In recent history Sierra Leone in western Africa has shown what can be achieved if we lend a helping hand, the British and the UN went in and "got stuck in" so to speak. There are 3 current on going examples on the continent that in my opinion require global assistance of a level that isn't there at this time, if necessary we must lend more than a helping hand so that these nation's can get back to creating their future's.

Some of these problems have been left to festa by certain country's for too long, understandable reasons they may have but there comes a time where you must draw a line in the sand and say "no further"; this is one of those times, this has been demonstrated by a few nation's on a fairly regular basis but their efforts alone are not enough.

These are the 3 examples >>

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EXAMPLE 1 : THE SUDAN

Article extract >>

Glenn Middleton reports on the plight of those displaced by conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan.
These are easy targets.

Tiertie is one of many villages that has been brutally attacked by the Sudanese army.

Those fortunate to survive are hunted down by government-backed militia.

Rape and murder are the rules of the day - only some manage to escape.

Across the border in Chad, the injured are taken into hospital.

Abdiea Muhammad managed to escape from the militia - but not before they tried to kill him.

After an attack on their village, Joseph Mamat, 12, said he woke up to the sounds of gunfire.

"Suddenly the shooting started and there were screams for help," he said.

"The bullets hit my brother all over his body and he died next to me.

"I had pain in my head, in my legs. I ran into the darkness - and I don't know if my mother and father are alive," he said.

End extract <<

For more info :: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3651049.stm

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EXAMPLE 2 : UGANDA

Article extract >>

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said he would order a ceasefire to Lord Resistance Army rebels if they are willing to hold peace talks.
Mr Museveni has however asked the rebels to end their terror campaign and warned that those who reject the peace offer will be hunted down.

The LRA has been waging a brutal 17-year war in northern Uganda, killing thousands of people.

Joseph Kony's LRA recruits troops by kidnapping children and arming them.


Correspondents say more than one million people have been driven out of their homes as a result of the war in Northern Uganda.

End extract <<

For more info :: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3631947.stm

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EXAMPLE 3 : ZIMBABWE

Article extract >>

Zimbabwe's economic output has fallen by a third in the past five years, the International Monetary Fund has found.
An IMF expert panel has also found that poverty doubled during the period and school enrolment fell to 65%.

The panel also found that inflation has doubled during each of the last three years to reach 600%, while unemployment stands at about 70%.

The Fund's assessment of Zimbabwe's economy is the latest development in a tense stand-off with Harare.

End extract <<

For more info :: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3587987.stm

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I think that in the case of Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom along with other nation's [African participation would be apreciated] should spearhead a UN or Commonwealth Organisation stabilisation force. Democratic and peaceful elections should be organised as soon as the situation and conditions allow.

Uganda might require peacekeepers and combat troops in the near future to either maintain the peace post any agreement or to help ensure that it comes about, not to mention stopping the odd massacre that i've heard reported. I am not sure about the composition of the force in terms of countries but the UN will be needed.

The Sudan it would appear might require some more urgent planning and intervention. A UN resolution would be nice or even a high profile debate even but i've not heard anything as yet. We cannot allow Sudan to descend into nationwide chaos, which hasn't happened yet but it could.

Any AU assistance wouldl also be nice IMO. What do you think of the AU?

That is one of my major gripes about the UN, its ability to react tos situations like this can be sluggish to say the least, oh well.

[u]My question for you the reader is; do you think we should "get stuck in" get involved, to what extent and how and where, which of the examples do you favour or all of them maybe. So ???

thanks for your time and my apologies if i went on a bit and didn't spit it out in the first or second paragraphs as now when i read back, it does look like that. :laugh: :)

Opinions?? Comments??

Critic, :cool:

I say we help where we can. Currently we have many farmers dumping crops because they make too much, might as well give some of that to other less fortunate countries.

What is your view on direct military aid for these places??? That was the primary question of the thread but by no means not the only one. :)

In terms of econmic/food aid for the examples, that opens up a whole other can of worms. If you just want to send them grain then that shouldn't be too problamatic, but there has been some issues with seeds being offered to some African nations. The European market doesn't go for GM products at all really and the Africans are a bit warey of producing a product that might not have appeal overseas.

Critic, :cool:

What is it with some of you people [he cries aloud in no particular direction] if this was about the Middle East or America even or religion this would be having far more interst. I know Africa might not be as high prfile in the media or it might not jump out at you with the same need to post concerning religious or political tension but the situation remains nonetheless.

If you can't post through lack of time or because politics and current affairs arn't really your thing, then fine! but it is just a very disappointing :( :confused:, this and other topics tend to be shrugged off but they are just as worthy of your attention or time if you can spare it.

There is a whole world out there!

I've said my piece, if you can't post, read it if you can.

thank you

Critic, :cool:

...there's no substantial oil in these countries and there's nothing there that would be drawing the attention of the "civilized word" and nobody cares about them, but perhaps a couple of us WHT members and some handful of people around the globe... ...we make a sad planet...

Originally posted by airnine
...there's no substantial oil in these countries and there's nothing there that would be drawing the attention of the "civilized word" and nobody cares about them, but perhaps a couple of us WHT members and some handful of people around the globe... ...we make a sad planet...

Well yes the eyes of the world aren't that focused on the situation and when some do try to tackle one of these areas, other organistions turn their backs on it and try and forget.

Sudan is probably the most high profile out of the three right now with Sudanese Arabs originally persecuting 2-3 black tribes in the Darfur province. Chad which borders Sudan has received many manythousands of refugees. There have been mass killings and massacres, it is a mess.

For me the worrying if not damning thing for the UN as an entity is its failure to act and at the speed necessary. This is exactly the kind of thing it is there for and in past weeks has even created controversy when it appeared not to communicate or take seriously the report of its own human rights mission that was despatched to Sudan.

If the UN does not act as required on issues like this it will regret it in the future i think.

Look at this >>>

Article extract >>

Diplomats from Sudan and Chad have been meeting to discuss complaints by Chad about incursions by Sudanese Arab militiamen into its territory.
Some 130,000 Sudanese refugees have taken refuge across the border in Chad. Sudan's foreign minister said his country wanted to avoid any escalation and said both sides had "sufficient political will" to overcome the crisis.

Earlier Chad's defence minister said his troops killed 60 Arab militia after a raid on a Chadian village last week.


Emmanuel Ndingar said one Chadian soldier and seven civilians were also killed in Wednesday's clashes in the village of Djanga, eastern Chad.

'No more'

He told AP news agency that cross-border raids by the militia had taken place for some time, but "that's not going to continue any more".

End extract <<

For more info :: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3699953.stm

It is getting out of hand and spreading creating problems in surrounding countries. We [Global Community] sit here and do nothing. The UN can't even be bothered to pass a threatening resolution or plan for intervention. A couple of thousand of blue helmeted UN personnel in key areas in Darfur and some aid for Chad wouldn't go a miss. :( :mad:

Critic,

interesting thread critic