22 October 2013 Why Can’t People Feed Themselves? In the article by Frances Moore Lappé and Joseph Collins, both authors point to Colonialism as the main reason why people cannot feed themselves anymore. Prior to European intervention in third world agriculture, many of these countries thrived on their land, producing crops not for sale, but for consumption. They looked to diversify their crops and to introduce new crops of Asian or even American origin that could also be grown for consumption. However, many European countries viewed these lesser colonies as “primitive and backward.” Why can’t people feed themselves?
Document 4 says that not only were they unable to keep up the utilities, they didn’t have skilled administrators to govern their new independent nations. This shows, in a way, that colonialism actually benefited the Africans by giving them security and stability, and by making use of their resources which otherwise would have been undetected and undeveloped. But, it would be wrong to suggest that imperialism was very positive for Africans. Many African men were killed and overworked, as described in Document 6. This left Africa with a reduced supply of capable workers and leaders when they became independent.
Not all settlers considered themselves enemies of the natives but sought to better the lives of the natives and so had a second unintentional effect of introducing disease for which the natives had no immunity (Department of Aboriginal Affairs, 2011). The Spanish saw the Islands now known as the Philippine Islands as a prime location for military post and trade center. They conquered the islands with their superior military destroyed their culture as they saw it as Satanic but did not occupy the Islands as a colony and ruled through native chiefs. Much of the culture of the Filipino people before Spanish rule has been lost but the people themselves have remained (Library of congress, 2014). The indigenous people of the continent now known as Australia were a simple people very minimalist in their approach to life and nurturing of the members of their group.
During imperialism, Europeans went into Africa and stripped its land of its resources and this also changed the climate negatively. After stripping Africa of its resources the Europeans left, which left a political power vacuum making it easy for warlords and drug lords to take control. This is how Africa attracted issues like Rwanda and the problems in Somalia today. Africa is now stripped of natural resources which makes it difficult to create a normal lifestyle for inhabitants. Another barrier that does not allow Africa to develop into a prosperous continent is agricultural issues.
The Rise of Colonialism in Africa Between 1870 and 1900, Europe set out to colonize Africa for their raw materials. Africa was up against invasions of Europe's military and diplomatic pressures. This did not happen without a fight, and Africans were not happy about this attempt to be colonized. With the exception of Ethiopia and Liveria, Africa had been colonized by Europe by the early twentieth century. Europe wanted to set up and colonize in Africa, mainly because of Africa's raw materials it was purely economic.
Even when some where free, spanish enslaved indians around the Americas in order to create a faster way to profit themselves. In addition, slave indian migrations took place soon after the decline of some natives population around the andean region. To make matter worst, Portugal who first introduce african slave migrations in New Espanola expanded slavery trade around the globe into brazil who needed worker in their sugar fields. The introduction of slavery reduced the other labor forces; nevertheless, it didn't really work in all the Americas. For example, Mexico and Peru who had incorporated slaves as primary agricultural labor force had a less common slavery rate than Portugal/Spain did in Cuba and Portugal in Brazil.
On the other hand, the other countries weren’t able to succeed because they conquered by Europeans or their population died out from diseases or plagues (DOC 4, 5, 8). An additional document that would be used, would be a map of the different voyages and attacks Europe went on and did, this would help to see how they were able to succeed. Before Europe went on voyages at sea, China did, they had huge ships that were at the size of 400 ft. long, but they receded from this project and went on to another one. Admiral Zheng he was the main leader of the Chinese voyages that took place before the European explorations. These Chinese explorations were really helpful, but also really expensive because of the large timber ships that they built.
These inventions (refer to Document C for examples) caused great economic expansion across Europe. Yet at the same time, these exact inventions caused for a need of more raw materials. This is where Imperialism began to take shape, because before Imperialism in Africa had begun, there were still many examples of Europeans who’d enslaved africans on their own land. Which meant that once raw materials for machines that needed simple labor in a factory rather than the fields were needed to maintain their great economic boost; whichever European country had the most property in Africa, got to conquer the most land in its entirety (Scramble for Africa). Meaning these now obsolete slaves were being subject to have to watch European countries take over their lands and began industrializing on african soil because of how rich in materials the African land is.
In 1607 British first landed on Jamestown, modern day Virginia. They had hoped to receive a good treatment and acceptance from the natives however they faced the disease and starvation in the colony which made it difficult for the colonists to settle. It was trade with Indians, good leadership and Indians teaching how to grow crops enabled the colonist to subsist. A very profitable trade was developed between the Indians and British. Later the indians suspected the colonists wanted to rule them and control the colony.
Like most foraging groups the Mbuti are mobile. The Mbuti move around mainly to allow an area to regenerate its resources. They make simple huts made with branches and leaves. This allows them to travel lightly and build in a day when they reach somewhere new. They don’t carry or have many of possessions because it is impractical when you live in one locale.