China Ram Pump

20 Questions: Africa Edition

1.  How firmly has democracy taken root in Africa?

The United Nations reports that Africa currently has the greatest number of countries with democratic governments since the 1960s, though it’s far from accurate to call the continent a bastion of free and fair elections.

“Democracy has a foothold; it’s more than just a toehold,” says William Zartman, professor emeritus at the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies and former director of the school’s African Studies program. “In 50 years of independence, the idea of democracy as the legitimizer of African regimes has pretty well penetrated, though this doesn’t mean that the idea of democracy is well practiced.”

Indeed, over the last couple of years, elections in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Mauritania, among others, have been disputed, disrupted, or mired in fraud charges. Still, Zartman says, the idea of democratic participation in elections has stuck, and men and women vote with some enthusiasm across the continent. “Regimes now feel they have to claim they are democratic in order to be legitimate,” Zartman says. “The idea of democracy is there, and once the principles are there, then you can nail people to them. Then the question becomes not, are there democratic practices, but is democracy being implemented and enforced. That’s progress.”

2.   What should we make of China’s surging interest in Africa?

Although the roots of a Sino-African relationship can be traced back to the 15th century, it’s only recently that China—with its booming economy, brimming coffers, and hunger for oil and other resources—has seen its relationship with the continent bloom into a multi-billion-dollar proposition. Last year China replaced the United States as Africa’s second-largest trading partner after Europe. Chinese investment in Africa tops $9 billion.

Carla Freeman, interim American co-director of the SAIS Hopkins-Nanjing Center, led a group of students to Ethiopia and Ghana last August to discuss the issue with experts and policy-makers in those countries’ capitals. She found that many Africans admire China’s ability to quickly lift so many of its own people out of poverty.

China’s deep pockets are appreciated, too. In Ethiopia, the Chinese have invested heavily in roads, cell towers, and other infrastructure improvements that have helped the poor country’s economy experience double-digit growth. “China has drawn attention to Africa’s economic potential, and that’s a really good thing for Africa,” Freeman says.

Affordable water supply and sanitation, selected papers of the 20th WEDC Conference, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 1994

Ram-pumps (invented 200 years ago) are still manufactured in over ten countries ... Ram-pump technology is not trivial: designing systems that are reliable, ...

A retrospect of political and commercial affairs in China ... 1868 to 1872

In the meantime, credit must be given to Mr. Porter of the Chinese Customs service ... a corn-grinder, a ram-pump and other machines, all worked by a little ...

A retrospect of political and commercial affairs in China during the five years 1868 to 1872

In the meantime, credit must be given to Mr. Porter of the Chinese Customs service ... a corn-grinder, a ram-pump and other machines, all worked by a little ...

China market

Automatic Ram Pump, draw the natural water skifully and without limit of electricity ... O.Box 2653, Beijing China 100084 Contact:Ms.Yu Xiao Ji Tel: 2554018 ...

50 Green Projects for the Evil Genius

The well- known Three Gorges Dam in China is just one example of a dam-based ... The Online Resources have links to a ram pump project you could try, ...