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The wars Europeans start are "world wars" but the wars in Africa are "tribal wars" 🤔
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@timnitGebru The world wars involved Europe, Canada, US, Japan...the nuclear bombs were dropped in Japan...
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@CStamp @timnitGebru WWII reached the coasts of Argentina and Uruguay, and was at least fought in the North and East Africa, the Middle East, the Central and South West Pacific and South East and East Asia. Not sure about WWI.
But Gebru's point has its merits. Calling it "tribal" when it's a matter of peoples just like in the Middle East and many other places is condescending.
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@timnitGebru In Europe, it is commonly said that Africa is this and Africa is that. Yes, most people know that Africa consists of independent states, but people still talk about it as if it were just some big "lump" somewhere in the world. Personally, I don't know much about the independent states of Africa. Africa is somewhere far away. (I'm in Finland.) I promise to do my best in the future to become more aware of Africa. (By the way, South America is another "blob" in the world.)
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@Finnhits I bet one of the northern african countries are much closer ot you, than, e.g. the US...
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@timnitGebru I actually know something about African countries. With a friend, we have played a "game" using a google map, where one of us has to list e.g. all the countries on the African coast, starting from Morocco down and all over the continent. The idea of the game is to help a friend get "full points". Clues about the correct answer are given as much as need to be given. We both learn in it.
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@Finnhits What I mean is that how far something feels isn't the same as how far it is. How the media portrays something makes you feel closer or further to a place.
What is this game that you're playing? I once created a game for adults and kids to teach them about African countries and none of the adults could play the game.
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@timnitGebru In Finland, we have a board game known to all children and adults, which is called "Star of Africa". Today, we have a contradictory attitude towards it, because the game represents the time of colonization (even though Finland itself was not a world conqueror). This game is certainly the closest factor through which a Finn understands Africa. Frankly, there is no increase in understanding of Africa, but the game is entertaining. (If I'm already completely off topic, sorry.)
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Macron discusses "North Korean soldiers on European soil."
Sure. Not good.
Now do the number of French soldiers on African soil. I'll wait.
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@timnitGebru France is slowly but surely getting kicked out of Africa. Good riddance!
Issue is, instead of african country finally being free to set their destiny, FR soldiers and companies are being replaced by RU and CN soldiers and companies...
Issue is, instead of african country finally being free to set their destiny, FR soldiers and companies are being replaced by RU and CN soldiers and companies...
Can't they get a rest, after centuries of exploitation?
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@timnitGebru I remember watching a documentary on how irresposible and careless uranium mining has been in France in the early days of the French atom age...
And a thought crept up in my mind: "now we're doing the same, but in Africa"
And a thought crept up in my mind: "now we're doing the same, but in Africa"
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@timnitGebru Whataboutism aside, there’s a significant difference between the DPRK’s troop in Europe, which are basically taking part in an invasion, and troops in Africa there under agreement with the government of those countries, and leave when asked. (Many countries have asked France to leave, which they have done (often to be replaced by Russian mercenaries)).
As for the number, French forces are now under 10k (they were at 10k in 2023, before the closure of many bases).
The DPRK contingent seems higher that that, and Russians invading forces are an order of magnitude larger.
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@timnitGebru
Indeed. The whole “free world” schtick being played for the western audience in the face of multiple glaring contradictions tells me how much we don’t matter. Again.
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They're ALL there. Russia, Ukraine, France, US, China, Israel.
Shit Russia and Ukraine were fighting ON SUDANESE SOIL.
What is that called?
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@timnitGebru why were Russian soldiers there? or did Ukraine ship them there for some weird elaborated execution? Could it be Afrika is also being exploited by Russia?
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@timnitGebru not to mention mercenaries, or worse mercenaries from other global south nations taken there under false pretenses (there are currently squads of Colombian fighters there that thought they were going to do simple security gigs in the Arab emirates)
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Its the oldest trick in the book to make so many attempts to make invisible the NUMBER ONE source of your wealth: exploitation of the African continent.
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And lets not even get started with the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey. All the cheap drones fueling wars.
EVERYONE is plundering Africa.
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@timnitGebru do we really need to do whataboutism about this one?
Also yes, Africa is exploited by everyone, and rich lords have all the say.
Also yes, Africa is exploited by everyone, and rich lords have all the say.
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@timnitGebru for centuries. Don’t let china get too deep.
A 𑐴𑐶𑐟𑐶 (hiti) is an ancient Newah urban water feature: a stepped, sunken courtyard with waterspouts and a central pool. These are fed through a remarkable network of pipes, reservoirs, and irrigation systems drawing water from mountain springs dozens of kilometres away. Every day, hundreds of people from the neighbourhood come to draw water, bathe, and exchange news. They are a unique and precious feature of Newa urban architecture through which neighbourhoods are created.
Automatic federation enabled