HWC 14-15

This article describes how civic groups are trying to ban the export of black granite from Zimbabwe. They believe that the local communities do not benefit from the exploitation of the mineral.Black granite rakes in millions of dollars in export earnings mainly from South Africa, Australia, Belgium and other major markets. Activists have, however, condemned the exploitation of the mineral that has left communities in the mining areas wallowing in poverty with environmental decay takes its toll.

This article talks about the lack of clean water in Zimbabwe and how it is negatively affecting the population. This relates because the database article we read discussed how lack of public infrastructure put the economy on a downward spiral, and that these difficulties make land reform initiatives unsuccessful.

This article describes a health crisis in Zimbabwe due to a insufficient water system. The article blames the government for neglecting the public water system for the water issues, rather than a drought. This relates to our studies, because we studied the land reform, which had failure largely due to the unorganized government just as the water system is failing today.

This article describes how one of Zimbabwe's largest hospitals has been operating for most of the year without running water. This violates many public health standards and is being blamed on the government for not taking care, and watching out for the public water sources.

While the annual inflation rate in Zimbabwe is positive this year, it is not positive by much. Experts say that it is likely to stabilize soon, and there is a better chance of this is rain is good in the coming season. This relates to the activities because high inflation was one of the biggest reasons why the land reform program failed. As the rate decreases, it is possible that land reform may fare better in Zimbabwe.

This article relates how Belgium took millions of dollars of Zimbabwean diamonds. Ever since the UN lifted the sanction on diamonds in 2013, these gems have been a large contribution to the debt-stricken economy. This relates because the database article discusses how sanctions on exports can negatively affect the economy, and how land reform is causing disputes on whose property is whose.

Belgian authorities took Zimbabwean diamonds that were at an auction waiting to be purchased. A court order gave compensation to a South African mining company that had lost that concession. On September 12, around 500,000 ounces of diamond worth $45 million belonging to Zimbabwean shareholders was seized. The World Diamond Center wants to sell 12 million carats of diamonds from Zimbabwe this year. Zimbabwe has the second largest metal deposits behind South Africa.

Belgian authorities seized about 500,000 ounces worth roughly $45 million and belonging to companies with Zimbabwean state shareholdings were seized on Sept. 12. A court ruling stated that a South African Mining company would given compensation for the concession they had lost.

This article describes what Congo must do to satisfy the UN-arranged peace accord, naming Rwanda refugees and delayed reforms as the barriers to achieving this. This realtes to the NPR report on the continuing violence of the civil war, and coincides with the idea that peace agreements are not always obeyed. This article also describes recent protests by citizens who want to change the constitution so leader Joseph Kabila can remain in power. This relates to the description of Kabila's leadership in the database article.

In this article, it describes how the DRC is trying to change to accept the new peace deal that they are in with 10 other African countries. There have been a lot of delays from Kinshasa because of legal issues. There have also been protests against Kabila and his overwhelming victory in the latest elections. This refers to the first article of Part F because the DRC had always had governmental problems n the past.

This article describes what the DRC needs to do to follow the peace accord. It also tells of how rape and murder go on without any punishment from the government, and many people in the militaries have been committing many crimes such as rape during these harsh times.

Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Chris Mushohwe argued that the few remaining white farmers should not be kicked out of Zimbabwe because their economy could not suffer that loss. This is contrary to President Mugabe's opinion. He has openly stated that he wants all whites to return to England and is entirely against western influence in his country. This relates to the land redistribution issue, as Zimbabwean politicians argue whether or not all whites should have their land taken from them.

The number of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo doubled over the past week to 62, the World Health Organization reported Thursday, and more than half the afflicted patients have died. In the DRC, Ebola has been tacked down to four villages in one county.

Recently, the number of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been increasing exponentially. It has over doubled since it first began. It has been reported that over half of the infected have died as a result to the disease. This year, more people have died from Ebola than ever before. The economy in these countries could decrease by as much as 3.5% due to disruptions in the industries such as mining.

During a trip to the troubled region of Eastern DRC, British actor Jude Law called for more international attention to be given to the country. He was visiting the town of Goma with British charity Peace One Day and its founder, former actor Jeremy Gilley.

This article tells how cases of the Yellow Fever have occurred in The Democratic Republic of the Congo. There were six cases confirmed in a laboratory alone on March 12, 2014. Preliminary outbreak investigations were conducted and at least 116 suspected cases arose. A reactive mass vaccination campaign hopes to vaccinate everyone to minimize the virus.

A rebel group currently in control of a key city in The Democratic Republic of the Congo. They plan on liberating the entire country with their new power. The group makes plans on capturing important cities including Kinshasa. If success is reached, they would hold elections for new leaders to make decisions for the new government.

The National Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo has shown its refusal of all attempts to amendment Article 220 of the Constitution of 2006 that currently provides for repeated rotation in the presidency after two terms of office. The Church has gone further to eliminate its participation in a religious committee to follow up arrangements of elections called on priests to transmit the message of the conference to all Christians for them to stand up against all attempts to amend the Constitution.

This article shows that the religion of the people is a valuable asset fro propaganda. The church rejects all attempts to amend the constitution, specifically areas involving the rotation of presidents after 2 terms. The presidential majority in the country want to amend the constitution to allow their president to serve 3 terms. This article relates to our discussion by showing that authoritarian rulers tend to want to stay in power, and other will resist.

This article talks about protests against a constitutional amendment that would force leaders out of office after two terms. This has been a problem with Congo-Kinshasa in the past, and it is being put in the spot-light.

This article talks about activist in the DRC spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS. This relates to the issues in the activity because it's an example of what is being done to help the problem.

In the article, it describes how the government is still working on land reform even though in the article for Part E, it says land reform failed. They are having Land Commission meetings on how to improve land reform for the future.

This article talks about what current officials are doing about the land crisis. This relates to the activity in that the government's failed land reform is affecting the current issues in Zimbabwean politics.

This article talks about how the land situation present in Zimbabwe is comparable to a land grab. This related to the issues in the activity because the activity addressed the causes for the creation and failure of the land reform. This article talks about the current state of Zimbabwe, which wouldn't be like it is had it not been for the failed land reform.

This article describes the positive and negative effects of the Zimbabwe land reform. It discusses that while some land is very lucrative, other land is poorly maintained and provide little profit. This relates to the activity because it shows the modern effects of the land reform policy

This article explains that there are new stories about people affected by land reform that are being brought forth to a meeting that will reflect on the positives and negatives of the land reform.

This article talks about Zimbabwe's land reform and the new evidence that research has provided. This is connected to the issues addressed in the activity because the activity looked at the causes and issues with land reform, and this article talks about the most recent news about the land reform.

This article shows how Kenya continues to fight against Al-Shabaab. The Kenyan president has firmly stated that they will not stop fighting against the terrorist group until peace is restored to Somalia. This is in part because Al-Shabaab has attacked Kenya as well, most notably through an attack on a Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi. Kenya views the group as a high threat, and this illustrates the strong effect that Al-Shabaab has had throughout multiple countries. Al-Shabaab's great impact was an idea addressed in the activity.

This year alone, 130,000 people have fled south central Somalia due to conflicts such as famine, forced-evictions, drought, and military offensives. Many people have began to live in communities that lack common services, in cardboard boxes or small huts made of sticks and mud.

This article talks about the possibility for Somaliland to vote like Scotland recently did to become independent. It discusses the pros and cons of different political actions the government could take to try to achieve international recognition. This relates to our discussion about Somaliland and its failure to be recognized by other countries.

This article compares Somaliland to Scotland, because Scotland just had a vote on becoming independent from the UK, just as Somaliland would like to be recognized as independent of Somalia. The article says that in a vote for a constitution, 97% of people voted in favor of becoming a full independent state. This relates to our studies, because it shows the nationalism of Somaliland.

This article details Somaliland's struggle to gain recognition as an independent country to foreign powers. Foreign countries said that they would recognize Somaliland as such if they worked it out with Somalia. Negotiations between the two fell apart twice before: the first time because there was not a strong central government in Somalia, the second time because Somalia blatantly disregarded cooperation with Somaliland. However, the writer believes that the time is ripe for Somaliland to seek recognition as an independence country once again, for issues such as Scotland seeking independence from the United Kingdom are fresh in the public memory. This relates to NPR's Somaliland story because the fact that these efforts continue to this day show the strong nationalism that the people of Somaliland feel for their country.

This article shows that the government of the DRC is above the law of their constitution and has detained a reporter after he wrote about a cardinal who sold out to his country. This relates to our discussion by showing that the leaders care more about their power than the people they took an oath to serve.

In this article, it says that in 2001, the citizens of Somaliland voted if they wanted to be independent or still be part of Somalia. 97% of voters wanted to be independent. Now the citizens of Somaliland are looking for global recognition, like it said in the 2nd article in Part D. This is why it relates to one of the topics that was required to read.

This article about Somaliland and its freedom from the rest of Somalia. The article suggests that it may be time for another referendum to see if Somaliland can become recognized as an independent entity.