Aloha,
This discourse has seen the questioning of the economic and social
viability of some Pacific island states. Some commentators believe that
smaller island states do not have the capacity to remain viable.
For whom, when?
And "social viability?" What the bloozargloth is *that* supposed to mean?
bloozarglothAn Americanism previously unheard.
This is a hoot, except that it's also very sad.
We colonial powers just can't get over ourselves!
We go in and impose all manner of unsustainable shiznit on these folks (who oftentimes gladly accept, but that's not an excuse for us doing it).
Then when the shiznit hits the fan for the locals (or maybe just for the colonials' extraction of wealth)
the colonials moan about "viability" - what a crock! The masters' systems aren't viable either - it just takes longer to show up on a continental scale. Islands are really good that way...
The alternative is further reliance on the foreign aid of countries like Australia and New
Zealand and/ or the devolution of power to armed groups such as
happened in the Solomons and, to a limited extent, in PNG.
How about another alternative (there's always an infinite number)
- the colonial powers make full and just reparations for the damage they've done
which may include ongoing support for the locals to rebuild regenerative and sustainable systems for self-sufficiency
regenerative and sustainable systems for self-sufficiency (like some of them had for thousands of years until we showed up).
And other than that, colonials get the heck *out* of there.
Screw the 'foreign aid' pity crap - this isn't charity, we *owe* big-time. At least in terms of people care and distribution of surplus.
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