The Wealth of Nations Between Exploitation and Development

REPORTS - 14 day ago

Towards a Fairer Future

South Eye | Report - Exclusive

Natural resources are a gift from nature, meant to be a source of prosperity and development for any people. However, in many regions around the world, we observe a stark paradox: vast wealth is extracted from beneath the earth, while the people living above it suffer from poverty and a lack of basic services. This paradox prompts us to question how these resources are managed and the role that local and international entities play in ensuring that peoples benefit fairly from their natural wealth.

Natural resources, such as oil, gas, and minerals, represent immense potential for economic and social development. However, the management of these resources is often complex and influenced by intertwined political and economic factors. In some cases, these resources are extracted and exported without yielding real benefits for local populations. This situation creates a significant gap between the economic potential of natural resources and the living conditions of the people.

In many resource-rich regions including South Yemen (PDRY), populations suffer from a lack of basic services such as education, healthcare, electricity and clean water, as well as high rates of unemployment and poverty. These conditions are not necessarily due to a lack of resources but are often the result of poor resource management or the absence of transparent mechanisms for distributing their revenues. When resources are exploited unfairly, they transform from a source of prosperity into a cause of conflict and social division.

Local and international entities that advocate for justice and human rights have an important role to play in addressing these issues. It is crucial for these entities to promote transparency in the management of natural resources and support the establishment of mechanisms that ensure the fair distribution of resource revenues. Additionally, these entities can play a role in fostering the people's rights among stakeholders to achieve more equitable resource management.

Humanitarian values, such as justice and equality, are not merely theoretical principles; they must be translated into policies and practices on the ground. It is essential for relevant entities to promote these values by supporting projects that directly benefit local populations, such as improving infrastructure and providing basic services. Furthermore, enhancing locals participation in decision-making can contribute to more transparent and equitable resource management.

Positive change requires collective will from all relevant stakeholders. Peoples suffering from mismanagement of natural resources have the right to demand their rights and work towards a fairer future. Through solidarity and voices rising, peoples can drive positive change and ensure that their natural wealth benefits everyone.

Natural resources belong to the people and should be a source of prosperity and development for them. Local and regional entities are called upon to take responsibility for ensuring the fair management of these resources and supporting efforts to improve the conditions of peoples. Through collaborative efforts, a fairer future can be achieved, where the wealth of the earth benefits its people

In the case of southern people's fair demand, for sure they don't want to be a new scenario from other countries in the world such as:

Democratic Republic of Congo: The Congo is one of the riches countries in natural resources, particularly rare minerals like coltan, used in electronics manufacturing. However, most of the population lives in extreme poverty due to the systematic plundering of resources by foreign companies and local militias. Internal conflicts and corruption have led to the depletion of resources without any real benefits for the population.
Another Ex is Nigeria; Despite being one of Africa's largest oil producers, the people of the Niger Delta, where oil is extracted, suffer from severe environmental pollution and a lack of basic services. Oil revenues go into the pockets of the ruling elite and foreign companies, while local populations live in extreme poverty. Also, Bolivia possesses vast reserves of natural gas and minerals, but corruption and mismanagement have perpetuated poverty and inequality. Despite recent efforts to improve the distribution of resource revenues, challenges remain, especially in remote areas where populations lack basic services.

Finally, Equatorial Guinea Although oil has made Equatorial Guinea one of Africa's richest countries in terms of GDP, most of its population lives in poverty. Wealth is concentrated in the hands of the ruling elite, while the population suffers from a lack of basic services.

These scenarios demonstrate that possessing natural resources is not a guarantee of development or prosperity, and the South Arabia case is one of the good examples since 1990 in addition to many. Fair and transparent management of these resources is the key to maximizing their benefits. It is essential for local and regional entities to promote transparency, combat corruption, and support the establishment of mechanisms that ensure the fair distribution of resource revenues.

Natural resources belong to the people and should be a source of prosperity and development for then. Local, regional and international entities are called upon to take responsibility for ensuring the respect of the people's rights of these resources and supporting efforts to improve the conditions of peoples. Through collaborative efforts, a fairer future can be achieved, where the wealth of the land benefits all who live on it.