{"id":13698,"date":"2021-05-25T09:11:01","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T09:11:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/?p=13698"},"modified":"2021-12-01T12:39:29","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T12:39:29","slug":"africaday-the-scramble-to-dump-plastic-is-waste-colonialism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/africa\/en\/blogs\/13698\/africaday-the-scramble-to-dump-plastic-is-waste-colonialism\/","title":{"rendered":"#AfricaDay | The scramble to dump plastic is \u2018waste colonialism\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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TELL THE WORLD’S TOP POLLUTERS TO #BREAKFREEFROMPLASTIC<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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When Namibia declared its independence in 1990, it officially marked the end of colonialism on the African continent. But, while most African nations have been free of European rule for a number of decades now, it seems that the power dynamics have only really changed in principle.  <\/p>\n\n

In 1960, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, known also as the Declaration on Decolonization. This resolution solemnly proclaimed the necessity of bringing colonialism in all its forms and manifestations to a speedy and unconditional end.   <\/p>\n\n

Herein lies the problem. The assumption that statehood is the be all and end all to decolonisation is short-sighted and stifling to any real progress. Granted, a country\u2019s independence is a massive milestone, all considered; however, it simply cannot end there. The continued exploitative relationship between countries in the global majority and their former colonisers erode the foundation of their liberty. There are many \u201cforms and manifestations\u201d in which colonialism still lingers right here on the African continent. <\/p>\n\n

Be it the fact that 14 African countries continue to pay a form of \u201ccolonial tax\u201d to France<\/a>, or that Spanish fishing vessels see nothing wrong with looting our waters<\/a>. These old colonial habits are very hard to break; the convenience of the West always seems to take precedence over ours. <\/p>\n\n

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A post shared by Greenpeace Africa (@greenpeaceafrica)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>