... and Sam replies

Thanks for reading Limeblast and thanks for commenting. You have obviously not read the June Limeblast in which I spoke about EU subsidies to EU industries. I suggest you log on to my website [http://www.limeblast.org] and read the June article which will show you that we think along the same lines. I fully agree with your objection to the cosy shell and the need for African countries to stand on their own feet but, unless you give them a safe stable platform to stand on, they will never be able to come off their knees. It is not in the political and economic interest of the developed countries to allow Africa stability. Your pinpointing corruption as a major or, maybe, the major obstacle to the development of third and fourth world countries finds me in 100% agreement. I would like to point out that the developing world permits, even promotes, corruption and protects despots like Marcos, Mugabe, Mobutu, Arap Moi, Saddam Hussain and too many others. As long as these dictators are convenient for the general purpose of mainly US but also European politics, they are allowed to get away with practically everything, stripping their country's wealth, murder and money laundering included. Only when they don't serve their purpose anymore do the holier than thou politicians become aware and critical of certain abuses and denounce the same facts that were tolerated or even promoted before. One of the African problems is dumping and that can only be stopped with strict import laws. Another is the mentality of the developed world to look for opportunities for cheap raw materials. As I wrote in Limeblast, I agree that trade should be free, but only on equal terms. You can't have your cake and eat it all. Sam Setter