Yep the whole thing certainly reflects some very poor practices over a very long time – including from big oil.

I know Africa has huge problems but big international businesses make it far worse for them.

Absolutely right, and some of the South Africans with whom I was close friends in Korea expressed sentiments along similar lines.

The world can send all of the aid that it wants, but in the end, the future of African nations rests with themselves, not with the outside world.

Granted, there is not a great deal that individual Africans can do on their own to change things. But it is up to each individual African nation to accept a degree of responsibility for their own destiny.

I remember seeing a video about abuses in Africa and the woman in the video was saying Africans need to help themselves first. They need to take action and then make use of all the help they get from Europe or the US.

I know many young Africans from countries throughout the continent come to European countries to get a college education (many of them come to Romania as well) or a master’s degree. Yet few of them go back and try to change anything.

As for other countries, we try to help out while also causing damage every day… I have to agree with Brad, Africa does bring out the very best and worst in humans!

I must admit that Africa is one continent which I do not understand, and probably never will unless I ever travel there (which is not on the cards in the medium term future).

Granted, some parts of the continent suffer from harsh conditions. But this is not the case in the Niger Delta, where huge oil reserves should have guaranteed prosperity for all.

Of course, oil companies cannot prevent government and military abuses, but they can prevent environmental damage to some degree, and they can (within reason) invest in local community infrastructure to ensure that the benefits of oil wealth are equitably shared.