Africa and the UN, They kicked them out? Options

[Grinder]

Feral Cities states that only a couple of nations from Africa are still member of the UN - when did the rest got kicked out? And is this even possible for the sole reason of not granting a SIN to 90% of the population?

[Naysayer]

AFAIR, the "new and improved" UN is more or less a tool, a front for the Corporate Court.
As such, I don't think revoking a country's membership would be no biggie for them, as I surely wouldn't expect voting, hearings or any such pansy democratic nonsense.

[Kanada Ten]

Most of the "nations" in Africa collapsed, way back when, leaving warlords and corporate powers to form city-states. A couple of powers have solidified or stabilized enough to be granted nationhood status - the rest are in a constant flux, with no fixed government to even ask for UN status. As such, these places don't have the civil services and bureaucracies needed (much less the computer systems) to assign SINs to their populations.

[Tiger Eyes]

The UN fell apart, starting with the Libya-Israel war in 2004. Between 2004 and 2045, many countries left the UN, its humanitarian programs were bankrupted (which is one reason Africa got nada during VITAS), countries pulled their military forces out, ect, etc. It lost its headquarters, had a bunch of representatives killed off, and became a ghost of itself, a empty name and not much more.

The second charter of the UN was signed in 2045, and it is (almost) completely a CC lapdog.

So, for Africa, you're looking at two things. One, the UN basically ceased to exist and operate in Africa. When it was recreated in 2045, nations who wanted to be a part of it signed the 2nd Charter of the UN. But they had to actually be countries, with certain requirements - which many of the areas of Africa didn't meet.

Two, many nations in Africa ceased to exist. Governments collapsed. The folks in power-where they existed-probably cared squat about the UN.

It wasn't the UN kicking nations out. It was that there are very few "nations" in Africa as it stands now. It isn't revoking membership when the government of a country ceases to exist, the country ceases to exist, and becomes forty-five different kingdoms led by warring warlords.

To join the new UN, they must have a specific minimum level of government and cohesion. One indicator of this is the ability to issue SINs.

[martindv]

I still find it more believable that the surviving one-quarter of Africa would be more capable of maintaining a civilization before the 2/3 of the United States not wiped out by VITAS 1 because, let's face it, we're pussies.

[Kanada Ten]

VITAS was treatable, but required medical attention. Respirators, anti-inflammatories, antihistamines, antiphage, etc; these things simply were not available in quantity in Africa, not to mention the lack of sanitation enabling the spread of the virus. It doesn't matter whether your Body score is 2 or 4 when you are resisting damage every hour, the dice all come up 1s eventually.

[Warlordtheft]

I still find it more believable that the surviving one-quarter of Africa would be more capable of maintaining a civilization before the 2/3 of the United States not wiped out by VITAS 1 because, let's face it, we're pussies.

Africa-civilization-ha! Few african governments have complete control over their country. Those few are Egypt, South Afica, and maybe one or two more. Congo, nope, Mauritania, Gold and Ivory coast, Not really. Many countries in Africa right now are just two shots away from a full blown civil war.

In any event, it is not the fact that the US is a bunch of pussies, the politicians and media are.

[Method]

To elaborate on what Tiger Eyes said- the CC took over the UN by way of the World Bank. Ultimately the purpose of the UN in 207x is to stabilize a region enough that corporate interests can move in and access new markets. Thats it. All the "humanitarian efforts" are just window dressing.

[pbangarth]

In any event, it is not the fact that the US is a bunch of pussies, the politicians and media are.

There is no US. There is no democracy. The politicians are stooges for the wealthy. The people do what the politicians are told to tell them to do because the media convinces the people they want it too. Every once in a while, a scapegoat politician is sacrificed to the people to feed the illusion that the people have power. they are all sheep.

All is lost.

[Da9iel]

Which is why the CC owned 2nd UN would certainly have the US North America in its charter!

[Kanada Ten]

To elaborate on what Tiger Eyes said- the CC took over the UN by way of the World Bank. Ultimately the purpose of the UN in 207x is to stabilize a region enough that corporate interests can move in and access new markets. Thats it. All the "humanitarian efforts" are just window dressing.

Are you suggesting that spreading 6th World capitalism isn't a humanitarian endeavour, comrade?

[pbangarth]

A challenging and insightful book, both from a modern-day political interest and a Shadowrun world-explaining view is Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine.