This story makes me extremely sad and angry. Surely somebody in a position of power benefits from this land give aways. They certainly aren't for free from an economic and social point of view because they come at great expense to the local communities.

The unfortunate part of it is that when the distinct possibility of an prising occurs, it will come at the cost of human lives as well. And those human lives will constitute the scores of Africans scrambling for resources at grass roots level and not those responsible for their suffering. I am disgusted and flabbagasted that this continues in this day and age
What does the African Union and Nepad have to say about this? What are they doing to stop it. It's absolutely unacceptable that so-called leaders only look out for themselves in a continent such as Africa. Aluta Continua!

As reprehensible as these deals are, they are based on a precident set by the the United States, England and other industrialized nations. One of the most appropriate examples would be the British South Africa Company and Mr. Cecil Rhodes (Rhodisia). But also American companies like Dole and Chiquita and the mega agricultural multi-national ADM (Archer Daniels Midland). All of the above committed themselves to dominating the resources they coveted through whatever unethical and immoral methods were at their disposal. And the governments of their respective countries often backed these companies up with young lives to defend their spoils.

This legacy will hamper us as we try to confront a new wave of economic imperialism. We are moving to an age defined by scarcity of resources. Such climates always precipitate famine, strife, and war. This is our challenge.