File - Ms. Spoerl`s Website

African Issues Powerpoint Ms. Spoerl

Modern Obstacles 

AIDS in Africa

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Child Soldiers

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Conflict Diamonds (Blood Diamonds)

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Genocide

AIDS in Africa 

Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region of the world. An estimated 22.5 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2007 and approximately 1.7 million additional people were infected with HIV during that year.

Areas of Highest Concentration Southern Africa  South

Africa

 Botswana  Zimbabwe  Zambia  Namibia

http://www.aidsinafrica.net/map.php

Why is it so bad? 

Education

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Poverty / Contraception

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Health Care

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Infrastructure (Roads, Electricity, etc.)

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Cost of Anti-Retroviral Drugs / Treatments

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100% Fatal

Possible Solutions ??? Or not??? 

Foreign Aid to Countries

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Education Centers

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Improved Infrastructure

Child Soldiers

Child Soldiers 

The military use of children takes three distinct forms: children can take direct part in hostilities (child soldiers), or they can be used in support roles such as porters, spies, messengers, and look outs; or they can be used for political advantage either as human shields or in propaganda.

Child Soldiers 

Child Soldiers are often subjected to extensive drug and psychological abuse. This “brainwashing” ultimately reduces them to intellectual slaves to their commanders. They do not feel like they have the freedom to leave.

Child Soldiers 

Most children that are used in armed conflict are often scarred for life, emotionally and physically. Often they develop difficulty dealing with others and have little understanding of proper social interactions.

Conflict Diamonds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOIUn0We12A

The History 

Armed conflicts are expensive. In order to finance revolutions, civil wars and sometimes local greed the use of slave labor has been used to accessed the rich natural resources of many African nations.

Conflict Diamonds 

Western Africa 

Liberia

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Cote D’Ivoire

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Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Republic of the Congo

Conflict Diamonds 

Forced labor is often used in mining.

Conflict Diamonds and Child Soldiers 

There is a distinct tie between Conflict Diamonds and Child Soldiers. As the diamonds provide for the economic resources needed by revolution and civil war the children provide the human capital required.

The brighter side. 

The continent of Africa is a rich and beautiful place. Make sure that you remember that although it has a number of issues and problems it is also the home to many wonderful things.