unrest in burkina faso, page-7

David,
there is a political forum for that sort of rubbish.This issue is about being paid a reasonable amount for your resources.
Everyone deserves a reasonable slice of the pie.Political stability comes when all parties are happy with their piece.If you want to bring Australian politcal history into the discussion,why not go back a little bit futher when "pig iron"Bob watched Australian resources being raped by the Americans.During that resource boom Australian recieved NO benefit.
If the Africans want something from their resources,other than a few jobs,thats reasonable.It does have value.How you determine the value and how that value is paid seems to be the issue.If they ask for example for 10% or 15% of all future mining activity,then that becomes part of the reality of doing business in that area.In a similar way the certainty of a resource tax,carbon tax etc in Australia gives investors a clear view of how business is done.
It is clear that someone has to pay something for valuable resources.The money coming to the Govt(Federal) from the mining boom thus far has come from the profits of Australian companies doing business.Before they make these profits (or after as was the plan was with original resource tax),Australian and overseas companies should pay for the resouce itself.This applies in Australia,Africa, South America.........everywhere,and the longer it goes on without an equitable system,the more political unrest there will be.
Infact,I would say the original "resource tax"model presented by the labor party was a template that could have been adopted worldwide,providing equity,surity and stability that may have helped in political stability.

Back to BTR.......good luck to holders