African Famine Essay, Research Paper
What exactly is famine? Many people think that famine is always caused by environmental factors, but this was not the cause for the African famines. Famine can be defined as a natural or man-made disaster. Some of the signs of a famine may be the price of food goes up, certain amount of economic distress, minor migration to different countries, increase in crime, or an increase in population. These were all of the signs of the African famine.
When people think of a famine, many people think about, bad weather, poor soil, or even lack of water. But what was different from any regular famine and Africa’s famine is that it was a direct result of man-made disasters. One of the reasons for the African famines may be the lack of communication in some areas. Some cities and villages do not have the means of communication that some of the more prosperous countries enjoy. They do not have telephones and they don’t always have post offices and many of the people in Africa live in small villages outside of cities. Another reason why the famine can be considered a man-made disaster is the lack of capital in parts of Africa. Countries in Africa just cannot support their own economy and they don’t want to ask for help because they think that it is embarrassing. There were so many more people that were unemployed in Africa then those that had jobs. Those who did have jobs sometimes did not receive enough money yet to support themselves and their family. Lack of capital and communication was just the beginning for the long road to the African famines.
Another one of the reasons why Africa had a famine was all the poor decisions that the people of the African nations made. First of all, the farmers were not properly educated on how to efficiently farm the land. All the farmers thought that it was best to farm cash crops, which is far from the truth. This was imposed on them by some of the European powers, such as France, Britain, Russia, and Germany. Cash crops were crops, from which one gets money for exportation. Sometimes farmers were not even able to export these crops because of the lack of transportation. What they farmers should have learned to do was how to use the soil, such as rotating crops, which crops to plant in what kind of soil, not planting crops in a field one year to let the nutrients come back to the soil. If the farmers had had an education they would have learned these simple ideas and could have avoided the famine. Colonial interference made it impossible for farmers to learn about new ways and innovations. Not only were their poor decisions made agriculturally, but also politically. People that played an instrumental role in politics in some of the African nations saw that there was a problem. They did not come out and say they had a problem because they thought that it was embarrassing asking another country such as the U.S. for food. This was probably one of the worst things that they could have done for their country. Instead of helping their country they merely dug the hole bigger for themselves, which would make it tougher for the relief programs to pull them out of. So, if a couple more educated decisions were made, the famine may not have been as bad as it really was or might have been prevented.
The Western Powers are another reason why the famine occurred and why it got to the severity it did. The great nations such as Britain, France, Germany and Russia may have first started the famine with them colonizing the African nations. They were not there to help the people or look out for them, but they were there for the money. They were the ones that were telling the African nations what to plant, in order to benefit their country. The African people had no choice but to listen to the Western Powers or else there would be serious consequences for their nation. Europe played a major role in controlling the African nations and bringing prosperity to their homeland, even though the people of Africa were suffering from a lack of resources.
Another problem that may have contributed to the famine in Africa was the growing population. People in Africa are not knowledgeable about birth control. As the population increased, the amount of food and resources gets used up in that country. Also, most of the people were unemployed, so if a couple has another baby, then that is another mouth that the family cannot feed. This makes the agencies job tougher in dealing with nations suffering from famine. It is hard to get enough food to distribute to people when the population keeps going up. The population increases could also have other effects such as sanitation, pollution, or water problems.
One by one as the people of the suffering nations came forward with their pleas for help, relief agencies set up in these countries. Sending and providing food to a nation always seems like it is helping from the outside, but inside it may actually be harming the country more. This was the job of strong countries such as the U.S. to provide aid to where it is best needed. When a country becomes too reliant on the support of another country, the country receiving the aid might start to depend on the relief. This was the case in the African famines, the countries receiving aid did not continue to try do things themselves or improve their ways. One of the problems with the relief agencies is that they are looking only at the short-term picture, instead of the long-term. This caused the African nations to continue to be in a longer famine than they should have. Countries are not willing to risk lots of money to help nations for the long-term. If they did they would have to increase the education and teach the country the proper and efficient way to do things. They would have to send more efficient equipment to farm the lands and machines to produce goods in factories. These are the reasons why the countries did not want to help the African nations for a long period of time.
The giving of aid can be categorized as purely political. Take the U.S. for instance; it helped the nations of Africa that were politically friendly to the U.S. There has never been a time were the U.S. has helped a communist nation because they are not friendly politically to the U.S. Aid can be used as a weapon against nations that have gone into a famine that we help. We can then play a major role in what happens politically within that nation. Also the distribution of food can be unfair too. The people that live within the cities will get a majority of the food and first pick, compared to the province people who receive minimal amounts of food. All starving people are not all equal; you must be a politically positive government to receive any kind of aid at all.
The people of Africa seemed to be right in the middle of the Cold War. The Soviet Union would go and help countries in Africa that supported communism and the U.S. took offence to this. The Soviets would provide military support to a nation that was pro communism. They would provide them with missiles, weapons, and transportation. The U.S. did not want the Soviet Union intervening in the African famines because it caused the countries to go into a deeper hole than they were already in. And when the Soviets armed these African nations it meant the U.S. had to deal with another problem. The U.S. provided support to South Africa because they were anti-communism and they could have an influence in this country. So the U.S. and the Soviet Union were fighting over the countries of Africa because they were very weak and they could have a political influence on them.
The African famine was built up over a long period of time that all started with colonization. But all of the causes tend to point in the direction of education. If African nations would have been better educated they would have been able to make better decisions. There is no doubt that the African famines were man made, instead of environmental factors as so many people may think. It always seemed as if the African nations could not do anything right, and they were always making the wrong moves.
323
Другие работы по теме:
Nat King Cole Essay Research Paper NAT
Nat King Cole Essay, Research Paper NAT KING COLE BORN MARCH 17, 1919 DIED FEBRUARY 15, 1965 BORN NATHANIEL ADAMS COLES HE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN- AMERICAN WHO BECAME A SUCCESS WITH THE WHITE AUDIENCE.
Discrimination Essay Research Paper Fred L Pincus
Discrimination Essay, Research Paper Fred L. Pincus, author of “From Individual to Structural Discrimination”, is arguing that discrimination is still present among many individual and institutions. The reason why it is not unlawful, according to Pincus, is because the discrimination is so subtle and in some cases it is not done intentionally.
African Americans Essay Research Paper During the
African Americans Essay, Research Paper During the time period of Immigration from the early 1700?s to the mid 1900?s, Africans experienced a lot of conflicts within different racial groups, especially within the Caucasian people. During this time period, most Africans were used as slaves, while the rest either bought their freedom, ran away for their freedom, or became slave hunters.
The Bluest Eyes Essay Research Paper 2
The Bluest Eyes Essay, Research Paper “The Bluest Eyes” Toni Morrison was an African American woman that had gone through almost forty years of suppression. In an excerpt from her novel The Bluest Eyes, she tells the story of a young girl named Claudia who receives a white baby doll every Christmas. Claudia does not like the doll so she decided to tear it apart like every other “white baby doll” that she has received.
Life Of Equiano Essay Research Paper Olaudah
Life Of Equiano Essay, Research Paper Olaudah Equiano (Gustavus Vassa) was kidnapped from his African village at the age of eleven. Shipped through the ardous “Middle Passge” of the Altantic Ocean. More than two centuries later, this work is recognized not only as one of the first works written in English by a former slave, but perhaps more important as the paradigm of the slave narrative, a new literary genre.
Descrimination Essay Research Paper discrimination1 The
Descrimination Essay, Research Paper discrimination 1. The federal government attempted to use many laws to protect the rights of the newly freed slaves, such as the Civil rights Act of 1866, which gave African Americans the right
Emperor Haile Selassie Essay Research Paper Booker
Emperor Haile Selassie Essay, Research Paper Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois each fought for African American civil rights in America, but they each approached the matter of Jim Crow a little different from the other. W.E.B Dubois was big on the idea of integration, whereas Booker T. Washington wanted to keep segregation alive.
African Slave Trade Essay Research Paper With
African Slave Trade Essay, Research Paper With exploration arising in the 1400 s, so did the completion for success between Portugal and Spain. Both countries were in search for the ultimate prize of exploration, gold. Portugal sought after Africa and Spain attempted to find more in the Americas. Even though the African slave trade seemed racist in historical perspective, it was indeed more for economic benefits instead because of the necessity of workers by Spaniards and fact that slavery was accepted in Africa.
African Empires4 Essay Research Paper The Ancient
African Empires4 Essay, Research Paper The Ancient African Empires were very advanced for there times, they were advanced before any European contacts. Each Empire had its similarities and its differences but none of the empires were exactly the same, but they were all advanced Empires for their time. Even though many people believe that Africa was nothing until the Europeans stumbled upon the land they are very mistaken.
Black Essay Research Paper Black Soldiers in
Black Essay, Research Paper Black Soldiers in the Union Army During the Seventeenth, Eighteenth and part of the Nineteenth Century the White People of North America used the Black people of Africa as slaves to benefit their interests. White people created a climate of superiority of their race over the Black African race that in some places, still lingers on today.
Famine In Africa Essay Research Paper Famine
Famine In Africa Essay, Research Paper Famine has struck parts of Africa several times during the 20th century, and to this day is still going strong. According to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, the average African consumes 2300 kcal/day, less than the global average of 2700 kcal/day.
African American Studies Essay Research Paper Ryan
African American Studies Essay, Research Paper Ryan Bradley3/1/00 As African Americans become equal citizens in America they need to establish their own aims and ideas as people. African Americans must do
Famine In Africa Essay Research Paper This
Famine In Africa Essay, Research Paper This paper is about two African third world countries that have serious problems with hunger, Ethiopia and Sudan. Looking at the people, the land, and the history in each country, a comparison will be made about the causes and effects of famine. Famine in Ethiopia and Sudan is apparently due to ethics, politics, and global weather patterns, but the specific causes of famine in these two countries differ greatly.
Slave Trades Essay Research Paper African slave
Slave Trades Essay, Research Paper African slave trade to the America and the European was much worse than slavery in Africa. In this essay ,I will show you the differences. Where were the slave trade took place. Slavery was mostly happing in North America in the carribean and in Europe.The ships full of slaves mostly come to Cuba.
African Proverbs Essay Research Paper African ProverbsAfrican
African Proverbs Essay, Research Paper African Proverbs African proverbs are thought of much more than artistic sayings. They symbolize real life situations in just a few words that consummate great meaning. In cultures without literature, proverbs provide an array of values and knowledge. Proverbs often, also provide entertainment because they may consist of rhyme or clever allusions.
Irish Potato Famine Essay Research Paper One
Irish Potato Famine Essay, Research Paper One hundred fifty years ago in the late summer of 1845 one of the greatest human ecological disasters in the history of the world began in Ireland.
Kindred Essay Essay Research Paper Throughout the
Kindred Essay Essay, Research Paper Throughout the novel Kindred, Butler compared and contrasted modern African Americans with African Americans that were slaves in the novel. Some of the many ways she compares them are through education, work ethic, and their personal feelings about and/or how they handle their own slavery.
The Buffalo Soldiers Essay Research Paper The
The Buffalo Soldiers Essay, Research Paper The Buffalo Soldiers Over 180,000 African-Americans served in the Union Army during the Civil War. Of these, more than 33,000 died. After the war, the future of African-Americans in the U.S. Army was in doubt. In July1866, however, Congress passed legislation establishing two cavalry and four infantry regiments (later consolidated to two) whose enlisted composition was to be made up of African-Americans.
The Prevalence Of Breast Cancer Among Black
Women Essay, Research Paper Exploring the Growth of Breast Cancer Among African American Women Breast cancer develops as an abnormal growth of cells accumulate within the breast. Recent studies have proven that White
Stereotypes Essay Research Paper African American StereotypesMany
Stereotypes Essay, Research Paper African American Stereotypes Many of us have received a meager education about African-Americans. In fact, many people have no clue about African Americans beyond the information we have been given in the media. The result has been that most whites possess a distorted image of African-Americans.
Of Famine And Green Beer Essay Research
Paper Many people today feel the celebration of St. Patrick?s Day is mostly associated with corned beef, cabbage and lots of beer. Some would add that parades including step dancing and music filled with the blare of bagpipes are integral to the festival as well.
Ebonics Essay Research Paper One of the
Ebonics Essay, Research Paper One of the conflicting issues among African Americans and Caucasians is the issue of ebonics. It s not just an issue facing one race or the other it effects both races
Potato Famine Essay Research Paper In 1845
Potato Famine Essay, Research Paper In 1845, Ireland suffered through a potato famine that killed over two million Irish. History has taught us to believe that those two million died because of a fungus that caused all the potatoes to be bad. The guilt doesn’t rest with the fungus, but with the myriad of problems before it.
Billie Holliday Essay Research Paper Billie HolidayBillie
Billie Holliday Essay, Research Paper Billie Holiday Billie Holiday was a famous jazz singer in the 1930 s and 1940 s. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1915 with the name of Eleanora Fagan. She became successful as by singing in various bands before embarking on a solo career. Billie Holiday was one of the first successful African American females.
Ira Aldridge Essay Research Paper Ira Aldridge
Ira Aldridge Essay, Research Paper Ira Aldridge was one of the best Shakespearean actors of all time. He played many of the Shakespearean roles like Macbeth, and King Lear. But his most famous role was Othello.
Why Slavery Essay Research Paper Captivity bondage
Why Slavery? Essay, Research Paper Captivity, bondage, restraint, subjugation, and slavery. These words all mean one thing, enslaving someone against their will. Slavery was an episode in history that scarred, many African men, women and children. Slavery tore families apart, shattered dreams, and left African?s feeling shameful and hopeless.
Civil Rights Movement Essay Research Paper The
Civil Rights Movement Essay, Research Paper The civil rights movement was a time when a people who where opressed for many years, rose up against the odds and achieved their freedom. An admirable aspect of the civil rights movement was the unachieveable victory that the african americans sought after and made.
Thoughts Essay Research Paper Dear God I
Thoughts Essay, Research Paper Dear God, I come to you not in a time of need, but in a time of worry, Dear God, all I see around me now is greed, and yet, Who am I to point a finger at others, when I know deep inside,
African America Women Essay Research Paper OUR
African America Women Essay, Research Paper OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN African American women have excelled in virtually every arena of the world?s spectrum. Born of a desire to succeed, Maggie L. Walker, Shirley Chisolm, Corretta Scott