It may be called a deadly embrace. Each side is pointing (supporting) at the other side.
But, I still side with Congo since the fighting and dying is happening on their country. Therefore, they have the right to do anything to protect their citizens and bring peace.
That's much too simple but it is time to act and go back to basics!
Bloomberg.com: Africa:
"Rwanda is supporting rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo, while the Congolese government is arming a Rwandan militia, a United Nations report said yesterday.
The report to the UN Security Council “found evidence that the Rwandan authorities have been complicit in the recruitment of soldiers, including children, have facilitated the supply of military equipment, and have sent officers and units from the Rwandan Defense Forces” to the DRC. The support is for the National Congress for the Defense of the People, or CNDP, led by Laurent Nkunda."
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
The US stop supporting both sides in the Congo conflict
It is time to decide what is right and justice for the Congolese people.
Should we continue supporting the Congo government and MONUC or should we continue supporting the opposing Rwandan-backed and Ugandan-backed militias via Rwanda and Uganda government?
The U.S. power play in Africa SocialistWorker.org:
"James Moy asks some important questions in his recent letter about the current war in the Kivu regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ('What is the U.S. doing in Congo?').
The involvement of the United States government appears paradoxical: Why has it has been sustaining both sides of the conflict? On the one hand, the U.S. helps bankroll and lead the United Nations' MONUC soldiers acting in support of DRC president Joseph Kabila, while at the same time the U.S. provides military training and funding to the opposing Rwandan- and Ugandan-backed militias, which include Laurent Nkunda. As Moy questions, 'Wouldn't it be easier to exploit the mineral resources and Congolese labor if the U.S. tried to end the conflict by decisively supporting one side or the other?'
This question can only be answered by looking at how broader U.S. interests in the area actually led to the current civil war in the first place."
Should we continue supporting the Congo government and MONUC or should we continue supporting the opposing Rwandan-backed and Ugandan-backed militias via Rwanda and Uganda government?
The U.S. power play in Africa SocialistWorker.org:
"James Moy asks some important questions in his recent letter about the current war in the Kivu regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ('What is the U.S. doing in Congo?').
The involvement of the United States government appears paradoxical: Why has it has been sustaining both sides of the conflict? On the one hand, the U.S. helps bankroll and lead the United Nations' MONUC soldiers acting in support of DRC president Joseph Kabila, while at the same time the U.S. provides military training and funding to the opposing Rwandan- and Ugandan-backed militias, which include Laurent Nkunda. As Moy questions, 'Wouldn't it be easier to exploit the mineral resources and Congolese labor if the U.S. tried to end the conflict by decisively supporting one side or the other?'
This question can only be answered by looking at how broader U.S. interests in the area actually led to the current civil war in the first place."
Shocked that the number of hungry people almost triple in Congo
Three of four people in the Congo are undernourished. The conflict was cited as the primary cause of the increase from 29 percent to 76 percent (11 million to 43 million people).
The raise of food into 2009 will further increase hunger in Congo.
Many countries could soon experience a worsening food crisis « African Press International (API):
"The food price crisis of 2008 will continue into 2009 and might get worse, says the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The 2008 food crisis has already pushed 40 million people into hunger, bringing the number of undernourished in the world closer to a billion.
FAO economists made the gloomy prognosis at the release of their ninth progress report, State of Food Insecurity in the World 2008, since the 1996 World Food Summit on world hunger.
The authors warned that the situation in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), which recorded most of the increase in the number of hungry people because of widespread and persistent conflict, could get worse. Between 2003 and 2005, the number of hungry in the DRC rose from 11 million to 43 million, and the proportion of undernourished rose from 29 percent to 76 percent."
The raise of food into 2009 will further increase hunger in Congo.
Many countries could soon experience a worsening food crisis « African Press International (API):
"The food price crisis of 2008 will continue into 2009 and might get worse, says the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The 2008 food crisis has already pushed 40 million people into hunger, bringing the number of undernourished in the world closer to a billion.
FAO economists made the gloomy prognosis at the release of their ninth progress report, State of Food Insecurity in the World 2008, since the 1996 World Food Summit on world hunger.
The authors warned that the situation in the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), which recorded most of the increase in the number of hungry people because of widespread and persistent conflict, could get worse. Between 2003 and 2005, the number of hungry in the DRC rose from 11 million to 43 million, and the proportion of undernourished rose from 29 percent to 76 percent."
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Viewing the impact of the Global Climate Change on Africa
The changing weather pattern are impacting African villages who are the least prepared to cope. It means more droughts, floods, and even malaria. For example, warmer temperatures have produced more mosquito bleeding grounds.
Gathering Storm - the humanitarian impact of climate change:
"As the Poznan Climate Change conference enters its final days, IRIN, with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is pleased to announce the launch of eight short videos exploring the human cost of climate change in Africa."
Gathering Storm - the humanitarian impact of climate change:
"As the Poznan Climate Change conference enters its final days, IRIN, with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is pleased to announce the launch of eight short videos exploring the human cost of climate change in Africa."
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Can Information Communication Technology be used to curb violence in Congo?
The internet is very limited to almost non-existent in the majority of Congo. However, text or SMS messaging is possible.
FrontlineSMS is the backbone of the Ushadidi, a web based reporting tool. FrontlineSMS is the message component.
I am using FrontlineSMS while trying to explore its uses for general development, health care, medical, and education in Congo. FrontlineSMS will facilitate the SMS being used like the internet.
BBC NEWS Technology Web tool maps Congo conflict:
"A web-based reporting tool is allowing Africans caught up in political unrest to report incidents of killing, violence and displacement.
The website is called Ushahidi, which means ''testimony'' in Swahili and was first developed to map reports of violence in Kenya after the post-election fallout.
Ushahidi is now being used in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to report on the war that has torn the country apart for the last 15 years.
Its goal is to create a simple way of aggregating information from the public for use in crisis response.
The site is a free open-source mash-up which can be run by anybody, anywhere in the world to to gather distributed data via SMS, email or web and visualise it on a map or timeline."
FrontlineSMS is the backbone of the Ushadidi, a web based reporting tool. FrontlineSMS is the message component.
I am using FrontlineSMS while trying to explore its uses for general development, health care, medical, and education in Congo. FrontlineSMS will facilitate the SMS being used like the internet.
BBC NEWS Technology Web tool maps Congo conflict:
"A web-based reporting tool is allowing Africans caught up in political unrest to report incidents of killing, violence and displacement.
The website is called Ushahidi, which means ''testimony'' in Swahili and was first developed to map reports of violence in Kenya after the post-election fallout.
Ushahidi is now being used in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to report on the war that has torn the country apart for the last 15 years.
Its goal is to create a simple way of aggregating information from the public for use in crisis response.
The site is a free open-source mash-up which can be run by anybody, anywhere in the world to to gather distributed data via SMS, email or web and visualise it on a map or timeline."
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Citing the Record from James
New record! 6 on a moto. 2 kids before (driver) 1 between (driver and mom) and 1 on moms back.
from my HTC phone!
Woody M. Collins
President, Congo Helping Hands
"Strengthening the Heart of Africa"
website: http://www.CongoHelpingHands.org
blog: http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org
facebook: http://profile.to/woodycollins
Believes Rwanda is involved in Congo
Duh! Really!
So what is the United States going to do about it? Probably give them more aid to ask them to stop. That's been diplomacy at its best.
You should ask your elected leaders why we are supporting this little bad boy of Africa.
Rwanda Stirs Deadly Brew of Troubles in Congo - NYTimes.com:
"KIGALI, Rwanda — There is a general rule in Africa, if not across the world: Behind any rebellion with legs is usually a meddling neighbor. And whether the rebellion in eastern Congo explodes into another full-fledged war, and drags a large chunk of central Africa with it, seems likely to depend on the involvement of Rwanda, Congo’s tiny but disproportionately mighty neighbor.
There is a long and bloody history here, and this time around the evidence seems to be growing that Rwanda is meddling again in Congo’s troubles; at a minimum, the interference is on the part of many Rwandans. As before, Rwanda’s stake in Congo is a complex mix of strategic interest, business opportunity and the real fears of a nation that has heroically rebuilt itself after near obliteration by ethnic hatred. "
So what is the United States going to do about it? Probably give them more aid to ask them to stop. That's been diplomacy at its best.
You should ask your elected leaders why we are supporting this little bad boy of Africa.
Rwanda Stirs Deadly Brew of Troubles in Congo - NYTimes.com:
"KIGALI, Rwanda — There is a general rule in Africa, if not across the world: Behind any rebellion with legs is usually a meddling neighbor. And whether the rebellion in eastern Congo explodes into another full-fledged war, and drags a large chunk of central Africa with it, seems likely to depend on the involvement of Rwanda, Congo’s tiny but disproportionately mighty neighbor.
There is a long and bloody history here, and this time around the evidence seems to be growing that Rwanda is meddling again in Congo’s troubles; at a minimum, the interference is on the part of many Rwandans. As before, Rwanda’s stake in Congo is a complex mix of strategic interest, business opportunity and the real fears of a nation that has heroically rebuilt itself after near obliteration by ethnic hatred. "
Monday, December 8, 2008
Imagining this picture from James
saw a moto with three adults yesterday...towing a 2nd moto with two on it. and you only got to watch football.
from my HTC phone!
Woody M. Collins
President, Congo Helping Hands
"Strengthening the Heart of Africa"
website: http://www.CongoHelpingHands.org
blog: http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org
facebook: http://profile.to/woodycollins
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Collecting Six Quarters to Prevent Malaria
Nets protect for pregnant women and young children. The baby packet support the prenatal checkups.
from my HTC phone!
Woody M. Collins
President, Congo Helping Hands
"Strengthening the Heart of Africa"
website: http://www.CongoHelpingHands.org
blog: http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org
facebook: http://profile.to/woodycollins
Remembering the Biggest Poinsettas Ever Seen
At that time, they were over six feet tall. They formed a hedge in a Bulape village yard.
While sitting in the Hartford City Presbyterian Church, I remembered those giant poinsettas.
from my HTC phone!
Woody M. Collins
President, Congo Helping Hands
"Strengthening the Heart of Africa"
website: http://www.CongoHelpingHands.org
blog: http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org
facebook: http://profile.to/woodycollins
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