Hearts & Minds - Information for ChangeSM Africa Hopeful News

Helpful News:

Songs for Peace and a Future
MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Amid the ruins of this once charming seaside capital, women sing in the ancient nomadic tradition...but the words are different. They no longer sing about war, but for peace, unity, and the future.

       For the first time, these women have come together from rival factions. Ten are from South Mogadishu, controlled by forces loyal to General Mohammed Farah Aideed, and ten from North Mogadishu, controlled by Ali Mahdi. Together, they learn conflict resolution techniques.

       As one woman relates:

Peace can start from the family. The woman has access to her sons and husband, the people carrying the weapons. Before, a man would not listen to a woman, but the man depends on the woman now. The man is afraid he will be killed if he goes out, so the woman is doing all the work and earning all the money. The man must listen to the woman. The traditions are changing. The woman has more power.

Democracy From the Ruins
MONROVIA, Liberia -- Nearly 200,000 people were killed. Half the nation is still refugees. Most buildings have been looted, and virtually all modern infrastructure such as water, roads and electricity has been destroyed after seven years of civil war.

       Although its radio transmitter was burnt to the ground, the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has re-launched its human rights radio program on another station. Few newspapers are able to publish anymore, but the Press Union of Liberia has begun holding meetings again and mobilizing people to revive the independent press.

       Although all their computers and other equipment were stolen, the Liberia Human Rights Chapter is interviewing witnesses, documenting the destruction and preserving a record of what occurred. No one is getting paid, and members are scattered, but the Liberian Teachers Association is trying to reopen and re-equip the schools. Students are learning again.

       Faction fighters turned in their weapons and peacekeepers were deployed. Against all odds, elections were held July 19, 1997. Liberia appears to have resumed peaceful, democratic development.

A Promise of Reform
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo -- More than 30 years of dictatorship under Mobutu Sese Seko has left most of this resource-rich country in chaos and poverty. Laurent Kabila’s march of more than a thousand miles from Lake Tanganyika to Kinshasa got rid of the dictator and his corrupt army, but the new regime’s democratic credentials remain to be tested.

       Kabila has promised elections in two years and a variety of other economic and political reforms. Yet, his soldiers have been accused of grave human rights abuses, and he has shown little tolerance of dissent.

       Whatever kind of leader Kabila turns out to be, he is unlikely to be able to abolish the hundreds of grassroots organizations that have sprung up in recent years to fill the gap left by the former government. These groups promote human rights, provide health care, educate children, organize workers and professionals, build roads, maintain security, and mobilize citizens to participate in a democracy. The Catholic radio station here, for example, is reaching half the country’s population with information on human rights and many other issues. The station’s name is Elekya, which means "out of despair, hope," in Lingala, the national language.

Free Newsletter

More Articles on Social Issues
Top of Page  |  Home Page  |  Site Guide
Contract Us

This web page and entire website © Copyright: 1997 - 2007 by Hearts and Minds Network, Inc. ,Photo by Dave Peterson
http://www.heartsandminds.org/africahopeful.htm - latest text changes December 2, 2005.

Helpful Info
Volunteering

Self-Help

Inspiring Quotes

Site Guide

Hearts & Minds
Volunteer with Us

Donate/Become a Member

About Us

Copyrights, Reprints & Important Notes

Home Page