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Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space

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Re: Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space

#31

Post by dmix »

oefrha wrote: post #20
LatteLazy wrote: post #15

I mean no disrespect to Ethiopia but no, China launched it. This is important because the ability to put an object in space is a huge achievement with geopolitical consequences. If you can put an object into space (even low earth orbit) you can put one in Time Square or the Kremlin and no one can stop you. That's why it's a big deal when a country first launches a satellite... Sorry to be the arsehole here. But it sh…

The accurate title would be “China launched Ethiopia’s first satellite into space.” The original title, “Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space with China’s help”, is still mostly accurate with a generous reading. The submitted title was strangely altered to drop the key caveat, not sure if the submitter disapproves of “Chinese influence” or something.

I’m sure dang or whoever will add the “with China’s help” bit, no biggie.

Re: Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space

#32

Post by corporate_shi11 »

EchoAce wrote: post #22
blackearl wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

China is exploiting them. They're not doing it out of kindness, or for some moral self-aggrandizing.

Unfortunately this may prove to be way more effective than “doing it out of kindness” like we do.

It's common that something feels good and seems nice but ends up being unproductive or even counterproductive in the long run.

Re: Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space

#33

Post by vorpalhex »

blackearl wrote: post #19
ajmurmann wrote: post #16

There is a dead comment by someone whose grandma kept donating to charity for Ethiopia. The grandma died poor save the poster is upset that nobody from Ethiopia ever thanked her and now they are prospering. I don't like that comment, but it is actually quite interesting, especially if taken together with another comment on a parallel discussion about the huge growth in Africa and the very visible Chinese influence. I…

China is exploiting them. They're not doing it out of kindness, or for some moral self-aggrandizing.

Yet even this exploitative relationship may prove much more helpful than the grain and occasional squad of observers the US or UN sends. It's a funny sort of problem isn't it - perhaps the only way to get genuine investment in these areas is an almost parasitic relationship. More interesting would be if this forces the US or other western countries to more aggressively step up to the plate...

Re: Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space

#34

Post by PedroBatista »

ajmurmann wrote: post #16

There is a dead comment by someone whose grandma kept donating to charity for Ethiopia. The grandma died poor save the poster is upset that nobody from Ethiopia ever thanked her and now they are prospering. I don't like that comment, but it is actually quite interesting, especially if taken together with another comment on a parallel discussion about the huge growth in Africa and the very visible Chinese influence. I…

It's the type of offer they can't refuse even if they wanted to.

I get it, but this "help" has a tremendous cost, a cost many future generations of Ethiopians will pay dearly.

While the "West" has been a mixed bag between good and bad, there's always been some kind of moral "checks and balances" and pressure from their voters. You get none of that with China.

Re: Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space

#36

Post by dmix »

pjc50 wrote: post #29

Was wondering how democratic Ethiopia was, and: > The EPRDF won the 2010 elections by a landslide, taking 499 seats, while allied parties took a further 35. Oppositions parties took just 2. Both opposition groups say their observers were blocked from entering polling stations during the election on Sunday, May 23, and in some cases the individuals were beaten. The United States and the European Union have both critic…

Ethiopia is also an early adopter among developing nations to adopt NSA style surveillance. And like all countries with weak or nonexistent judicial oversight or independent courts, it was used immediately to target the ruling parties political adversaries phones. Including journalists and lawyers.

Citizen Lab based out of Canada did a lot of great research exposing it. Of course the Ethiopian gov bought it all from that Israeli “we don’t sell to bad guys” NSO and other western companies.

From my understanding the recent election switched the ruling tribe which has resulted in some positive movement and economic development. One of their big issues recently was the ruling tribe suppressing one the other major ones which resulted in big protests and protestors getting killed. I believe that tribe got into power or at least in a better position.

Re: Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space

#37

Post by dragonwriter »

dmix wrote: post #36
pjc50 wrote: post #29

Was wondering how democratic Ethiopia was, and: > The EPRDF won the 2010 elections by a landslide, taking 499 seats, while allied parties took a further 35. Oppositions parties took just 2. Both opposition groups say their observers were blocked from entering polling stations during the election on Sunday, May 23, and in some cases the individuals were beaten. The United States and the European Union have both critic…

Ethiopia is also an early adopter among developing nations to adopt NSA style surveillance. And like all countries with weak or nonexistent judicial oversight or independent courts, it was used immediately to target the ruling parties political adversaries phones. Including journalists and lawyers. Citizen Lab based out of Canada did a lot of great research exposing it. Of course the Ethiopian gov bought it all from…

> And like all countries with weak or nonexistent judicial oversight or independent courts, it was used immediately to target the ruling parties political adversaries phones. Including journalists and lawyers.

To be fair, that was done in the US (though not immediately, that came to light), which is why we have FISA.

Re: Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space

#38

Post by [deleted] »

oefrha wrote: post #20
LatteLazy wrote: post #15

I mean no disrespect to Ethiopia but no, China launched it. This is important because the ability to put an object in space is a huge achievement with geopolitical consequences. If you can put an object into space (even low earth orbit) you can put one in Time Square or the Kremlin and no one can stop you. That's why it's a big deal when a country first launches a satellite... Sorry to be the arsehole here. But it sh…

The accurate title would be “China launched Ethiopia’s first satellite into space.” The original title, “Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space with China’s help”, is still mostly accurate with a generous reading. The submitted title was strangely altered to drop the key caveat, not sure if the submitter disapproves of “Chinese influence” or something.

[deleted]

Re: Ethiopia has launched its first satellite into space

#39

Post by oefrha »

_Microft wrote: post #25
ajmurmann wrote: post #16

There is a dead comment by someone whose grandma kept donating to charity for Ethiopia. The grandma died poor save the poster is upset that nobody from Ethiopia ever thanked her and now they are prospering. I don't like that comment, but it is actually quite interesting, especially if taken together with another comment on a parallel discussion about the huge growth in Africa and the very visible Chinese influence. I…

The progress after 2000 does not really look too different from the time before. GDP per capita is a bit of an exception though. GDP per capita: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/average-real-gdp-per-capi... Literacy rate: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/cross-country-literacy-ra... Life expectancy: https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/life-expectancy?time=1950... Hunger and undernourishment: https://ourworldindata…

Not sure how your links support your argument. Literacy rate data is from 1994 onwards, steadily up except one hiccup (by the way I can’t imagine how literacy rate could drop 6% in a year; short of mass extinction of a literate group it must be a change of methodology); life expectancy growth accelerated from ~2000 and is slowing down a bit again; hunger data is from 2000 onwards, same for HDI which you already removed.

So, how is GDP per capita, an important metric, “a bit of a exception” among two other random stats (one of which even accelerated)?

Meanwhile, annual GDP growth rate does seem a lot more steady since 2004: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locat...

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