| Waste Not, Want Not
I enjoy reading your magazine and was moved by your story about the massive famine in the Horn of Africa in your September issue. Last week I attended a banquet for an outgoing official at a popular restaurant in Beijing. We had many different dishes and after we had finished I noticed how much food remained uneaten on the table. After having read your story I thought about how so much is wasted in one place and so much needed in another. How does that happen? I felt guilty and wanted to do something to help at that moment. I think as people sharing the same planet we must be aware of what goes on around us and do whatever we can in our own small way to prevent waste, especially wasting food. That picture in your story of the baby looking at me with big eyes almost pleading touched me deeply as mother. I hope to be more aware of the world around me and will urge everyone I know not to order so much food or to waste so much in future. Thanks for a great magazine and for informing me about the realities in Africa.
Zi Ling, China
Invest Responsibly
It is encouraging to read in your September issue that China is investing so heavily in Africa. With all the negative publicity Africa gets (sometimes deserved) the investment is a positive step. It is clear, even for a layperson, that Europe is in an economic crisis and the United States is still dragging its way out of a recession. With a stronger Asia emerging economically, Africa becomes a sound move for business. I would, echo your story Paving the Way, when your writer mentioned that investment in Africa must be negotiated. For too long Africa has been at the mercy of foreign powers dictating terms to us and then taking all that we value, often including our dignity. We cannot allow any investors to use our continent as a one way get rich scheme. Investment in Africa must meet our own criteria and benefit our own people. Most notably in creating jobs and respecting our own traditions. Being socially responsible for big companies is no longer just an option, it's a necessity. Gone are the days of blind acceptance and it has been amply demonstrated around the world that people soon rise up against what they feel is unfair for them. We, in Africa, look forward to Chinese investment for the resources we have to offer and trust that we will be treated fairly in return.
Maggie Mbira, Kenya
SA Wines Great!
I read your article about South African wines with much interest in your September issue. I have heard many Chinese say that they don't drink South African wines because they are new wines and the country has no history of wine making. This is not true. In fact South African wine has a history dating back to 1659, and at one time the Constantia wine farm outside Cape Town was considered one of the greatest wines in the world. By 1859 South Africa had already exported more than 4.5 million liters of wine to Britain. The South African wine industry was greatly assisted by the arrival of French Huguenot immigrants to the Cape of Good Hope. These refugees had fled their country to escape religious persecution and brought wine-making skills to the Cape region. South Africa is a previous winner of the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) awards held in London in 2008 when Kanonkop Wine Estate was awarded the Winemaker of the Year trophy. So to all Chinese wine drinkers I will say try South African wines as they have been around for centuries and are quality products.
Danie Angard, South Africa
Well Balanced
I am glad to register my satisfaction with the contents of your magazine, ChinAfrica. Your news items are well balanced and have diversity. I find your magazine very informative on important aspects regarding the friendly relationship and cooperation that exist between the People's Republic of China and Africa in general. I look forward to ChinAfrica including more stories about Malawi and her attractions to foreign investors, especially from China
Henri Mumba, Deputy Malawi Ambassador, China |
