Theory of Everything's avatar
Theory of Everything
@TheoryofEverything
npub19v82...pf6r
I make stuff about quantum physics
KINSHASA, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo is opposed to a proposal by Chemaf SA to sell its copper and cobalt mines in the country to China's Norin Mining, according to a document seen by Reuters. Chemaf, a long-time partner of commodities trader Trafigura, said in June it had agreed to sell its mines in Congo to the unit of Chinese state-backed defence and industrial giant, China North Industries Corp (CNIGC.UL) (Norinco). Chemaf put itself up for sale last year due to a cash crunch that was stalling the expansion of its Etoile and Mutoshi projects in Congo as cobalt prices slumped. Kizito Pakabomba, Congo's mines minister, said the deal is in breach of state miner Gecamines' lease agreements with Chemaf and recommended that the transaction be stopped, according to the minutes of a council of ministers' meeting on Friday seen by Reuters. The council of ministers adopted the ministry of mines' recommendation that the transaction be halted. "Considering the flagrant violation of the clauses of the farm-out contract between Gecamines and Chemaf, it was recommended that the current transaction be halted following Gecamines' opposition," the minutes said.
“With respect to the survival of traits characteristic of the ante-predatory savage culture the case is in some degree different. The sheltered position of the leisure class favors the survival also of these traits; but the exercise of the aptitudes for peace and good-will does not have the affirmative sanction of the code of proprieties. Individuals gifted with a temperament that is reminiscent of the ante-predatory culture are placed at something of an advantage within the leisure class, as compared with similarly gifted individuals outside the class, in that they are not under a pecuniary necessity to thwart these aptitudes that make for a non-competitive life; but such individuals are still exposed to something of a moral constraint which urges them to disregard these inclinations, in that the code of proprieties enjoins upon them habits of life based on the predatory aptitudes. So long as the system of status remains intact, and so long as the leisure class has other lines of non-industrial activity to take to than obvious killing of time in aimless and wasteful fatigation, so long no considerable departure from the leisure-class scheme of reputable life is to be looked for. The occurrence of non-predatory temperament with the class at that stage is to be looked upon” Excerpt From Theory of the Leisure Class Thorstein Veblen