As a young girl, growing up in the Gambia and now living in Europe, I have being wondering whether kolonization has something to with poverty in Africa (which todays African leaders do believe). Well, I do have a few thoughts to share with you and maybe someone kan help with some answers to my questions. Africa and Asia are two continents, both suffered colonization and still suffers corruption. Why is Africa poorer? Is it because of Africas failure to elect demokratic governments and it's lack of interest in promoting industrial sustainability and democracy. Whatever method used in analising the situation in both continents shows that the situation in Africa is worse. One reason I learnt about is that the production power in Asia since the 60s has dubbled, decreasing the poverty levels, whilst in Africas production power has decreased. Why?? Why is Africa staving? We Africans should take our own responsibilities and change our attitudes, learn to listen more to our people, our women , and children. Our leaders today are only elected to serve their families, villages and tribes, ignoring the rest. An example is the situation in the Gambia and Zimbabwe just to mention a few. Leaders in these two countries only care about their personal interests: which are to stay president until death, to shatter the opposition, controll the media, lack of knowledge in democracy issues, poor human right records and at the same time enrich themselves and their loyals on state loans (loans from IMF, USA, EU, ...) which their poor will have to pay back.Besides,they show no sign of concern over what resources they can develop or produce in orde to improve the situation. For instance, in the Gambia, after years of groudnut production, the country still lacks a functional industry in the peanut bussiness, the same thing applies with fishery, and agriculture. Why can't the state start a ketchup plant, juice factory, oil, clothing, ..... I think we are not grateful to our moms and sisters efforts in agricultute back home. When will those responsible take them seriously and create a sustainable market for their products? Why should we always plea for food when the rains fail? Can't we produce, consume, sell and preserve the leftovers for next time? Why are we still dependent on the west? What are Africans doing about their situation. Your answers will be appreciated. /Elizabeth ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~