Friday, February 8, 2008

Current Events Summary

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has signed a peace agreement with a government representative, rebel groups, the UN and the U.S. and European Union in order to end the fighting that has been going on for years there and in which 800,000 people have been displaced. The Secretary General of the UN has said that the signing of this treaty is important for the continued support of the UN. Rebel troops will be withdrawing, and other troops from the Congo will be taking their place under the command of the UN to help keep the peace. The treaty, however, did not address one of the main reasons for war in the DR Congo: its natural resources and great wealth (groups have fought for control of the area due to its vast amounts of gold, diamonds and timber). If this issue is not dealt with, it is unlikely that the fighting will come to a real stop.
(bbcnews.com)
The US and the UK have told Kenya that they will withdraw their aid if the crisis that had gripped the country since the presidential election. Since the election, there has been widespread violence in Kenya, and Britain has donated $2 million to helping to fix it, but is not going to go through with its full program to assist the country immediately, and will instead observe what happens in the future before the decide what to do. The European Union may also cut its donor aid; the European Parliament has voted to cut aid to the country. The EU has told the president of the country that unless they try to start settling the problem, aid will be cut for certain. This is a huge problem for the country, which depends upon outside aid for HIV/AIDS prevention, health care, and education. It receives billions of dollars from other countries and private funding. The UK alone has given $330 million since 2001 and was supposed to give $100 million this year. The threat of the withdrawal of aid could hurt Kenya very badly if it actually happens.
(bbcnews.com)
Mauritanian police have announced that there have been arrests made related to the attacks on the Israeli embassy in Nouakchott (Mauritania's capital). At least 7 suspects have been arrested, including an Algerian. An Algerian al Quaeda group has come forth to say that they were responsible for the attack. No further news on what Mauritanian authorities plan to do.
(bbcnews.com)
The President of Chad has announced that he would be willing to pardon the 6 French aid workers convicted on kidnapping charges if the French government requested. The workers were originally supposed to serve the equivalent of their sentences (8 years hard labor in a Chadian prison camp) in France, but France is now assisting Chad in fighting a rebel group (France has about 1,400 troops in Chad right now, and Paris "provided vital information in the face of a week-long assault" on the capitol, according to the President of Chad). The French government sent a pardon request soon after the statement was released.
(bbcnews.com)

Third Draft of Project

Link to notebook: http://www.google.com/notebook/public/04767565420953375744/BDQZ-SwoQn5_jjfoi
Link to Civil Rights Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?tab=ml
I plan to add many more points to the map and elaborate on the points I have already set up. I thought that it would be helpful to have a map of the Civil Rights Movement so thata viewer could see where most of the struggles occurred.