The United Nations has sent an envoy to Myanmar to open dialogue between the ruling military junta for its vehement attacks on Buddhist-monk demonstrators. This could hint that the Myanmar government is either willing to think about letting democracy rule in their country or that they want to avoid further U.N. sanctions and military action on their soil.
Worldwide strife does not occur one incident or country at a time, and problems that arise cannot be handled in the order in which they are brought before a world audience.
Especially in South Africa, it appears on the surface that the nation’s economy is hitting a growth spurt and quickly becoming a tourist hot spot. With visits to South African tourism web sites, one gets the impression that streets are paved in gold with plenty of breathtaking vistas to view plenty of local culture to become immersed in. Yet for South Africa, businesses are an untapped region for commerce.
The U.S. State Department website warns travelers to South Africa on how to avoid becoming victims of crimes – ranging from petty theft, car-jacking, rape and even murder at the hands of organized crime – in addition to turning a blind eye to abject poverty.
Though democracy is now in place in South Africa and the economy there is on an upswing, those who were in poverty under apartheid are still wallowing in penury. Johannesburg’s Business Week reports that the energy field is booming in South Africa with coal-fired power stations and nuclear power plants in the works for the nation. Energy officials of this African nation are also looking to add new inland fuel plants and begin building a crude oil refinery off the coast.
Even though there is the opportunity for such economic growth, some 40 percent of adults still cannot find jobs in their country according to a piece featured on National Public Radio’s Marketplace last month. While the South African ruling African National congress is building homes for people – averaging some 500 basic residences a day – there are still those who live in ramshackle homes made of scrap metal, fabric and tarps.
While the South African government is willing to cater to business travelers, much has to be done to bring in companies from around the world. These businesses could offer jobs as such companies develop a South African leg of their corporation, but also spur more development in rural areas desperate to feel some of the feel-good vibes that are presented on a number of travel sites to the region.
While the government and the people of South Africa might be wary of allowing foreign companies into the country to conduct business – afraid of what has befallen other African nations that have allowed petrochemical companies to mine for oil and get rich in the process, while the nations themselves remain unaided by the dollars flowing out of their countries – not all answers lay within the realm of the almighty oil industry. Asking for humanitarian aid could be a big boon to the people who want to live in a home made from something other than scrounged up pieces of tin siding.
Not all countries in the world need a military show of force in order to be placed on the right track to self-support. The U.N., as well as the U.S., should be looking for ways to offer aid to South Africa, not just to help a fellow nation in turmoil, but also to show that there are solutions other than military intervention in order to bring about a welcomed change within a country.
Though there seems to be many barriers to such change – crime, governmental corruption and even a new push to ration water usage – there are people in South Africa who want more for themselves than to just wait for a handout. While they may need help to get off the ground, once afoot the citizens of South Africa will have the determination to stake out their own claim to bringing about a positive change in their lives, which translates to a better outlook for the future of their country.
Lopez, an English senior, can be reached via [email protected]
