[deMolay]

It has been reported here before that China already has thousands of workers in Africa. http://www.spiegel.de/international/wor ... 24,00.html

[Roy]

Nice find. Thanks for posting.

Sounds like the paradigm of rich investors mining resources where ever they can continues.

That's because land, which is extremely fertile in some regions, is inexpensive on the impoverished continent. Payne's land fund pays $350-500 per hectare ($140-200 per acre) in Zambia, about a tenth the price of land in Argentina or the United States. For a small farmer in Africa, the average yield per hectare has remained unchanged in 40 years. With a little fertilizer and additional irrigation, yields could quadruple -- and so could profits.

I'm sure yields and profits could grow. But at what cost to the small farmers in Africa?

[outcast]

It has been reported here before that China already has thousands of workers in Africa. http://www.spiegel.de/international/wor ... 24,00.html

[Pretorian]

I'm sure yields and profits could grow. But at what cost to the small farmers in Africa?

I assume you already sent half of your daily rationing of porridge and corn-mash to starving Africans. What? You dont eat porridge? Starving Africans would really like you to.

[Pretorian]

PS $350-500 per hectare is REALLY expensive price for a land like that, especially considering geography and stable anarchy in that region.

[eastbay]

Nice find. Thanks for posting. Sounds like the paradigm of rich investors mining resources where ever they can continues.

That's because land, which is extremely fertile in some regions, is inexpensive on the impoverished continent. Payne's land fund pays $350-500 per hectare ($140-200 per acre) in Zambia, about a tenth the price of land in Argentina or the United States. For a small farmer in Africa, the average yield per hectare has remained unchanged in 40 years. With a little fertilizer and additional irrigation, yields could quadruple -- and so could profits.

I'm sure yields and profits could grow. But at what cost to the small farmers in Africa?

Yes, nice find. The African farmers will get squeezed out of their own land. Then look out. They'll want it back.

The land China is using/ contemplating using in Africa is borrowed only. It can be appropriated/ nationalized any time. I doubt if China will use armed force to defend borrowed farmland or any other resources in Africa.

[deMolay]

Yah the Chinese Benevolent Society. http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa ... cekeepers/

[deMolay]

Chinese Troops in Zimbabwe? http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 11796.html

[deMolay]

The Chinese Communist Benevolent Society would never never disenfranchise poor African Proletariat. Must be lies. http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=15036

[outcast]

Afraid American hegemony might finally be upstaged? If you're going to criticize a country for something, fine as long as it is consistant and applied to all countries who engage in such activities, otherwise its just hypocracy and in some cases even racist.

[deMolay]

Ha Ha Ha.

[deMolay]

The Communist Chinese Benevolent Society working for the African Proletariat. http://news.mongabay.com/2005/0420x-tina_butler.html

[dorlomin]

Chinese Troops in Zimbabwe? http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 11796.html

Zimbabwe was one of Chinas very few cold war successes. IIRC ZANU was supported by the Chinese while ZAPU was supported by the Soviets, Mugabwes ZANU ended up running the country, so the ties are quite old, although post indepenence Zimbabwe was a traditional 'non-aligned' state with capitalism and some free market ideology.

The infamous 5 brigade was North Korean trained.

The article is old and referes to the time of the infamous arms shippment to ZImbabwe back in 2008.

[Pretorian]

Chinaman in Madagascar, biodiversity haven:

[outcast]

Afraid American hegemony might finally be upstaged? If you're going to criticize a country for something, fine as long as it is consistant and applied to all countries who engage in such activities, otherwise its just hypocracy and in some cases even racist.

Ever hear of personal responsibility? Your argument reminds me of Sarah Palin's excuse for her own kids.

Adults exercise control where they have it. I don't waste my in impossible fights. Like denying peak oil.

Yeah, although the total hypocracy of many china bashers is quite annoying.

[bodigami]

It has been reported here before that China already has thousands of workers in Africa. http://www.spiegel.de/international/wor ... 24,00.html

racist propaganda worked back in the 40's, and stoped working around '04.

China is huge, as is USA. The best thing for the world is that this 2 countries go to a cage and make war with around 400 million survivors... but I am not advocating that. China and USA workers can make great peons in a post-peak oil world. USAmericans for "desk work" and Chinese for "field work".

[bodigami]

Afraid American hegemony might finally be upstaged? If you're going to criticize a country for something, fine as long as it is consistant and applied to all countries who engage in such activities, otherwise its just hypocracy and in some cases even racist.

USA used nuclear weapons on civilian soil. Back in the 80's (1785), that will mean that USA citizens will become slaves of the rest of the world after WW3.

A simple substitution: USAmericans slaves instead of oil slaves. But I am not advocating that. I advocate the peaceful abolition of the USA army for the benefit of protection from the new empire of China (which wouldn't last much; Japan and China could be in an eternal mutual check-mate for all I care... let the kamis decide who will win that war).