20% of people in Mauritania are literally slaves right now

[Siaos]

Soooo, how are we going to boycott Mauritanian goods anyways? What do they generally make? I know that they supply us with a fair amount of clothing items, specifically t-shirts, but beyond that I'm not sure what they produce that makes it over here.

Here you go.

So gold, iron, fish, and..wait.. Molluscs?

[Divair]

Soooo, how are we going to boycott Mauritanian goods anyways? What do they generally make? I know that they supply us with a fair amount of clothing items, specifically t-shirts, but beyond that I'm not sure what they produce that makes it over here.

Why does it seem like the default export for any severely impovershed nation is T-shirts?

Cheap production costs + high demand = perfect good.

[Divair]

Here you go.

So gold, iron, fish, and..wait.. Molluscs?

Snails.

[Mewtinigrad]

Soooo, how are we going to boycott Mauritanian goods anyways? What do they generally make? I know that they supply us with a fair amount of clothing items, specifically t-shirts, but beyond that I'm not sure what they produce that makes it over here.

Here you go.

Soooo, mainly iron, fish, a bunch of fruits, and the assorted telephone? That shouldn't be too difficult.

[Divair]

Here you go.

Holy shit that was fast.

Gotta go fast.

[Regnum Dominae]

Soooo, how are we going to boycott Mauritanian goods anyways? What do they generally make? I know that they supply us with a fair amount of clothing items, specifically t-shirts, but beyond that I'm not sure what they produce that makes it over here.

Why does it seem like the default export for any severely impovershed nation is T-shirts?

Clothing is one of a few sectors that is easier for developing countries to be competitive in because it requires a relatively small base of preexisting capital to get the infrastructure running compared to other industries.
It's also one of the easier sectors to outsource.

[New Octopucta]

It is, but as Angleter just explained, the problem is with the clans and not the central government. Trying to eradicate slavery from a underdeveloped third world country like Mauritania would be impossible without massive funding.

You're right. It's too bad that there isn't some sort of international body that could raise the money and use it to prevent the the freedmen from simply transitioning to wage slavery.

[Luveria]

It's unfortunate, but there's not much that we can do. The slaves themselves want to be slaves so it doesn't pose an immidiate problem, and the only way to fix this would be a massively expensive education campaign. And why Mauritania deserves that campaign more than Mali, for example?


Iron ore and fresh, chillded, frozen and salted crustaceans and molluscs from the basis of their economy according to Wikipedia.

What the fuck is this shit?!

I'll just order my salted crustaceans from elsewhere.

It's too expensive to extract it from such a harsh desert when there are plenty of cheaper oil fields available elsewhere. Having oil doesn't really mean anything unless an oil company actually cares to extract it in the near future.


Multitasking exists. No longer caring about same-sex marriage isn't suddenly going to help abolish slavery, anymore than not eating your food today is going to help a starving child in Africa.

Then why don't they multi-task? I have heard this response so many times and yet I have not seen any major actions towards ending atrocities like this, and yet they have an international campaign for tolerance towards gays.

Maybe the problem is they just aren't agressive enough. The UN knows how to solve things diplomatically, but rarely go beyond sanctions in cases like these.

They do occasionally fix things aggressively when needed, I'll give them that, but they hesitate too long in cases like these.

The UN does multitask daily. It's a very large organization. The differences between the UN's LGBT rights campaign and slavery in Mauritania is that LGBT rights are an issue everywhere while slavery is only an issue in Mauritania. Naturally, one thing is going to receive more attention than the other. Mauritania flies very low under the international radar, so because they remain so obscure, there is little concern for them, and it's further complicated by how the UN for decades has been pressuring Mauritania to abolish slavery. There have been attempts going on for quite a while, so it's nonsense to suggest the UN hasn't done anything or that they can't do two things at once when it's entirely different resources being used for both things.

Because the UN was pressuring Mauritania, their government eventually gave in and officially abolished slavery, while having an active policy of suppressing all journalism saying otherwise and jailing anti-slavery activists because they spoil the illusion that slavery doesn't exist. As far as the Mauritanian government is concerned, it's been years since the last and only slave owner in the country was prosecuted. The Mauritanian government has been getting away with it because on paper, slavery doesn't exist. That brought it to the point that the UN has done all it can because while they are telling Mauritania to abolish slavery, the government insists there are no more slaves in the country. At this point all that can be done is sanctions, which probably wouldn't do much to a country so poor, but if anything it would show that it's not enough for Mauritania to be lying through their teeth about how the aren't any slaves.

The reason no one wants intervention is because it takes a lot to actually invade a country for any reason, and the world is weary from Iraq and Syria. But it's mostly a problem because Mauritania simply stays out of everyone's way so it's going to be difficult to raise any interest in an expensive invasion that would become another Al-Qaeda insurgency when the country is an Al-Qaeda stronghold.

[Siaos]

Abolish slavery a fourth time Mauritania? Pretty Please?

Exactly! It's all for the show to make it look to the World as if they are actually trying to get rid of slavery.

The United Nations has been constantly, in a diplomatic manner, pushing Mauritania into actually doing something about it, and they haven't listened. So enough of the politeness now. It's about time the international community took harsh action.

They don't do it of course, the UN generally only uses harsh action when fighting is already commencing out there, and even then its a slim chance.

The problem is they don't realize that by using some serious threats(beyond sanctions), and if they have to, military intervention will help put a stop to a horrific slave system that will continue for dozens of years to come if someone doesn't put a stop to it.

[Marquette of Pacific]

First of all I would like to say I doubt some of these statistics as CNN is hardly a trustworthy news source. The slaves in the nation are most likely somewhere around 5-7%.

Second of all, the international community needs to take action against the Mauritanian government. Not the way it handles things, but against the government itself. Time and time again has it been proven that ISLAMIC "REPUBLICS" DO NOT WORK!! Neither do Christian theocracies! (Excluding the Vatican as pretty much only priests live there). When a nation is ruled by a religious organization or a religion things go south, even if it is a Christian theocracy, even though Christianity is the true religion!!

[Souriya Al-Assad]

Abolish slavery a fourth time Mauritania? Pretty Please?

Exactly! It's all for the show to make it look to the World as if they are actually trying to get rid of slavery.

The United Nations has been constantly, in a diplomatic manner, pushing Mauritania into actually doing something about it, and they haven't listened. So enough of the politeness now. It's about time the international community took harsh action.

I agree.

I also think the Nasserites there need more world attention as well as support. They are doing activism against the Mauritanian regime.

[Rio Cana]

Time for La Bayamesa in Mauritania.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwQf-HGYyGs

[Luveria]

First of all I would like to say I doubt some of these statistics as CNN is hardly a trustworthy news source. The slaves in the nation are most likely somewhere around 5-7%.

Second of all, the international community needs to take action against the Mauritanian government. Not the way it handles things, but against the government itself. Time and time again has it been proven that ISLAMIC "REPUBLICS" DO NOT WORK!! Neither do Christian theocracies! (Excluding the Vatican as pretty much only priests live there). When a nation is ruled by a religious organization or a religion things go south, even if it' sa Christian theocracy, even though Christianity is the true religion!

Oh really. Then tell the USA to stop propping up the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

[Distruzio]

Thoughts NSG? What actions do you think should be taken?

I think sanctions (on governmental officials, to be clear - i.e. freeze accounts, travels bans) by the international community are in order! And if they refuse to take proper action, I think it would be appropriate for the United Nations to refer the whole matter to the International Criminal Court.

This is one of the most grievous violations of international human rights law in the modern world. The callousness (and even alleged complicity) of the Mauritanian government is utterly beyond words.

The ostracism of governmental officials would be acceptable. Economic sanctions? Fuck no. That's repulsive.

Military interventionism is no answer either. That would cause irrevocable social turmoil.

[New Octopucta]

Oh really. Then tell the USA to stop propping up the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

The fact that the US has to prop up Afganistan only gives credence to the idea that theocracies don't work.

[Australasia]

What the fuck is this shit?!

I'll just order my salted crustaceans from elsewhere.

Then why don't they multi-task? I have heard this response so many times and yet I have not seen any major actions towards ending atrocities like this, and yet they have an international campaign for tolerance towards gays.

Maybe the problem is they just aren't agressive enough. The UN knows how to solve things diplomatically, but rarely go beyond sanctions in cases like these.

They do occasionally fix things aggressively when needed, I'll give them that, but they hesitate too long in cases like these.

The UN does multitask daily. It's a very large organization. The differences between the UN's LGBT rights campaign and slavery in Mauritania is that LGBT rights are an issue everywhere while slavery is only an issue in Mauritania. Naturally, one thing is going to receive more attention than the other. Mauritania flies very low under the international radar, so because they remain so obscure, there is little concern for them, and it's further complicated by how the UN for decades has been pressuring Mauritania to abolish slavery. There have been attempts going on for quite a while, so it's nonsense to suggest the UN hasn't done anything or that they can't do two things at once when it's entirely different resources being used for both things.

Because the UN was pressuring Mauritania, their government eventually gave in and officially abolished slavery, while having an active policy of suppressing all journalism saying otherwise and jailing anti-slavery activists because they spoil the illusion that slavery doesn't exist. As far as the Mauritanian government is concerned, it's been years since the last and only slave owner in the country was prosecuted. The Mauritanian government has been getting away with it because on paper, slavery doesn't exist. That brought it to the point that the UN has done all it can because while they are telling Mauritania to abolish slavery, the government insists there are no more slaves in the country. At this point all that can be done is sanctions, which probably wouldn't do much to a country so poor, but if anything it would show that it's not enough for Mauritania to be lying through their teeth about how the aren't any slaves.

The reason no one wants intervention is because it takes a lot to actually invade a country for any reason, and the world is weary from Iraq and Syria. But it's mostly a problem because Mauritania simply stays out of everyone's way so it's going to be difficult to raise any interest in an expensive invasion that would become another Al-Qaeda insurgency when the country is an Al-Qaeda stronghold.

Well explained. Even now the UN is still pressuring Mauritania to actually do something instead of pretend.

It's time to expose this Mauritanian sham for what it is. If polite diplomatic calls to adhere to international human rights laws aren't going to be listened to, then it's time for harsh action.

God how I'd love to have a United Nations force swoop in and capture those Mauritanian officials and perpetrators complicit in this sick crime and drag them before the International Criminal Court!

[Siaos]

What the fuck is this shit?!

I'll just order my salted crustaceans from elsewhere.

Then why don't they multi-task? I have heard this response so many times and yet I have not seen any major actions towards ending atrocities like this, and yet they have an international campaign for tolerance towards gays.

Maybe the problem is they just aren't agressive enough. The UN knows how to solve things diplomatically, but rarely go beyond sanctions in cases like these.

They do occasionally fix things aggressively when needed, I'll give them that, but they hesitate too long in cases like these.

The UN does multitask daily. It's a very large organization. The differences between the UN's LGBT rights campaign and slavery in Mauritania is that LGBT rights are an issue everywhere while slavery is only an issue in Mauritania. Naturally, one thing is going to receive more attention than the other. Mauritania flies very low under the international radar, so because they remain so obscure, there is little concern for them, and it's further complicated by how the UN for decades has been pressuring Mauritania to abolish slavery. There have been attempts going on for quite a while, so it's nonsense to suggest the UN hasn't done anything or that they can't do two things at once when it's entirely different resources being used for both things.

Because the UN was pressuring Mauritania, their government eventually gave in and officially abolished slavery, while having an active policy of suppressing all journalism saying otherwise and jailing anti-slavery activists because they spoil the illusion that slavery doesn't exist. As far as the Mauritanian government is concerned, it's been years since the last and only slave owner in the country was prosecuted. The Mauritanian government has been getting away with it because on paper, slavery doesn't exist. That brought it to the point that the UN has done all it can because while they are telling Mauritania to abolish slavery, the government insists there are no more slaves in the country. At this point all that can be done is sanctions, which probably wouldn't do much to a country so poor, but if anything it would show that it's not enough for Mauritania to be lying through their teeth about how the aren't any slaves.

The reason no one wants intervention is because it takes a lot to actually invade a country for any reason, and the world is weary from Iraq and Syria. But it's mostly a problem because Mauritania simply stays out of everyone's way so it's going to be difficult to raise any interest in an expensive invasion that would become another Al-Qaeda insurgency when the country is an Al-Qaeda stronghold.

First of all, slavery does exist out of Mauritania, human trafficking from forcing children to be soldiers to sex slaves to overt slavery exists throughout Africa, with sex slaves in some Asian and South American regions.

Then we can simply force them to enforce the law, or if they still won't, send in a small force to enforce the law.

I understand it costs alot, but if they can get some type of interest in this, however small, they could fund an invasion, if necessary. Although, I doubt it will be necessary since Mauritania is centuries behind most nations military, and it would be a death sentence to attack UN forces.

[Souriya Al-Assad]

Time for La Bayamesa in Mauritania.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwQf-HGYyGs

Yes, revive Che from the grave whilst mobilise him to Mauritania... or find another modernised era Che to do it.

[Australasia]

First of all I would like to say I doubt some of these statistics as CNN is hardly a trustworthy news source. The slaves in the nation are most likely somewhere around 5-7%.

Second of all, the international community needs to take action against the Mauritanian government. Not the way it handles things, but against the government itself. Time and time again has it been proven that ISLAMIC "REPUBLICS" DO NOT WORK!! Neither do Christian theocracies! (Excluding the Vatican as pretty much only priests live there). When a nation is ruled by a religious organization or a religion things go south, even if it is a Christian theocracy, even though Christianity is the true religion!!

That's according to United Nations' special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, so it's certainly 10% - 20%.

[Rio Cana]

So what will happen when the current Mauritanian govt. starts swimming in oil money. Will the West look the other way.

Mauritania has significant mineral deposits, in particular iron ore, gold and copper. Commercial oil reserves have been found offshore, adding to the reserves at the Chinguetti oil field discovered in 2001. Oil production started in February 2006; Mauritania's proven and probable crude oil reserves are estimated at around 600 million barrels and the sector is bound to have a significant share in the economy. In 2009, exports of natural resources accounted for roughly 80% of total export earnings (38% iron ore, 17% gold, 9% copper, 16% petroleum), and around 37% of GDP.

Above they talk about 600 million barrels of oil. But companies exploring have found an additional 400 million in another nearby site. Chances are there is much more oil in Mauritania.

[New Octopucta]

First of all, slavery does exist out of Mauritania, human trafficking from forcing children to be soldiers to sex slaves to overt slavery exists throughout Africa, with sex slaves in some Asian and South American regions.

Then we can simply force them to enforce the law, or if they still won't, send in a small force to enforce the law.

I understand it costs alot, but if they can get some type of interest in this, however small, they could fund an invasion, if necessary. Although, I doubt it will be necessary since Mauritania is centuries behind most nations military, and it would be a death sentence to attack UN forces.

The problem is that most people don't care. Why would Congress risk their careers to send American troops to die for people few Americans will ever care about in a country most of them have never heard of? Especially in light of the opinion that most Americans have taken as regards our position as the "World's Policeman". Now take that issue and take into account that there would need to be other countries involved as well, and all of their government would go through the same shit.

The leadership of the UN can't just wake up in the morning and decide to start liberating countries.

[Luveria]

I'll just order my salted crustaceans from elsewhere.



The UN does multitask daily. It's a very large organization. The differences between the UN's LGBT rights campaign and slavery in Mauritania is that LGBT rights are an issue everywhere while slavery is only an issue in Mauritania. Naturally, one thing is going to receive more attention than the other. Mauritania flies very low under the international radar, so because they remain so obscure, there is little concern for them, and it's further complicated by how the UN for decades has been pressuring Mauritania to abolish slavery. There have been attempts going on for quite a while, so it's nonsense to suggest the UN hasn't done anything or that they can't do two things at once when it's entirely different resources being used for both things.

Because the UN was pressuring Mauritania, their government eventually gave in and officially abolished slavery, while having an active policy of suppressing all journalism saying otherwise and jailing anti-slavery activists because they spoil the illusion that slavery doesn't exist. As far as the Mauritanian government is concerned, it's been years since the last and only slave owner in the country was prosecuted. The Mauritanian government has been getting away with it because on paper, slavery doesn't exist. That brought it to the point that the UN has done all it can because while they are telling Mauritania to abolish slavery, the government insists there are no more slaves in the country. At this point all that can be done is sanctions, which probably wouldn't do much to a country so poor, but if anything it would show that it's not enough for Mauritania to be lying through their teeth about how the aren't any slaves.

The reason no one wants intervention is because it takes a lot to actually invade a country for any reason, and the world is weary from Iraq and Syria. But it's mostly a problem because Mauritania simply stays out of everyone's way so it's going to be difficult to raise any interest in an expensive invasion that would become another Al-Qaeda insurgency when the country is an Al-Qaeda stronghold.

First of all, slavery does exist out of Mauritania, human trafficking from forcing children to be soldiers to sex slaves to overt slavery exists throughout Africa, with sex slaves in some Asian and South American regions.

Then we can simply force them to enforce the law, or if they still won't, send in a small force to enforce the law.

I understand it costs alot, but if they can get some type of interest in this, however small, they could fund an invasion, if necessary. Although, I doubt it will be necessary since Mauritania is centuries behind most nations military, and it would be a death sentence to attack UN forces.

I'm well aware slavery exists outside of Mauritania, and that's dealt with by various national laws and UN efforts. In the context of this thread I was referring specifically to the institutionalized slavery within Mauritania.

And yes, the UN could easily send an international task force to force the government to abolish slavery. I just don't see that happening because the UN generally resorts to military force as an absolute last resort.

[Souriya Al-Assad]

So what will happen when the current Mauritanian govt. starts swimming in oil money. Will the West look the other way.

Mauritania has significant mineral deposits, in particular iron ore, gold and copper. Commercial oil reserves have been found offshore, adding to the reserves at the Chinguetti oil field discovered in 2001. Oil production started in February 2006; Mauritania's proven and probable crude oil reserves are estimated at around 600 million barrels and the sector is bound to have a significant share in the economy. In 2009, exports of natural resources accounted for roughly 80% of total export earnings (38% iron ore, 17% gold, 9% copper, 16% petroleum), and around 37% of GDP.

Above they talk about 600 million barrels of oil. But companies exploring have found an additional 400 million in another nearby site. Chances are there is much more oil in Mauritania.

I am going to say the best idea is not to let greed for mineral resources factorise into this. Some sincerely altruistic action without any interests involved should be realised. I have something in mind which I will share in the future once I can do it one day.

[Rio Cana]

So what will happen when the current Mauritanian govt. starts swimming in oil money. Will the West look the other way.



Above they talk about 600 million barrels of oil. But companies exploring have found an additional 400 million in another nearby site. Chances are there is much more oil in Mauritania.

I am going to say the best idea is not to let greed for mineral resources factorise into this. Some sincerely altruistic action without any interests involved should be realised. I have something in mind which I will share in the future once I can do it one day.

In that part of the world the so called local regional powers would be Morocco, Algeria both which border Mauritania and Nigeria which does not. Some in Morocco would love to control the whole region.

Map of Greater Morocco

[Souriya Al-Assad]

I am going to say the best idea is not to let greed for mineral resources factorise into this. Some sincerely altruistic action without any interests involved should be realised. I have something in mind which I will share in the future once I can do it one day.

In that part of the world the so called local regional powers would be Morocco, Algeria both which border Mauritania and Nigeria which does not. Some in Morocco would love to control the whole region.

Map of Greater Morocco

I know about the twatted monarchy ruling Morocco. I would love to have Algeria do the work of fixing up Mauritania instead if possible.