Congo Archive
Terese & Goliath
The widely publicized elephant poaching is mostly gross exaggeration when compared to the corporate poaching that nearly extirpated them in the 1980s but nonetheless a terrifying example of how mens’ wars exploit the natural world. I’ve written before how the current elephant poaching is being sensationalized by the media as something much larger than it [...]
No More Grains of Rice
Posted by jimheck in Congo, Foreign Aid, Global Relations, Kenya, Politics, Rwanda, Sudan, War on November 30, 2012
Susan Rice’s performance on the Sunday Talk Shows incorrectly explaining the Benghazi attacks is a perfect example of how she has historically allowed political considerations to trump more important foreign policy or human rights considerations in Africa. She’s been acting like this for years. She seems incapable of intricate analysis and quiet diplomacy. She’s no [...]
Goma Solution
Starve Rwandan and Ugandan dictators of any aid, significantly beef up the UN peace-keepers in Goma, allow the “Arab Spring” to develop and let the chips fall where they may. That’s my solution for the Goma catastrophe. It surprised me that Goma has stayed in the news. I’m not sure why, as the current crisis [...]
So Terribly Terribly Sorry
The genie is out of the hell hole, again. Sorry to burden you with another war but Goma fell, today. Rwanda’s imperial strategy worked and a man indicted for Crimes Against Humanity is in control. We’re all so terribly terribly sorry. Goma is the biggest city (300,000) in the eastern DRC Congo, where the countries [...]
Better Science on a Better Horizon
Posted by jimheck in Congo, Wildlife Research on September 14, 2012
Two new monkeys discovered in Africa since 2003 suggest the continent is becoming more peaceful and interaction with scientists from the west has become healthier. First seen in the jungles of The Congo in 2007, the lesula monkey (Cercopithecus lomamiensis) has now been studied enough to announce its discovery as a previously unknown species. In [...]
Rwanda’s Choice: Gorillas or Guerillas
Posted by jimheck in Congo, Mountain Gorilla, Rwanda, War on July 27, 2012
Rwanda is beginning to boil. Genocide is not in cards, but tourism is definitely jeopardized. Last month the UN issued a report clearly implicating Rwanda in the growing conflict in neighboring Congo. Western countries on the Security Council responded with reductions of aid and other sanctions, and the situation is growing tense. The mountain gorillas [...]
Clinton’s Congo Collapses
The UN’s actions in eastern Congo to stop the escalating war might work for the moment, but they are useless down the line without an American pivot in Rwanda. America was drawn into this mess because of the political weakness and inept statesmanship of Bill Clinton. As time accelerates off those years Clinton comes into [...]
Top Ten 2011 Africa Stories
Posted by jimheck in "Modern" Africa, African Awakening, Arts and Culture, Big Game, Botswana, Congo, Culture, Economy, Egypt, Environment, Nairobi, Perceptions of Africa, Poaching, Politics, Poverty, Refugees, Safety, Serengeti, South Africa, Sudan, Terrorism, Tourism Trends, Twevolution, Uganda, War, Weather, Wildlife Management, Zimbabwe on December 31, 2011
Twevolution, the Arab Spring [by Twitter] is universally considered the most important story of the year, much less just in Africa. But I believe the Kenyan invasion of Somalia will have as lasting an effect on Africa, so I’ve considered them both Number One. 1A: KENYA INVADES SOMALIA On October 18 Kenya invaded Somalia, where [...]
War or Peace, At This Very Instant
I started this blog to write about animals. Today, like so many days, it’s about elections and wars. And in this wrap-up blog before our Thanksgiving holiday, the preeminent news is at this very moment in time. Better than I would have a hoped a few moments ago. It’s so ephemeral. It’s easy to argue [...]
Hot Time in the Old Town
Posted by jimheck in Congo, Mountain Gorilla on November 15, 2011
There is probably nowhere better on earth to see and learn about volcanoes than Hawaii. But it’s in Africa where you can risk your life to get close! And that’s the important phrase: risk your life. I’m not sure it’s either wise or appropriate no matter who you are, but right now the officials managing [...]
America & Magic Help The Congo!
Posted by jimheck in Congo, Planning Travel, War on May 26, 2011
While beating ourselves up over whether Wall Street was too big to fail, the unceremonious application of the Dodd-Frank Act has slowly stopped hundreds of thousands of gruesome murders in Africa, aborted tens of thousands of acts of rape and child kidnapping. The Act has absolutely helped to end one of Africa’s most gruesome multi-generational [...]
Both Sides of the Moon
The Cleveland Zoo safari spent several days in the Semliki Reserve adjacent Lake Albert right on the Mountains of the Moon. We were lucky to see both the dark side and the bright side. We flew from Entebbe to the Semliki Reserve in one of the few charter planes that exists in Uganda. Unlike Kenya [...]
We Won! Power to YOU!
Guess what? We won an important battle: The Wall Street reform act signed by President Obama this week regulates U.S. corporations using Coltan from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)! Reread my blog of May 10, “Evaporize Goma!” There I discussed several of the great horrors of Africa : war, corruption, child soldiers and [...]