Oil.
One of the most controversial natural resources.
America runs on it.
In order for America to continue to strive, they must find oil resources or find a new and more productive way to run sufficiently. With the continuous war in Iraq, apparently, we're going with the 'find oil resources' option. Just about everyone in the world knows how important oil is. It’s a money making business. Africa, one of the most oil rich continents in the world, is also one of the most violence inflicted continents in the world because of this natural resource. Chad has just recently tapped into its oil resource and because of that, its political world has been turned up side down.
Chad is one of the poorest countries according to this article. The UN reported that that it ranked in the bottom five out of 180 countries. But, with this new found wealth, could this be turned around?
Problem is, is that the only way to get the oil is to create a pipeline from Chad to the coast. World Bank was funding this project until Chad changed a law that said that the money made from the oil would go to alleviating poverty. Now, the law says that the government will use the money as they see fit. Funny isn't it?
Chad is one of the poorest countries according to this article. The UN reported that that it ranked in the bottom five out of 180 countries. But, with this new found wealth, could this be turned around?
Problem is, is that the only way to get the oil is to create a pipeline from Chad to the coast. World Bank was funding this project until Chad changed a law that said that the money made from the oil would go to alleviating poverty. Now, the law says that the government will use the money as they see fit. Funny isn't it?
(Displaced villagers due to militia in Chad http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/06/africa_janjaweed_in_chad/html/1.stm)So here we have a way to get rid of poverty in Chad, and for a while it seemed that it would work. Laws were made to make sure money would go to the people, and here we had a bank funding the project to tap into the oil reserves. The minute that elections come around, the law changes. Obviously, someone was planning on being corrupt once they got into office. But, in this world, where money is everything and many grow up without it, can you blame anyone for wanting to be president just for the wealth? It seems that if it’s not one corrupt leader it’s another. Once their eyes see gold, all else fades. Instead of oil bringing wealth to the country where it’s found, it only creates wars, corruption and ultimately leads to deaths. Its killing people rather than helping. I think people panic when they see that little three letter word. Bush panicked, and all the nations in Africa are panicking. NO one trusts any candidate, and the ones that are being pushed into office, often have to worry about the threats from their opponents. Sounds more like greed has taken over and settled over the world. Even if the people of Chad put a true, honest candidate in office, how long would it take before that candidate is over thrown, killed, or becomes corrupt himself?
(article found at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/4906930.stm)
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