Land grabbing is the term coined to refer to foreign investors buying or leasing farmlands in the developing world. As the world population keeps growing and the demand for food grows along with it, there is surging demand for food crops. The profits of course go to the investors at the expense of local populations. Critics are calling this a new form of colonialism. Liberia is an extreme example, 100% of its arable land is under foreign ownership with Malaysia and Singapore as the biggest owners. The list is instructive. In Sierra Leone, 41% of its arable land is under foreign ownership, 31% of it is owned by concerns in the U.K. In the Ukraine, 35% of the arable land is owned by foreigners, 66% of which is owned by U.S. interests. In Uruguay, Argentina owns 51% of the 18% of foreign owned land. In Tanzania where also 18% of the arable land is owned by foreigners, 45% of that land is owned by Sweden. South Africa and Saudi Arabia also own foreign lands in Mozambique and the Philippines respectively. Gabon in West Africa is also an extreme example, 86% of its arable land is foreign owned, 74% of which by Singapore. If one remembers John’s Lennon’s song “Imagine” about a world with no countries, maybe that is one way to get there. But I don’t think John Lennon envisaged such a long interim where local populations would be deprived and in some cases suffer.
February 2013
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On The Nuclear Risk
Former Georgia Senator, Sam Nunn who has been active against nuclear proliferation and is now co chair of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, believes that “we can greatly diminish the risk” of a nuclear accident in Europe or America through global cooperation. He does include working with China and does think that in doing so the risk posed by North Korea can be better handled. But instead of North Korea and its recent testing, he draws attention to the progress that has been made whether or not the general public realizes it. “Ten years ago, 40 countries had weapons-usable nuclear materials,” he said in an interview with Der Spiegel, “now there are only 28 left.” He adds, “And a number of nations have given up their nuclear weapons entirely, like Kazakhstan, Belarus or Ukraine. Others like South Korea or Brazil could have developed nuclear weapons, bud did not do so.” Nunn and his colleagues aren’t the only group working on proliferation and its issues, he mentioned there are at least 1000 people working in this field. Like the tree in the forest which falls whether or not someone hears it, key problems are being worked on whether we are aware of those efforts or not.
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Taxing The Wealthy
The wealthy in California are being tested, in between the new federal taxes on the rich and those in California, they will pay a total of %51.90—at least those whose income will be above $1 million! Is it fair? No, it isn’t. Still, no one is predicting a run on Malibu mansions. In fact those in the know, whoever they may be, do not even foresee an exodus to one of the eight states with no income tax, like Florida. One can fairly assume that people in that income bracket will not change their life style, will not curtail their vacations, visits to four stars restaurants or usage of what they are currently consuming. Those same experts predict they may be more intent on using loopholes to pay as little taxes as possible, think through their next investments to perhaps minimize taxes, or even make adjustments to how they conduct their business. Imagine a tax increase of but 10% for most working class people, the many millions who live paycheck to paycheck or near it. They would have to adjust their spending accordingly and perhaps their standard of living. I’m left with the notion, erroneous as it may be, that taxing the rich affects their balance sheets but does not hurt them.