Edutopia</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">I LOVE sticky notes and use them all the time. Here are some ideas from edutopia about many ways to use them. One tip from me: get the "extra sticky" sticky notes - or you'll be finding them all over the floor.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/classroom">classroom</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://alfredtwo.blogspot.com/2012/09/are-you-best-part-of-students-day.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ComputerScienceTeacher+%28Computer+Science+Teacher+-+Thoughts+and+Information+from+Alfred+Thompson%29">Computer Science Teacher: Are You The Best Part Of A Student’s Day/</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">"Yesterday is used a quote from an educator friend of mine that “I may be the best thing that happens in my students and my staff's lives that day. I can handle the other stuff. They come first.” "  Alfred Thompson ponders the importance of wanting to be the best part of a student's day. While it relates to computer science, it relates to all teaching as well. Great thoughts.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/computer_science">computer_science</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/computer_science_teacher">computer_science_teacher</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Facebook-template-page-6025698/">Facebook template page - Resources - Share My Lesson</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">This is an interesting approach to creating a customized "Facebook" page for a character. You can use this or Fakebook but many don't have access to Fakebook. Download and use this activity to create a "fake" facebook page for major characters in history or literature.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/facebook">facebook</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.sharemylesson.com/teaching-resource/Creative-Writing-Prompts-PowerPoint-6001385/">Creative Writing Prompts PowerPoint - Resources - Share My Lesson</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">If you need some creative writing prompts for grades 6-8 (short 10 minute tasks) you can use this cool PowerPoint.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/writing">writing</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/creativity">creativity</a></p>                                        </li>      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://www.iboard.co.uk/activities">TES iboard: Interactive activity finder</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">Love this website for interactive whiteboards in the elementary classroom. In the activity finder you can search by topic.</p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/iwb">iwb</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a></p>                                        </li>  </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='http://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 09/11/2012

Tools for Teaching: The Amazing Sticky Note | Edutopia I LOVE sticky notes and use them all the time. Here are some ideas from edutopia about many ways to use them. One tip from me: get the "extra sticky" sticky…

Internal affairs: ARGENTINA

5:01 AM Tukiyooo 0

<h1><span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Despite the clamp, Timerman’s <span style="font-size: small;">(<i>allegedly</i>)</span>plan big ‘dollar splash’ next March in Uruguay </span></span></h1><h1><span style="font-size: x-small;">via MercoPress</span></h1><div class="intro">            <span style="font-size: large;">While most Argentines face increasing difficulties to  access to US dollars, to travel overseas or use their debit and credit  cards abroad, (the famous ‘dollar clamp’) one of President Cristina  Fernandez most notorious and loquacious ministers, Hector Timerman is  organizing a three-day major splash at Uruguay’s most posh resort to  celebrate the marriage of his eldest daughter.</span><br />         </div><div class="article-tools">            <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>      <div class="facebook"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="height: 20px; width: 166px;"></span></span></div></div><div class="text-block">                                                  <div id="adsense04"><span style="font-size: large;">The three-day March event with at least 300 guests will  be held at Jose Ignacio, next to Punta del Este in Uruguay’s most  expensive resort, and the invitations sent out via internet, to try and  avoid public exposure, simply say that “Jordi&Martin” (in The New  Yorker style calligraphy) would like to have the pleasure of your  attendance to their “Weekend Wedding”.</span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Jordi&Martin are Jordana Timerman (29) and Martin Levinton (32)  </span><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">The wedding will take place at the restaurant La Huella, virtually on  the beach and considered one of the top spots of Jose Ignacio. </span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">It is estimated that the guests will have to pay over a thousand  dollars each to spend the weekend in Jose Ignacio at the exclusive  resort and which takes off on Friday March first and ends on Sunday,  March 3, with a “recovery brunch”.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">In other words while the government of President Cristina Fernandez  is doing the utmost to prevent the outflow of dollars from Argentina,  one of her ministers will certainly be spending dollars lavishly to  celebrate his daughter’s marriage and none less than in neighbouring  Uruguay, a country with which Timerman has constantly clashed over a  long list of issues from the bilateral agenda: from protectionism to  dredging River Plate access channels.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">However ‘double-talk’ from the Cristina Fernandez cabinet is not an  isolated incident. The man head of the tax revenue office AFIP and  implementing the ‘clamp’ and all the measures to prevent US dollars  fleeing from Argentina, Ricardo Echegaray, has his summer residence in  Punta del Este, Uruguay.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">See also: <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/argentine-protectionism-policies.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/argentine-protectionism-policies.html</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">Nothing shocking about that, but the fact he is a newcomer to the  Uruguayan resort famous night and social life: he bought the house in  2011.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">Another minister Axel Kicillof, a late incorporation to the team of  Cristina Fernandez but who is proving to be the brains behind most of  the latest economic and financial measures, also has a summer house in  Uruguay, although in a more modest resort and closer to Buenos Aires, in  Colonia on the River Plate.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">Solicitor Carlos Zanini, the Legal and Technical Secretary of the  Executive, which means he drafts the bills for Cristina Fernandez and is  in daily contact, also likes to take stress off along Uruguay’s  Atlantic coast. More exactly he was seen a couple of weeks ago at Jose  Ignacio, the exclusive resort which the Timerman family have contracted  for the first weekend of next March.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">But yes, he was seen driving a 4x4 Super Toyota with Argentine  plates, but the initial identification letter was a big ‘K’, pointed out  the Buenos Aires media.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">All this happens in the midst of the campaign to convince Argentines  not to save in dollars but in Pesos and in a titanic effort, to prevent  every loophole that could let a single dollar escape the country.</span><br /><br /> <span style="font-size: large;">Furthermore when the administration of Cristina’s husband, President  Nestor Kirchner, Argentine cabinet ministers simply didn’t’ dare spend  holidays outside the country, following on strict orders from the K  boss.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Background Information</b>: See also</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/crime-corruption-and-political-system_7.html"><span style="font-size: large;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/crime-corruption-and-political-system_7.html</span></a><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/crime-corruption-and-political-system.html"><span style="font-size: large;">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/crime-corruption-and-political-system.html</span></a><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/if-country-neglects-to-improve-its.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/if-country-neglects-to-improve-its.html</a><br />  </span><br />        </div>

Internal affairs: ARGENTINA

Despite the clamp, Timerman’s (allegedly)plan big ‘dollar splash’ next March in Uruguay via MercoPress While most Argentines face increasing difficulties to access to US dollars, to travel overseas or use their debit and credit cards abr…

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 09/11/2012

2:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<ul class="diigo-linkroll">      <li>      <p class="diigo-link">                <a href="http://storify.com/jacbalen/taxonomy-of-global-connection-1">Taxonomy of Global Connection · jacbalen · Storify</a>      </p>      <p class="diigo-description">We're doing a new take on "quad blogging" in our Flat Classroom certified teacher program by literally having participants blog together on a Google doc. Here's a post from by @jasongraham99 @tashacowdy @jacbalen http://t.co/QfRpDsN9 that covers taxonomy of Global Connection as covered in Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds. Excellent work and a great explanation on how these five types of collaboration look in the classroom. </p>              <p class="diigo-tags">          <span>tags:</span>                      <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/flatclass">flatclass</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a>            <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a></p>                                        </li>  </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='http://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 09/11/2012

Taxonomy of Global Connection · jacbalen · Storify We're doing a new take on "quad blogging" in our Flat Classroom certified teacher program by literally having participants blog together on a Google doc. Here's…