situation in Congo (was: excellent article on 911)

hi John,

> From: <jstarret@...>
> To: <metatuning@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 10:24 AM
> Subject: [metatuning] Re: excellent article on 911
>
>
> --- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "monz" <monz@a...> wrote:
> <snip>
>
> > ... and here in the USA, i'd bet that the vast majority
> > of people are not even aware of what's happening in Congo.
> >
> > -monz
>
> This is one thing that I confront again and again each
> time I travel. Although we have the ability to become
> the best educated people in the world, and by virtue
> of our military power, the greatest tool for good the
> world has ever seen, we continually squander our
> "birthright" on sports, entertainment, and mindless
> consumption. It was widely bandied about that 9-11
> changed everything; we were finally becoming educated,
> involved, world citizens. Everything changed, alright.
> Politics grew nastier, divisions cleaved deeper, and
> willfully ignorant jingoists ascended to power. Thanks
> for all your passion and commitment, Joe. We will weather
> this, but not until we wake up. Keep it up.

OK ...

since the links in my last post only exposed metatuning
readers to the horrors of child soldiers in Africa and
elsewhere, i thought it would be a good idea to provide
those who are ignorant of the situation in Congo with
a really good explanation of what has happened and is
happening there. it's long, but worth it:

http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/AD_Issues/amdipl_16/weiss/weiss_congo1.htm
l

i think it's a disgrace that the world sat back and
watched while it allowed this to unfold.

(note that there are two countries in Africa named "Congo":
the "Democratic Republic of the Congo" was formerly
called "Zaire" under Mobuto's rule and is also called
"Congo-Kinshasa", but usually known as "Congo" or "DRC";
the other is "Republic of the Congo" and is also called
"Congo-Brazzaville" or "The Congo". DRC is the one where
the big war has been going on.)

Congo (DRC) is potentially the richest country in Africa,
with vast reserves of oil, diamonds, gold, cobalt, and
especially copper:

http://www.tradersp.co.za/issue8/investment_drc.shtml

... and while the other countries involved in the conflict
(principally Rwanda and Uganda ... and of course the good
ol' USA) profit from the rape of the land, the road and
railway infrastructure has been nearly totally destroyed
(or reclaimed by jungle and forest), and its citizens
are starving, displaced, and dying of AIDS.

the spread of AIDS in DRC is in large part due to the
raping of local women by the soldiers of the occupying
armies as a standard part of the war policy:

http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/drc/

i just saw a webpage yesterday that mentioned the fantastic
variations resulting from the recombining of different
strands of HIV in this situation, and the potential threat
to all of humanity as the virus mutates at such a rapid rate.
i've been searching but i can't find the link.

the silence of the American government and media regarding
the horrors being endured by the people of Congo speaks
volumes to me about our priorities.

-monz

> From: "monz" <monz@...>
> To: <metatuning@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2002 11:35 AM
> Subject: [metatuning] situation in Congo (was: excellent article on 911)
>
>
> the silence of the American government and media regarding
> the horrors being endured by the people of Congo speaks
> volumes to me about our priorities.

and i neglected to include the most important news:
the most comprehensive cease-fire agreement yet devised,
and the only one so far in which *all* factions have
reached agreement, was just signed:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?N23D23DC2

here's the full link to that article:

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=97B03FBC-10D8-4D23-93BB467B7CF2A
079&title=Congo%20Reaches%20Landmark%20Deal%20to%20End%204%20Year%20Civil%20
War&catOID=45C9C789-88AD-11D4-A57200A0CC5EE46C&categoryname=Africa

let's hope, along with the Congolese people, that this
really will end the war.

-monz

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "monz" <monz@a...> wrote:
<snip>
> the silence of the American government and media regarding
> the horrors being endured by the people of Congo speaks
> volumes to me about our priorities.
>
> -monz

It is natural for the government to want to cover this up, but it is inexcusable that the traditional media have become so complacent. Child soldiers? ho hum. What's the Bachelor going to do next??!!!

John Starrett