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Not only a financial fortune, but I suspect a fortune in human lives too. There will be conflict. For instance, when a river over here dries up and a new one ov

Not only a financial fortune, but I suspect a fortune in human lives too. There will be conflict. For instance, when a river over here dries up and a new one over there is formed due to changing weather patterns, or some land over there is no longer productive agriculturally due to desertification but your neighbor has new productive land that just opened up. "Surviving" and "prospering" (and even "maintaining status quo") are completely different things.

beisner 9y ago
One of the most devastating aspects of colonialism in Africa was the soil depletion caused by short-sighted colonial planters who planted resource-hungry cash crops. There are large tracts of land in various parts of Africa that once were extremely agriculturally productive but because of this depletion are quite barren. This has had cascading consequences for long-term development in Africa, and has been a non-trivial factor in exacerbating poverty and famine. I mention this because climate change, while it might not have an outsized immediate effect on the countries that control the most guns/wealth, it could have major immediate consequences for populations with food insecurity, and therefore long-term consequences for populations that we currently consider food-secure. This extends to violent conflict as well.
- at-fates-hands 9y ago
  > One of the most devastating aspects of colonialism in Africa was the soil depletion caused by short-sighted colonial planters who planted resource-hungry cash crops. I love this slanted viewpoint. Of course deforestation, drought, erosion, population pressures, or the geologically induced and inherently low soil fertility had anything to do with it, did it? Nope, it was all the stupid white farmers fault.
- said 9y ago
  If this is one of the most devastating aspects of colonialism, then colonialism must not have been very bad. Before we have a conversation about this, I urge everyone to research the degree of soil depletion in formerly-colonized Africa, and then compare that to the degree of soil depletion elsewhere in the world (including never-colonized parts of Africa). (For bonus points, research how much of that soil depletion occurred since the end colonialism). The numbers are widely available. Colonial crop management was a boon for native Africans, not a bust.

beisner 9y ago

One of the most devastating aspects of colonialism in Africa was the soil depletion caused by short-sighted colonial planters who planted resource-hungry cash crops. There are large tracts of land in various parts of Africa that once were extremely agriculturally productive but because of this depletion are quite barren. This has had cascading consequences for long-term development in Africa, and has been a non-trivial factor in exacerbating poverty and famine. I mention this because climate change, while it might not have an outsized immediate effect on the countries that control the most guns/wealth, it could have major immediate consequences for populations with food insecurity, and therefore long-term consequences for populations that we currently consider food-secure. This extends to violent conflict as well.

at-fates-hands 9y ago
> One of the most devastating aspects of colonialism in Africa was the soil depletion caused by short-sighted colonial planters who planted resource-hungry cash crops. I love this slanted viewpoint. Of course deforestation, drought, erosion, population pressures, or the geologically induced and inherently low soil fertility had anything to do with it, did it? Nope, it was all the stupid white farmers fault.
said 9y ago
If this is one of the most devastating aspects of colonialism, then colonialism must not have been very bad. Before we have a conversation about this, I urge everyone to research the degree of soil depletion in formerly-colonized Africa, and then compare that to the degree of soil depletion elsewhere in the world (including never-colonized parts of Africa). (For bonus points, research how much of that soil depletion occurred since the end colonialism). The numbers are widely available. Colonial crop management was a boon for native Africans, not a bust.