死ぬ間際の患者１０００人と接してきた医師が書いた本なのですが この本によると、 死ぬときに後悔するのは、主に以下のようなことだそうです。
１ 健康を大切にしなかったこと
２ たばこをやめなかったこと
３ 生前の意思を示さなかったこと
４ 治療の意味を見失ってしまったこと
５ 自分のやりたいことをやらなかったこと
６ 夢をかなえられなかったこと
７ 悪事に手を染めたこと
８ 感情に振り回された一生を過ごしたこと
９ 他人に優しくなれなかったこと
１０ 自分が一番と信じて疑わなかったこと
１１ 遺産をどうするかを決めなかったこと
１２ 自分の葬儀を考えなかったこと
１３ 故郷に帰らなかったこと
１４ 美味しいものを食べておかなかったこと
１５ 仕事ばかりで趣味に時間を割かなかったこと
１６ 行きたい場所に旅行しなかったこと
１７ 会いたい人に会っておかなかったこと
１８ 記憶に残る恋愛をしなかったこと
１９ 結婚をしなかったこと
２０ 子供を育てなかったこと
２１ 子供を結婚させなかったこと
２２ 自分の生きた証を残さなかったこと
２３ 生と死の問題を乗り越えられなかったこと
２４ 神仏の教えをしらなかったこと
２５ 愛する人に「ありがとう」と伝えなかったこと
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『日本最年轻的临终关怀主治医师大津秀一，在多年行医的经验基础上，在亲自听闻并目睹过1000例病患者的临终遗憾后，写下了【临终前会后悔的25件事】一書』 据该书所述，临终前会后悔的主要有以下25件事 第一个遗憾 没做自己想做的事 第二个遗憾 没有实现梦想 第三个遗憾 做过对不起良心的事 第四个遗憾 被感情左右度过一生 第五个遗憾 没有尽力帮助过别人 第六个遗憾 过于相信自己 第七个遗憾 没有妥善安置财产 第八个遗憾 没有考虑过身后之事 第九个遗憾 没有回故乡 第十个遗憾 没有享受过美食 第十一个遗憾 大部分时间都用来工作 第十二个遗憾 没有去想去的地方旅行 第十三个遗憾 没有和想见的人见面 第十四个遗憾 没能谈一场永存记忆的恋爱 第十五个遗憾 一辈子都没有结婚 第十六个遗憾 没有生育孩子 第十七个遗憾 没有让孩子结婚 第十八个遗憾 没有注意身体健康 第十九个遗憾 没有戒烟 第二十个遗憾 没有表明自己的真实意愿 第二十一个遗憾 没有认清活着的意义 第二十二个遗憾 没有留下自己生存过的证据 第二十三个遗憾 没有看透生死 第二十四个遗憾 没有信仰 第二十五个遗憾 没有对深爱的人说『谢谢』
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
昇進する。
ありがとう！
昇進する。
Thank you my boss and all collegs from my department...I got promotion today! O(∩_∩)O
Monday, October 11, 2010
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Kenya
revered by many anthropologists as the 'cradle of humanity',this east-equator country is a little wild and dangerous.but if u r adventorous and sensible,it promises the globe's most magnificent wildlife parks,unsullied beaches,thriving coral reefs,memorable mountainscapes and ancient swahili cities.the swahili word safari(literally,journey)doesn't mean much if one didn't go to Kenya.it's said 'delving kenya is like rummaging through nature's treasure chest'.
there r more than 70 local tribes in Kenya. though distinction between them are blurred---western values are becoming more ingrained and traditional values are disintegrating,the first sentence they ask when first meet is always'which tribe r u from?'
more than 30% population is muslim,though most of the coastal region are domainated by christians.
kenyans love to party and beer---the local brewing industry is thriving.kenyan cuisine generally consists of beans and meat sauce.it's just survival fodder for locals---max fill-up with min price.kenyan food is not exactly designed for vegtarians or gourments.
there r more than 70 local tribes in Kenya. though distinction between them are blurred---western values are becoming more ingrained and traditional values are disintegrating,the first sentence they ask when first meet is always'which tribe r u from?'
more than 30% population is muslim,though most of the coastal region are domainated by christians.
kenyans love to party and beer---the local brewing industry is thriving.kenyan cuisine generally consists of beans and meat sauce.it's just survival fodder for locals---max fill-up with min price.kenyan food is not exactly designed for vegtarians or gourments.
Tanzania
'step out into its vast plain,u will suddenly feel very very small---as u should.they have the largest animal population in the world.despite the rowdy neighbours and weak economy,Tanzania offer the best wildlife spotting opportunities on the continent.its famous park make the pedestrain town worth a stopover.'
swahili and english are official languages. it's said that in island zanzibar,they speak the pure swahili,which attracts quite a few travellers there to learn.the two main religion groups: Christian and islam,with a significant hindu minority in urban areas.but it's said that there's no religious discrimination in political or civil administration.
not like other African countries,Tanzania doesn't have rich natural resources.but they export music and dance,which domains the East Africa.
the pre-20th century didn't have much to say.it wasn't untill the 18th century the Arab traders dared to explore the wild interior.As the 20th century loomed,the German coloniers came and build railways,roads...
Nationalist organizations grap independent in 1962,but unity and a charismatic president didn't overcome the country's lack of natural resources.his secret paranoia is radical socialism, a brave concept considering the communist paranoia of potential aid donors such as US.under the leader's chinese-back reform,the economy was nationalized.the better-off had to pay heavy tax in order to redistribute wealth.the early 1960s saw Tanzania,kenya and Uganda linked in an unlikely threesome.currencies could be freely conveted and moved across the border.but predictable political differences brought such cosiness to a halt in 1977,leaving Tanzania worse off than ever.many factors have distributed to the woes of modern Tanzania,the incorporation of Zanzibar created some additional problems.Zanzibar and neighbouring island experience occasional social unrest and political scare-mongers.meanwhile,the mainland had to deal with the refuguee flood from Rwanda. in late 1996,the president issued an anouncement back by UN declaring those refuguees going back home. but many of them stayed.
nothing distinguish happened...it's relatively safe and peaceful.
swahili and english are official languages. it's said that in island zanzibar,they speak the pure swahili,which attracts quite a few travellers there to learn.the two main religion groups: Christian and islam,with a significant hindu minority in urban areas.but it's said that there's no religious discrimination in political or civil administration.
not like other African countries,Tanzania doesn't have rich natural resources.but they export music and dance,which domains the East Africa.
the pre-20th century didn't have much to say.it wasn't untill the 18th century the Arab traders dared to explore the wild interior.As the 20th century loomed,the German coloniers came and build railways,roads...
Nationalist organizations grap independent in 1962,but unity and a charismatic president didn't overcome the country's lack of natural resources.his secret paranoia is radical socialism, a brave concept considering the communist paranoia of potential aid donors such as US.under the leader's chinese-back reform,the economy was nationalized.the better-off had to pay heavy tax in order to redistribute wealth.the early 1960s saw Tanzania,kenya and Uganda linked in an unlikely threesome.currencies could be freely conveted and moved across the border.but predictable political differences brought such cosiness to a halt in 1977,leaving Tanzania worse off than ever.many factors have distributed to the woes of modern Tanzania,the incorporation of Zanzibar created some additional problems.Zanzibar and neighbouring island experience occasional social unrest and political scare-mongers.meanwhile,the mainland had to deal with the refuguee flood from Rwanda. in late 1996,the president issued an anouncement back by UN declaring those refuguees going back home. but many of them stayed.
nothing distinguish happened...it's relatively safe and peaceful.
蓝蓝的诗
让我接受平庸的生活
让我接受平庸的生活
接受并爱上它肮脏的街道
它每日的平淡和争吵
让我弯腰时撞见
墙根下的几棵青草
让我领略无奈叹息的美妙
生活就是生活
就是甜苹果曾是的黑色肥料
活着，哭泣和爱——
就是这个——
深深弯下的身躯。
谈论人生
他好像在讲一本什么书。
他谈论着一些人的命运。
我盯着他破旧的圆领衫出神。
我听见窗外树叶的沙沙声。
我听见他前年、去年的轻轻嗓音。
我看见窗外迅速变幻的天空。
不知何时办公室里暗下来。
他也沉默了很久很久。
四周多么宁静。
窗外传来树叶的沙沙声。
一件事情
让那双爱你的手靠近
让那双爱你的手靠近，姑娘
让它们离开时沾满幸福
波浪、山峦、喷泉
长发、乳房、嘴唇
让与世界孪生的美找到名称
让那盲目的抚摩看见更多
梦中和渴望的指尖的复眼
你洁白的天鹅弯颈和探寻之间
生活又开始：
真正的教育和一寸肌肤
爱的孕育
刹那间保持下去的记忆的证言
呵，此刻窗外树枝的轻颤
与往日不同——
过去的一切 都已陈旧
在有你的世界上
在有你的世界上活着多好。
在散放着你芦苇香气的大地上呼吸多好
你了解我。阳光流到你的唇旁
当我抬手搭衣服时我想。
神秘的风忽然来了。你需要我。
我看到你微笑时我正对着镜子梳妆。
夜晚。散开的书页和人间的下落
一朵云走过。我抬头望着。
在有你的世界上活着多好。
下雪的黄昏里我默默盯着红红的
炉火。
让我接受平庸的生活
接受并爱上它肮脏的街道
它每日的平淡和争吵
让我弯腰时撞见
墙根下的几棵青草
让我领略无奈叹息的美妙
生活就是生活
就是甜苹果曾是的黑色肥料
活着，哭泣和爱——
就是这个——
深深弯下的身躯。
谈论人生
他好像在讲一本什么书。
他谈论着一些人的命运。
我盯着他破旧的圆领衫出神。
我听见窗外树叶的沙沙声。
我听见他前年、去年的轻轻嗓音。
我看见窗外迅速变幻的天空。
不知何时办公室里暗下来。
他也沉默了很久很久。
四周多么宁静。
窗外传来树叶的沙沙声。
一件事情
关掉灯
我 摸着桌子一角
在黑暗中
我要坦白
一件事情。交待
它的经过
——这个世界对我的失望
现在它
扎在我的肉体里。
就在从前
它的信任 爱
留在我的肉体里。
我允许我说
让失望吐出它的血块——
在黑暗中
谢谢黑暗的倾听
谢谢深夜 我四周的
墙壁 桌椅和怜悯。
虽然你们沉默
你们无所不知——
让那双爱你的手靠近
让那双爱你的手靠近，姑娘
让它们离开时沾满幸福
波浪、山峦、喷泉
长发、乳房、嘴唇
让与世界孪生的美找到名称
让那盲目的抚摩看见更多
梦中和渴望的指尖的复眼
你洁白的天鹅弯颈和探寻之间
生活又开始：
真正的教育和一寸肌肤
爱的孕育
刹那间保持下去的记忆的证言
呵，此刻窗外树枝的轻颤
与往日不同——
过去的一切 都已陈旧
在有你的世界上
在有你的世界上活着多好。
在散放着你芦苇香气的大地上呼吸多好
你了解我。阳光流到你的唇旁
当我抬手搭衣服时我想。
神秘的风忽然来了。你需要我。
我看到你微笑时我正对着镜子梳妆。
夜晚。散开的书页和人间的下落
一朵云走过。我抬头望着。
在有你的世界上活着多好。
下雪的黄昏里我默默盯着红红的
炉火。
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
米沃什
但这并不能说明我不喜欢米沃什的人格和文字。或许，更应该这么说，米沃什恰恰是我经常阅读的那几个人之一，在某种程度上，他甚至作为一种精神血液悄无声息地注入到了我的肉体之中，使我时时警醒着自己：善待自己，善待他人，善待生命，善待世间万物。
我辈愚钝，不知道什么时候该利用什么事件，只知道一头扎进大师们构筑的世界，在那里感受他们带给我的阳光、温暖、勇气、信心、美妙、梦想……
它(米沃什词典)有着长篇小说、诗歌、散文随笔、回忆录同样的质地和魅力，有时候甚至比它们来得更直接、透彻、深刻。一个简单的道理就是：你手里拿的可以不是什么金银首饰，但你却拥有了更恒久更隽永的东西，因为你掌握了时间与生命的真实含义。
诚实应该是作为回忆者最基本最需要的一种美德。有很多时候，我们看似米沃什在信手拈来，其实，他是经过深思熟虑的，因为他经历了太多的大喜大悲、大起大 落，他的身心就是一座时间大海，诸多人、事、物在他那里飘浮、过滤后，使他感到有话要说，并且，诚实催促他要说出这一切的真相。这种诚实保证了他拥有比我 们认知和承受更多现实的能力。
米沃什有时为了说出事情的原委与真相，不惜把自己弄得神魂颠倒、絮絮叨叨，但不管怎么样，我们总能捕捉到米沃什那颗正直、诚挚、善良、勇往直前的心。
由此，我们不仅看到了一个追求自由与理想的米沃什，也看到了一个时刻跳动着“波兰之心”的米沃什。也就是说，米沃什不仅是一个天主教意义上的拯救者、象征 者，他也是一个波兰式的批判者、谴责者。这样的人的终极理想与目标，我想只能是：要用人性的东西填满宇宙，要让普通大众拨开尘世的迷雾穿过时光的隧道、站 立在智慧的山顶。
米沃什用自己的经历和言行在给我们重新启蒙：怎样做人，怎样让自己从事的事业富有价值。同时，他也在告诉我们：真正的诗歌是什么，真正的诗人应该在纷繁复 杂的世界格局中扮演什么样的角色，什么样的工作是诗人应该努力承担的。从这个角度打量，我更愿意把米沃什看成是一个训诫者，而不是一个诗人。
●關於生命米沃什90歲高齡時，曾自言當時仍然堅持寫作到夜晚：“根本不可能活膩的，我還是感到不夠”，他說，“到了這種年紀，我仍然在尋求一種方式、一種語言來形容這個世界。”
----------------------------
我辈愚钝，不知道什么时候该利用什么事件，只知道一头扎进大师们构筑的世界，在那里感受他们带给我的阳光、温暖、勇气、信心、美妙、梦想……
它(米沃什词典)有着长篇小说、诗歌、散文随笔、回忆录同样的质地和魅力，有时候甚至比它们来得更直接、透彻、深刻。一个简单的道理就是：你手里拿的可以不是什么金银首饰，但你却拥有了更恒久更隽永的东西，因为你掌握了时间与生命的真实含义。
诚实应该是作为回忆者最基本最需要的一种美德。有很多时候，我们看似米沃什在信手拈来，其实，他是经过深思熟虑的，因为他经历了太多的大喜大悲、大起大 落，他的身心就是一座时间大海，诸多人、事、物在他那里飘浮、过滤后，使他感到有话要说，并且，诚实催促他要说出这一切的真相。这种诚实保证了他拥有比我 们认知和承受更多现实的能力。
米沃什有时为了说出事情的原委与真相，不惜把自己弄得神魂颠倒、絮絮叨叨，但不管怎么样，我们总能捕捉到米沃什那颗正直、诚挚、善良、勇往直前的心。
由此，我们不仅看到了一个追求自由与理想的米沃什，也看到了一个时刻跳动着“波兰之心”的米沃什。也就是说，米沃什不仅是一个天主教意义上的拯救者、象征 者，他也是一个波兰式的批判者、谴责者。这样的人的终极理想与目标，我想只能是：要用人性的东西填满宇宙，要让普通大众拨开尘世的迷雾穿过时光的隧道、站 立在智慧的山顶。
米沃什用自己的经历和言行在给我们重新启蒙：怎样做人，怎样让自己从事的事业富有价值。同时，他也在告诉我们：真正的诗歌是什么，真正的诗人应该在纷繁复 杂的世界格局中扮演什么样的角色，什么样的工作是诗人应该努力承担的。从这个角度打量，我更愿意把米沃什看成是一个训诫者，而不是一个诗人。
●關於生命米沃什90歲高齡時，曾自言當時仍然堅持寫作到夜晚：“根本不可能活膩的，我還是感到不夠”，他說，“到了這種年紀，我仍然在尋求一種方式、一種語言來形容這個世界。”
●關於詩歌“詩歌，即使其題材與敘述口吻與周圍現實完全分離，要是一樣能夠頑強存在，那是令我激賞的詩歌。有力度的詩，或是一首抒情詩，其自身的完美就有足夠的力量去承受一種現實。”
而城市屹立于光辉灿烂中当数年后我回去。
而生命逐渐耗尽，罗特勃夫或维雍的生命。
子孙，已经诞生，在跳着他们的舞。
女人照着用新的金属做成的镜子。
一切是为了什么，假如我不能说话。
她站在我上面，沉重，像在轴上的地球。
我的骨灰放在小酒馆台下的罐子里。
而城市屹立于光辉灿烂中当数年后我回去。
回到我的家，在一个花岗岩博物馆的陈列柜中，
与睫毛油，乳色玻璃瓶，
以及埃及公主的月经带陈列在一起。
只有用金盘锻造的太阳，
在渐暗的镶木地板上从容不迫的脚步声吱吱作响。
而城市屹立于光辉灿烂中当数年后我回去。
我的脸用外套覆盖，虽然可能还记得
我欠债没还的那些人，没有一个仍活着，
我的耻辱并非永久，卑鄙的行为将被原谅。
而城市屹立于光辉灿烂中当数年后我回去。
----------------------------
忙于什么呢？忙于劳作和消费，健身和享乐，总之，是忙于让身体疲劳和舒服，强壮和损耗的各种活动，人们把这些活动称作生活。
于是，奔忙的身体与灵魂擦肩而过，泛滥的信息与真理擦肩而过，频繁的交往与爱擦 肩而过，热闹的生活与意义擦肩而过？因为，人与神擦肩而过。Saturday, July 28, 2007
Uganda
traveller's are flocking to trek in Uganda's mountains and gorilla communities.generally speaking,it's a safe country.but there r some risking areas: the remote region in northeast is prone to voilence and banditry.it's imperative to make inquries with knowledgable local authorities before setting off to this regions.kampala is the new modern,bustling capical of new Uganda,which ranks as the fastest growing economic sustance in Africa.
since the late 1980s,the country finally rebounded from the abyss of civil war economic catastrophe to become relatively peaceful,stable and prosperous.
indigenous tribes settle down in this fertile land in the 14th century.there's little penetration from outside till 19th century,when the westerners came for ivory and slaves.despite the fertile land and its capicity to crop surplus food,there are virtually no trading links to eastern african coast.
after the berlin treaty signed in 1890,it became the british protectorate with kenya.the colonial administrators gave them enough space to autonomy,but preferred bugandan tribepeople to their plantations.thus were planted the seeds to intertribe conflicts which finally tear Uganda apart following independence.
Uganda gained its independence in 1962.however,it's not an advantageous time for Uganda to come to grips independence.coz civil wars were raging in southern sudan ,congo and Rwanda,which drove thousands of refugees pouring to the country.Amin,a unparalleled dictator,started a coup and became the mighty boss of the country in 1971.he ordered Asians,who were brought by british from their colonies back to 1912,to leave Uganda in 90 days with nothing but the clothes they wore.during 8 years of his ruling,more than 300,000 people were killed.meanwhile,the economy collapsed,the infrastructure crumbled,the prolific wild animals were shot down by soldiers for their meat,and the tourisam evaporated.the stream of refugees cross the border become a flood.inflation hit 1000%.and Amin,an undoubted fool,decided to fire Tanzania.soon,he escaped to Libya.and 12,000 Tanzanian soldiers,suppose to help Uganda rebuilding, became Ugandans.
nothing changed in 1980 though a exile leader was once enthusiastic welcomed by many regions from Tanzania. he won a blantantly rigged election. like his ex,he preferred some certain tribes.so the government,the army,the whole system were replaced by his men from the northern tribe---only the prison was filled with the southerners.reports of artrocities leak out of the country and several mass graves were discovered.
he was troppled by a coup in mid-1985.the rebellions never stops.different tribal millitary organizations mushroomed and killed each other.at the same time,the HIV infected rate reached the highest in the world---it's said that in many villages,one in four brings the virus.
*it's such a story that the BBC correspondents interviewed Amin,the notorious dictator who named himself as 'conqurer of British empire'.they simply asked him some harmless questions instead of 'why do u keep murdering people?'.coz they wanna go back in one piece instead of tasting his 'river treatment'or 'helicopter treatment'.
'myself consider myself the most powerful figure in the world.'
obviously,he's a buffoon tyrant.
since the late 1980s,the country finally rebounded from the abyss of civil war economic catastrophe to become relatively peaceful,stable and prosperous.
indigenous tribes settle down in this fertile land in the 14th century.there's little penetration from outside till 19th century,when the westerners came for ivory and slaves.despite the fertile land and its capicity to crop surplus food,there are virtually no trading links to eastern african coast.
after the berlin treaty signed in 1890,it became the british protectorate with kenya.the colonial administrators gave them enough space to autonomy,but preferred bugandan tribepeople to their plantations.thus were planted the seeds to intertribe conflicts which finally tear Uganda apart following independence.
Uganda gained its independence in 1962.however,it's not an advantageous time for Uganda to come to grips independence.coz civil wars were raging in southern sudan ,congo and Rwanda,which drove thousands of refugees pouring to the country.Amin,a unparalleled dictator,started a coup and became the mighty boss of the country in 1971.he ordered Asians,who were brought by british from their colonies back to 1912,to leave Uganda in 90 days with nothing but the clothes they wore.during 8 years of his ruling,more than 300,000 people were killed.meanwhile,the economy collapsed,the infrastructure crumbled,the prolific wild animals were shot down by soldiers for their meat,and the tourisam evaporated.the stream of refugees cross the border become a flood.inflation hit 1000%.and Amin,an undoubted fool,decided to fire Tanzania.soon,he escaped to Libya.and 12,000 Tanzanian soldiers,suppose to help Uganda rebuilding, became Ugandans.
nothing changed in 1980 though a exile leader was once enthusiastic welcomed by many regions from Tanzania. he won a blantantly rigged election. like his ex,he preferred some certain tribes.so the government,the army,the whole system were replaced by his men from the northern tribe---only the prison was filled with the southerners.reports of artrocities leak out of the country and several mass graves were discovered.
he was troppled by a coup in mid-1985.the rebellions never stops.different tribal millitary organizations mushroomed and killed each other.at the same time,the HIV infected rate reached the highest in the world---it's said that in many villages,one in four brings the virus.
*it's such a story that the BBC correspondents interviewed Amin,the notorious dictator who named himself as 'conqurer of British empire'.they simply asked him some harmless questions instead of 'why do u keep murdering people?'.coz they wanna go back in one piece instead of tasting his 'river treatment'or 'helicopter treatment'.
'myself consider myself the most powerful figure in the world.'
obviously,he's a buffoon tyrant.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Democratic Republic of Congo
this vast country with huge potential economic resources is ranking the top of the humanitarian crisis in the world.travel to there is in high risk and many regions remains insecure.now it's struggling to recover from the 5-year civil war,which leads to millions of people died and the rest suffered from starvation and rampant disease.
it's like a legend in the world that back to colonial time,one man owned the whole congo.the empire of Congo(they have the 2nd largest river in Africa,which offer them rich daily resources)emerged in 12th. in 1482,a Portuguese navigator came and set up ties with king of Congo.during 16-17th century,british,dutch,portuguese and french merchants fight for slave trade.but in 1870s,the Belgian king leopold set up private venture to colonize congo.so this king of the smallest kingdom in Europe amass a huge amount of money without visiting the country once.but during his ruling,hideous and brutal crimes were committed against congolese by Leopold's ivory and rubber traders.these including raiding villages and capture all the children and women as incentive for the men to bring back rubber in the forest.if they can't reach the heavy quota often had their hands chopped-off(!).
but to this far-away king, he decorated his murder and looting as 'civilized negroes'and 'keeping the cruel Arab traders'at bay.but nowadays in museums in Brussel,documents of these horrible crimes are conspicuously absent.
the independent movements was under the leadership of charismatic revolutionary man.(he was the first prime-minister,but was killed by his rival later).its rate was certainly surprised belgian colonier.the coup...following blooding civil war and cease-fire agreements...around 2.5 miliion people were killed directly or indirectly from the war in 5 years.UN sent peacemaker troops---now it's the biggest in the world.virtually,it's a civil war between government and rivals,but actually both sides are backed by foreign forces.because the mining of diamond(blood diamond!!) is too lucrative to foreign countries.
*from the correspondent,the scale and brutality of sexual voilence in eastern Congo.women are raping in front of her families...often by gangs....and babies are killed....i feel shit!!!
it's like a legend in the world that back to colonial time,one man owned the whole congo.the empire of Congo(they have the 2nd largest river in Africa,which offer them rich daily resources)emerged in 12th. in 1482,a Portuguese navigator came and set up ties with king of Congo.during 16-17th century,british,dutch,portuguese and french merchants fight for slave trade.but in 1870s,the Belgian king leopold set up private venture to colonize congo.so this king of the smallest kingdom in Europe amass a huge amount of money without visiting the country once.but during his ruling,hideous and brutal crimes were committed against congolese by Leopold's ivory and rubber traders.these including raiding villages and capture all the children and women as incentive for the men to bring back rubber in the forest.if they can't reach the heavy quota often had their hands chopped-off(!).
but to this far-away king, he decorated his murder and looting as 'civilized negroes'and 'keeping the cruel Arab traders'at bay.but nowadays in museums in Brussel,documents of these horrible crimes are conspicuously absent.
the independent movements was under the leadership of charismatic revolutionary man.(he was the first prime-minister,but was killed by his rival later).its rate was certainly surprised belgian colonier.the coup...following blooding civil war and cease-fire agreements...around 2.5 miliion people were killed directly or indirectly from the war in 5 years.UN sent peacemaker troops---now it's the biggest in the world.virtually,it's a civil war between government and rivals,but actually both sides are backed by foreign forces.because the mining of diamond(blood diamond!!) is too lucrative to foreign countries.
*from the correspondent,the scale and brutality of sexual voilence in eastern Congo.women are raping in front of her families...often by gangs....and babies are killed....i feel shit!!!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Republic of Congo
'travel to the capital should be by air as by road is not safe'. with many tourist attractions and fanscination congo river,congo has plenty to trigger the imagination.but recently, civil war and militia conflicts has plagued and the country is struggling to build on a peace accord signed with southern rebels in 2003.
before the French came,congo was a group of seperate but trading kingdoms comprising of different tribes.but French seduced the governing tribe to sign a series of treaties and finally crasped it as one of its African Equatorial colonies.and they made full use of congo's considerable natural resouces such as ivory,tropical hardwood and rubber,as well as the locals who were forced as labour.French colonial rule could easily reach as brutal as German,but seldom draw attention.an imposing example is in 1928,a revolt broke out in congo over renewed forced labour and other abuses carried out in the course of building the congo-ocean railway,which resulted in the death of more than 17,000 people.finally in 1946, congo given a territorial assembly and representation in the French parliament.
but the successive congolese government haven't done any better since the country gained independent in 1960---instead, the northerner leader simply used his time in office to pull up his villagers and subjugated southerners.vice versa.unsurprisingly,tensions between two sides have given rises to three civil wars .
the first president after independence was widely perceived as a puppet of French only.so he's just in office for 3 years. his successor tried to strengthen his position as imposing one-party state,but was ousted by a captain.this captain was one of the northerners who bathed in an era of Maxism and greater ties with Soviet Union.ironically,he was assassinated by his 'friends'in the north.the new president has certainly showed that he has the ruthlessness to survived at the stage of congolese politics which others failed.
but in 1990,like most of the ex-communist countries in the world,they abandoned maxism.in 1993,the bloody conflict between the government and opposition erupted.though in 1994, a cease-fire deal established but was broken again in 1997 as full-scale civil war.in 2001,peace conference ended up adopting a new constitution ,paving the way for presidential and parliamentary elections.the biggest losers in the civil war are their people---they had to hide into the forest or jungles. many children died from hunger or exhaustation.
as u see, the modern history is full of coup,civil wars and dirty politics...nothing else.
*the name of the capital of republic of congo,this gloomy and hopeless country,reveiled a beautiful and romantic story about an italian(but worked for French government)colonier who devoted his whole life to the justice and healthy-develope of congo.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/5370744.stm
before the French came,congo was a group of seperate but trading kingdoms comprising of different tribes.but French seduced the governing tribe to sign a series of treaties and finally crasped it as one of its African Equatorial colonies.and they made full use of congo's considerable natural resouces such as ivory,tropical hardwood and rubber,as well as the locals who were forced as labour.French colonial rule could easily reach as brutal as German,but seldom draw attention.an imposing example is in 1928,a revolt broke out in congo over renewed forced labour and other abuses carried out in the course of building the congo-ocean railway,which resulted in the death of more than 17,000 people.finally in 1946, congo given a territorial assembly and representation in the French parliament.
but the successive congolese government haven't done any better since the country gained independent in 1960---instead, the northerner leader simply used his time in office to pull up his villagers and subjugated southerners.vice versa.unsurprisingly,tensions between two sides have given rises to three civil wars .
the first president after independence was widely perceived as a puppet of French only.so he's just in office for 3 years. his successor tried to strengthen his position as imposing one-party state,but was ousted by a captain.this captain was one of the northerners who bathed in an era of Maxism and greater ties with Soviet Union.ironically,he was assassinated by his 'friends'in the north.the new president has certainly showed that he has the ruthlessness to survived at the stage of congolese politics which others failed.
but in 1990,like most of the ex-communist countries in the world,they abandoned maxism.in 1993,the bloody conflict between the government and opposition erupted.though in 1994, a cease-fire deal established but was broken again in 1997 as full-scale civil war.in 2001,peace conference ended up adopting a new constitution ,paving the way for presidential and parliamentary elections.the biggest losers in the civil war are their people---they had to hide into the forest or jungles. many children died from hunger or exhaustation.
as u see, the modern history is full of coup,civil wars and dirty politics...nothing else.
*the name of the capital of republic of congo,this gloomy and hopeless country,reveiled a beautiful and romantic story about an italian(but worked for French government)colonier who devoted his whole life to the justice and healthy-develope of congo.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/5370744.stm
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Equatorial Guinea
u can find little news of this small country on newspaper.but it doesn't mean it's an uneventful paradise.(on contrast, the millitary and political dictator is awful...)
a tribe moved in Equatorial Guinea in12th centuries and since the slave trade period,the local tribe showed their lukewarm attitude(i may say,hostility)towards coloniers,preventing a wholesale occupation of the area.
there's on small island outside Cameroon----it's the most important centre for slave trading in 18th for europeans.profitable cocoa plantation made this island into Portuguese most important possession in Africa.through the period of spanish ruling,large inland remained unexplored till 1920s.although they gained the independence in 1968, the spanish left the country virtually bankrupted.
they gained independence in 1968(partially autonomy,anyway),but the president(which was elected in the state of emergency)was a awful dictator.he even declared himself as 'the life leader',and was well underway on a campaign of terror and brutality on a par with the leader in Republic of Africa Union and Uganda.many thousands of people were tortured and sent to prison.schools and churches were forced to close and priests were arrested.say,he banned private fishing,then he destroy every boat he found.for several year, Equatorial Guinea was effectively closed off from outside world.a coup broke up in 1979 eventually,but at that time, two thirds of people was either fled abroad or killed.
its road to multi-party democracy is also torturous.old habbits died hard. vote-digging was rampant.the US government declared its national election in 1993 as 'parody of democracy'.the arrestment of oppositions delivered the truth of 'democracy' there.
the discovery of oil did transform the social and political landscape there.however,as the revenue of oil is only keeping secret by the government,no little and precious change to ordernary people.
in 2001,eight different opposed parties formed a 'government-in-exile' in spain. but in 2003,the government called them back home to 'register'and caught 68 people for allegedly plotting for coup. six months later, they won the election again unanimously,of course!
a tribe moved in Equatorial Guinea in12th centuries and since the slave trade period,the local tribe showed their lukewarm attitude(i may say,hostility)towards coloniers,preventing a wholesale occupation of the area.
there's on small island outside Cameroon----it's the most important centre for slave trading in 18th for europeans.profitable cocoa plantation made this island into Portuguese most important possession in Africa.through the period of spanish ruling,large inland remained unexplored till 1920s.although they gained the independence in 1968, the spanish left the country virtually bankrupted.
they gained independence in 1968(partially autonomy,anyway),but the president(which was elected in the state of emergency)was a awful dictator.he even declared himself as 'the life leader',and was well underway on a campaign of terror and brutality on a par with the leader in Republic of Africa Union and Uganda.many thousands of people were tortured and sent to prison.schools and churches were forced to close and priests were arrested.say,he banned private fishing,then he destroy every boat he found.for several year, Equatorial Guinea was effectively closed off from outside world.a coup broke up in 1979 eventually,but at that time, two thirds of people was either fled abroad or killed.
its road to multi-party democracy is also torturous.old habbits died hard. vote-digging was rampant.the US government declared its national election in 1993 as 'parody of democracy'.the arrestment of oppositions delivered the truth of 'democracy' there.
the discovery of oil did transform the social and political landscape there.however,as the revenue of oil is only keeping secret by the government,no little and precious change to ordernary people.
in 2001,eight different opposed parties formed a 'government-in-exile' in spain. but in 2003,the government called them back home to 'register'and caught 68 people for allegedly plotting for coup. six months later, they won the election again unanimously,of course!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Cameroon
cameroon----the name is originated from 'giant shrimp' in Portuguese.as u can imagine,little known to us before the world's first international commercers came.for the next 4 centuries since 15th century,like most of the west Africa Altantic seaboard,the southern part revolved around the slave trade.the British came,but finally defeated by Germans. Germans were active coloniers,they built universities,railways and plantations.they are pretty harsh too.one fifth of the labourers died from overwork within 1 year.
after the WW1,it was divided into 3 parts by 2 coloniers:British and French. British didn't pay much attention on them,instead,they lavished attention on their administrated capital in Nigiria.so after WW2,the new political parties formed by French Cameroon striked for independence.but there is another party in the north.so after 1960,the rebellion was developed into full-scale.the french troops steped in and thousands were ruthlessly killed and a state of emergency was declared that last 2 decades.finally,the north took over the power and a muslim became their president.
in 1961,the northern part voted as a part of Nigeria and the south decided to join the French Cameroon and bacame a single republic 11 years later.the muslim leader was re-elected as unopposed in 1975, continuing an exceedingly brutal and autocratic reign,filling jails with tens of thousands of political prisoners and censoring all the press.but he worked actively in the fields of public education,agriculture and building roads.as a result, the enrollment rate of primary schools reached 70% and farmers produced a large variety of food to make country self-efficient and benefit from the exports.
but at the height of his(president's)power and success,he quited unexpectedly.his hand-pick successor(as a southerner and christian) immediately droped a lot of former plans and transformed the society.he especailly set aside nearly all ex's 'barons'.by 1984,the barons couldn't bear it anymore and burstup a coup.it's so unexpected that hardly success.but president soon re-took the control.
cameroon hit international headlines in 1986. a toxic cloud erupted in the remote volcanic lakes in the western mountains, asphyxiating nearly 2,000 villagers in their sleep.experts said it could happen again anytime.
the successor was widely accused for his unability for handling the economy.but the government murderous attempt to wipe out all the new threat parties.but within one year,there r more than 30 parties set up and a dozen independent newspaper.finally, national-wide strikes broke out and the government faced an embarrasing standstill.the politics was in a chaos and in 2002,the long-simmering territory dispute between Nigeria came out. the oil-rich border attract both sides.and Nigeria has slowly and reluctantly begun to comply with the agreement.
after the WW1,it was divided into 3 parts by 2 coloniers:British and French. British didn't pay much attention on them,instead,they lavished attention on their administrated capital in Nigiria.so after WW2,the new political parties formed by French Cameroon striked for independence.but there is another party in the north.so after 1960,the rebellion was developed into full-scale.the french troops steped in and thousands were ruthlessly killed and a state of emergency was declared that last 2 decades.finally,the north took over the power and a muslim became their president.
in 1961,the northern part voted as a part of Nigeria and the south decided to join the French Cameroon and bacame a single republic 11 years later.the muslim leader was re-elected as unopposed in 1975, continuing an exceedingly brutal and autocratic reign,filling jails with tens of thousands of political prisoners and censoring all the press.but he worked actively in the fields of public education,agriculture and building roads.as a result, the enrollment rate of primary schools reached 70% and farmers produced a large variety of food to make country self-efficient and benefit from the exports.
but at the height of his(president's)power and success,he quited unexpectedly.his hand-pick successor(as a southerner and christian) immediately droped a lot of former plans and transformed the society.he especailly set aside nearly all ex's 'barons'.by 1984,the barons couldn't bear it anymore and burstup a coup.it's so unexpected that hardly success.but president soon re-took the control.
cameroon hit international headlines in 1986. a toxic cloud erupted in the remote volcanic lakes in the western mountains, asphyxiating nearly 2,000 villagers in their sleep.experts said it could happen again anytime.
the successor was widely accused for his unability for handling the economy.but the government murderous attempt to wipe out all the new threat parties.but within one year,there r more than 30 parties set up and a dozen independent newspaper.finally, national-wide strikes broke out and the government faced an embarrasing standstill.the politics was in a chaos and in 2002,the long-simmering territory dispute between Nigeria came out. the oil-rich border attract both sides.and Nigeria has slowly and reluctantly begun to comply with the agreement.
Algeria
Algeria
'Algeria, a gateway between Europe and Africa ' has been battered by violence over the past decades.'
it's a barren country full of misery and anguish.although it's wide-spread desert, the rich oil preservation is the backbone of the economy.
the bloody civil war outburst in 1992,following 150,000 people are staughtered!
berbers(the aborigines before the turkish came) acclaimed for their rights,while the islamic extremist bomb cities.
above 250,000people died during the war for independence .
war,extremist,liberation is the key word to access this country.
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'Algeria, a gateway between Europe and Africa ' has been battered by violence over the past decades.'
it's a barren country full of misery and anguish.although it's wide-spread desert, the rich oil preservation is the backbone of the economy.
the bloody civil war outburst in 1992,following 150,000 people are staughtered!
berbers(the aborigines before the turkish came) acclaimed for their rights,while the islamic extremist bomb cities.
above 250,000people died during the war for independence .
war,extremist,liberation is the key word to access this country.
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Libya
Libya
a boring,undeveloped,typical Arabic-modern country.the full name---The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya---unveil its political stories in the near decades.
there are two shunning spot when browsing throught its history.
one is its president---the mighty boss.like most of the founders of a socialist country, he made huge contribution to its independence from Italy.what's more, he's the core people who started up the African Union.
the other is the story titled with 'washington miracle'. it was under sever blame of terrorism.but the government reacted quickly.they acclaim officially taking responsibility of the bomb and hard line of anti-terrorism.15 years after the raid on Tripoli by US, they mended the diplomatic tie again.
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a boring,undeveloped,typical Arabic-modern country.the full name---The Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya---unveil its political stories in the near decades.
there are two shunning spot when browsing throught its history.
one is its president---the mighty boss.like most of the founders of a socialist country, he made huge contribution to its independence from Italy.what's more, he's the core people who started up the African Union.
the other is the story titled with 'washington miracle'. it was under sever blame of terrorism.but the government reacted quickly.they acclaim officially taking responsibility of the bomb and hard line of anti-terrorism.15 years after the raid on Tripoli by US, they mended the diplomatic tie again.
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Egypt
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Egypt
Arab Republic of Egypt---what jump into ur mind? wondrous pyramids and splendid,mysterious ancient civilization....it's unadvoidable in any world history book, but i know nothing about its present:(
important---that's the most frequently appearing word when read through the country profile.
on the term of economy,it's the second largest economy substance closed followed by Saudie Arab in this region.
on the term of politic, it plays a key role in efforts to solve thhe confict in middle east.'its prestige as a broker is said to have suffered after its indecisive response to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon'
it's history can date back to 7,000BC,when settlement of Nile Valley begins.
prosperity---this word tagged this magical kingdom since then.the great pyramids were constructed in around 2,500BC.it's a formidable engineering achievment? it's a magic!!!
persian came, the Alexandria came, the mecedonian dynasty ruled till 31 BC,lasting nearly 3 centuries. in 642 AD, (right after the prophet ,i guess),the Arab came and conqued.Cario became its capital since 969.the Arabic culture shaped the whole region. Napolen tried to invade but rebeled by Turkish and British in 1800. and since 1842, Egypt became British's protectorate.
some movement by religious organization and nationalist were written in its way to independence,and eventually, in 1953, a leader declared its freedom. but,the following war between Britain and 6-day(!!) war to Islael haunted its subjects in nightmare.they(Jordan, Egypt and Syria) were defeated.there were 2 things remarkable in 1971.one is the introduction of the new institution system,which renamed the country's name.
the other is the great dam, which had a huge impact on the irrigation and industry domestically,and,what's more important, it's internatioal impact----- directly resulted in the building of world heritage list.
in 1979,a treaty between Egypt and Islea is signed.but soon was condemned by other Arab nations.in 1981,their president was assassinated and the Islamic extremist drew more attention by bomb.the holy Sinai mountain was no longer a peaceful and sacred place:( 34 Israeli tourists were targeted and killed in 2004.the biggests chanllenger of the present government is Muslim brotherhood,which was founded in 1928.it's tolerated by the government but abolished all the rights to run the presidential 'election'.(the president won the resounding victory for 5 times already)
and it's one of the at least 6 Arabic countries who develop domestic nuclear programmes:(
impression from the correspondent:
* yes, indeed,this historically country now pack with the poors and unrest society.more than 18 million people crowd in the capital and the unemployment rate among men rises to 23% while only 47% women get job.
where is Egypt's future?
Egypt
Arab Republic of Egypt---what jump into ur mind? wondrous pyramids and splendid,mysterious ancient civilization....it's unadvoidable in any world history book, but i know nothing about its present:(
important---that's the most frequently appearing word when read through the country profile.
on the term of economy,it's the second largest economy substance closed followed by Saudie Arab in this region.
on the term of politic, it plays a key role in efforts to solve thhe confict in middle east.'its prestige as a broker is said to have suffered after its indecisive response to the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon'
it's history can date back to 7,000BC,when settlement of Nile Valley begins.
prosperity---this word tagged this magical kingdom since then.the great pyramids were constructed in around 2,500BC.it's a formidable engineering achievment? it's a magic!!!
persian came, the Alexandria came, the mecedonian dynasty ruled till 31 BC,lasting nearly 3 centuries. in 642 AD, (right after the prophet ,i guess),the Arab came and conqued.Cario became its capital since 969.the Arabic culture shaped the whole region. Napolen tried to invade but rebeled by Turkish and British in 1800. and since 1842, Egypt became British's protectorate.
some movement by religious organization and nationalist were written in its way to independence,and eventually, in 1953, a leader declared its freedom. but,the following war between Britain and 6-day(!!) war to Islael haunted its subjects in nightmare.they(Jordan, Egypt and Syria) were defeated.there were 2 things remarkable in 1971.one is the introduction of the new institution system,which renamed the country's name.
the other is the great dam, which had a huge impact on the irrigation and industry domestically,and,what's more important, it's internatioal impact----- directly resulted in the building of world heritage list.
in 1979,a treaty between Egypt and Islea is signed.but soon was condemned by other Arab nations.in 1981,their president was assassinated and the Islamic extremist drew more attention by bomb.the holy Sinai mountain was no longer a peaceful and sacred place:( 34 Israeli tourists were targeted and killed in 2004.the biggests chanllenger of the present government is Muslim brotherhood,which was founded in 1928.it's tolerated by the government but abolished all the rights to run the presidential 'election'.(the president won the resounding victory for 5 times already)
and it's one of the at least 6 Arabic countries who develop domestic nuclear programmes:(
impression from the correspondent:
* yes, indeed,this historically country now pack with the poors and unrest society.more than 18 million people crowd in the capital and the unemployment rate among men rises to 23% while only 47% women get job.
where is Egypt's future?
morocco
morocco
it's the most westerly country in Africa---due to its pleasant beach resort which attracts tons of europeans and adventurers...and probably exotic-romance-hunter?(remember the classical movie~?)
the full name of this tiny or relatively rich country is 'the kingdom of morocco',which reflects its old-fashioned glory in this turbulent changing world.their political and millitary leader, crowned as 'kingship',is the longest leader in Arab world.
the nearest European neigher Spain showed its 'intimacy' in 1860.but French controled this gateway from 1912 to 1956 under the name of 'protectorate'.but it ended up after the unrest and strong nationalist sentiment.and sultan became the king in the following year.this amiable-looking man is definitely a legendary character. he offered a shelter for most Israeli expatriates.but also blamed by some human rights organization as 'severe depression in domestic'.
the conflict for some tiny islands between Spain also caused some deaths in 1975.larger battle and bustup fired in western Sahara. morocco forced to enter and occupy some conficted territory.in 1976, moroccan and Algeria troops clash in western Sahara.they exiled the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic government and divided up it.the two invaded countries mended their diplomatic relationship till 1988.but even the UN ceasefire announcement didn't bring real peace.some terrorists bombed bars in Casablanca and brought this small but restless country into public sight.
impression from the statistics and stories by correspondents---
*it's a little bit bigger than Tunisia,but more crowded(3 times more).
though its a monarchy country, the media freedom is impressive. private-run newspaper can unveiled the social reality can discuss some previous-taboo topics.
*a bbc correspondent said the royal family blocked the Googel earth. then their poor people won't see the luxious sumptuous palace from it.
*during the King Hassan period, thousands of dissent-holders disappeared. they were either prisoned or died in the secret interrogation center.humor and jokes are in poor and short supply.
* remember,it's just 15km away from Spain from the sea. so Morocco bacomes the unparalled shelter for those migrantes who tend to swim to Europe illegally:(
it's the most westerly country in Africa---due to its pleasant beach resort which attracts tons of europeans and adventurers...and probably exotic-romance-hunter?(remember the classical movie~?)
the full name of this tiny or relatively rich country is 'the kingdom of morocco',which reflects its old-fashioned glory in this turbulent changing world.their political and millitary leader, crowned as 'kingship',is the longest leader in Arab world.
the nearest European neigher Spain showed its 'intimacy' in 1860.but French controled this gateway from 1912 to 1956 under the name of 'protectorate'.but it ended up after the unrest and strong nationalist sentiment.and sultan became the king in the following year.this amiable-looking man is definitely a legendary character. he offered a shelter for most Israeli expatriates.but also blamed by some human rights organization as 'severe depression in domestic'.
the conflict for some tiny islands between Spain also caused some deaths in 1975.larger battle and bustup fired in western Sahara. morocco forced to enter and occupy some conficted territory.in 1976, moroccan and Algeria troops clash in western Sahara.they exiled the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic government and divided up it.the two invaded countries mended their diplomatic relationship till 1988.but even the UN ceasefire announcement didn't bring real peace.some terrorists bombed bars in Casablanca and brought this small but restless country into public sight.
impression from the statistics and stories by correspondents---
*it's a little bit bigger than Tunisia,but more crowded(3 times more).
though its a monarchy country, the media freedom is impressive. private-run newspaper can unveiled the social reality can discuss some previous-taboo topics.
*a bbc correspondent said the royal family blocked the Googel earth. then their poor people won't see the luxious sumptuous palace from it.
*during the King Hassan period, thousands of dissent-holders disappeared. they were either prisoned or died in the secret interrogation center.humor and jokes are in poor and short supply.
* remember,it's just 15km away from Spain from the sea. so Morocco bacomes the unparalled shelter for those migrantes who tend to swim to Europe illegally:(
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Ivory Coast
as those neighbouring countries,few was written before the Europeans came.compared to Ghana,it suffered little from the slave trade.though it's name sounds attractive now,in late 16th century,traders preferred better harbours elsewhere.and France took over it in 1834.they had an overriding goal---to stimulate the production of exports.coffee,cocoa and palm oil crops were soon planted along the coast. and Ivory coast soon became the largest settler(elsewhere,like in Central africa,british and french are beaucratics only,not 'immigrant') area for europeans in West africa.
the first president after independence(with no exception,in 1960) was the leader of a union of African farmers which specially protect the farmers in interior-region.the coffee industy developed a lot---it's the third-largest supplier in the world following Brazil and Colombia. Cocoa did the same,by 1979,it's the leading producer in the world.besides the scenes, French technicians who has masterminded the programe,which was often refered to 'ivory miracle'.in the rest of Africa,europeans are driven out.but in Ivory coast, they poured in .the french community grew from 10,000 to 50,000.for 20 years, it remained a rapid growth rate by 10%---the highest in African non-oil exporting countries.
though the economic blooming, there's no political freedom at all.the president holds iron-fist policy:only one-party,no dissent or opposition was toleranted and many millions of dollars was using to transform his village(!!)into the capital.it's the butt of jokes,but nobody could laugh out when they suffer global recession and local drought hit them in 1980s.and the overcutting price of sugar,the external debt went up threefold.the miracle was over.like many leaders in west African countries, the dictator left office in coffin.
in 1995, a general election was held and the the ex-president's hand-pick successor won the imposing victory against the fragmented and dis-organised rival.and he followed ex's policy---once he won the election,he put hundreds of oppositioins in jail.the economy seemed recover..at least superficially,due to the inflation(which made people poorer) and attempts to reduce the external debt.
in late 1999, some generals uprose a coup and exile the president to France.the coup had the effect of reducing corruption and crime.the generals pressed for austerity and openly campaigned in the street for a less wasterful society.but the whole country still suffer from the unrest political situation and the cities are often rocked down by violence. muslims from the north also involved in a lot of fightings.
in 2002,a civil war splited the country into the muslim north and government south. the foreign troops patrolled in the buffer zone.UN stepped in,announced several bans on the cocoa export.
*today,the headline on Africa page on BBC is: Ivory coast leaders burn weapons to symbolize the end of five-year conflict.although it's said that the peace deal is still skething.in 2002,the rebellion started under the name of presendent's discrimination towards northern muslim.under the peace deal recently signed,the buffer zone patrolled by UN and French peacemakers between two forces has been dismantled.
the first president after independence(with no exception,in 1960) was the leader of a union of African farmers which specially protect the farmers in interior-region.the coffee industy developed a lot---it's the third-largest supplier in the world following Brazil and Colombia. Cocoa did the same,by 1979,it's the leading producer in the world.besides the scenes, French technicians who has masterminded the programe,which was often refered to 'ivory miracle'.in the rest of Africa,europeans are driven out.but in Ivory coast, they poured in .the french community grew from 10,000 to 50,000.for 20 years, it remained a rapid growth rate by 10%---the highest in African non-oil exporting countries.
though the economic blooming, there's no political freedom at all.the president holds iron-fist policy:only one-party,no dissent or opposition was toleranted and many millions of dollars was using to transform his village(!!)into the capital.it's the butt of jokes,but nobody could laugh out when they suffer global recession and local drought hit them in 1980s.and the overcutting price of sugar,the external debt went up threefold.the miracle was over.like many leaders in west African countries, the dictator left office in coffin.
in 1995, a general election was held and the the ex-president's hand-pick successor won the imposing victory against the fragmented and dis-organised rival.and he followed ex's policy---once he won the election,he put hundreds of oppositioins in jail.the economy seemed recover..at least superficially,due to the inflation(which made people poorer) and attempts to reduce the external debt.
in late 1999, some generals uprose a coup and exile the president to France.the coup had the effect of reducing corruption and crime.the generals pressed for austerity and openly campaigned in the street for a less wasterful society.but the whole country still suffer from the unrest political situation and the cities are often rocked down by violence. muslims from the north also involved in a lot of fightings.
in 2002,a civil war splited the country into the muslim north and government south. the foreign troops patrolled in the buffer zone.UN stepped in,announced several bans on the cocoa export.
*today,the headline on Africa page on BBC is: Ivory coast leaders burn weapons to symbolize the end of five-year conflict.although it's said that the peace deal is still skething.in 2002,the rebellion started under the name of presendent's discrimination towards northern muslim.under the peace deal recently signed,the buffer zone patrolled by UN and French peacemakers between two forces has been dismantled.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Togo
no one is quite sure what happened in this pencil-thin size country before Portuguese came in the late 15th century.it's an ancient 'big apple'---various tribles from all sides immigrants to Togo.and ALL of them settled down in coast.and when the notorious slave trade began in earnest,some local tribes stared agents for europeans,travelling inland to buy slaves from the north.in 1700s,the coast was occupied by Danes,but in 1884,it became German protectorate.German did put a lot of attention on this colony,they introduced scientific irrigation technich to the country's main export goods(cocoa,coffee and cotton) ,built universities and infrastures.
but the Togolese didn't appreciate German's tighter reins on their lives.so when the WWI broke out, British army came, they opened their arms---it's allies first victory in the war. but the Togo was splited by French and British.
in 1960,they gained independence as the French side declared.but in 1963,when the first president was assassinated,africa came across their first coup.(but coups came more and more frequently lately,say,average at least 2 a year since then,excluding many unsuccessful attempts.)
however,the reality in Togo is its tight dependence on the west. from 1960-1980s,Togo enjoyed a period of economic blooming due to its chemical resources.the president even wanted to build Togo into 'investment and tourist paradise'---without doubt, his plan is overly ambitious.when the recession droped down in the early 1980s, those emerging cities became ruins.since then, the government was plauged by numerous coup attempts. the president himself even shot 13 attackers(!).the whole nation suffered a lot and didn't change much.
* once there's an election, it will be hassled by fraud and considered as 'rigged'.
*LP ranked it as 'small,beachy but generally received rave reviews from travellers who was astonished by its unique village and vivacity of their markets and festivals'.
but the Togolese didn't appreciate German's tighter reins on their lives.so when the WWI broke out, British army came, they opened their arms---it's allies first victory in the war. but the Togo was splited by French and British.
in 1960,they gained independence as the French side declared.but in 1963,when the first president was assassinated,africa came across their first coup.(but coups came more and more frequently lately,say,average at least 2 a year since then,excluding many unsuccessful attempts.)
however,the reality in Togo is its tight dependence on the west. from 1960-1980s,Togo enjoyed a period of economic blooming due to its chemical resources.the president even wanted to build Togo into 'investment and tourist paradise'---without doubt, his plan is overly ambitious.when the recession droped down in the early 1980s, those emerging cities became ruins.since then, the government was plauged by numerous coup attempts. the president himself even shot 13 attackers(!).the whole nation suffered a lot and didn't change much.
* once there's an election, it will be hassled by fraud and considered as 'rigged'.
*LP ranked it as 'small,beachy but generally received rave reviews from travellers who was astonished by its unique village and vivacity of their markets and festivals'.
Ghana
Ghana is often seen as the political and social reform model in Africa.
there's no significant written history of Ghana till Portuguese came in 15th century.Portuguese came for searching the gold,and they found in abundance adorning the Ashakin's palace.they built the forts in the coastal area and gradually it developed into 'gold coast'.they also got a handsome profit from the slave trade.Dutch,British and Danes also turned their ships to Ghana in the late 16th century. during the next 250 years,all four nations(pirates,actually)competed firecely to control the route.the average yearly number of 'taken' slaves is around 10,000.and by the late 19th century,when the slave trade is outlaw, every 6km remained a fort.after that,Ghana is not so delicious to them,but still, British signed a series of treaties with local tribes. but their greedy and jealous pushed them to sack the rich capital again and again!
though the anti-british emotion went higher and higher, the Gold Coast profit both sides. cocoa and gold is the biggest export. (till now, Ghana is still the second-largest cocoa exporter in the world).it became the most properous colony in Africa.
in the early 1920s,a number of parties emerged in order to regain the independence.an America-educated political leader did some remarkable work but British responsed him as putting him into prison.
independence came fianlly in 1957,making Ghana(they used the name of first great Empire in west africa) the first independent country in Africa. but it's also the beginning of 25 years of economic deline.president had some grandious projects,which buried Ghana by heavy debts.the coup droped down. and during 1966--1981,Ghana suffered 6 different but all heavy-corrupted governments.
it's said that the GDP in Ghana in 1957 could paralled with south korea. but what about now?(i can't wait Rende's story now!!!!)nearly all the young generation are extremely disappointed by the corrupted government and beaurucratic system.
where is the hope of Ghana?
there's no significant written history of Ghana till Portuguese came in 15th century.Portuguese came for searching the gold,and they found in abundance adorning the Ashakin's palace.they built the forts in the coastal area and gradually it developed into 'gold coast'.they also got a handsome profit from the slave trade.Dutch,British and Danes also turned their ships to Ghana in the late 16th century. during the next 250 years,all four nations(pirates,actually)competed firecely to control the route.the average yearly number of 'taken' slaves is around 10,000.and by the late 19th century,when the slave trade is outlaw, every 6km remained a fort.after that,Ghana is not so delicious to them,but still, British signed a series of treaties with local tribes. but their greedy and jealous pushed them to sack the rich capital again and again!
though the anti-british emotion went higher and higher, the Gold Coast profit both sides. cocoa and gold is the biggest export. (till now, Ghana is still the second-largest cocoa exporter in the world).it became the most properous colony in Africa.
in the early 1920s,a number of parties emerged in order to regain the independence.an America-educated political leader did some remarkable work but British responsed him as putting him into prison.
independence came fianlly in 1957,making Ghana(they used the name of first great Empire in west africa) the first independent country in Africa. but it's also the beginning of 25 years of economic deline.president had some grandious projects,which buried Ghana by heavy debts.the coup droped down. and during 1966--1981,Ghana suffered 6 different but all heavy-corrupted governments.
it's said that the GDP in Ghana in 1957 could paralled with south korea. but what about now?(i can't wait Rende's story now!!!!)nearly all the young generation are extremely disappointed by the corrupted government and beaurucratic system.
where is the hope of Ghana?
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Mali
Mali is a country old enough to have cave-paintings that date back to the time when sahara was a blossoming paradise.but the first known king there is the empire of Ghana(remember,they established their capital in south Mauritania!)but the rebellion finally broke out by Berbers from Morroco and Mauritania in 11th century, who strongly objected to the lukewarm manner of empire embracing islam.but ironically, in 13th century, a tribe took over the government and converted into islam.and of course, taken out the monopoly of gold trade.the trade largely shaped the civilization---people gathered in some settlement(that's what modern city originated),and universities, great mosques were set up.but in the late 16th century, with the Moroccans defeated the songhai(great dynasty), the ancient capital,which played an really important role in trading and religion practise was fading. without recovery from the invades, French came but only put their attention to the coastal region.this landlocked country was lost its shine and even abandoned completely.
in 1959(it's a crucial year for many westen African countries to gain its independence),Mali and Senegal has a short romance---they united and found Senegal Union. but one year later,they splited because of (which side??)...anyway, in 1960,Mali elected(?!)its own president and it became a one-party,socialist state and withdraw from the Africa Franc zone with pride.but still, they rely much of their economy on French.besides that, they r under great pressure of Soviet millitary.the government put tight belt on all economial perspects, which was discribes as 'disastrous'. and finally lead to the bloodless coup in 1968.
it's listed in the poorest country in the world. in 2004, severe locust plague has cut the cereal harvest by 45%.UN warn the food shortage.
suffer 23 years military dictatorship, few things changed...so 'it's not an ideal place to go safari at all'.
impression from the correspondents:
* the crushing poverty tarnishes this country day by day,still, people drew on their history and deep-root culture to help see them through. Mali was once the centre of the empire and civilization 8 centuries ago,when the whole Africa was in dark ages.
nowadays, due to the imposing poverty and hard life, thousands of people crowd to the street of the capital to be petty traders.the confusion was said as 'teeming,steaming and seething'.the authorities are unfeeling---they clean up the city occationally, ignoring all those poor people and treat them as 'insects'.....
*at the same time when G8 summit hold, a poor people summit was held in a village in Mali.it's a real village---no electricity,no running water,no bed,only mats. more than 400 people attented: NGO,representatives from African countries,non-African delegators....'many African countries can't solve problems by their own. we do need help---responsible and kind help from G8.'....'Food and medical servise is important, but honesty and equality is more important to us.'
in 1959(it's a crucial year for many westen African countries to gain its independence),Mali and Senegal has a short romance---they united and found Senegal Union. but one year later,they splited because of (which side??)...anyway, in 1960,Mali elected(?!)its own president and it became a one-party,socialist state and withdraw from the Africa Franc zone with pride.but still, they rely much of their economy on French.besides that, they r under great pressure of Soviet millitary.the government put tight belt on all economial perspects, which was discribes as 'disastrous'. and finally lead to the bloodless coup in 1968.
it's listed in the poorest country in the world. in 2004, severe locust plague has cut the cereal harvest by 45%.UN warn the food shortage.
suffer 23 years military dictatorship, few things changed...so 'it's not an ideal place to go safari at all'.
impression from the correspondents:
* the crushing poverty tarnishes this country day by day,still, people drew on their history and deep-root culture to help see them through. Mali was once the centre of the empire and civilization 8 centuries ago,when the whole Africa was in dark ages.
nowadays, due to the imposing poverty and hard life, thousands of people crowd to the street of the capital to be petty traders.the confusion was said as 'teeming,steaming and seething'.the authorities are unfeeling---they clean up the city occationally, ignoring all those poor people and treat them as 'insects'.....
*at the same time when G8 summit hold, a poor people summit was held in a village in Mali.it's a real village---no electricity,no running water,no bed,only mats. more than 400 people attented: NGO,representatives from African countries,non-African delegators....'many African countries can't solve problems by their own. we do need help---responsible and kind help from G8.'....'Food and medical servise is important, but honesty and equality is more important to us.'
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