| Survival of the fattest |
|
|
| Written by Daniel Steinmann | ||||
Page 1 of 2
Propaganda is a dangerous tool. And organisations that
employ acerbic propaganda to proselytise an unsuspecting public are dangerous
enemies of open debate and opinion. Worst of these civic enemies are NGOs that
go on rampant campaigns to sell themselves.
NGOs that get on a particular hobby horse can become
extremely dangerous foes. They know their funding depends on how much noise
they make and how effective that noise is. Take for example, Survival
International, an NGO on the periphery of human rights protectors who suddenly
got thrown in their laps, the fate of the Bushmen in the Central Kalahari Game
Reserve in Botswana. On several occasions I corresponded with their leaders
pointing out how factually incorrect their communiqués are and how they are
pulling the wool over everybody's eyes with their slanted propaganda. And
whenever another sane voice tries bringing the truth to the surface Survival
will simply embark on a hysterical exercise in skilful lying again, and in this
way ensure their own funding.When an MP in the UK even dared to tell the British public
what the facts are in Botswana he was simply drowned in a barrage of propaganda
which, as intended, quickly made the poor sod retract his statement.
Fortunately for us, I am not trying to win a by-election in the English country
side, so whether Survival wants to hear it or not, I'll keep on telling the
world what distortions and lies they sell for the truth. For a long time, they
have simply ignored my objections. So when the hysterical Francois Hugo again started with his anti-seal trash against my government, I decided enough is enough. It has become time for someone to speak out and actively combat unscrupulous NGOs who shout blue murder to the world.I think what I detest most, is their finger-up-our-nose attitude. If they have political clout in the UK, I hate to burst their bubble but I don't think they have it here. Same with the seal gang. If half the world believes their drivel, it does not mean we in Namibia are all thick as bricks.The problem with the propaganda mongers is that they close the door on debate and on different opinions. Their main strategy is by labelling any opponent as either a dumb nut or a monster and in doing so, they think they have won the public image war. I care as much for the Bushmen as they do, but I do not go off my rocker. And I am not blind to the process that involved the dialogue between the Bushmen and the Botswana government but when Survival pulled De Beers into the fight, yelling about diamond prospecting and calling Botswana's diamonds blood diamond, a penny dropped. Of course, they are trying, not to protect the Bushmen, but to force a deal in which the Bushmen will get some sort of diamond royalty, and who is at the end of the queue when the first cheque arrives - Survival International. It is such a clever strategy and one has to applaud them for the audacity to try pull off a stunt like this. |
||||
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|