Now RUST once was the “HEARTLAND of American Industry,” “Focal point of United States Manufacturing”

Then came (or were there always) Narrow interests and Carelessness, Poor Planning and Off shoring replacing Effort and Innovation resulting in Disabling and Demise all round(?)

Callously and corruptively, U.S. policy makers have colluded with sinister influencers, partners and wannabe powers more and more deeply entrenched and shuttling in and out and around Federal Washington. 

They have carried on continuous pageantry—diversions, distractions, blame fests against any individual or entity “other than themselves” (any other person, place or thing including actual victims). 

They have turned America’s heart to RUST.

From the latter half of the twentieth century onward, the United States of America BETRAYED by its “leaders” saw closed then abandoned factories (vital workplaces).

Physical infrastructures (together with health, educational, welfare, social institutions) have failed or are in freefall leaving a blight on the land, causing outflow, brain drain, the hemorrhaging of populations (precursor to twenty-first century America’s on-the-street-under bridges-in-tunnels unable to flee homeless) in search of fruitful work, living wages, better chances, better living conditions—

(just as millions of migrants, under the constant onslaught of US policy makers and their partners’ rulemaking, orders and conduct of unspeakable global aggression—THEN ABANDONED—are forced to flee their homelands in search of fruitful work, living wages, better chances and better living conditions).

Public and Private Powers have colluded in the decimation of industry: failing to update and to incentivize updating industry, equipment, materials, employee training; failing to plan for the future, to innovate and incentivize substantive innovation. Instead, the partners chose narrow and short-termed interests (over the public good, America’s general welfare), laziness over effort. The public official-major media-owner company cabal practiced obfuscation and deregulation, exchange of payoffs and kickbacks; hoodwinking workers, begetting owner-worker battles stretching into the present day—CODE BLUE RED permanent breakdown. The patient is DOA. 

United States Presidents 42-46 NET WORTH

42. William Jefferson Blythe III (“Bill” “Clinton”) before, after presidency: $1.3 million -	$241.5 million
43. George Walker Bush before, after presidency: $20 million -	$40 million
44. Barack Hussein Obama Jr. before, after presidency: $1.3 million -	$70 million
45. Donald John Trump before, after presidency: $3 billion -	$2.3 billion
46. Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. before, during presidency: $8 million -	$10 million

Rich to RUST

Baltimore Pittsburgh Buffalo Cleveland Detroit 
Focal point of American industry lost

• Baltimore, Maryland once was “a Mecca” for metal and ship-building production

• Buffalo, New York State once was the world’s “largest grain port”

• Chicago, Illinois once was America’s great railroad hub: one of the country’s “largest railroad centers” and serving “as a base for the manufacture of freight and passenger railroad cars.”

• Cleveland, Ohio once was “home to Standard Oil Company” (dating back to the nineteenth century) and “a notable transportation hub”

• Detroit, Michigan once was the “center of the American automobile industry,” home of ‘Big Three’ automakers: Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler

• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania once was “a center for steel manufacturing” (also dating back to the nineteenth century)

Of the abandoned and betrayed poverty-stricken States of the United States of America, which ones are within the RUST BELT?

RUST Belt States

ILLINOIS	MISSOURI	7. PENNSYLVANIA
2.   INDIANA	NEW YORK	8. WEST VIRGINIA
MICHIGAN	OHIO	9. WISCONSIN

 RUST Belt States’ Poverty Rates

1.      Illinois	8.6 percent
2.      Indiana	11.1 percent
3.      Michigan	10.6 percent
4.      Missouri	10.0 percent
5.      New York	12.1 percent
6.      Ohio	12.5 percent
7.      Pennsylvania	9.7 percent
8.      West Virginia	14.0 percent
9.      Wisconsin	8.2 percent

117th U.S. Congress (RUST Belt-COVID 19 Era) 

RICHEST Members

1.         Sen. Rick Scott (Florida):                             $200,327,223

2.         Rep. Michael McCaul (Texas):                    $125,880,292

3.         Rep. Darrell Issa (California):                     $115,850,012

4.         Rep. Vern Buchanan (Florida):                   $113,384,088

5.         Sen. Dianne Feinstein (California):             $96,518,036

6.         Sen. Mark Warner (Virginia):                     $93,534,098

7.         Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah):                            $85,269,083

8.         Sen. Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut):    $85,231,232

9.         Rep. Trey Hollingsworth (Indiana):            $74,629,062

10.       Rep. Doris Matsui (California):                   $73,872,062

11.       Rep. Roger Williams (Texas):                      $67,438,045

12.       Rep. Peter Meijer (Michigan):                     $60,514,285

13.       Rep. Suzan DelBene (Washington):            $52,156,097

14.       Rep. Nancy Pelosi (California):                   $46,123,051

15.       Rep. Scott Peters (California):                     $39,738,062

16.       Rep. Jay Obernolte, (California):                $39,250,014

17.       Rep. David Trone (Maryland):                    $32,927,094

18.       Rep. Don Beyer (Virginia):                          $29,805,092

19.       Rep. Kathy Manning (North Carolina):     $27,202,287

20.       Rep. Kevin Hern (Oklahoma):                     $26,761,380

21.       Rep. Dean Phillips (Minnesota):                  $24,778,495

22.       Rep. Fred Upton (Michigan):                      $24,692,218

23.       Rep. John Rose (Tennessee):                       $23,362,065

24.       Rep. Sara Jacobs (California):                    $21,428,125

25.       Rep. Ralph Norman (South Carolina):       $20,679,156

  

USA Poverty Rates (RUST Belt States in red)

Rank       State       Percentage of Population

below Poverty Line

1	Louisiana	23.10  percent
2	Mississippi	22.10  percent
3	Arizona	21.20  percent
4	West Virginia	20.60  percent
5	Kentucky	20.00  percent
6	New Mexico	20.00  percent
7	District of Columbia	19.00  percent
8	Arkansas	18.40  percent
9	Alabama	17.80  percent
10	Tennessee	17.30  percent
11	Oklahoma	17.30  percent
12	North Carolina	17.10  percent
13	Nevada	17.00  percent
14	Georgia	16.80  percent
15	Florida	16.70  percent
16	South Carolina	16.50  percent
17	Texas	16.40  percent
18	California	15.80  percent
19	Ohio	15.60  percent
20	Michigan	14.80  percent
21	Maine	14.60  percent
22	Indiana	14.60  percent
23	Oregon	14.40  percent
24	New York	14.00  percent
25	Illinois	13.70  percent
26	Massachusetts	13.60  percent
27	South Dakota	12.80  percent
28	Pennsylvania	12.50  percent
29	Idaho	12.40  percent
30	Colorado	12.30  percent
31	Kansas	12.10  percent
32	Montana	12.00  percent
33	Washington	12.00  percent
34	Alaska	11.90  percent
35	Nebraska	11.80  percent
36	Rhode Island	11.30  percent
37	New Jersey	11.30  percent
38	Delaware	11.00  percent
39	Wisconsin	10.90  percent
40	Hawaii	10.80  percent
41	Missouri	10.40  percent
42	Iowa	10.30  percent
43	Virginia	10.20  percent
44	Utah	10.20  percent
45	Maryland	9.90  percent
46	Wyoming	9.70  percent
47	North Dakota	9.70  percent
48	Vermont	9.30  percent
49	Connecticut	8.60  percent
50	Minnesota	8.30  percent
51	New Hampshire	7.20  percent

Sources

• World Atlas “Rust Belt United States,” https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/rust-belt-united-states.html World Atlas “US Poverty Rate by State,” https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/us-poverty-rate-by-state.html

• Wikipedia “Rust Belt”

“‘Rust’ refers to the impact of deindustrialization, economic decline, population loss, and urban decay … attributable to the shrinking of the once-powerful industrial sector especially including steelmaking, automobile manufacturing, and coal mining.”

Hardest hit Cities and Regions: Northeast and Midwest regions including Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Jersey City, Newark, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Toledo, Trenton, Youngstown; other areas of New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Upstate New York.

Though “New England was also hit hard by industrial decline …, cities closer to the East Coast (e.g., New York metropolitan, Greater Boston) … have been able to adapt by diversifying or transforming their economies to shift focus toward services, advanced manufacturing, and high-tech industries.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust_Belt

• Investopedia “Rust Belt: Definition, Why It’s Called That, List of States,” James Chen updated November 29, 2022

“The COVID-19 pandemic hit the Rust Belt hardest.” Remaining factories were forced to close, gains manufacturing jobs were lost. Blue-collar workers were unable to “work from home.” Double crises of the pandemic and mental health declines hit “nine out of 13 cities studied in the Rust Belt.” https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rust-belt.asp

• Business Insider “Meet the 25 wealthiest members of Congress,” Madison Hall and Angela Wang December 14, 2021, https://www.businessinsider.com/wealthiest-members-congress-house-senate-finances-2021-12

• The Inquisitr “How President Joe Biden's Net Worth Increased By $2 Million Being in the White House for 2 Years,” Juwairiya Shariq, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/how-president-joe-biden-s-net-worth-increased-by-2-million-being-in-the-white-house-for-2-years/ar-AA1hCBfC

• Cheapism, “U.S. Presidents' Net Worth, Before and After Taking Office,” Andrew Lisa, February 17, 2023, https://blog.cheapism.com/what-presidents-are-worth/#slide=5

Composition and Commentary excluding quoted material and individual images

Copyright © Carolyn LaDelle Bennett

Author’s links: www.BennettsAmericanEpitaph.com

https://www.facebook.com/carolynladelle.bennett

https://insightbeyondtodaysnews.blogspot.com/

https://www.xlibris.com/en/search?query=Carolyn+LaDelle+Bennett

https://www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/828689-epitaph

HALF TRUTHS Designed to Deceive

One shock jock with too much on-air time stretching out before him and too little substance on his mind spent a sizeable chunk of his morning shtick with sidekick (as much my mind was willing tolerate) engaging in trash talk—Proving once again the clear and ever-present danger of too little knowledge and too little research work ethic.

 
No doubt his spiel will be parroted across media platforms over several days feeding the lowest denominator of North America's various political tribalists.

Here’s some of the Rest of the Story…

Mississippi born (late 1970s) and educated California resident (since 2009) Laphonza Romanique Butler’s career has focused on labor, education and politics. 

Her career path has moved from early years in Los Angeles, California, doing community organizing on issues such as affordable housing and education; to a current directorship on the board of “Vision to Learn” aimed at helping the young.

Vision to Learn is a 501c (3) based in Los Angeles, California, that, according to its website, begins its work giving “vision screenings for students,” “utilizing medically appropriate tools;” then enabling “students to access eye care;” typically “district responsibilities include coordinating consent forms for exams and escorting kids from the classroom to the mobile clinic.”

 Laphonza Butler is listed as member of its Board of Directors.

Also included on her résumé from 2009 onward is work with these:

• Service Employees International Union (SEIU) local, president 2009-2015: 
• 2013: elected President California SEIU State Council
• 2015: president of SEIU Local 
• 2016 Elections: service as one of California’s Electors
• 2018-2021: service (Gov Brown appointed) on University of California Board of Regents
• 2018: partner in San Francisco, California-based SCRB Strategies “specializing in complex communications challenges for political campaigns, companies, and organizations” 
• 2020: Director of public policy and campaigns in North America for the San Francisco, California-based brokerage “operating an online marketplace for short- and long-term home stays and experiences” (known as Airbnb)
• 2021: named president of Washington, D.C., headquartered political action committee “EMILY’s List” established 1985 for women in the Democratic Party sphere to “Run. Win. Change the World.”
• 2023: appointed (by California Gov. Newsom) to fill vacancy in U.S. Senate

Political Action Committees Supporting Women for Public Office are Commonplace. 

Equivalents to Emily’s List are likely some of these PACs supporting women in Republican Party sphere: 

• “Elevate PAC” (EPAC) to “Engage, Empower, Elevate and Elect Republican Women in Congress”

• “Maverick Women: (Maverick PAC) “for Republican candidates running for Federal office”

• “VIEWPAC” “for Republican women running for Federal office”

•  “RightNOW Women’s PAC” (RNWP) “for Republican women running for Federal office.”

Notwithstanding all that, perhaps there are fundamental truths.

If the only thing a man or woman has to offer (and if the lone expectation is) his or her genetic configuration or inherited outer shell (as the shock jock seems to think)—he or she has nothing to offer, nothing to brag about.

If an employer or appointer offers a position purely on the basis of the potential appointee’s outer shell, such a proposal is not only unreasoned. It is a manifestation of contempt; a deliberate insult, reinforcing “place” or “caste” of malleability: Thank you very much. Nothing substantive required of you. Just the opposite.

•  Excellence is not a criterion for you. 
• Any original contributions you may contemplate do not interest us. 

Perhaps a better course all round is to wait and see. Is what we see or think we see before us a meeting between contempt and tribal shell? Or something else entirely?




Sources

Press Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom: “Civic leaders from across the nation are praising Governor Gavin Newsom’s appointment of Laphonza Butler to the (vacancy in) United States Senate…. Butler (is) a longtime labor leader and advocate for women and working people.” https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/10/02/leaders-praise-governor-newsoms-decision-to-appoint-laphonza-butler-to-u-s-senate/

General references and others
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laphonza_Butler
https://wikikida.com/laphonza-butler/

https://visiontolearn.org/our-work/how-vision-to-learn-works/
https://visiontolearn.org/
https://visiontolearn.org/about/leadership/
scrbstrategies.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbnb

https://medium.com/@sarahbelknap/organizations-helping-conservative-women-run-for-office-f175c2fe68fe

https://emilyslist.org/our-leadership/
https://emilyslist.org/about/

Composition and Commentary excluding quoted material and individual images

Copyright © Carolyn LaDelle Bennett

Author’s links: www.BennettsAmericanEpitaph.com

https://www.facebook.com/carolynladelle.bennett

https://insightbeyondtodaysnews.blogspot.com/

https://www.xlibris.com/en/search?query=Carolyn+LaDelle+Bennett

https://www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/828689-epitaph

Questionable “Influencers” Loosed on the World

Kingdom of the Strange:

Lunatics and Illiterates Abroad

Portrait of a Dangerous Person’s Tracks in the Road

Questionable Individual Questionably Connected 

• Secretly funded
• No apparent substantive or relevant education or training
• No critical understanding of Eastern European or Asian cultures, and 
• No essential language literacy

2020

The individual observed in Nevada September 2020 working with Republican candidates as an “opposition research operative

Clark County, Las Vegas area, Nevada, USA 
Post 2020 USA Presidential Election

The individual joins “efforts to bring members of the ‘Proud Boys’… to a rally in front of the Clark County Department of Elections” (Las Vegas, Nevada area).

The individual receives “message from the vice president of McShane LLC” (according to Linkedin’s entry a Las Vegas based “advertising services” firm engaged in “web design, video production, targeted digital ads, peer-to-peer texts and calls, and strategic consulting”) “hired by the Republican Party to investigate electoral fraud.”

The individual “contacts a group of far-right activists, at least one of whom was a member of the ‘Proud Boys’” followed by the Clark County Republican Party’s banning from participation their events designated individuals, one of whom had been “a ‘Proud Boy’ the prior individual “had contacted when recruiting for the Clark County rally.”

2021

The individual in the spring of 2021, under name change and under the Democratic Party banner, decides to run (and by October discontinues the campaign) for a seat on the Las Vegas City Council

2022 Eastern Europe

The Individual arrives in Ukraine on March 4, 2022, and establishes residence in a city in Eastern Ukraine from which the individual sends messages to a San Francisco, California-headquartered establishment under Q Digital called “LGBTQ Nation” whose marketed audience is the named group. Questionably financed and situated in a conflict zone hotly debated by world powers East and West, this individual sends ethnically divisive messages further inflaming relations between neighbors and kin—fired by a resurrected WW2-era element.

The individual shows up in August 2022 in Ukraine’s Ministry Defense with no relevant education or language facility, engaged in “writing ‘policy’ papers and ‘analyses;’” and by October 2022 is announcing apparent pledge of allegiance to Ukraine and entry into the “Armed Forces of Ukraine” (“AFU”).

Ending 2022

This individual—with allegiance to the armed forces of Ukraine and with no apparent wealth or schooling or stated source of funding—in December 2022, meets (site undisclosed) with members of the Congress of the United States and other questionable “influencers” to include Mississippian Roger Frederick Wicker (Federal Washington gerontocrat: on staff of MOC Trent Lott 1980-1982; ensconced in 15 U.S. Congresses: U.S. House 1995-2007; U.S. Senate 2007 – present 2023); sundry aides, activists and NGO operatives; and members of the Washington, D.C.-headquartered U.S. Congress-created “independent U.S. government agency” known as “the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.”

2023 early and through 

The individual, after being “wounded” in February 2023 and in recovery, “returns” in May 2023 to Federal Washington, D.C.; and holds court (reportedly) with sundry “influencers” to include Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, various aides; and (even MORE CURIOUS) Spanish (immigrant, 2013-documented U.S. citizen) celebrity chef, restaurateur, NFP NGO founder José Ramón Andrés Puerta.

 

In this week’s news from international presses, this individual—a U.S. native (Floridian) pledging allegiance to the president of a section of Ukraine and in an apparent mental breakdown—is discovered erupting in maniacal manifesto: “that ‘next week, the teeth of the Russian devils will gnash even harder, and their rabid mouths will foam in uncontrollable frenzy as the world will see a favorite Kremlin propagandist pay for their crimes.’”

 

This questionable influencer loosed on the world—

has been identified in news and reference sources as “Sarah Ashton-Cirillo” “formerly Sarah Cirillo and Sarah Ashton,” “an American” “serving as a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces.”

Composed, referenced, compiled and edited with additional text; no claim in directly quoted material or individual images—Copyright © Carolyn LaDelle Bennett

Author’s links: www.BennettsAmericanEpitaph.com

https://www.facebook.com/carolynladelle.bennett

https://insightbeyondtodaysnews.blogspot.com/

https://www.xlibris.com/en/search?query=Carolyn+LaDelle+Bennett

https://www.xlibris.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/828689-epitaph

Africa Hits Headlines

Speaking of Sovereignty, Positive Connections, Billions-Strong previously (neo) Colonized Continent

SUCCESSOR TO the Organization of African Unity (OAU 1963-1999) and headquartered in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), the African Union (AU) was established officially in 2002. It is a “continental body comprised of 55 member states” situated on the African Continent.

SUCCESSOR TO the Organization of African Unity (OAU 1963-1999) and headquartered in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), the African Union (AU) was established officially in 2002. It is a “continental body comprised of 55 member states” situated on the African Continent.

The website Nations Online lists the continent of Africa as the world’s “second-largest continent” (48 countries on the mainland, six islanded) covering “20 percent” of the planet Earth’s total land area; a population “1.37 billion people” inhabiting “54 sovereign countries” and “two disputed areas” (the latter “Somaliland, autonomous region of Somalia, and Western Sahara”). Western Sahara is under occupation of Morocco and is claimed by the Polisario” (Western Sahara’s indigenous population, the “Sahrawi people” or “Sahrawi nationalism” opposing Spanish colonialism 1884–1975 and Mauritanian and Moroccan invasions 1975–1979; 1975-present; historically represented by the “Polisario Front”; seeking “self-determination” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polisario_Front; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sahrawi_nationalism). https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/world_population.htm

Below are the 55 Member States, their abbreviation, and date of joining the OAU or AU

Central Africa

Republic of Burundi          Burundi               25 May 1963

Republic of Cameroon     Cameroon           25 May 1963

Central African Republic                Central African Republic               25 May 1963

Republic of Chad               Chad     25 May 1963

Republic of the Congo      Congo Republic 25 May 1963

Democratic Republic of Congo      DR Congo            25 May 1963

Republic of Equatorial Guinea      Equatorial Guinea            12 October 1968

Gabonese Republic            Gabon  25 May 1963

Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe       São Tomé and Príncipe   18 July 1975

Eastern Africa

Union of the Comoros        Comoros              18 July 1975

Republic of Djibouti           Djibouti                27 June 1977

State of Eritrea    Eritrea 24 May 1993

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia  Ethiopia               25 May 1963

Republic of Kenya             Kenya   25 May 1963

Republic of Madagascar  Madagascar       25 May 1963

Republic of Mauritius        Mauritius            August 1968

Republic of Rwanda          Rwanda                25 May 1963

Republic of Seychelles       Seychelles            29 June 1976

Federal Republic of Somalia          Somalia               25 May 1963

Republic of South Sudan  South Sudan        27 July 2011

Republic of the Sudan       Sudan   25 May 1963

United Republic of Tanzania          Tanzania             25 May 1963

Republic of Uganda           Uganda                25 May 1963

Northern Africa

People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria   Algeria  25 May 1963

Arab Republic of Egypt   Egypt     25 May 1963

State of Libya     Libya     25 May 1963

Islamic Republic of Mauritania     Mauritania          25 May 1963

Kingdom of Morocco       Morocco               1963/31 January 2017

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic             Sahrawi Republic               22 February 1982

Republic of Tunisia           Tunisia  25 May 1963

Southern Africa

Republic of Angola             Angola 11 February 1975

Republic of Botswana        Botswana             31 October 1966

Kingdom of Eswatini         Eswatini               24 September 1968

Kingdom of Lesotho          Lesotho                31 October 1966

Republic of Malawi            Malawi 13 July 1964

Republic of Mozambique                  Mozambique      18 July 1975

Republic of Namibia          Namibia               June 1990

Republic of South Africa South Africa       6 June 1994

Republic of Zambia           Zambia                16 December 1964

Republic of Zimbabwe      Zimbabwe           18 June 1980

Western Africa

Republic of Benin               Benin    25 May 1963

Burkina Faso [1958–1984 Republic of Upper Volta] Burkina Faso    25 May 1963

Republic of Cabo Verde    Cabo Verde         18 July 1975

Republic of Côte d’Ivoire                 Côte d’Ivoire      25 May 1963

Republic of the Gambia    Gambia                9 March 1965

Republic of Ghana              Ghana  25 May 1963

Republic of Guinea            Guinea 25 May 1963

Republic of Guinea-Bissau              Guinea-Bissau    19 November 1973

Republic of Liberia           Liberia 25 May 1963

Republic of Mali                Mali      25 May 1963

Republic of Niger               Niger    25 May 1963

Federal Republic of Nigeria           Nigeria 25 May 1963

Republic of Senegal           Senegal                25 May 1963

Republic of Sierra Leone Sierra Leone      25 May 1963

Togolese Republic             Togo     25 May 1963

https://au.int/en/member_states/countryprofiles2
https://au.int/en/overview

Africa makes Early-September Headlines

“G20 admits African Union as permanent member: The 55-state bloc received a formal offer at the summit in New Delhi on Saturday September 9, 2023,” https://www.rt.com/africa/582631-african-union-g20-membership/

Making the announcement was India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Environment, Climate, Plunder, Profiteering

“The fundamental logic of … ‘pollution permit markets’ is to benefit polluters”: 

Ease their journey in polluting endlessly, anywhere, anytime, without check or arrest. 

Kenya-headquartered Think Tank “Power Shift Africa” is sounding the alarm about the “Africa Carbon Markets Initiative” (ACMI). 

In its September release of results of an investigation, the group concludes that the ACMI is “a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing” …; “a dangerous distraction for Africa from its real interests and priorities for development, energy, climate, biodiversity and resilience.” https://www.powershiftafrica.org/storage/publications/The%20Africa%20Carbon%20Markets%20Initiative%20Wolf%20in%20Sheep's%20Clothing_1693903765.pdf

The scheme of carbon credits rising from a fantasyland or “imaginary commodity of tons of carbon ‘saved’ credits” continues permissive or neoliberal measures further entrenching the fossil-fuel industry status quo— “allowing companies across the world to continue to burn their polluting product, with impunity”; and ensuring “huge mark ups” for “the financial brokers who buy and sell the credits.”

The “neo-colonial carbon market” scheme of monetizing both the African nature and the climate crisis, enabling “polluting entities to continue polluting” while “shifting the carbon ‘reduction’ elsewhere, as cheaply as possible,” is unconcerned about the “development and resilience needs” of countries and communities of the Africa—human essentials of “food security, thriving economic development, and decent work.”

“The history of carbon markets, and the fundamental flaws associated with commodifying carbon, farming, forestry and other activities, and leveraging these into global financial markets, shows that Africa should not go down the path proposed by the African Carbon Markets Initiative.”

The “wolf in sheep’s clothing” bites into the flesh. Creates a multitude of new and even more serious problems; and never provides real benefits.

Individual Ingenuity, National Sovereignty 

A Quest

The Continent of Africa should “focus on real climate solutions” supportive of the development of African peoples and nations.

Power Shift Africa encourages leaders of Africa to look to “financial flows” other than the African Carbon Markets Initiative; “to implement their own zero-carbon sustainable development pathways, while retaining African Sovereignty for delivering development and climate objectives.”

The countries of Africa, overall, “should increasingly and purposely invest domestic means and currencies in renewable(s) and in sound industrialization, ensuring democratic sovereignty over their own development pathways.”

Sources

Paper
Power Shift Africa “The Africa Carbon Markets Initiative: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing,” September 5, 2023, https://www.powershiftafrica.org/publications/the-africa-carbon-markets-initiative-a-wolf-in-sheeps-clothing
https://www.powershiftafrica.org/storage/publications/The%20Africa%20Carbon%20Markets%20Initiative%20Wolf%20in%20Sheep's%20Clothing_1693903765.pdf

Source Background
Power Shift Africa’s website gives its mission statement in part as “mobilizing climate action in Africa and amplifying African voices through increased visibility in media and public communications” ; and its goals as establishing “a strong network of African media professionals to increase engagement and amplifying climate change and energy advocacy at national, continental, and global levels;” and strengthening African voices that sense connections between renewable energy mechanisms and systemic means of lessening African poverty and as necessary steps toward sustainable development. https://www.powershiftafrica.org/about-us
info@powershiftafrica.org; No: 5, Waridi Court, Rose Avenue, Kilimani, Nairobi (Kenya)

AU Background
The African Union is rooted in the “post-independence continental” Organization of African Unity formed in 1963 with Charter signatures of “32 Heads of independent African States” convening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. At its website, the AU proclaims, “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” African Union Headquarters, Roosvelt Street W21K19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, https://au.int/en/overview
https://au.int/en/member_states/countryprofiles2

Nations Online, One World Africa, https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/africa.htm; One World Population, https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/world_population.htm

News Reporting

RT News “G20 admits African Union as permanent member: The 55-state bloc received a formal offer at the summit in New Delhi on Saturday,” September 9, 2023, https://www.rt.com/africa/582631-african-union-g20-membership/

RT News “Climate groups reject African environmental initiative: The scheme is misleading and imposes neo-colonial barriers to achieving genuine development paths in Africa, organizations argue,” September 6, 2023, https://www.rt.com/africa/582485-climate-activists-reject-african-environmental-initiative/

RT News, “African civil organizations demand removal of US company from Climate Summit board: Western governments and corporations have hijacked the event to advance a pro-West agenda and interests, activists claim,” August 18, 2023, https://www.rt.com/africa/581406-african-civil-societies-us-company-climate-board-membership-concern/

Composition and Commentary excluding quoted material and individual images

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