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U.S. Foreign Aid Is Embarrassing Itself
Three days ago the President of China Xi Jinping opened a Chinese financed a deep-water port in Chancay, Peru.
LIMA, Nov 14 (Reuters) – Chinese President Xi Jinping launched a week-long diplomatic blitz of South America on Thursday by inaugurating a massive deep-water port in Peru, a $1.3 billion investment by Beijing as it seeks to expand trade and influence on the continent.
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Xi and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte participated on Thursday by video link in the opening of the Chancay port, about 80 kilometres (48 miles) north of Lima on the Pacific Ocean, and signed a deal to widen an existing free trade agreement.
Xi said that Chancay, a 15-berth, deep-water port, was the successful start of a "21st century maritime Silk Road" and part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, its modern revival of the ancient Silk Road trading route.
The U.S. is, according to Newsweek, considering Peru to be in its "backyard" (for the record: the distance between Washington DC and Lima, Peru, is 5,700 kilometer):
However, a Chinese state-owned enterprise running a deepwater port so close to U.S. soil has Washington worried. The project marks another significant expansion of China's presence in a part of the world the U.S. considers its sphere of influence.
"On the big geostrategic issues, the Peruvian government is not sufficiently focused on analyzing the benefits and threats to the country," an anonymous U.S. official told the Financial Times late last year.
.U.S. Southern Command chief Army General Laura Richardson characterized China's infrastructure projects across the Caribbean, Central and South America as a security threat. "They're on the 20-yard line, in the red zone to our homeland," Richardson told Newsweek last year, referencing China's closer proximity.
Not to be outdone by China's generous investment the U.S. decided to publicly counter it. A day after Xi opened the port megaproject U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken dropped into Lima:
Secretary Antony Blinken @SecBlinken – 2:28 UTC · Nov 17, 2024
Today we announced that the United States will support the city of Lima in building a new passenger train line that will expand access to reliable and affordable transportation for over 200,000 people every single day.
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In his speech Blinken said:
“Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance.” Paul Simon, one of our great poets, wrote that line in one of his songs, and I think it speaks powerfully to each of us. Trains connect people. They bring communities together. They take distances down between us. And they are not just a symbol, but the practical manifestation of possibilities – the possibilities that come when we connect to each other. They’re so much a part of the national mythology of the United States, our own extraordinary construction project. And I’m so grateful today to be part of this project in helping create greater connectivity here in Peru.
And so this is an exciting day in our partnership: The United States will support the City of Lima as it develops the new passenger train line that’s going to connect downtown to the eastern suburbs. The Caltrain rail system in California, as you’ve heard already, will contribute more than a hundred high-quality railcars and engines, and American companies will provide over 50 percent of the services for this project and the supplies for the project, from signaling equipment to railroad tracks to engineering and design expertise.
Caltrain? Why Caltrain?
Caltrain finds international buyer for retired diesel fleet – SFGate
Caltrain is sending its retired diesel fleet to Lima, Peru, where it will have a second chance at life by providing commuter rail service. On Saturday, the U.S. Department of State, Lima representatives and several world leaders will celebrate the next stage for the trains while gathering for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in the Peruvian capital.
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“These trains have a long and proud legacy of service that we’re proud to pass along to the people of Peru,” Caltrain Board Chair Dev Davis said in a news release. “The F40s hold a special place in the heart of train enthusiasts, and there’s no better task for them than to keep helping people get where they need to go.”
Caltrain received $6.32 million from the deal, which involved selling 90 passenger cars and 19 diesel locomotives. Sam Sargent, Caltrain’s director of strategy and policy, told SFGATE on Friday that there were other buyers interested in the fleet, but the department was drawn to the offer from the Municipality of Lima, Peru, since it wanted to purchase the fleet wholesale.
The locomotives Caltrain is selling(!) to the city of Lima are 40 years old. As are the passenger cars they will be pulling. The locomotives' exhaust fuming engines had been made inoperable to get funding for the new electric trains:
To send the trains to Lima for further use, Caltrain had to first procure a waiver from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District so the trains could still return to service.
The people in Lima will surely notice how much more the U.S. is caring about its 'backyard' than China is.
While we’re on the subject:
The UN recently demoted the US to 41st, down from 32nd, in a global ranking based on its sustainable development goals. This index is focused on the quality of life of ordinary people rather than the creation of wealth. And, on this measure, the US comes just behind Cuba and just above Bulgaria. The US is “becoming a ‘developing country’,” one MIT economist said, based on this index. An example: in Chicago, a lack of funding at the city, state, and federal levels means that toxically high levels of lead in the water supply will not be dealt with.
The US is a country where nearly one in 10 adults have medical debts and a broken bone can boot you into bankruptcy. Where a city of more than 160,000 residents recently had no safe drinking water for weeks. Where life expectancy has dropped for the second year in a row and poor people sell their blood plasma in order to make ends meet. Where the maternal mortality rate of black women in the capital is nearly twice as high as for women in Syria.
The US prison system incarcerates more people than any other country in the world. Currently, there are over 2 million people in prisons, jails, and detention centers. This number represents 25% of all inmates in the world even though the US population makes up only 5% of the global population. A common opinion is that this system is broken and in need of repair.
The problems with the prison system only continue when one looks at the obvious racial and gender disparities. For example, while black inmates make up nearly 40% of the prison population, they only make up 13.40% of the total US population. Native Americans represent 2.30% of the incarcerated population and only 1.30% of the population. 58.70% of the prison population is non-white, which includes Hispanic Americans. The effect of this on children is astounding. African American and Latino children are more likely to have a parent in jail or prison. Thus the number of African American children living in poverty has increased since 1968.
Education: Consider this quote from an American education expert:
“The US has never been first in the world, nor even near the top, on any international tests. Consistently over the past half century, American students have typically scored near the median at best, but most often being in the bottom quartile. The historical record indicates that American elementary students are only average at best, their performance degrading year by year until high school seniors perform last in almost all international tests. The International Science Studies that began in high schools in the late 1960s and early 1970s found that 14-year-olds were below average and seniors scored last of all countries. In the International Mathematics tests that began in the 1960s, American high school seniors scored last of all nations. In the 1982 International Mathematics Study, high school seniors placed at the bottom on almost every test. In terms of the PISA tests, American students – placing last – are simply following the pattern that has been consistent for the past 50 years or more.”
And a quote from one news report: “In October of 2013 a new global report issued by the OECD found that Americans ranked well below the worldwide average in just about every measure of skill. In math, reading, and technology-driven problem-solving , the United States performed worse than nearly every other country… The US would have looked even worse if China had been included in this study. In basic literacy – the ability to understand and use basic written text – 80% of Americans reached only a level 2 out of 5. And in math and numerical proficiency, using numbers in daily life, they are worse … and 10% scored below level 1. Technological literacy and ability were worse too. In problem-solving in a technological environment and the use of “cognitive skills required to solve problems”, the Americans were at the bottom.” And that bottom is in math, vocabulary, language usage and technology, with Chinese students far surpassing the Americans even when using a language that is not their own.
(More at https://www.sott.net/article/472423-Dumber-than-the-average-human )
China is estimated to spend around $6bn a year on its space programme. Although that is almost $1bn more than Russia, it is still a fraction of the American space budget, which is around $40bn a year. Despite its large budget, the US made only 19 successful space launches in 2013, compared with China’s 14 and Russia’s 31.
The only thing the US manufactures now is arms, and they are designed not for use, but for optimum profit. Hence the expensive but inefficient and next to useless F-35, the expensive F-22 which can only operate for one day per week and is now being scrapped, the useless ‘Littoral Combat’ ships which are literally falling apart and now being scrapped, the very expensive new ‘Gerald Ford’ class carrier which has unending problems, and the Zumwalt’ destroyers, cancelled after two expensive and dis-functional examples. These latter sport two humps on the foredeck, which were supposed to be large calibre guns for shelling land targets. Gun technology is around 1000 years old – still, these guns were never made to work and are now abandoned!
And the UK and EU are not any better. ‘High-speed rail’ in the UK is an expensive joke, the RN destroyers can’t destroy, and the aircraft-carriers have difficulty moving out of dock, the Swedish Navy runs its most expensive ship into a tanker then it sinks, the German destroyers have an unresolvable list to one side, – really, you could write a book about all this stuff. (I think Andrei Martyanov already has!)
Posted by: Jams O’Donnell | Nov 18 2024 10:16 utc | 15
Posted by: Jane | Nov 19 2024 3:22 utc | 99
Not as much a question of how much the us produces, but more on what (likely dictated by the automation level and environmental impact they can get away with)Notably, Argentina, Australia, and the United States of America stand out with net exports surpassing 50% of their domestic food supply.
Copied from an MSM site but can give an idea of where things stand. (world average is near half a metric ton per capita, skipped the intro but this is useful)
20. India
Food production per capita in 2021: 1.09 metric tons
India, despite its efforts in achieving food sufficiency in production, faces a significant challenge. It is home to a quarter of the world’s hungry population, with over 190 million people experiencing undernourishment. With a food production per capita of 1.09 metric tons in 2021, there is a pressing need to address food insecurity and improve access to nutritious food for its vast population.
19. Myanmar
Food production per capita in 2021: 1.17 metric tons
Myanmar, with a food production per capita of 1.17 metric tons in 2021, showcases its agricultural strengths. The country excels in rice cultivation, pulses, oilseeds, and timber production. Notably, Myanmar holds a significant position as a major exporter of rice.
18. Italy
Food production per capita in 2021: 1.18 metric tons
Italy has its esteemed agriculture with a food production per capita of 1.18 in the fiscal year of 2021. Italy is known for its high-quality products and is a top producer of wine, olive oil, cheese, and other fresh produce. With over 1.7 million farms, Italy’s agriculture remains a vital sector, contributing 2% of the country’s GDP and employing 3.8% of the workforce.
17. Germany
Food production per capita in 2021: 1.84 metric tons
Germany produced 1.84 metric tons of food per capita in 2021. According to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, the country boasts over 1.6 million farms, covering around 53% of its land area. Agriculture plays a vital role in Germany’s economy, employing 2.5% of the workforce and generating billions of euros in revenue. The agricultural sector is diverse, with a focus on crop cultivation (wheat, barley, sugar beets) and livestock production (pork, dairy, poultry).
16. China
Food production per capita in 2021: 1.92 metric tons
China stands out for its immense agricultural output. It produced 1.92 metric tons of food per capita in 2021. The country is a leading producer of staple crops such as rice, wheat, and corn, ensuring food security for its massive population. Additionally, China’s agricultural sector excels in the production of fruits, vegetables, pork, and aquaculture.
15. Indonesia
Food production per capita in 2021: 2.12 metric tons
In Indonesia, agriculture plays a vital role in sustaining the nation’s population. It produced food per capita of 2.12 metric tons in 2021. The country’s fertile lands and favorable climate support a diverse agricultural sector. Indonesia is known for its extensive cultivation of rice, corn, palm oil, spices, and tropical fruits.
14. Russia
Food production per capita in 2021: 2.22 metric tons
Russia is the largest country in the world. It produced food of 2.22 metric tons per capita in 2021. The nation’s vast lands and diverse climate support a wide range of agricultural activities. Russia is a significant producer of various crops, including wheat, barley, potatoes, and sunflower seeds.
13. Kazakhstan
Food production per capita in 2021: 2.35 metric tons
Kazakhstan produced 2.35 metric tons of food per capita in 2021. The country’s vast landscapes and favorable climate contribute to its agricultural productivity. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Kazakhstan produced around 18.7 million metric tons of cereals in 2021, including wheat, barley, and maize.
12. Poland
Food production per capita in 2021: 2.39 metric tons
Poland, with a food production per capita of 2.39 metric tons, demonstrates its significant agricultural output. According to the Central Statistical Office of Poland, the country’s agricultural sector is thriving, contributing 3.8% to the national GDP. It is a major producer of various crops, including cereals (such as wheat, rye, and barley), potatoes, and sugar beets.
11. France
Food production per capita in 2021: 2.40 metric tons
France is one of the leading agricultural nations in Europe. It is known for its diverse culinary traditions and high-quality food products. In 2021, France produced 2.4 metric tons of food per person. The country’s fertile soils and favorable climate support the cultivation of various crops, including wheat, barley, corn, and grapes for winemaking.
10. Thailand
Food production per capita in 2021: 2.75 metric tons
Thailand is known for its rich culinary heritage. It exports various food products including rice, canned tuna, sugar, meat, cassava products, and canned pineapple. According to the National Food Institute, Thai food exports reached a value of $34.6 billion in 2021, marking an impressive 11.8 percent increase from the previous year. With a food production per capita of 2.75 metric tons in 2021, Thailand’s agricultural sector contributes significantly to the country’s economy and ensures an ample food supply for its population.
9. Canada
Food production per capita 2021: 2.84 metric tons
Canada is a vast and diverse country in North America. It produced 2.84 metric tons of food per person in 2021. Blessed with fertile farmlands and abundant natural resources, Canada is known for its agricultural diversity. The country cultivates a wide range of crops, including wheat, barley, canola, corn, and soybeans.
8. United States
Food production per capita in 2021: 3.03 metric tons
The United States boasts an impressive agricultural landscape. It encompasses approximately 89 million acres of farmland. In 2021, the country produced 3.03 metric tons of total food per capita. On average, farms in the U.S. cover around 445 acres in size. The diverse climate and fertile soils allow for the cultivation of a wide range of crops, including corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton. The U.S. is also a major producer of livestock products, such as beef, poultry, and dairy.
7. Lithuania
Food production per capita 2021: 3.40 metric tons
Lithuania, known for its picturesque landscapes and rich agricultural heritage, boasted a food production per capita of 3.4 metric tons per person in 2021. Lithuania is renowned for its diverse range of crops, including cereals, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits.
6. Belarus
Food production per capita in 2021: 3.51 metric tons
Belarus’ agricultural sector thrives due to its favorable climate and fertile lands. In 2021 alone, it produced 3.51 metric tons of food per capita. Belarus is known for its cultivation of various crops, including potatoes, wheat, barley, and flax.
5. Ukraine
Food production per capita in 2021: 4.12 metric tons
Ukraine, a country known for its fertile lands and agriculture, produced a total food per capita of 4.12 metric tons in 2021. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Ukraine’s grain harvest is projected to reach 58 million metric tons in the fiscal year 2022, reflecting a 31% decrease compared to the previous year’s harvest of 85 million tons. Despite this decrease, Ukraine remains a significant player in the global grain market.
4. Argentina
Food production per capita 2021: 4.56 metric tons
Argentina produced 4.56 metric tons per capita in 2021. The nation’s fertile lands, favorable climate, and extensive agricultural practices contribute to its significant food output. Argentina produces staple crops like wheat and corn, as well as major agricultural products like soybeans, beef, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. It is among the top countries in food production per capita.
3. Australia
Food production per capita in 2021: 4.64 metric tons
In the fiscal year of 2021, Australia produced 4.64 metric tons of food per person. The country’s agricultural sector holds immense significance, contributing significantly to both domestic production and international exports. With a diverse range of primary products, including wheat, milk, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and meat, Australia’s agricultural sector makes a substantial contribution to the nation’s GDP. The country’s major export commodities in this sector comprise beef, wheat, wine, wool, and lamb. This highlights Australia’s role as a major player in global agricultural markets, leveraging its rich resources and advanced farming practices to meet both domestic and international food demands.
2. Paraguay
Food production per capita 2021: 4.95 metric tons
Paraguay, a country with a rich agricultural tradition, has long relied on agriculture as a cornerstone of its economy. The agricultural sector in Paraguay contributes to about 25% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and has successfully transformed from a net importer to a large-scale exporter. Despite facing challenges, such as the recent drought, Paraguay remains committed to maintaining a strong agricultural sector. The country produced food per capita of 4.95 metric tons for its people in 2021. It is one of the prominent nations when it comes to food production per capita by country.
1. Brazil
Food production per capita in 2021: 5.54 metric tons
Brazil produces the most food per capita with 5.54 metric tons of food per person in the fiscal year of 2021. The country holds a prominent position as the top global exporter of key commodities, including soybeans, raw sugar, and poultry. In fact, Brazil’s soybean exports reached a staggering value of $28.6 billion in 2020, marking the largest export earnings for an agricultural commodity from a single country. With its vast agricultural resources and advanced farming techniques, Brazil continues to play a pivotal role in meeting global food demands and solidifying its position as a major player in the international agricultural market.
Posted by: Newbie | Nov 19 2024 4:45 utc | 100
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