h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Let's make it clear - Mugabe is a bastard who is starving his people. All I'm saying is that any notion that things would be OK if only the white farmers were allowed to run things as they did previously is misleading. The situation was untenable - economically as much as morally.

But this really deserves a separate thread. I'll quit derailing.

From first hand experience I've seen it's the few black people still in the employ of whites who get to eat. That's all I'm going to say.

Christopher. What I would add is it matters not a jot whether the farm owners/managers are White, Black or whatever. They are Rhodesian or Zimbabwean farmers and nationals, as long as the farms are well run thus providing the produce for the whole of East Africa, as they have done there is no problem. To suggest otherwise, and this is directed at NTM, is barely veiled racism and bigotry.

Former Nasa astronauts who went to the Moon have told the BBC of their dismay at President Barack Obama's decision to push back further Moon missions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8565243.stm

To go back to the moon would be fantastic. But let's get our priorities right here: feed everyone on the planet, THEN worry about going to the moon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gLgDSd1HC8



~jwf~

Actually, this video (based on the original hit version of the song) has incorporated the 'starvation' question.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuY0ux8So_4&NR=1


~jwf~

For those even yet craving more international sport -- the other, other winter games:

'"As these 2010 Paralympic Games begin, let it not just be about our hard work or for that matter even the athlete achievements that will no doubt be unforgettable," John Furlong, the chief executive officer for the organizing committee, said in his remarks.

"Let these Games also serve to honour and recognize men and women of sport the world over who have made it their personal mission in life to use sport to build better lives, to inspire children."'

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/amateur/story/2010/03/12/sp-paralympics-opening.html#ixzz0i4GC3WOf

But if we go to the moon we'll have enough green cheese to feed the planet, won't we?



I learned recently that the 'para' in 'paralympic games' comes from 'parallel'. Maybe it rather belongs to the Useless Facts thread though.

But it's not Wensleydale, Grommit That will never do!

'Sleep lessons' aim to sharpen up grumpy teenagers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8567407.stm


Nanny State? Who? Where?

Kids Can't stand them, especially other people's

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8568612.stm

Marion Cotillard and Tim Burton made knights in the Order of the Arts and Letters.

What wasn't reported here is that apparently, culture minister Mitterrand pressed the little decoration pin too hard on Mrs Cotillard and hurt her a little

nortirascal


Sounds like you need some more sleep...

Drat, ToyBox beat me to it!
BUT I've got the picture!!

http://www.france-amerique.com/articles/images/featured/5700-6176.main_p.jpg
He seems to be in as much pain as her!

I could be a picture from a comedy

Of course, you could!

... Or did you mean <<*it* could be....>> ?

Hmpf

'Mission: Impossible star Peter Graves dies aged 83'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8567400.stm

rascal

>>To suggest otherwise, and this is directed at NTM, is barely veiled racism and bigotry.

< I did say we should have a separate thread.

An unwarranted accusation.

All I'm trying to point out is the false dichotomy between Mugabe's corrupt government and incompetent land reforms and a Golden Age of white farmers. While I fully agree that Mugabe has made things worse, it does not follow (it this is what is implied) that everything would be OK if only the whites had remained in charge. That was untenable. *Something* had to be done about sharing wealth with the majority. It is a tragedy of colonialism that this is seldom done voluntarily, and that this can lead to problems downstream.

To remove any accusation of racism - yes, I agree it might be better to refer to 'whites' as 'colonialists'. In the old days there was a damned good correlation between ethnicity and land owning - although I fully accept that the remaining white population are 100% Zimbabwean.

And I think I've been sufficiently condemnatory of Zanu-PF.



I dug out some Thomas Mapfumo songs for a Zimbabwean exile friend recently. We both agreed that they were 'kin amazing...but it was (ahem) unfortunate that they were anthems of praise for Mugabe.

Another issue worth considering is that Zimbabwe's white farmers pracise "white" agriculture, growing American tobacco and maize, wheat (originally from Turkey) and other plants and livestock brought in by colonists. It takes a great deal of water and expertise to do this kind of farming in Zimbabwe and other African countries.

There is an argument for a switchover to sorghum and other more suitable crops and livestock. The people who take over former white farms are not going to do this, however, as they are political appointments or simply opportunistic thugs, satisfied if they can grow enough food for themselves and their henchmn.