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The purpose of this site is to try and get the world to start dealing with the interaction between culture and success in a mature and intelligent manner. Poll: Do you believe culture influences success? Yes 67.5% No 17.3% Uncertain 15.1% - Newest Articles - Per capita income figures for the countries and regions of the world. While rarely read this is Gandhi's most important written work. The traditional explanation for the noticeable differences in income across cultures was to say that they differed in their level of civilization. - Categories - - All Articles - Per capita income figures for the countries and regions of the world. While rarely read this is Gandhi's most important written work. The traditional explanation for the noticeable differences in income across cultures was to say that they differed in their level of civilization. This 1920 work by Roger Babson is a classic with in its genre. It promotes the traditional, pre-1960s explanation for the connection between success and culture. Current events in Zimbabwe are giving us an unprecedented opportunity to measure and judge the effect of white settlement and colonization in Africa. Average US Incomes by Race, Ethnicity and Religion. Max Weber's claim that Protestantism is more conducive to success than Catholicism and that Calvinism is in particular more successful is widely repeated and rarely examined. We need to recognize that culture is the personality of a group or race and we must see culture and having seen it, make it a work of art. The moral justification for welfare is supposed to be that we are temporarily helping out our fellow man through a rough stretch of road or helping the disabled permanently. If it is to become a system for continually transferring wealth from one group to another the people behind this change owe us an explanation. The great taboo of our age is not speaking about race, but speaking about culture. Bourgeoisie is more than just a term of abuse used by the Left, it refers to a real people who led real lives. Selections from the Federal Outlook Selections from a 1960's Rhodesian newspaper. How Africa Underdeveloped Africa Africa is the poorest place in the world. Why? Will Famine Come to Zimbabwe? The end of commercial farming in Zimbabwe could plunge the country into famine. The Tragedy of the Zimbabwe Commons Communally owned property always has and always will suffer from the 'tragedy of the commons' problem. Band Aid Africa recieves $15 billion a year in aid. Is it helping? |
Development for the future
by P. R. Hurlston
"Economic freedom is as important as political freedom. Not only must people have access to what other people produce, but their own products must in turn have some chance of reaching men all over the world. There will be no peace, there will be no real development, there will be no economic stability, unless we find methods by which we can begin to break down the unnecessary trade barriers hampering the flow of goods." So stated Wendell L. Wilkie when speaking on "Economic Freedom", and Sir George Stapledon has this to say: "The spirit of a country, if it is to be true to itself, needs continually to draw great breaths of inspiration from the simple realities of the country: from the smell of its soil, the pattern of its fields, the beauty of its scenery, and from the men and women who dwell and toil in the rural areas."
Can This Be Done
I. Transportation
(a) All 'Main Roads" used for transporting goods, whether it be ordinary merchandise orforthetransportation of people, should be the responsibility of the Ministry of Roads and Road Traffic.
(b) All such roads through the A.P.A.s and T.T.L.s should have a minimum width of four metres, properly constructed, and surfaced with macadam. The verges would be maintained by existing Councils through whose administrative areas they pass (where through an A.P.A., by the Council for that particular A.P.A., etc.).
(c) Side roads leading off these main roads would be constructed and maintained by existing Councils.
2. Growth Points
Where there are existing Townships (Growth Points) these should be developed to include:
(a) Premises for both social and cultural activities adult educational facilities, schools, clinics and welfare centres.
(b) A central packing station where farmers' produce can be graded, packed and sent to market (similar to some of the fruit growing cooperatives in other countries).
(c) Bulk trading, buying and selling for farmers would be organised on a contractual basis.
(d) There should be a central Farmers' Trading Store, such as a Farmers' Coop., from which all agricultural supplies, e.g. fertilizers, feeding stuffs, seeds, farm implements, tools, etc. and also building supplies- timber, cement, window and door frames, etc., can be supplied to he farmer. (Note well: At present consider the amount of time and money wasted by tribesmen travelling long distances to our major towns and cities to purchase cement, door frames, etc.).
(e) Where there are irrigation schemes a horticultural propagating service would be provided where the plants, e.g. tomato and cabbage seedlings, etc., required by the farmers, are propagated and supplied to them. (Note: At some of our irrigation sites, such as Mabodza and Mutorahuku Irrigation Schemes in the Chiwundura T.T.L., the raising and selling of seedlings is being carried out by Y.F.C. members.).
(f) Pedigree herds should be maintained at 'District Centres' (A.I. Centres) for the supply of semen and breeding stock for farmers, and a boar service should also be made available to farmers.
(g) Selected farmers would take part in a poultry breeding scheme, sending eggs to hatcheries from whence dayold chicks could be supplied to farmers.
Farmers interested in the breeding of rabbits should be encouraged to set up commercial rabbitries and to form Commercial Rabbit Breeders' Associations within their own areas.
(I) Major cultivations of arable land and reaping of produce would be supplied and carried out by a service department where required, thus supplying implements and labour to carry out such cultivations for farmers at a reasonable cost.
(j) At each Township (Growth Point) there should be a resident Agricultural or Extension Officer with an experienced extension staff available for consultation by the farmers.
(k) Farmers should be encouraged to keep their own records of accounts, but most will require training in this. However, arrangements could be made for the keeping of all the farmers' farming accounts thus saving the farmer the anxiety and worry over financial matters and difficulties and so 'making it possible for the farmer the producer to devote his whole time to the production of first class crops.' Where there is a need for 'Secondary Industries' further Growth Points should be established where cottage industries can be undertaken.
3. Capital Requirements
The majority of African farmers both in the A.P.A.s and T.T.L.s are undercapitalised when they start farming. Farmers should be assisted in starting, no matter whether they be Africans, Coloureds or Europeans, at a reasonable rate of interest and on easy repayment terms for fifteen years up to threequarters of the capital required. The equipment and other items purchased would correspond with the production plan for the farm which the Extension Staff work out with the farmer. If a farmer is prepared to work hard and to keep his personal expenditure within reasonable limits, some of the return can be reinvested in further equipment and restocking where necessary.
Conclusions
In the years that lie ahead for this country much rebuilding, planning and developing of all areas will be taking place, for where there's a will there's a way, and a way must be found for improving the lot of all our peoples. What then would be the advantages of such 'Development'?
Good main roads throughout the A.P.A.s and T.T.L.s; loan of up to threequarters of capital required; bulk purchasing of requirements; centralised grading, packing and marketing of all produce grown on the farms, and control of farmers' accounts; breeding stock easily obtained by the farmers as well as plants for intensive vegetable production.
REFERENCES
K. J. McCready. The Land Settlement Association: its history and present form. (Plunkett Foundation for Cooperative Studies).
Rural life, quarterly review of the Institute of Rural life at home and overseas. (Vol. 2, no. 2, June, 1957).
SabiLimpopo Authority. Report.