WHERE DOES JEFF SACHS GET IT WRONG

An interesting video over at BigThink. BigThink has some pretty interesting video, though the layout seem rather dated. Too bad I am having problems embedding the video, and I am too sleepy to figure this out,

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TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT CLONED FARM PRODUCE IN AFRICA

Just days after being told that milk and meat from cloned livestock were safe for human consumption, Europeans were warned that cloning causes suffering to the animals. Groups representing consumer interests argue that the science backing the F.D.A.’s decision is shaky and that consumer surveys show that most people are opposed to cloning animals, let alone eating them. Setting aside the unexplained high infant mortality rates and prevalence of birth defects associated with cloned animals, it remains clear that the long term outcomes of consuming cloned animal remain unknown and will probably remain so for a long time to come. As these various interest groups jostle to have the final word on cloning, on behalf of the rest of us, I would like to ask what, if anything, this may mean for consumers in Africa.
Cloned Suya
At the moment it is rather unlikely that cloned farm animals and milk will replace the regular beef and milk. For now this technology appears to be only logical for those seeking to produce designer animals. However, with most technologies there is still the possibility that cloned beef and milk will make it into mainstream consumption. If this ever happens, and if the technology becomes easy to replicate thereby driving, "average cost" of these farm produce below the price of the regular beef and cow. This products will eventually flow to Africa. I worry that these products may gain widespread acceptance in Africa even if this never happen in Western countries. The lax importation guideline, the hardly enforced labelling laws will ensure that this will happen. Eventually if low prices coincide with even a partial pass mark for the beef and milk, the map of consumption of cloned farm animals will lay flush with that of developing economies. Bio-engineered crops vs. Death by starvation
In 2002 when the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe banned the importation of genetically modified grains, even as these countries faced an imminent famine, there was an outcry from the West. The US claimed the bans were politically motivated, while the African governments claimed they were being arm-twisted and black mailed into accepting food that had the potential of being harmful to citizens. I am no scientist so I can not make definite statements about this claims. Speaking with a geneticist this evening equally left me with more unanswered questions than prior to the discussion. However, it is obvious that when it comes to bio engineered crops, African Governments have little or know leverage when making the decisions of whether to accept these crops or not. There isn't much of a choice to be made between GM or Cloned crops VS. death by starvation.

Competing With Knock-Off
In the late 90's giant chicken and turkey mostly imported from Belgium surfaced in Nigeria. Prior to this time all poultry was mostly locally produced. A few government officials expressed their dissatisfaction with this trend, but other than just sprinkles of news related events there wasn't much done by the authorities to discourage the trend. Nigerians had their fill as these imported poultry was rather cheap. The government could not check the trend, because there was always the alternative of importing goods through the sea port in Cotonou. When it comes to knock off goods, and food, Nigeria is both porous and very receptive, and the government does not have the capabilities to enforce any proclamation against any 'fishy' food item. In Nigeria you just can not compete with knock-offs.

Conclusion
Whether Africans will consume cloned farm produce or not, is a decision that will be made for them. Africans would not have much say on this issue. This is the beauty or maybe ugly side of a market system that relies heavily on producers, because the choice to consumed has been stymied by poverty.

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What Manner Of Poverty Is This?

Thousands of African migrants defy the boats, planes standing guard off the coast of Africa. A barricade put up by the European Union Border Control Agency which patrol the shores of Senegal and Mauritania so as to deter potential immigrant from seeking the golden fleece.
Every time an entreport is guarded, the migrants come with a more treacherous and longer route to get into the port towns of Ceuta and Milla. The once 3 meter fence now 6 meters have failed to deter the migrants. Upon completing this dangerous journey many migrants who often find themselves homeless, sleeping in the streets of Europe express relief. Because for them it does not matter what fate lay ahead of them. The only thing that that they have made it off the coast of the dark continent.

The new arrivals are obvious. Exhaustion written on their faces, many of them are still not up for speaking even after days in the holding center. Several sit motionless, faces propped up by their hands, on a worn-out sofa. Quiet sighs come from the wounded. They stare into empty space. In reality, though, the problem is not the height of the fence, but the failure to address the root causes of immigration.

via SpiegelOnline.
This is Africa's story a people in desperate need of a solution. An enterprising people held down by socio-economic conditions on the continent who would not take this situation anymore. In 2006, over 6000 bodies of African migrants were picked up trying to make it across the Mediterranean to the Canaries Island. This figure is up by 600% from 2005. Even after the reinforcement of the razor sharp fence, set up to keep the would be assyllum seekers. "Ayuba an Ivorien says "I want to work in Europe and send money back home,"
What makes a man leave his home, a land overflowing with natural resources, perfect weather and the distinctively cheerful rhythm of the African continent, and then move to the frigid clime where hopes of survival rest on the number of knock-off sunglasses he is able to hawk on the streets of Europe. What makes a man make these choices? Poverty in Africa do not make the headline of the evening news anymore. However the realities of poverty is stark and hope is grim in some parts of Africa. The immigrants feels the need to leave whatever memories they have of their dear homeland and move to another continent where there is a a faint shimmer of hope.
I picked up blogging late 2005 when I saw pictures of African migrants left in the Sahara desert to die. For many they speak to, there's a palpable sadness -- even regret -- over the decision to come to Europe. The reality rarely lives up to the dream, and the sacrifices they made are rarely offset by their new life. PBS

The new arrivals are obvious. Exhaustion written on their faces, many of them are still not up for speaking even after days in the holding center. Several sit motionless, faces propped up by their hands, on a worn-out sofa. Quiet sighs come from the wounded. They stare into empty space. In reality, though, the problem is not the height of the fence, but the failure to address the root causes of immigration.

via SpiegelOnline.
Having an Afro-centered outlook does not exclude talking about the ills that our countries face. To me speaking out for change is the most patriotic act you can do today. Making change occur is the most patriotic thing you can do for Africa in the long run.

An historical overview of this problem from the Oxford University.
news of drowning.
Images via BBC.
Border Crossing: A NY Times entry on this issue.
Speak up, discuss immigration issues. You may be surprised at the number of Europeans and/or Americans who aren't aware of the atrocities committed by their home countries. Blog about this issues if you are a blogger. Send me an email if you aren't a blogger and would like to discuss this issues. In the short run we as Africans reduce the depth of the crisis, while we put our houses in order.
Update...

In the report, "Unwelcome Responsibilities: Spain's Failure to Protect the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children in the Canary Islands", Human Rights Watch says the children - mostly boys from Senegal and Morocco - are detained indefinitely in the migrant centers.
Children held at four centers told Human Rights Watch they had seen staff violently abusing other children on several occasions. They also said staff ignored violence between detainees.

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Update...
This happened recently; At least 47 African migrants died of hunger and thirst after their boats drifted into Mauritanian waters. Read Story

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