congo

= **Congo** =



Economic Status of Congo The Republic of Congo is one of sub-Saharan Africa's main oil producers. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects. With the efforts of economic reform the country was doing farely well. However, things took a turn for the worse. After the civil war erupted the economy crashed. Oil prices droped which had a heavy effect of the economy. The country's economy was in a bad position. With the help of U.S. arms, Belgian troops, and white mercenaries, the central government gradually regained control of the country. Today the country's main trade partners are Belgium, the United States, South Africa and France. Congos main export partner is the U.S and main import partner is France. Congo mainly exports oil, timber, plywood, sugar, cocoa coffee, and diamonds. 75% of Congo is covered in forest containing ebony and teak. Since 1994 diamons have become the country's leading export good. In 2004 the country was expelled from the Kimberley Process that is supposed to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the world supply market. Centered around Katanga, a province in Congo, is the main place for mining of Diamonds. Along with this province is Kinshasa and Lubumbashi which are also important industrial centers. Rivers play a big role in the country's transportation. Not only are the rivers used for transportation, but also have major petroleum deposits off the shores Congo river being a main source. The numerous rivers give Congo potential for producing hydroelectricity. In 2010, more than 114,000 people fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo to shelter UNICEF is requesting US$4,830,000 to carry out its planned activities for the Congo in 2011.

Evidence/Statistics Population: 4,000,000
 * There are roughly 12 deaths a day out of every 1,000 people.
 * 1 in 10 babies die at birth, or mother die while giving birth. (America has about 580 deaths out of 100,000 live births
 * 77,000 people suffer from HIV/AIDS and the percentage rate grows about 4% each year.
 * Military: Males (16-49) 928,664 Females (16-49) 914,265

Congo is having alot of trouble finding peace, but the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, organized in 1999, maintains over 16,500 uniformed peacekeepers. All members of Uganda's Lords Resistance Army forces continue to seek refuge in Congo's Garamba National Park as peace talks. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-Nguesso, and ushered in a restless period of ethnic and political fighting. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis.

Conflict and the struggle for control of the rich minerals in Congo is often expressed by large intimidation and even rape. it has gotten so out of hand that it is a common occurance and people live in constant fear

Healthy drinking water: improved water sorces: urban: 95% of population rural: 34% of population total: 71% of population unimprovedwater sorces: urban: 5% of population rural: 66% of population total: 70% of population

Bathroom sanitation

improved facilitiess:

urban: 31% of population

rural: 29% of population

total: 30% of population

unimprovedfacilities:

urban: 69% of population

rural: 71% of population

total: 70% of population

What the Stars are Thinking


 * President Obama realizes that if the elections in Congo dont go as the public hopes them to go, then it can very possibly become even more violent in there and that is a major concern for Obama. Congo desperately needs some type of a democracy and some form of a financial support to get then up and running, violence free.
 * Ken Baumann speaks out about how we benefit from the conflict minerals in Africa everyday with many of our electronics used day in and day out. But while we benefit, we continue to fuel the war for Congo because of the such high demand for these minerals (Tin, tantalum, tungsten).
 * Hillary Clinton wants to start to fight against the sexual abuse that has been taking place in Congo
 * Angelina Jolie and Leonardo Di Caprio also speak out for the women of the Congo. The abuse is known by a lot of people and by continuing to raise awareness there is some hope to end the violence for the women and girls who feel threatened in the Congo.
 * Ben Affleck and Cindy McCain speak out for the women of Congo. They want to raise awareness for the women who are fighting a war every day against abuse and constant violence.
 * Selena Gomez wants to raise awareness and also use the 4P method which is: peace, protection, punishment and prevention. "If all of those can be met then all the abuse against all people will be left in the past."

Maps



Works Cited Amnesty International USA. "Congo Human rights." //amnestyusa//. Amnesty International USA, 13 June 2011. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. []. CIA. "Congo." //World Fact Book//. N.p., 10 Nov. 2011. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. []. Google. "Congo History." //Nations Online//. Google, 29 July 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. []. UNICEF. "Congo." //unicef.org//. UNICEF, 21 Feb. 2011. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. []. Save The Children. "Congo." //Save the Children//. Save The Children, 13 Oct. 2011. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. .