Current Events on the Democratic Republic of Congo

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/04/world/africa/04congo.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&sq=DemocraticRepublicoftheCongo&st=cse&scp=3
Frenzy of Rape in Congo Reveals U.N. Weakness - October 3rd 2010

In this article, it discusses that there have been mass rapes by Rwandan rebels and rebel groups in the Congolese army in the DRC.  For example, it explained about rebels raping at least 200 women for three days starting from July 30th, 2010, and unfortunately, the U.N. peacekeepers had not taken any action.  Essentially, the peacekeeping force still seems to be "failing at its most elemental task: protecting civilians" (Gettleman).  The U.N. peacekeepers, at first, were not fully aware that the Congolese Army has been stationing in different villages convincing men to join the army and raping women. The reason why the U.N. peackeepers have not been able to protect all the civilians is the lack of communication to the villages; there is no cellphone services or electricity to let people know what is happening in each village.  Even though these villages do not have cellphone services, why have they not addressed other ways to effectively communicate or access information in the villages?  During King Leopold's time period, the white men would barge into homes, pulling out women and children; similar to now, the Congolese army and rebels would go into the homes without permission and rape the women.  Unfortunately, there is still a lack of equality between men and women, for there is no women soldiers in the force; therefore, women do not feel empowered to fight against these attacks.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/05/congo.rapes.arrest/index.html?iref=allsearch
Alleged leader of Congo militia linked to rapes is arrested - October 6th

This article specifically discussed about an armed rebel group accused of "committing mass rapes" and that they were arrested Tuesday morning (October 5th).  Then, the U.N. proposed an investiagation on the mass rapes that have been committed by the Congolese rebel groups, for the U.N. peacemaking force has been failing to provide protection to the civilians.  Between July 30th and August 2nd, at least an estimate of 300 civilians had been raped in the Walikale region of North Kivu province.  One of the reasons why these rebels would attack innocent civilians are to punish the locals who did not support their views or considered them as traitors. Even though the U.N. is issuing an investigation, there is not enough resources to pinpoint all of these attacks.    

Small Group: Discussion on King Leopold II pg. 115-139

During the discussion, an idea was that King Leopold II continued to expand on his methods by isolating the ethnic groups from the reporters and using weapons to manipulate the Africans to work.  As he continued the construction of the Congo, he made sure to censor any writing pieces or newspapers about his plans.  A question is will King Leopold II go bankrupt or unable to manage the finances, and if so, what will he do?  Also, will King Leopold II's plans in the Congo be revealed to the Europeans?  

Group discussion: I felt that with having a smaller group, I felt more comfortable sharing my ideas, and I am able to analyze with a few responses than a whole group.  Also, we felt everyone was able to participate whereas in a bigger group, there is a possibility that only a few people would not speak.  One way to improve the discussions are to have questions that can really expand your thinking.  However, the questions were good!

King Leopold's Ghost - Thoughts and Questions

In King Leopold's Ghost, what stood out to me was the section that described Henry Morton Stanley.  Although it mentions specifically about his motives before and after the death of his wife and father, the author applies major themes that occurred in that time period such as the "epidermic" or the fact that women had to disguise their names as men in order to enlist in the military or in order to have equal rights as men - Alice (25).  Specifically with women, he emphasized Stanley's uncomfortable zone with the woman who he thought was a man.  Another example, not from the book, is a woman called George Sand who is known to be the first French woman to gain a major reputation through her writing (Time: 1830s-1840s).  Her real name was Aurore Duplin, but if she was to put her real name on her publications, then not many people would have read it.  This is that men did not think that women should have the power to rise to that level of intelligence or high professions such as a writer, business, etc. 

2 Questions:

1) In the perspective of Africans and Europeans, how has "the dawn of ocean navigation" affected them? (In other words, now that Europeans can travel by ocean, how are the Africans affected)?

2) What were women's role in society while men voyaged to different lands? (Could be implied)

Class Thoughts

1) What did you learn?

I learned about S.P.I.C.E.R. (multiple lenses or categories in history).  Now, when I refer to a specific event in history, this is a useful tool to break down the event.  Also, even though I have learned about imperialism and colonialism before, I feel I have an even more clear distinction between the two terms.  


2) What questions do you have?

Not any in particular at this moment!

3) What are you curious to learn more about?

I am intrigued or fascinated by the History of Europe.  Specifically, the Greco-Roman civilizations starting in Ancient Greece (I know we are not going to study that far back in history, but I find it interesting).  Also, events like the French Revolution, the rise of the Ottoman Empire, Russian Revolution, etc. 

Current events Practice

1. What's being discussed in this article?

The article discusses about the murder of 72 people from South and Central America who were migrating to the United States.  Essentially, the people migrating to the United States refused to joining the drug dealers, therefore, they shot the people.  The article discusses how the drug 
dealers operate in Mexico and how they are responsible for the kidnappings of illegal immigrants and other people.  Also, it shows the Mexican Security Council's concern for the safety of their people. 

2. When did the event happen? (Is this breaking news or something that's been analyzed and  discussed for a while?)

This incident of murdered bodies found in Mexico happened recently this year specifically at the end of August 2010.  However, this has been an ongoing problem that Mexico's National Security Council and other investigators are trying to figure out and prevent.  In other words, drug dealers and gangs have been targeting migrants from South Central America.  Actually, in the article, it says that there have been "increasing number of mass graves" in the various parts of the country which proves that this has been occurring more than once.  However, there is no specification of who has been committing these crimes.

3. What questions do you have that would help make this article make more sense to you? What more do you need to learn about to be able to report on this event?

Why the migrants use other transportation?  Also, I would like to know the specification of who has been committing the crimes.