Conflict - Focus on the Democratic Republic of Africa

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CONFLICT When is the world going to be free?


Global Conflict: Conflicts in Africa What would you do if your country was in constant civil war? In Africa at least 9 million people are refugees from conflicts and civil war. Hundreds and thousands have been slaughtered also due to civil war. The civil wars are caused by: the rising costs of living, high unemployment, and the Global Financial Crisis. These problems cause riots and sometimes the overthrowing of the government in some countries.

Statistics There are at least 9 million refugees in Africa. Hundreds and thousands have been slaughtered.

Conflict is a state of discord caused by the actual or

In Cote D’Ivoire 1 million people fled from their homes, 100,000 of them went to Liberia due to the conflict between Ouattara and GbaGbo

perceived opposition of needs, values and interests

Conflict involves at least 7 different countries. In Sierra Leone, over 50,000 people have been killed, and over 1 million have displaced or homeless. Did you know that the conflicts going on in Africa include at least 7 different countries, and that they are fighting over basic resources, control over rich minerals, and politics?

Check it out at www.globalissues.org

between people.


WHATS GOING ON AROUND OUR WORLD? WHAT WARS AND CONFLICTS ARE GOING ON OUR EARTH? War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today. ~John F. Kennedy

Here Some Of The Conflicts Going on In The World Algeria

Insurgency

1992 -->

Congo (Zaire)

Congo War

1998-->

Georgia

Civil War

1991-->

Ivory Coast

Civil War

2002 -->

Kyrgyzstan

Civil Unrest

2010 -->

Libya

Civil War

2011 -->

Laos

Hmong Insurgency

2000 -->

Mexico

Drug War

2006 -->

Pakistan

Pashtun Jihad

2001 -

Palestine

Civil War

2007-->

Did You Know? There are currently 38 different conflicts going around the world and 8 of them are considered major and can affect life as we know it.


Democratic Republic of the Congo WHAT CONFLICTS IN

Country Information

THE DEMOCRATIC REPBULIC OF CONGO

Location: Central Africa

THAT`S AFFECTING US ?

Capital: Kinshasa

HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

Population: 70,916,439

The area known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo was populated

Size: slightly greater than

as early as 10,000 years ago and settled in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D.

the combined areas of Spain, France, Germany,

by Bantus from present-day Nigeria. Discovered in 1482 by Portuguese navigator Diego Cao and later explored by English journalist Henry

Sweden, and Norway.

Morton Stanley, the area was officially colonized in 1885 as a personal

Languages: French

administration shifted to the Belgian Government, which renamed the

Child Mortality Rate: Life Expectancy: Access To Clean Water: Doctor to Patirnt Ratio: Population on Less than

possession of Belgian King Leopold II as the Congo Free State. In 1907, country the Belgian Congo. Following a series of riots and unrest, the Belgian Congo was granted its independence on June 30, 1960. Parliamentary elections in 1960 produced Patrice Lumumba as prime minister and Joseph Kasavubu as president of the renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. Now the country is still suffering from civil war and fights over who is over the country.

$2/days:

DID YOU KNOW? Did you know Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder is the first Congo born player to play in the NBA? He also participated in the Dunk Contest this year showing his Congo colors in it.


What Country Has Been in Conflict For 15 The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been facing conflict since their independence in 1960. The fighting and war has been

Years?

A woman of the DRC has been affected by this ongoing conflict. Elize (photo to the left) is a widow with five children. She struggles to support her family and every day she deals with the loss of her husband and the psychological trauma of being raped. Elize is apart of the UFPPS program, which helps

caused by their abundance of natural resources, such as diamonds, copper, coffee, cobalt, and crude oil. Millions of citizens have been removed from their homes and have been killed. Rape and torture are used as weapons. Since 1998, about 5.4 million people have died because of the deadliest conflict since the Second World War. -Elize and her five children.

women deal with sexual assault and helps them make a living through conflict. The program, plus her income, helps Elize support her family through all of the war. She continues to be active in the program and even donates some of her income to support them.

What Can You Do To Help?? Take five minutes out of your day and donate to Peacedirect.org and become a “Peace Builder.� Make videos or web pages and help people become aware of the problem. Sign petitions to stop conflict minerals trade or CREATE YOUR OWN petition and start a peace movement.


Should government come between individual and religious freedom? In 2007, the Catholic churches arose to have the separation of government and religion. Roman Catholic Archbishop refused to issue a permit to allow churches to expand into a historical district. The church was sued by the RFRA, then which the federal judge determined it was unconstitutional. After being reviewed the act was ruled constitutional, because of the increase in size of the congregation.  RFR – Religious Freedom Restoration Act

“Strongly guarded as the separation between and in the constitution of the United States danger of encroachment by Ecclesiastical Bodies, may be illustrated by precedents already furnished in their sheet history” – James Madison

Employment Division vs. Smith Division vs. Smith was a Supreme Court case that determined if the state could deny unemployment or fire a person with illegal acts of religious belief. Majority opinion forbids the government from prohibiting “free exercise” of religion. Supreme Court ruled it constitutional. Facts:

o Alfred Smith and Galen Black were members of a Native American church and counselors at a private drug rehabilitation clinic. o Both fired by the use of peyote, as part of their religious ceremonies. o Government could not condition access to unemployment or benefits on an individual’s willingness to give up conduct required by religion. What the government needs to do? The government needs to be willing to come to a compromise with all of the different religious groups in America. They should focus on following the “law of the land”, otherwise known as the constitution.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."


Every Action has a Reaction

http://www.religioustolerance.org/govt_con.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_st ate http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment_Division_v._Sm ith www.globalissues.org www.er-d.org/Partners_in_DRC http://news.bbc.co.uk http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.a sp?historyid=ad34 http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3439/serge-ibaka


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