nferyn:

Now why do I think it is more democratic than most countries (here I explicitely want to compare with the US):

How similar are the various european governments. Similar to belgian's enough for you to comment on them in a half way competant manner? How does beligian's constitution describe itself? Also,

nferyn:

1. reasonable level of subsidiarity (although incomplete) and division of powers/authority between the levels of governance (local, regional, national). Taxation levels and our social security system ensure that there is a fair level of redistribution of wealth from rich to poor. All schools receive equal funding, as this is not depending on the tax base of a certain community
2. every citizen is obliged to vote, even if it's only by showing up at the voting booth (this ensures a real representation of the lower classes)
3. election day is always on a sunday (ensuring that employers cannot pressure their employees not to vote)
4. we have a proportional representation (both left and right wing are represented in parliament)
5. money cannot buy you elections: all parties are financed by the state according to their level of representation. Soft money (campaign contributions of any kind) are illegal. Election propaganda spending is capped.

how many other nations in europe share these traits?

Thanks

Black man you might be on to something, I like it! Yes, i had not even considered that, even tho i have several other initiatives that involve interdisciplanary collaborative networks. More evidence that even my genuis has limits. *sigh*

A face to face and "on the ground" factor will be critical. We want students to be moving around and become familiar with each others environments; the similarities and differences. True, you can build some hard core relationships online, but we want to take it a step further and have folks shaking hands, hugging, and oint thing together. So, the online communication will definately enhance the goals and purposes of the Union. Macromedia Breeze, Instant Messagers, Online Forums, and VOIP will serve well.

Inclusion of the other community aspects will definately be powerful. As a matter of fact, as I think about it, that may be a indepent operation by itself, Let me think on that one some more,

Now that you bring up the net cafes, well that is a whole kit and kaboodle i have yet to even think about. Man, that's a critical element.

Okay, Ayanfe. I am really going to have to think more about this one. You have given me some insight that i now have to turn around and deploy in an effective manner.

Let me hear more of you ideas. What is your academic background?I have studied computer engineering and high performance computing. One of my mine concerns in particular is I really don't hear too many of our Universities building clusters, Beowulf or otherwise. We need to be competant in that field. We need to be listed on www.top500.com

Being this close to RTP, I also hear numerous accounts of the major tech companies just tossing old equipment out when they ungrade. For instance, the IBM T-22 i am using right now were slated for "disposal" before an enterprising brotha "saved" them. I got my hands on at least 6 of them and sold them for a nice profit. Another guy, white, showed me a server and 19in moniter that was saved and now being put to productive use. So i am also putting together a charity organization that can hopefully get that equipment and distribute it to needy institutions.

So, yeah, i got plenty to do (^_^) , HELP!

As per request here are a couple of projects i am working on:

1 Trans Atlantic African Student Union

This one, honestly is going nowhere currently. The main reason is that i am not i a 4 year university yet but i do have technical college contacts in place still. Basically this will operate kinda like a sibling university concept. Certain universities will link up and and build a real strong relation, minimally, on the student union level. Some of the primary benefits will be cross cultural dialogue, practical panafrican development and networking, trans atlantic political awareness, and hopefully multi-univeristy research and collaberation. Also, from experience i know that when computer labs get upgraded many times those pcs and network devices get sent to state auction where they are sold to the public. I would love to have those devices go instead to universites in developing countries on the Continent and thru out the 6th region.

There is another brother i know who is working on a sister city program between grass root elements over here and on the Continent. I will get with him later in the year and hopefully our two ideas will be compatable and successful!!

So, this one is the one i need to most help on because it may be a while before i get into a university myself. Anybody want to contribute!!??

Jakumo:

There is in fact a US naval presence in the Gulf of Guinea just off the coast of Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta as you have pointed out, Anton, and there is also close cooperation and intelligence sharing between the US and Nigerian militarys vis-a-vis the unrest and insurgency in the oil fields. Considering the escalating threat to Nigeria's oil export jugular vein, that international military cooperation may be the country's best option to protect and preserve what is left of vital pipeline grids that are being blown up with alarming regularity by insurgents whose stated intentions are to trigger a financial meltdown of the Nigerian state.

The deployment of US military surveillance drones, training staff and ordnance in the Niger Delta does not erode Nigeria's sovereignty at all. Help is needed by the Nigerian military in the Niger Delta, and her crude-oil trading partners are providing that assistance to ensure that long-overdue reparations to the people of the Niger Delta can be sought at the negotiating table rather than over the burning ruins of Nigeria's oil fields. A low-key US presence in the Niger Delta is the cheaper option by anyone's score sheet, both monetarily and in human lives.

Agreed.

But while you see "cooperation", let's remember who you are talkin about here. We can only hope that sam doesn't decide to start funding the other side or that, infact, he is not the other side. Such a development would not be good for the sovereignty of Nigeria. At this point in the game, we can only pray.

shoot me an email

nferyn:

Any system where you've got to jump through countless hoops to register to vote cannot be called a democracy, especially when the number and size of these hoops differs greatly between people.

Agreed.

To hear me tell it, however, the lines are blurring; oligarchy and plutarchy comes to mind. In media rhetoric we have a democracy, on paper a republic, but the fact of the matter points to corporate governance. Add to that the fact that most of these personalities who influence public policy by means other than voting, are also "represented" in the goverments of many other countries around the world. I fear that only time will be able to tell us what kind of government this is. Hopefully, it won't be by sifting thru the ashes, still smothering. . .

Thanks, looks interesting. I will repsond as soon as i get tme to go thru it all.

if you have a computer and an internet connection just go to demonoid.com and download some lynda.com tutorials. The ones put together by quasimodo are the best!



Get at me if you need an invite.

I really, really, really want to see Lagos and I will before the year is out, but first to ghana and sierra leone.

So yea, Nigeria is definately on the agenda!!!

Mine too!

WesleyanA:

Anton
Actually, the killings in Nigeria have little to do with the actual controversy. There have always been an internal tension between christians and muslims in Nigeria that the cartoons were just an excuse.
It wouldn't happen in amerikkka because muslims are a minority religion plus they're mainly non-violent I believe. Even if it happened, it would only bring more hate and prejudice to the US muslim population in the face of the Sept. 11 attack and the war in Iraq. I wish people didn't hate muslims so much and I wish those etremists weren't blemishing the religion so bad.

But it does happen in amerikkka every day. Not religious, more economic. Mostly unemployed young men. Just looking for an excuse to lash out at what they hate the most: everything that looks like them, What 7,000 a year i think it is now.

Look. When the green berets/delta and seals go around the world training folks to do dirt work, one of their missions is to build lasting realtionships with promising young officers. The reason is this: Presidents come and go, but often the security structure that surrounds them stays in place thruout subsequent administrations. The qualifiying question you have to ask yourself is why would a certain goverment recieve support from the Snakes in the form of military training? Cost benefit analysis.

A couple of months ago, I posted a link back in my new user topic that leads to some of the policy i just decribed.

Jakumo:

Many Nigerians, especially those who remember Nigeria's genocidal civil war of the late 1960's would welcome Uncle Sam into Nigeria's oil fields with open arms, should the alternative anarchy spread and intensify sufficiently to warrant outside intervention.

That is what scares me.

Also, invasion is the wrong scenario. I don't think that they will "invade" nigeria in the same way as iraq. It will most likely be a scenario in which a foreign military presence is positioned in the gulf. It may be a un group. It may be an austro euro american force, or maybe just a permanent Wasp Class landing vessel permenantly in the area. Either way, because of the bad blood between the rebels and the federals, the cleansing of the area of delta folk by the foriegners will fall on deaf ears. In either casde, it will be a collaboration between the ruling classes of everyparty including the victim's.

The outcome of all of these senarios is the same: Erosion of what little soverignty we have in what is suposedly one of our strongest, guiding light nation states.

GGRRRRRRRR! Seems as though i forgot about this section. Am I still considered "new"?

Anyway, my new site is at www.anuhelix.com.

Well, I can't exactly remember when i first got here but i can say i have learned some valuable insight into the Continental mind. I will learn more as time goes on.

My first trip to the Continent is getting closer and closer!!! Myself, the Queen (wife), Princess (daughter), and NewBorn Afrikan will be travleing to the Ghana and Benin for an investment trip. Once we do our first trip, we will plan to go to Sierra Leone, her homeland.

That reminds me, i still have to call one of my moms coworkers and tell her we will be leaving soon. She gave us permission to use their house in ghana for our travels! Yay!

Anyway, that's it for now, so i'll try to come back soon!

Drusilla:

Kazey,

Go for it. I have already named the part that African Americans must do. The very purpose of our being firmly lodged in the west. Stopping the beast.


Africans will have to discuss what they will do if the beast is stopped.

Exactly.

Maybe instead of trying to abolish it outright, the emphasis should first be placed on non monetary compensation?

Also, what made the poster think that this was oringinal and unique to only nigeria?