Lederer, Edith. "U.N. Security Council OKs peacekeepers for Darfur". Deseret News. 1 August 2007.
The UN, urged by Britain and France, is developing a resultion that would allow 26,000 peacekeepers from the UN and AU to occupy Darfur in the hopes of bringing peace to that war-torn area.
Finally, someone is doing something about Darfur. The proposed peacekeeper numbers would be larger than the group assigned to Rwanda, a similar genocide, so hopefully they would have more of an impact than they did in Rwanda. I am also concerned that they won't be able to use weapons, like in Rwanda, and so their impact may not be sufficient to end the conflict. At least an attempt is being made after years of the world turning its back.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Rape Vampant in DR Congo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6922132.stm (article)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_elusive_peace_in_eastern_congo/html/1.stm
(related pictures)
Although an election last year was supposed to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of Congo, fighting continues and a popular form of fighting is rape. In terms of weapons of choice, rape is ideal because anyone can do it (police, soldier, or rebel) with little legal consequence but the message given to the community of the person raped is powerful. In terms of humanity, using rape as a weapon of war is atrocious! It's like fighting has degraded to medieval terms.
Rape victims, if they survive, are often scarred for life both emotionally and physically. I can't imagine that these presumed women are the fighters; they are just caught in the middle of a conflict that has gone too far. Peace can not be soon for a civil war in which the people are raping their own people.
What can be done? The genocides of Darfur have gone largely unnoticed from the world eye and the rapes/deaths in DR Congo could easily do the same. These people need to know that to fight through rape is not ok. Punishments need to be used against those that do use rape. As childish as it sounds, I wish I could wrap a blanket of protection around every woman in DR Congo.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/07/africa_elusive_peace_in_eastern_congo/html/1.stm
(related pictures)
Although an election last year was supposed to bring peace to the Democratic Republic of Congo, fighting continues and a popular form of fighting is rape. In terms of weapons of choice, rape is ideal because anyone can do it (police, soldier, or rebel) with little legal consequence but the message given to the community of the person raped is powerful. In terms of humanity, using rape as a weapon of war is atrocious! It's like fighting has degraded to medieval terms.
Rape victims, if they survive, are often scarred for life both emotionally and physically. I can't imagine that these presumed women are the fighters; they are just caught in the middle of a conflict that has gone too far. Peace can not be soon for a civil war in which the people are raping their own people.
What can be done? The genocides of Darfur have gone largely unnoticed from the world eye and the rapes/deaths in DR Congo could easily do the same. These people need to know that to fight through rape is not ok. Punishments need to be used against those that do use rape. As childish as it sounds, I wish I could wrap a blanket of protection around every woman in DR Congo.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Cuban Farmers: First Step Towards Free Enterprise
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6923717.stm
Cuban farmers may be the first to have private businesses as Raul Castro hints at wider reforms. Already, the majority of farms are privately owned. They must provide a certain amount to the state and whatever is left they can sell at the farmer's markets.
I was drawn towards this article because of its relevance to the article I posted yesterday. In both cases, food is the means by which reform happens. In the case of the Green Revolution coming back to nab people in third world nations with food shortages (yesterday's article), the scarcity of food already led to a major change towards modified crops and now will require another major change if distruction is to be avoided. In Cuba's case, food is the leader in the reform towards a freer state. In both cases, food was the catalyst. Until someone figures out how humans can survive without food, food's necessity will continue to make it the means for revolution.
Cuban farmers may be the first to have private businesses as Raul Castro hints at wider reforms. Already, the majority of farms are privately owned. They must provide a certain amount to the state and whatever is left they can sell at the farmer's markets.
I was drawn towards this article because of its relevance to the article I posted yesterday. In both cases, food is the means by which reform happens. In the case of the Green Revolution coming back to nab people in third world nations with food shortages (yesterday's article), the scarcity of food already led to a major change towards modified crops and now will require another major change if distruction is to be avoided. In Cuba's case, food is the leader in the reform towards a freer state. In both cases, food was the catalyst. Until someone figures out how humans can survive without food, food's necessity will continue to make it the means for revolution.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Agriculture Can't Keep Up
Barta, Patrick. "Feeding Billions, A Grain at a Time." The Wall Street Journal. 29 July 2007, weekend ed.: A1, A10.
The rice that was the miracle of the Green Revolution is now putting a strain on farmers as they try to produce enough food for billions of people. The strains of rice that were developed to be more resilient and produce more have now depleted the soil enough that crop yields are declining and prices are rising. This reminds me of the ch. 6 Isbister reading where he discusses the pitfall in third world nations of an agriculture sector that isn't as advanced as the industrial sector. In order for a strong industry, and strong economy, the agriculture must be high-yielding so it can produce enough for the rural farming people as well as the urban industrial people. Hopefully technology can catch up quickly enough to get the agriculture up to speed before famine strikes.
The rice that was the miracle of the Green Revolution is now putting a strain on farmers as they try to produce enough food for billions of people. The strains of rice that were developed to be more resilient and produce more have now depleted the soil enough that crop yields are declining and prices are rising. This reminds me of the ch. 6 Isbister reading where he discusses the pitfall in third world nations of an agriculture sector that isn't as advanced as the industrial sector. In order for a strong industry, and strong economy, the agriculture must be high-yielding so it can produce enough for the rural farming people as well as the urban industrial people. Hopefully technology can catch up quickly enough to get the agriculture up to speed before famine strikes.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Gorilla Deaths in D.R. Congo
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6918012.stm
I thought I would look at some news from my focus country, the Democratic Republic of Congo. The top story was five gorillas found dead in a wildlife park. The deaths are thought to be caused by people who want to scare the wardens out of the park. With only 380 gorillas in the park, over half the total population in the world, five deaths is a considerable amount and makes the seven total deaths this year seem like a lot. How can this be stopped? I imagine it would be hard to patrol every inch of the park. Until it can be stopped, every gorilla shooting will be a hard hit to the gorilla population.
Yet, I'm amazed that the top story was about gorillas. With all the struggles a 3rd world country faces, I highly doubt that the most important news was about gorillas. True, the gorillas were shot possibly by groups that wanted to use the park for resources (like charcoal) and in a small developing country, every bit of land is considered for its potential. However, the gorillas couldn't be the nations biggest concern at the moment. They just made interesting news. I'm left wondering what the more important, less intriguing news actually was.
I thought I would look at some news from my focus country, the Democratic Republic of Congo. The top story was five gorillas found dead in a wildlife park. The deaths are thought to be caused by people who want to scare the wardens out of the park. With only 380 gorillas in the park, over half the total population in the world, five deaths is a considerable amount and makes the seven total deaths this year seem like a lot. How can this be stopped? I imagine it would be hard to patrol every inch of the park. Until it can be stopped, every gorilla shooting will be a hard hit to the gorilla population.
Yet, I'm amazed that the top story was about gorillas. With all the struggles a 3rd world country faces, I highly doubt that the most important news was about gorillas. True, the gorillas were shot possibly by groups that wanted to use the park for resources (like charcoal) and in a small developing country, every bit of land is considered for its potential. However, the gorillas couldn't be the nations biggest concern at the moment. They just made interesting news. I'm left wondering what the more important, less intriguing news actually was.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Zimbabwe Econony Spiraling Downward
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6913148.stm
Zimbabwe, once a comparatively stable African nation, is seeing food shortages, unemployment, and monetary crises as inflation has risen 5,000%. Just imagine if inflation was 5,000% in the US; chaos would ensue. No wonder refugees are fleeing Zimbabwe (at almost 3,000 per day). In the article, a quotation from the president of Zimbabwe mentions that Zimbabwe's enemies are making sanctions on goods to increase inflation. I don't understand who those enemies could be and how their actions could cripple Zimbabwe so dramatically. With 4 million people needing food aid, something has got to be done.
Zimbabwe, once a comparatively stable African nation, is seeing food shortages, unemployment, and monetary crises as inflation has risen 5,000%. Just imagine if inflation was 5,000% in the US; chaos would ensue. No wonder refugees are fleeing Zimbabwe (at almost 3,000 per day). In the article, a quotation from the president of Zimbabwe mentions that Zimbabwe's enemies are making sanctions on goods to increase inflation. I don't understand who those enemies could be and how their actions could cripple Zimbabwe so dramatically. With 4 million people needing food aid, something has got to be done.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Sudanese Refugees Find Violence in Egypt
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6915187.stm
Refugees from Sudan living in Egpyt came for a better life but many are getting sucked into violent gangs. How can this be better than where they came from? Similar occurences have happened in other countries. As new ethnicities have flooded a place, the circumstances aren't the wonderful future the people thought it would be. Their insecurity in their new situation leads to violence and worsening conditions. Many times natives' fear of the new people taking over jobs also contributes. Possible examples include Moroccans in France and even Mexicans in the US.
Refugees from Sudan living in Egpyt came for a better life but many are getting sucked into violent gangs. How can this be better than where they came from? Similar occurences have happened in other countries. As new ethnicities have flooded a place, the circumstances aren't the wonderful future the people thought it would be. Their insecurity in their new situation leads to violence and worsening conditions. Many times natives' fear of the new people taking over jobs also contributes. Possible examples include Moroccans in France and even Mexicans in the US.
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