| From: | Bruce <gyro@********.CO.ZA> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | FINAL SUBMIT : AFRICA OVERVIEW |
| Date: | Wed, 23 Sep 1998 12:49:03 +0200 |
tutorial software agent. We will be examining several world and
African situations. The emphasis will of course be on a better
understanding of the African gestalt. Please make yourself comfortable
and engage the commence command when ready. This software agent
complies with all safety and educational regulations. Thank you for
buying a Global Data product.
HISTORY
2002 - 2009 Resource Rush.
The sentiments of the US government regarding the exploitation of
natural resources found an echo in Africa. Still firmly kept in the
Third World (with too few exceptions) by First World thug style
economics, Africa was ripe for pillage. Rich in most desperately
needed resources (eg. gold, copper, uranium, diamonds, fine soils,
plant and animal extracts and products) Africa attracted pillagers
like flies. Despite the objections of their people, African leaders
threw open the doors to foreign investments of the worst kind.
Allowing extraterritoriality for corporations was a big mistake,
effectively putting up the "For Sale" signs.
No-one was slow in picking up the hint and massive investment
followed. Whole regions were sold and millions virtually enslaved by
bond contract to the megas. All of the Big Eight and many smaller
corps built factories and other facilities. Using cheap (read
semi-slave) labour, the corps prospered and plotted. Among the most
lucrative markets are those under loose control in the corporate
dominated governments. Factories producing controversial arms
products, biotech research and other underhanded dealings went on
unopposed. Many people find work in legitimate industries such as
manufacturing and food supply and these are represented as the "good
work" the foreign investors are doing.
2004 : Libyan Attacks
Responding to a Libyan chemical weapons attack on Qaddafi Day, Israel
nukes Tripoli and several smaller cities, permanently destroying the
nation's economic and political power base. With tens of thousands kil
led and millions suffering from radiation sickness, aid pours in from
across the globe. While secretly in total sympathy, the international
community has no choice but to condemn the retaliatory attack. Israel
is placed under harsh sanction by the UN from 1st January 2005.
2008 : Much of the trauma to Lybian soil is settled and various power
groups from neighbouring states emerge from the dust-cloud. The UN
does not recognise any government of the area. Sanctions against the
Israeli state are lifted by the end of November.
2009 : Rebel Uprisings
In Nigeria, a large group of southern Yoruba tribesmen rise up in
revolt against the Shell corporation. Well supplied and equipped
,mostly with locally produced arms the Yorubas capture all Shell
assets and declare the company's assets in Africa the property of the
Free African Alliance. By late 2010, most of Western Africa is in the
hands of the FAA. The organisation bans all foreign companies from its
soil and defends itself successfully from Shell sponsored mercenary
attacks on three separate occasions. The region returns to relative
stability and elections held on 16 December 2010. Rumours of various
eco-consciousness groups havung helped to fund the campaign go
unproven.
The alliance of Southern African States welcomes investment and cuts
massive tax break deals with several corporations.
2011 : The year of Chaos
Africa weathers the changes to the world better than expected. The
people accept the changes better than anywhere else in the world.
Numerous Dragons and other paranormal critters appear and are
catalogued by curious scientific observers.
>>>[My folks were in Africa on safari in late 2011 and let me tell
you,
when they returned they weren't the same. Some really strange mojo
must
have happened to them, but they never told me. Guess they hoped it was
only a local phenomenon and I'd never have to deal with it. Guess they
were wrong.]<<<
-----Clyde (09/11/60-12:45:25)
All contact with the island of Madagascar is lost.
The "Dark Heart" of continent begins to spawn great growth of fauna
and flora. People begin leaving the area in droves and in all
directions. Talk of a nation of "little ones" taking power in the area
is dismissed as nonsense. No investigators return from the area.
In Egypt, the government begins erecting massive enclosures around the
Gizeh valley, site of the pyramids. Security and secrecy are absolute.
Entry for 2014 : White Government collapse in South Africa. This
happened 30 years before in 1994. We are already united and at peace
(except maybe with ourselves :|)
2011-2021 : African Isolation.
With VITAS tearing up both hemispheres, vast amounts of money leave
the continent as investments are withdrawn. This leads to numerous
brush fire wars as the balance of power settles. The FAA and South
Africa are majors players. The rest of Africa is in flames and very
little news comes out of continent. Some 750 million Africans are
feared dead.
2021 : Goblinisation.
Again, the Africans accept their new brethren with open arms.
Incidents of massacre and other hate crimes occur, but most African
are divided along tribal lines and view the Orks and Trolls as assets
in the fighting.
2022 : VITAS ; Second Wave
Probably the hardest hit of the continents, VITAS ravages the
population of Africa and mass burial becomes a problem. Millions are
feared lost to the syndrome but no accurate head count ever emerges.
Tens of thousands more die due to poor hygiene and inadequate medical
care. Africa south of the equator enters a period of almost total
isolation.
2025 : Wildlife
In Africa, the African Rhino becomes extinct in the wild. The only
survivors are specimens in zoos.
>>>[Not entirely true, if you count the Awakened rhino, which still
exists
but due to it's powers is hard to find.]<<<
-----Clyde(09/11/60-12:48:55)
>>>[Awakened Crocodiles are common in all rivers. They have the habit
of looking like trees in the water even at the second glance... wonder
where I got my nickname?]<<<
-----One-Leg(09/13/61-16:07:12)
(>) Awakened rhinos aren't hard to find if they're hungry. Of course,
by
that time, it's a little late to start looking for them....
(>) Java Nut
"wHADAYA mean I'M DrinKING TOo mUcH CaFFEinE?!"
2029 : The Crash
The outbreak of a computer virus almost topples the worlds economy and
cements Africa's place as a permanent backwater. Azania is hard hit,
being one of the few economic powers in the region. A rebellion by
several army units develops into a major crisis, but all calls for
foreign assistance go unheeded. The war drags on for two years before
the government manages to crush the rebels. All rebel leaders are
publicly executed.
>>>[Of course the calls for foreign assistance went unheeded. You
tried
to call the President of France and end up trying to understand the
Chinese man asking you if you want any egg-woo-yong with that. The
Crash
was hard on everyone, although the more 'wired' nations got the brunt
of
it.]<<<
-----Clyde(9/11/60-12:52:06)
2034 : Reinvestment
Corporate money begins to trickle back into Africa. Companies
searching for freedom from constraints and cheap labour once again
begin the process of exploitation. Several governments close their
economies but most do not, but watch the corporations carefully for
signs of betrayal.
2039 : South Africa absorbs Swaziland and Lesotho. The Nation of
Azania is born on the 1st of February 2039.
2042 : The ZetaImpChem Scandal
Typical of corporate attitudes towards the people of Africa Zeta's
dumping practices are exposed in the Polydopa scandal. The damage is
immense and thousands of lives are forever altered. This is not the
first or the last such incident. The corporations tighten security and
pressurise local government for tighter controls on the media. Mnay
governments, afraid of losing the corporate money that is slowing
dragging them out of the quagmire, comply.
2045 : Madagsacar
In the first public broadcast from the island in over 30 years, Queen
Marogarada II announces that the Island of Madagascar is a sovereign
power. She demands readmission to the UN and that a delegation of the
ICC be sent to the island immediately. Later the same year, Fuchi IE,
Ares Macrotech, and several conservation groups announce plans to set
up facilities on the island.
2047 : Rumours from the desert.
Rumours of weird science begin pouring out of the Sudanese desert,
along with thousands of refugees. An investigative team from the FAA
discovers abandoned solar energy gathering stations and half built
factories. The entire site is devastated as if by a huge clawed beast.
Some 690 bodies are found.
2051 : Mozambique channel incident.
An Ares convoy out of Madagascar in the Mozambique channel strays into
Azanian territorial waters and is fired upon by Azanian corvettes. Two
corporate freighters are sunk and in the exchange, the Azanian force
is obliterated. A heated war of words takes place between the Azanian
government and Ares Headquaters in the UCAS. The war is settled by
Azania's signing of a deal to buy a fleet of "Harrower" class
corvettes from Ares.
2054 : Starvation
Stories begin to come out of Somalia and Eritria of massive starvation
and drought. Some 50 million people are in immediate danger.
Aztechnology races to be the first corporation to get aid to the
hungry. Over the next 3 years more than 200 billion yen in support and
investment floods into the sub-region.
>>>[Still we don't understand why Aztech did this. Knowing all we know
today they hadn't any real interest in that region. Today, Somalia and
Eritrea are not a big market for Aztech, and no information indicates
that this will change or that Aztech plans any developments there.
Other's suggested that with this direct help Aztech tried to either
polish their public image or keep the people there helpless and
dependant, but nothing could be proven.]<<<
-----M.Foster, Federer Development Fund Intl.(09/13/60-10:18:27)
(>) The same reason Aztechnology goes anywhere: Raw, naked power. Raw,
naked greed. If they're in Somalia or Eritria, you can bet your last
nuyen and every bit of your life that went into earning it that
there's some sort of power to be gained, more than likely magical
(though that last part is subject to interpretation). There could be a
major magical artifact, or the fragging Azzies might just need more
volunteers for some of their biogenics experiments. The "humanitarian
aid" dodge just happened to be conveniently timed, and the Somalians
had no way to actually turn the Azzies away. The question, of course,
becomes, "Which is it, power or greed?" I don't have any answers. Yet.
(>) Les Tango
Shall we dance?
BRUCE <gyro@********.co.za>
Yo soy un disco quebrado
Yo tengo chicle en cerebro
Asking if computers can think is like asking if submarines can swim.
