| From: | Arno Lehmann <arno@*******.AST.UCT.AC.ZA> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: Submission : NERPS Guide to the World |
| Date: | Sun, 13 Sep 1998 16:29:30 +0200 |
decker comments...
On Fri, 11 Sep 1998, Bruce wrote:
<snip>
> 2002 - 2009 Resource Rush.
<snip>
> Factories producing controversial
> arms products, biotech research and other underhanded dealings went on
> unopposed.
Ok, but wthere must have been other things that were produced... they
wouldn't fill the whole continent with arms, biotech and other secret
factories... How's about food, perhaps drugs, wood, machines, and,
finally, what and where were all the resources?
I know, this is only an overview, but recalling correctly ( I've got
no access to my actual mailbox, this is from another account) there
already was some sort of Overwiev... now it might be time to fill in
the gaps.
(Note: I am working on something about Azania... a little. Currently,
I'm stuck with some problems, not only concerning this article, but
also withot my personal computer where my work is stored on etc. pp.
All very difficult ... blah blah blah. Well, as I'm moving back to
Europe from South Africa this week I will probably NOT be able to work
on it in the next few weeks. Still, I think it might be useful to try
to work together aon Africa.
Knowing that there are now at least three people with that subject
(Bruce, Fred (Malawi) and me (Azania)) I think it's time to start
co-ordinating things. IFred as well as myself probably don't like
seing our work heavily influenced by another Overview...
Coming to the point: If you, Bruce, as well as anybody else willing to
work on Africa, tried to fit your work around Fred's and mine we all
will have much better results in the end, I hope. I know that you
didn't know I was working on things, but Fred at least was in the list
of Authors, IIRC. I will register my project soon.
Sorry for this rant, but I hope this will make things better and lead
to a reasonable result.
Hm, I hope this didn't sound too unfriendly... if it did, just keep in
mind that I think everybody can do what they want, if you don't like
my ideas forget about them and do what you like.)
> 2004 : Libyan Attacks
>
> Responding to a Libyan chemical weapons attack on Ghaddafi(sp) Day, Israel
> nukes Tripoli and several smaller cities, destroying the countries economic
> and political power base forever. With tens of thousands killed and millions
I hate the word "forever"... let's say "destroying the countries
economic base till today" or something like that.
> suffering from radiation sickness, aid pours in from across the globe. While
> secretly in total sympathy, the international community has no choice but to
I doubt that the whole world would be in sympathy... At least the
Arabian countries, some Eastern countries and many small countries all
over the world would be really annoyed by such an attack... or was
Israels attack provoked by direct Libyan military action against
Israel???
> condemn the retaliatory attack. Israel is placed under harsh sanction by the
> UN from 1st January 2005.
>
> 2009 : Rebel Uprisings
>
> In Nigeria, a large group of Yoruba tribesmen rise up in revolt against the
> Shell corporation. Well supplied and equipped (mostly with locally produced
I like that idea...
But still, I guess the Yoruba might need some help by foreign groups,
perhaps governments, perhaps ecological activists, perhaps human
rights activists. Does "Green War" already exist in 2009?
> 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.
> The alliance of Southern African States welcomes investment and cuts massive
> tax break deals with several corporations. South Africa absorbs Swaziland,
> Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The Nation of Azania is
> born on the 1st of February 2011.
No. Not that.
As far as I know, Azania according to FASA is about what it is today.
We should leave it that way, not only as a tribute to FASA, but also
because Fred's and my ideas are strongly affected by that.
Personally, I don't like the idea of all these giant countries... it
always seems like the author tried to keep things simple. Surely, only
one country is much easier to describe than 15 different countries,
different forms of gouvernment, different economies and all that, but
today we already see that typically countries are not getting bigger
with time but rather smaller. In the world of SR we've got lots of
examples and reasons for that going on. When even the USA split, why
would other governments have the power to unify many people and lesser
governments?
> 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.
I can imagine a the people of Africa accepting the awakening quite
well... one of the advantages of being very traditional and not far
developed.
> All contact with the island of Madagascar is lost.
Don't know about that.
> The "Dark Heart" of continent is overgrown with lush forest within a year.
No, seems much too fast. Even including magic, Africa is still big.
> 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.
Ok.
> In Egypt, the government begins erecting massive enclosures around the Gaza
Should be Gizeh (sp), shouldn't it? Gaza is in Israel.
> valley, site of the pyramids. Security and secrecy are absolute.
Hmm, I don't like absolute secrecy. Here we would need lot's of decker
comments. I'm just sorry that I don't know much I could contribute
here... anywone with a better knowledge of ancient egyptian culture
and modern beliefs following egyptian religion out there?
>
> [2014 : The collapse of the White government (FASA) ignored]
???
> 2011-2021 : African Isolation.
>
> With massive changes tearing up the Northern hemisphere, 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 Azania
> are majors players. The rest of Africa is in flames and very little news
> comes out of continent.
This sounds reasonable.
> 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.
That last line sounds like african people would only think in terms of
fighting. That is something I don't believe... most people probably
simply want to live in peace and security. Still, they could simply
accept metahuman races, but seeing all the conflict between different
cultures today I doubt that... Anyway, I think metahumans beeing
accepted is totally ok. We've got enough stereotypical metahuman-hate
already all over the world.
>
> 2022 : VITAS ; Second Wave
>
> Probably the hardest hit of the continents, VITAS ravages the population of
> Africa and mass burial becomes a problem. Tens of thousands more die due to
Would rather be millions, I think.
> 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.
>>>[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)
> 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.
Sorry, I've got other plans with Azania, so I think this is not a good
idea.
>
> 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.
That fits to what I plan in Azania...
> [2039 : Confederate Azanian States occurs (FASA) ignored]
>
> 2042 : The ZetaImpChem Scandal
<snipped>
>
> 2045 : Madagsacar
<snipped>
>
> 2047 : Rumours from the desert.
>
> Rumours of weird science begin pouring out of the Syrian desert, along with
Is Syria still Africa? Not that that would really matter, just
curiosity.
> 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.
I see a plot.
> 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.
Ok, if you don't mind I will use this... sounds good and also shows
quite well how conflicts can be settled without Desert Wars (Tm)...
> 2054 : Starvation
>
> Stories begin to come out of Somalia and Eritria of massive starvation and
Why again these countries? Let's choose something different ;-)
> 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 ARES 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 ARES, and no information indicates
that this will change or that ARES plans any developments there.
Other's suggested that with this direct help ARES 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)
Ok, after all this criticism some hopefully more positive comments...
First, this and what I remember reading about Africa inside NERPS
sounds promising... I will go through the logs and see if I find the
other relevant articles.
I think Africa is getting lots of attention from us, and I feel that
eventually we might get something finished. Keep NAGTTW alive!!!
Second, I will start working on my Azania project again. What I've
done up till now is far from being finished and still has lot's of
holes, but I will share it with anybody who is also working on Africa.
Third, as soon as I find the time I will submit what I've done
already.
Arno
--
Arno R Lehmann
NOT a member of UCT/Astrononmy staff
15 Firlands Rd arno@*******.ast.uct.ac.za
Rondebosch arlehma@***.net
7700 http://pinguin.ast.uct.ac.za
South Africa Phone: +27 21 689 7409
