Carlos Danger
Top 20
I wouldn't give a fuck. Always good to get outside perspectives. Haven't voted in over a decade anyway lol
AVZ Discussion 2022
- Thread starter GazDix
- Start date
In referring to the BoD, I don't mean your BOD, really not interested in your BOD.
Yes be an adult and diplomatic, keep your personal preferences away from any on line medium, which can be read worldwide and used against us.
Are you suggesting little ole me stating my preference for DRC presidency is going to be read world wide and used against our AVZ BOD ?...........( not to be confused with my BOD
)Hilarious......just to give you the tip , I will post what ever i damn well feel like pal......
Couldnt give a fuck if a person outside of Australia instructed us how to vote, cause i already know who to vote for and it aint Albanese....
Lastly, my feelings never get hurt, i have rhino skin and dont mind a bit of biff.........but what is clear , your skin is made of marsh mellow and needs to harden the fuck up......
Mate you can write anything you like. I am not my brother's keeper.In referring to the BoD, I don't mean your BOD, really not interested in your BOD.
View attachment 51799
Yes be an adult and diplomatic, keep your personal preferences away from any on line medium, which can be read worldwide and used against us.
Are you suggesting little ole me stating my preference for DRC presidency is going to be read world wide and used against our AVZ BOD ?...........( not to be confused with my BOD
Hilarious......just to give you the tip , I will post what ever i damn well feel like pal......
Couldnt give a fuck if a person outside of Australia instructed us how to vote, cause i already know who to vote for and it aint Albanese....
Lastly, my feelings never get hurt, i have rhino skin and dont mind a bit of biff.........but what is clear , your skin is made of marsh mellow and needs to harden the fuck up......
View attachment 51800
I never said you could not write A or B.
It appears the rhino skin in front of your eyes is clouding your perception about what is written.
However taking in account that nobody knows who is going to win the upcoming DRC Presidential election, it seems to me not very smart to prematurely shoot ourself in both feet.
The effect of that could prove to be extremely counter productive and expensive.
Btw I couldn't give a flying fuck who you vote for.
DR Congo election 2023: What you need to know
- Published
1 day ago
- Published
Image caption,
Denis Mukwege is one of the 22 presidential candidates
By Ousmane Badiane
BBC Afrique
Nearly 40 million Congolese voters go to the polls for the next presidential election on 20 December with President Félix Tshisekedi seeking a second, and final, five-year term in office.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa. Spanning an area the size of Western Europe with an estimated population of over 100 million people, the country is rich in natural resources.
Despite some calls for the election to be postponed, the head of the electoral commission is confident that everything will be ready in time.
Why does this election matter?
It holds 70% of the world's reserves of coltan, a highly-prized mineral used to make mobile phones, plus 30% of the world's diamonds and large quantities of cobalt, copper and bauxite.Although its vast mineral wealth and huge population represent huge economic assets, life in DR Congo is not improving for most people for a number of reasons, such as conflict, corruption and many decades of poor governance dating back to the colonial era.
Eastern DR Congo, where most of the mineral wealth lies, has been ravaged by conflict for three decades.
It is impossible to know how many lives have been lost - a 2008 study by the International Rescue Committee estimated that about 5.4 million people may have died, mostly from hunger and disease, making it the deadliest since World War Two. However, other studies have cast doubt on the accuracy of this figure.
After years of political instability and coups d'état, DR Congo is organising elections for the first time since the peaceful transfer of power between former President Joseph Kabila and Mr Tshisekedi in 2019.
Who are the candidates?
Following the withdrawal of four candidates, including former Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo, there are now 22 presidential candidates, including Mr Tshisekedi.His main challengers are:
- Martin Fayulu, the man believed by many observers to have been the rightful winner of the 2018 presidential election, even though he came second according to official results.
- Moïse Katumbi, a wealthy businessman and former governor of Katanga province, as well as the owner of the TP Mazembe football team
- Dr Denis Mukwege, the winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with rape survivors.
Still in the running are another former Prime Minister, Adolphe Muzito, MP Delly Sesanga, activist Floribert Anzuluni and Constant Mutamba.
Image caption,
President Félix Tshisekedi launched his campaign in Kinshasa's main football stadium
There are only two women in the race: Marie-Josée Ifoku Mputa, a presidential candidate in December 2018, and Joëlle Bile. The latter describes herself as the candidate representing hope for women and young people.
Running for election is not cheap.
All candidates had to pay 160 million Congolese francs to participate ($60,000; £47,000) in non-refundable application fees.
However, this is less than the previous election, when the fee was $100,000.
The voting system
Whichever candidate gains the most votes in the first round becomes the next president, whether or not they have more than 50%. So there is no second round run-off.
Image caption,
Martin Fayulu's supporters believe he was robbed of victory in 2018
The winner is then in post for a five-year term, renewable once only.
Voting takes place 90 days before the expiry of the current president's term.
This year, the presidential election will be combined with the election of members of both national and provincial parliaments and local councillors.
What is at stake?
This year's elections take place against a backdrop of conflict in the east, an economic and social crisis and a lack of trust between the government and opposition.Opposition parties suspect the government of orchestrating electoral fraud, accusing it of restricting freedoms and democratic space. The government rejects these accusations.
Image caption,
Eastern DR Congo is home to beautiful mountains and lakes, as well as huge mineral wealth. This is the view from the town of Bukavu
The many assurances given by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Ceni) have failed to alleviate the opposition's concerns.
The bishops of DR Congo's influential Catholic Church, and the leaders of the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) recently said they shared the opposition's worries.
There is also a cost-of-living crisis. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine are still hitting ordinary Congolese people in the pocket.
Inflation has reduced the purchasing power of ordinary citizens, who now have to pay more for their basic necessities, like food.
The value of the Congolese franc has fallen by 15-20% against the US dollar since the start of the year, according to official figures.
Two-thirds of DR Congo's population now live below the poverty line, earning $2.15 a day or less.
President Tshisekedi has launched a number of initiatives to try to tackle these issues including free primary school education and free healthcare for women giving birth at public medical facilities.
However, opinion remains divided over how effective these measures have been across the country.
Conflict in the east
The government has imposed a state of siege across the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri for almost a year but conflict continues to rage.Rebel groups such as the M23, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and Codeco continue to carry out attacks against both ordinary people and military targets.
Image caption,
Kenyan soldiers were sent to DR Congo last year to help tackle rebel groups but the government has ordered them to leave
As a result of the violence, DR Congo has among the highest number of internally displaced people in the world. Almost 6.9 million people are thought to have been forced to flee their homes since March 2022. The UN estimates that 28% of the population has been forcibly displaced in North Kivu and 39% in Ituri respectively.
Other hotspots have emerged as a result of inter-community conflicts, notably in the province of Tshopo, in the north-east, and in Maï-Ndombe, in the south-west of the country.
Insecurity is likely to disrupt voting in some parts of the country. In November, the electoral commission said it had lost around 30 agents to drowning and attacks by armed groups during the registration of voters.
The Congolese government recently demanded the departure of troops from East African countries by the end of the year, accusing them of failing to stop attacks from armed groups less than a year after their deployment.
Watching the vote
The electoral commission is supposed to be an autonomous, permanent and neutral body governed by public law, and endowed with legal power.Composed of 15 members, its mission is to "guarantee free and democratic elections".
Image caption,
Moise Katumbi is known as the owner of the massive TP Mazembe football team
However, it has come under fire from critics who accuse its president, Denis Kadima, of being too close to the government. They fear the fact he comes from the same ethnic group as the president could affect the integrity of the result.
For his part, Mr Kadima has repeatedly stated that his institution is committed to transparent elections that respect democratic principles.
The European Union observer mission has pulled out of the election, after failing to reach an agreement with the Congolese government over the importation of communication devices they needed to use. They will be deploying eight experts but only in the capital, Kinshasa.
In the past, the African Union, religious denominations and civil society organisations have deployed observers to closely monitor voting.
When will we get the results?
According to the electoral calendar, the provisional results are expected on 31 December.If the results are ready before that, they could be released sooner. But in previous elections, Ceni has not announced any partial results - it has waited until all the votes have been counted across this vast country before declaring the winner.
The next president will be sworn into office on 20 January.
Retrobyte
Hates a beer
IMAGE SOURCE,AFP
Image caption,
Eastern DR Congo is home to beautiful mountains and lakes, as well as huge mineral wealth. This is the view from the town of Bukavu
The fairways on the Bukavu Country Club course look pretty tight, with out of bounds coming into play on almost every hole
Samus
Top 20
Hodlandwin69
Regular
How did you come to the conclusion that AVZ prefers Felix ?
I certainly back the BOD going forward, but Felix ?
DR Congo election 2023: What you need to know
Some 40 million people will vote in a nation the size of Western Europe, home to vast mineral resources.www.bbc.com
Lots of opposition to Felix getting re elected across the board let me tell you.
Billions at stake for Aussie investors amid Congo election chaos
Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this month could determine whether Australian investors, or Chinese interests, win the battle for control of what could be the world’s largest source of lithium.
Going off that Beisha, whether it's true or not
Cumquat Cap
Regular
Zijin apparently has 20-30 jobs up for Chinese nationals to work in Manono - wonder what their plan is?
Nothing wrong with having a opinion Dave, as i said before, facts are great, but now the AGM is over and done with ......without any question time, (just snippets of info that i could gleen ), we are back to the echo chamber, whereby we have to rely on our own DD, right or wrong.....plenty of misinformation out there, hard to know what is fact or fiction, but appreciate the fact files @MoneyBags1348 provides none the less...
In my opinion, DRC elections are a worthy discussion topic, the candidate who wins has the opportunity to lift the DRC out of the mire and achieve great things including Manono, or has the ability to grind DRC further into the abyss.
I hope your opinion about FT is correct, but going by his past inaction , his legacy thus far is very disappointing, hence why
i look past him and look at other candidates that from the surface appear like they are decent humans and have the DRC welfare at heart.........not seeking personal gain from brown paper bags.
I dont think it hurts discussing political candidates that can potentially............ MDRCMGA
( MAKE DRC MANONO GREAT AGAIN )...
And herein lies the difference. Nigel made sure that the camp was built with local material by locals wherever possible.
Look into the future DRC, this is what you are signing up for
9cardomaha
Regular
Zijin run a slave camp, 30 Chinese overlords to whip the locals... Look at serbia bor, what a fucking travesty.
Arguements by DLA looking as strong as lebron, while DRC submissions are basically me a 180cm gronk playing defense.
Arguements by DLA looking as strong as lebron, while DRC submissions are basically me a 180cm gronk playing defense.
CashKing
Regular
Bag handlers
Bag handlers
This might be seen as not related, but could be seen as Chinese attitude to International law and setting the tone at the ICSID hearing.
This issue has been ruled on and against China by The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN).
US slams China’s ‘reckless’ moves in South China Sea
Andreo CalonzoDec 11, 2023 – 1.17pm
Manila | The United States has called out China for interfering in the Philippines’ maritime operations and undermining regional stability, urging Beijing to stop “its dangerous and destabilising conduct” in the South China Sea.
Chinese and Philippine vessels faced off in multiple clashes in the South China Sea over the weekend as tensions continued to escalate between the two countries over maritime territory, prompting the US to reiterate its commitment to defend Manila.
A Chinese Coast Guard ship uses a water cannon on a Philippine boat as it approaches Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. AP
The Philippines said its vessels were damaged after being “directly targeted” on Sunday by a Chinese coast guard ship with a water cannon during a supply mission to Second Thomas Shoal. A Filipino boat was also rammed by a Chinese vessel, the task force said in a statement.
China’s coast guard said the Philippine boat ignored warnings and “deliberately collided” with its vessel, which was sailing normally for law enforcement purposes. The responsibility lies entirely with the Philippines, the coast guard said in a statement.
The actions taken by China’s ships around Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Reef “reflect not only reckless disregard for the safety and livelihoods of Filipinos, but also for international law,” the US State Department said in a statement.
“Obstructing supply lines to this longstanding outpost and interfering with lawful Philippines maritime operations undermines regional stability,” it said.
“The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of these dangerous and unlawful actions,” it added, as it reaffirmed the two nations’ 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty.
China has laid sweeping claims over the South China Sea, an assertion that’s been met by growing pushback in the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Junior, whose administration has publicised Beijing’s tactics in the disputed waters.
Mr Marcos has slammed China’s “dangerous actions” against Philippine ships, saying they’re an “outright and blatant violation of international law”.
“No one but the Philippines has a legitimate right or legal basis to operate anywhere in the West Philippine Sea,” Mr Marcos said in a post on X late on Sunday, using Manila’s term for the South China Sea.
Philippine armed forces chief Romeo Brawner Junior. who was aboard the resupply boat that was rammed by a Chinese coast guard vessel, said he witnessed the incident himself. “I was furious with what China did and I felt sorry for our troops. They go through this at every resupply mission,” he told reporters.
A group of 200 civilians from the Philippines had set sail to the disputed waters on Sunday and were forced to cut short their trip after they said they were shadowed by four Chinese vessels including two navy ships. The convoy, escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard, had planned to go near Second Thomas Shoal and parts of the Spratly Islands to deliver supplies to fishing communities.
The group of youth leaders, fisherfolk and media personnel decided on “erring on the side of caution” and returning to Palawan province after the “constant shadowing,” its organiser said.
Manila on Saturday reported that the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons at Filipino civilian ships near Scarborough Shoal, drawing US condemnation.
The US has pledged to continue bolstering ties with Indo-Pacific allies to counter Beijing’s expansive claims in the crucial waterway. The Philippines has strengthened its longstanding defence alliance with Washington, expanding access for American soldiers and holding joint patrols in contested waters.
Will the fine for breaking the ruling be set today?Zijin run a slave camp, 30 Chinese overlords to whip the locals... Look at serbia bor, what a fucking travesty.
Arguements by DLA looking as strong as lebron, while DRC submissions are basically me a 180cm gronk playing defense.
9cardomaha
Regular
it is requested by DLA today along with other measures - verdict within 15 days on whether they are adopted.
Thanks
Its funny, i was reading that article myself last night and was going to post relating to Chinas ongoing disrespect of international law.This might be seen as not related, but could be seen as Chinese attitude to International law and setting the tone at the ICSID hearing.
This issue has been ruled on and against China by The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN).
US slams China’s ‘reckless’ moves in South China Sea
Andreo Calonzo
Dec 11, 2023 – 1.17pm
Manila | The United States has called out China for interfering in the Philippines’ maritime operations and undermining regional stability, urging Beijing to stop “its dangerous and destabilising conduct” in the South China Sea.
Chinese and Philippine vessels faced off in multiple clashes in the South China Sea over the weekend as tensions continued to escalate between the two countries over maritime territory, prompting the US to reiterate its commitment to defend Manila.
A Chinese Coast Guard ship uses a water cannon on a Philippine boat as it approaches Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. AP
The Philippines said its vessels were damaged after being “directly targeted” on Sunday by a Chinese coast guard ship with a water cannon during a supply mission to Second Thomas Shoal. A Filipino boat was also rammed by a Chinese vessel, the task force said in a statement.
China’s coast guard said the Philippine boat ignored warnings and “deliberately collided” with its vessel, which was sailing normally for law enforcement purposes. The responsibility lies entirely with the Philippines, the coast guard said in a statement.
The actions taken by China’s ships around Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Reef “reflect not only reckless disregard for the safety and livelihoods of Filipinos, but also for international law,” the US State Department said in a statement.
“Obstructing supply lines to this longstanding outpost and interfering with lawful Philippines maritime operations undermines regional stability,” it said.
“The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of these dangerous and unlawful actions,” it added, as it reaffirmed the two nations’ 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty.
China has laid sweeping claims over the South China Sea, an assertion that’s been met by growing pushback in the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Junior, whose administration has publicised Beijing’s tactics in the disputed waters.
Mr Marcos has slammed China’s “dangerous actions” against Philippine ships, saying they’re an “outright and blatant violation of international law”.
“No one but the Philippines has a legitimate right or legal basis to operate anywhere in the West Philippine Sea,” Mr Marcos said in a post on X late on Sunday, using Manila’s term for the South China Sea.
Philippine armed forces chief Romeo Brawner Junior. who was aboard the resupply boat that was rammed by a Chinese coast guard vessel, said he witnessed the incident himself. “I was furious with what China did and I felt sorry for our troops. They go through this at every resupply mission,” he told reporters.
A group of 200 civilians from the Philippines had set sail to the disputed waters on Sunday and were forced to cut short their trip after they said they were shadowed by four Chinese vessels including two navy ships. The convoy, escorted by the Philippine Coast Guard, had planned to go near Second Thomas Shoal and parts of the Spratly Islands to deliver supplies to fishing communities.
The group of youth leaders, fisherfolk and media personnel decided on “erring on the side of caution” and returning to Palawan province after the “constant shadowing,” its organiser said.
Manila on Saturday reported that the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons at Filipino civilian ships near Scarborough Shoal, drawing US condemnation.
The US has pledged to continue bolstering ties with Indo-Pacific allies to counter Beijing’s expansive claims in the crucial waterway. The Philippines has strengthened its longstanding defence alliance with Washington, expanding access for American soldiers and holding joint patrols in contested waters.
Clearly , China dont give a shit, they have been bullying Phillipines ,Aussie and other countries navy positions in the south china sea for ages......they think they own it all, they are a rule upon themselves, which is why its vitally important that the west continue to shame them internationally , fight for their rights, seek alternative trade and supply chains elsewhere and hurt them where it counts most.........chinas failing economy.
Its happening with rare earths ...
https://qz.com/how-the-west-is-reducing-china-rare-earth-dependence-1850232930
And the battle must continue with lithium aka Manono
imo
This another part of the puzzle...
Is China Still a Developing Country?
FILE - An aerial view shows highways and buildings in Shanghai, China, March 30, 2022.
WASHINGTON —
Whether China is a developing or developed nation has long been a source of debate among researchers and China experts — especially as China has risen to become the world's second largest economy and a global manufacturing powerhouse.
At the recent summit of the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in Johannesburg, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said "China has been and will always remain a member of [the] developing countries."
FILE - China's Xi Jinping, 2nd left, is among the leaders attending the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, Aug. 24, 2023.
However, in Washington, lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation requiring the U.S. administration to use its influence in international organizations to strip China of its status as a developing nation.
The debate may sound academic, but it has real-world implications. The benefits that come with the developing nation label include preferential tariff treatment from developed countries, making their exports more competitive in international markets. China also uses its developing status to justify subsidies to industries such as fishing and tech, even when many are effectively state-owned and have global impact.
The development status of a country is determined in different ways by different international organizations. The World Trade Organization, for example, allows countries to self-identify as "developing" or "developed."
Other international organizations like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund employ a variety of metrics to measure a country's standard of living, using indicators such as average national income per person, gross national income (GNI) per capita, life expectancy, and education measures.
Weifeng Zhong, a senior research fellow at George Mason's Mercatus Institute, tells VOA these are different ways of trying to measure the same thing.
"I think it comes down to, on a per capita level — meaning per person — how high the income is, so when the national income per person in a country is high enough, we think of them as developed country rather than developing country," Zhong said.
How China is classified
Beijing classifies itself as a "developing" country in the WTO. However, the World Bank and U.N. Development Program classify China as an "upper middle income" country, while the IMF calls the country an "emerging and developing economy."
FILE - A high-speed train traveling to Guangzhou is seen running on Yongdinghe Bridge in Beijing, Dec. 26, 2012.
Analysts say China is unique in ways that make it defy easy classification.
"You have a country that has many of the traits of a developing nation and has historically qualified as one and technically in many ways still qualifies as one, but has also many of the attributes of a rich advanced economy and in some ways a massive rich advanced economy," Philippe Benoit, director of research at Global Infrastructure Analytics and Sustainability 2050, told VOA.
China also defies classification on another commonly used indicator – energy consumption. "For structural reasons, energy demand, energy use in China is going to increase for a number of years until they achieve a level of development, a level of income per capita that allows them to flatten that," Benoit said.
China's burgeoning energy needs have spurred the state to seek resources in poorer developing countries.
But China often behaves like a developed nation internationally, some analysts say. Many developing countries, particularly Latin America, Africa, and Central Asia, rely on China for development assistance and infrastructure funding.
Benoit calls China a "hybrid superpower." He said its global power projection approximates that of a traditional superpower and it displays developed country traits such as its major investments in tech and high speed rail . It also has highly developed cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.
FILE - People walk past a China Energy coal-fired power plant in Shenyang, Liaoning province, China, Sept. 29, 2021.
But he adds, China also has developing country traits, such as the persistence of poverty in many areas of the country. In 2019, the International Energy Agency (IEA) found more than 35% of the population in China still lacked clean cooking technology and relied on highly polluting fuels such as coal.
"What we mean when we say developing is a country that faces significant poverty issues — where there's inadequate access to water, sanitation, transport, education — countries where the standards of living are basically, as a general proposition, unacceptably low," Benoit said.
Robert Ross, professor of political science at Boston College and associate at the John King Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University, told VOA the developing nation classification no longer matches economic realities given China's reduction of extreme poverty and its status as the second largest economy and the world's largest manufacturer.
"Many Chinese people acknowledge 'it makes no sense to treat us as a developing country,' and they will acknowledge that it undermines both the interests of the developing world and gives them unfair advantages in the American domestic economy," Ross said.
US-China relations
The question of China's development status has added to Washington and Beijing's strained relationship. In March, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill called the PRC Is Not a Developing Country Act.
China: We're Still a Developing Nation. US Lawmakers: No Way
On June 8, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee also approved the bill, now retitled the Ending China's Developing Nation Status Act. It calls on the State Department to "take actions to stop China from being classified as a developing nation by international organizations." No date has been set for the full Senate to vote on the bill.
In response to the Foreign Relations Committee's approval of the act, Wang Wenbin, spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accused the U.S. of attempting to sabotage China's development.
FILE - In this image from video, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin gestures as he speaks during a media briefing at the ministry in Beijing, Feb. 13, 2023.
"China's status as the world's largest developing country is rooted in facts and international law. It's not something that can easily be wiped away by a U.S. Congressional bill," Wenbin said at a June 9 press conference. He added, "It's not up to the U.S. to decide whether China is a developing country."
Ross said China's development status "is not a very important question," but rather a political issue between two competing superpowers.
"China is resisting American efforts to improve American competitiveness against China, and so with that, the United States has a trade war and a tech war to undermine China's economic development and its technological development. For China's part — it's the part that's competing with the United States — it's going to use every instrument available to improve its own position."
With many developing nations benefiting from Chinese investments and trade, Ross said these countries are unlikely to endorse efforts by the U.S. to change China's development status, especially since they see this issue as a political war of words between the two superpowers.
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