I think of Africa and I am at my wits end. What is wrong with our leaders in African countries? Are we happy to remain underdeveloped countries forever? Neither China nor Japan were not "developed" some years back, and now they are rubbing shoulders with other major economic powers, in particular America. On that note, for countries that were "third world" it certainly is ironic that China and Japan lend the United States of America so much money.
Here is a little bit about Japan according to UN estimates and Wikipedia: Japan has the world's second largest economy (after the United States!!!), it is a member of the United Nations, G8, OECD and APEC, with the world's fifth largest defense budget, it is also the world's fourth largest exporter and sixth largest importer, it is one of the leading nations in the fields of scientific research, it is a developed country with high living standards, and the longest life expectancy in the world. Can we say the same for any of our African nations?
Japan did not just become a major economic power over night. They too have suffered western imperialism (alothough not to the same extent as Africa), they too have struggled through economic crisis and poverty (most especially after WWII), they too at one point received aid from foreign nations. Rather than remain stagnant and underdeveloped, their leaders took action! Japan brought some T.V's, radios, cars, and closed their borders and got their scientists to dismantle these electronic equipments and figure out how they work. Now they manufacture and export T.V's, radios, and cars to other countries. Why doesn't Africa follow suit? Why have our leaders not taken action?
India, one of the world's most populous countries, has the world's twelfth largest economy and is the fourth largest in purchasing power. Although that country still suffers from extreme poverty, they are a fast growing economic nation that soon will achieve the same wealth and success as Japan. Their fast growing economy is because their leaders are takign action and have been implementing economic reforms since 1991. IIn particular, India exports a huge labour force (in particular I.T. and customer service representatives) generic drugs, textiles, machinery, software, and other hard commodities. What economic reforms have our own African leaders appointed?
African countries should stop being consumer countries and start manufacturing and exporting more hard commodities. Our leaders should draw up economic reforms and exectute them accordingly. Not until then will we stop being beggar nations.
Here is a little bit about Japan according to UN estimates and Wikipedia: Japan has the world's second largest economy (after the United States!!!), it is a member of the United Nations, G8, OECD and APEC, with the world's fifth largest defense budget, it is also the world's fourth largest exporter and sixth largest importer, it is one of the leading nations in the fields of scientific research, it is a developed country with high living standards, and the longest life expectancy in the world. Can we say the same for any of our African nations?
Japan did not just become a major economic power over night. They too have suffered western imperialism (alothough not to the same extent as Africa), they too have struggled through economic crisis and poverty (most especially after WWII), they too at one point received aid from foreign nations. Rather than remain stagnant and underdeveloped, their leaders took action! Japan brought some T.V's, radios, cars, and closed their borders and got their scientists to dismantle these electronic equipments and figure out how they work. Now they manufacture and export T.V's, radios, and cars to other countries. Why doesn't Africa follow suit? Why have our leaders not taken action?
India, one of the world's most populous countries, has the world's twelfth largest economy and is the fourth largest in purchasing power. Although that country still suffers from extreme poverty, they are a fast growing economic nation that soon will achieve the same wealth and success as Japan. Their fast growing economy is because their leaders are takign action and have been implementing economic reforms since 1991. IIn particular, India exports a huge labour force (in particular I.T. and customer service representatives) generic drugs, textiles, machinery, software, and other hard commodities. What economic reforms have our own African leaders appointed?
African countries should stop being consumer countries and start manufacturing and exporting more hard commodities. Our leaders should draw up economic reforms and exectute them accordingly. Not until then will we stop being beggar nations.
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