http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/06/16/africa-poverty-and-renewable-energy Distributed Action Research, communities of practice and social objects by Andy Roberts Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:58:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/06/16/africa-poverty-and-renewable-energy#comment-30716 Andy Thu, 16 Jun 2005 17:25:31 +0000 http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/06/16/africa-poverty-and-renewable-energy#comment-30716 I agree with Riz that the fundamental problem is embedded within the very structure of capitalism as an economic system, with its all-consuming need endlessly to drive down labour costs and seek new markets. After globalisation there is nowhere left to exploit unless they can find alien worlds to dump all the surplus productive capacity onto. I agree with Riz that the fundamental problem is embedded within the very structure of capitalism as an economic system, with its all-consuming need endlessly to drive down labour costs and seek new markets. After globalisation there is nowhere left to exploit unless they can find alien worlds to dump all the surplus productive capacity onto.

]]> http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/06/16/africa-poverty-and-renewable-energy#comment-30715 Riz Thu, 16 Jun 2005 14:53:57 +0000 http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2005/06/16/africa-poverty-and-renewable-energy#comment-30715 Poverty has been a source of misery for millions within Africa for decades and the forces of globalisation have further perpetuated the levels of poverty. In response to this economic predicament within Africa, the inception to ‘Make Poverty History’ has been hailed as being a positive gesture by the British government, together with charity organisations and various faith groups. Debt relief, alteration to the rules regulating trade with the North and increasing the levels of developmental aid have been pointed out as being crucial to fulfilling the intended aim of eradicating poverty. The aforementioned solutions to eradicate poverty represent a departure from past economic policy, which may be hailed as a major break through by advocates but a deeper insight would indicate no substantial movement away from free market idealism and private sector growth, which represent core tenets of the capitalist economic philosophy. Therefore rather than focusing upon the solutions that have been advocated a deeper issue needs to be analysed and that is whether capitalism can really make poverty history when it has failed to elevate poverty in Africa for decades despite billions in financial aid? Can globalisation powered by the ideals of capitalism really lift millions out of poverty when the rate of inequality between the rich and poor is increasing? To what extent is the West willing to give economic independence to African nations in order to determine their own economic and political future? Poverty has been a source of misery for millions within Africa for decades and the forces of globalisation have further perpetuated the levels of poverty. In response to this economic predicament within Africa, the inception to ‘Make Poverty History’ has been hailed as being a positive gesture by the British government, together with charity organisations and various faith groups. Debt relief, alteration to the rules regulating trade with the North and increasing the levels of developmental aid have been pointed out as being crucial to fulfilling the intended aim of eradicating poverty. The aforementioned solutions to eradicate poverty represent a departure from past economic policy, which may be hailed as a major break through by advocates but a deeper insight would indicate no substantial movement away from free market idealism and private sector growth, which represent core tenets of the capitalist economic philosophy. Therefore rather than focusing upon the solutions that have been advocated a deeper issue needs to be analysed and that is whether capitalism can really make poverty history when it has failed to elevate poverty in Africa for decades despite billions in financial aid? Can globalisation powered by the ideals of capitalism really lift millions out of poverty when the rate of inequality between the rich and poor is increasing? To what extent is the West willing to give economic independence to African nations in order to determine their own economic and political future?

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