The Starving Boy
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the second largest country in Africa, and it’s located slightly above the equator. The DRC is bordered by Angola, the Central African Republic, Burundi, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. They are the poorest country in Africa, yet it is considered by many to be the richest country because of its natural resources (Rural Poverty Portal). Located in the DRC is many valuable resources such as tin, tantalum, and tungsten.There are seventy-five million people living in the DRC, but unfortunately, millions are living under the poverty line, meaning each person is living under one dollar per day (Poverty and Health care). Living under one dollar a day makes it nearly impossible to having the basic necessities
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to survive. Families eat whatever they can find, and drink unclean water from wells, ponds, or creeks.
After Belgium declared the Democratic Republic of Congo as independent in 1960, the following four years turned into a war zone. Belgium left the country with an unstable leader, Joseph Kasavubu, and Congolese soldiers rebelled just after five days of becoming independent. The rebels demanded the removal of white officers and requested increased pay. Without any luck of getting what they wanted, the numbers of rebels increased. After Belgium tried to intervene, it continued to get worse. Trying to keep the country under control, Belgium brought in troops to restore order without the permission of the DRC’s president, Joseph Kasavubu, and prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. The Congolese government then asked the United Nations for assistance. The U.N. called for the removal of Belgian troops, and tried to establish order themselves. Without success of any of the interventions, the DRC went through four prime ministers during the four years of fighting. Each leader having their own political views. In 1971, Joseph Mobutu became the new president. He promised a transitional government, but later on became a dictator. When Mobutu does not pay back loans from Belgium, Belgium cancels the developmental programs planned. This resulted in the deterioration of the country and its economy ("Democratic Republic of Congo Profile - Timeline - BBC News"). The continuous cycles of unstable governments leave the civilians in shambles.
Coltan, one of the main natural resources found in the DRC, is a dull metallic ore. After coltan has been mined and refined, it becomes a heat resistant powder that can carry high electrical charges. Coltan is collected and used in many different ways. It is used in almost every piece of technology because it controls, energy flow in circuit boards in iPads, computers, laptops, cell phones, pagers, and many other electronics. Coltan is also very expensive. One kilogram of coltan, or about two pounds, can cost up to 400 dollars (What is Coltan?). Coltan is a part of the “conflict minerals” along with tin, tantalum, and tungsten. Because of the enormous revenue coltan can bring, neighboring countries such as Uganda and Rwanda illegally smuggle coltan for profit. Armed groups fight to control the mines, and the smuggling routes. The DRC’s government and the armed groups are in a constant battle of control over the mines, and they are willing to kill or rape anyone who gets in their way. Including innocent civilians (Conflict Minerals). The increase in conflict of control over coltan, and other mining minerals has turned the DRC and neighboring countries into an endless war.
Since April of 2012, new rebel fighters in the DRC have been conflicting with the Congolese government. They claim that Joseph Kabila, the president, has failed to follow the 2009 peace deal. The rebels, mostly Tutsis, have now formed and are going by the name of the M23’s. The M23’s formed in 2012 after they mutinied, and named themselves after a peace agreement they signed with the Congolese government on March 23, 2009 (Who Are DR Congo's M23 Rebels?). The M23’s are rebelling because of the lack of pay and horrible conditions in the Congolese army. The rebels also want control over the vast natural resources the DRC has to offer, but, the rebels have gotten out of control. The M23’s have been responsible for war crimes, including murder, cruel treatment, attacking civilians, and enlisting children into the armed forces. There has been no unrest for fighting in, and around the DRC. It all goes back to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, when over 800,000 ethnic Tutsis were killed. Now the Tutsi-dominated government in Rwanda wants to wipe out Hutu militias (Q&A: DR Congo's M23 Rebels - BBC News). The continued conflicts never end. One after another, it is destroying the country more and more, and the people are suffering more with each passing day.
In the photo, “The Starving Boy and the Missionary”, Mike Wells captures a starving Ugandan boy resting his starved, miniature, Barbie looking hand on a healthy missionary’s during the 1980 famine in Karamoja.
The size of each of the boy’s fingers are about the width of a number two pencil, and there is barely enough skin to cover up the boy’s bones. His wrist is a fraction of what it should be, and it seems as it can snap in half if it was bent to fast. There are other children standing in the background barefoot on dirt with no looks of life to the soil, with their bodies are covered in dust. In the photo, the boy’s arm, hand and part of an oversized orange shirt can be seen. His body looks extremely fragile and weak. The constant wars and conflicts between the government since 1960 has had a major impact on the civilians. When the government is busy fighting one another, they forget about what is actually going on in the country. They don’t see the civilians suffering, or starving. All they see, and want to see is power and …show more content…
money.
The 1980 famine, the most serious famine in Africa, was the result of a drought, and endless conflicts between the government. Twenty-one percent of the population of Karamoja died, and tragically, sixty percent of infants did not make it (Famine) . This wipes out over half of the growing generation, leading to less civilians carrying on traditions, and lessening the population.
This image is sending the message of hopelessness. This is a little boy, and he should be getting all his meals so he can grow up and make something of himself. But instead, there is little life in this photo except for the missionary’s. It is hard to think about other people starving to the point of all that is left is a thin layer of skin covering their underdeveloped bones. Unfortunately this boy is just part of millions going through the same thing. While almost half of Americans are obese, unfortunate children in Africa wonder when their next meal will be.This picture is depressing to look at, and I feel bad about eating breakfast this morning, when that food could have gone to this little boy. Many viewers are stunned by the lack of resources some people have around the world. The boy looks almost alien like with how small and tiny he is. Unfortunately. in countries such as Karamoja, the viewers of this image would almost think of it as something that is normal. Many parents viewing this photo may not want to face the fact that the image is real, knowing that, the little boy is somebody’s son, or brother is truly heartbreaking.
This picture shows the effects that an unstable government has on its people.
Yet the suffering of the civilians is constantly caused by the corruption, lack of infrastructure, and the endless civil war happening in the DRC. Innocent civilians are caught in between the front lines of the fighting, and unfortunately many die from either the weapons, or diseases caused by war. Another result of a corrupted government leads the people of countries like Karamoja to lack basic health, nutrition, and education. The image also expresses the pain and suffering citizens of poor, African countries go through. It argues for structure, and a well functioning government. These people need help, and they can not do it on their own. No human should live in such bad conditions with no help from anybody, and go through continuous suffering generation after generation without
change.
Whenever most people think of Africa, we automatically think “poor” or “third world country”. We know that some parts of Africa need help but we tend to shine a blind eye on them. We feel bad for them, but most of us are not doing anything to fix anything. America, and other countries can give all the donations they want, but how do we even know where that money is going towards? We see a problem, but we are not taking any action against it. The sad truth might be that we really can’t help. The government itself needs to work together to come to a peace agreement and then start helping their people. The government needs to become stable, and start rebuilding themselves, and then build the country back up. Then can we only start to help them and provide them with assistance. Fortunately, there are organizations pushing for education and reforms in countries that the constant wars have destroyed, like the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF. Unlike the United States, countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo don’t have government assistance plans in place. They don’t have food stamps, or welfare systems and it makes it even harder for the poor to overcome poverty.
This image is heartbreaking, and the fact that the malnutrition is not because of a lack of food, but because of a corrupted government makes it ten times worse. I can not imagine having kids, and seeing them starve day to day. It breaks my heart knowing that there are millions of kids just like this little boy suffering day in and day out. The fighting needs to stop and the government needs to come to a mutual agreement. The people are suffering because the government and rebels want money and control. No human, or any forms of life, should be without the basic necessities of life, food, shelter, and water. What seems achievable to us living in Orange Country, or even America as a whole, it is a dream for these kids to have these things. It opens up people's minds and makes them appreciate all that they have. It makes us reevaluate our priorities and what we do and can do to help other people.
The constant wars and conflicts between countries seem like they never end. Living in America, we don’t tend to have to deal with these problems first hand. But in other countries, their whole life is based on protecting their family from rebels, or other attacks. This image shows the lack of basic necessities in other countries that are suffering. It is important to know what is going on around the world, because these people are human just like us, yet they don’t have anything. Humans are all equal. We should all have the same chances in life, but unfortunately money, and politics will always affect our lives in one way or another.
to survive. Families eat whatever they can find, and drink unclean water from wells, ponds, or creeks.
After Belgium declared the Democratic Republic of Congo as independent in 1960, the following four years turned into a war zone. Belgium left the country with an unstable leader, Joseph Kasavubu, and Congolese soldiers rebelled just after five days of becoming independent. The rebels demanded the removal of white officers and requested increased pay. Without any luck of getting what they wanted, the numbers of rebels increased. After Belgium tried to intervene, it continued to get worse. Trying to keep the country under control, Belgium brought in troops to restore order without the permission of the DRC’s president, Joseph Kasavubu, and prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. The Congolese government then asked the United Nations for assistance. The U.N. called for the removal of Belgian troops, and tried to establish order themselves. Without success of any of the interventions, the DRC went through four prime ministers during the four years of fighting. Each leader having their own political views. In 1971, Joseph Mobutu became the new president. He promised a transitional government, but later on became a dictator. When Mobutu does not pay back loans from Belgium, Belgium cancels the developmental programs planned. This resulted in the deterioration of the country and its economy ("Democratic Republic of Congo Profile - Timeline - BBC News"). The continuous cycles of unstable governments leave the civilians in shambles.
Coltan, one of the main natural resources found in the DRC, is a dull metallic ore. After coltan has been mined and refined, it becomes a heat resistant powder that can carry high electrical charges. Coltan is collected and used in many different ways. It is used in almost every piece of technology because it controls, energy flow in circuit boards in iPads, computers, laptops, cell phones, pagers, and many other electronics. Coltan is also very expensive. One kilogram of coltan, or about two pounds, can cost up to 400 dollars (What is Coltan?). Coltan is a part of the “conflict minerals” along with tin, tantalum, and tungsten. Because of the enormous revenue coltan can bring, neighboring countries such as Uganda and Rwanda illegally smuggle coltan for profit. Armed groups fight to control the mines, and the smuggling routes. The DRC’s government and the armed groups are in a constant battle of control over the mines, and they are willing to kill or rape anyone who gets in their way. Including innocent civilians (Conflict Minerals). The increase in conflict of control over coltan, and other mining minerals has turned the DRC and neighboring countries into an endless war.
Since April of 2012, new rebel fighters in the DRC have been conflicting with the Congolese government. They claim that Joseph Kabila, the president, has failed to follow the 2009 peace deal. The rebels, mostly Tutsis, have now formed and are going by the name of the M23’s. The M23’s formed in 2012 after they mutinied, and named themselves after a peace agreement they signed with the Congolese government on March 23, 2009 (Who Are DR Congo's M23 Rebels?). The M23’s are rebelling because of the lack of pay and horrible conditions in the Congolese army. The rebels also want control over the vast natural resources the DRC has to offer, but, the rebels have gotten out of control. The M23’s have been responsible for war crimes, including murder, cruel treatment, attacking civilians, and enlisting children into the armed forces. There has been no unrest for fighting in, and around the DRC. It all goes back to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, when over 800,000 ethnic Tutsis were killed. Now the Tutsi-dominated government in Rwanda wants to wipe out Hutu militias (Q&A: DR Congo's M23 Rebels - BBC News). The continued conflicts never end. One after another, it is destroying the country more and more, and the people are suffering more with each passing day.
In the photo, “The Starving Boy and the Missionary”, Mike Wells captures a starving Ugandan boy resting his starved, miniature, Barbie looking hand on a healthy missionary’s during the 1980 famine in Karamoja.
The size of each of the boy’s fingers are about the width of a number two pencil, and there is barely enough skin to cover up the boy’s bones. His wrist is a fraction of what it should be, and it seems as it can snap in half if it was bent to fast. There are other children standing in the background barefoot on dirt with no looks of life to the soil, with their bodies are covered in dust. In the photo, the boy’s arm, hand and part of an oversized orange shirt can be seen. His body looks extremely fragile and weak. The constant wars and conflicts between the government since 1960 has had a major impact on the civilians. When the government is busy fighting one another, they forget about what is actually going on in the country. They don’t see the civilians suffering, or starving. All they see, and want to see is power and …show more content…
money.
The 1980 famine, the most serious famine in Africa, was the result of a drought, and endless conflicts between the government. Twenty-one percent of the population of Karamoja died, and tragically, sixty percent of infants did not make it (Famine) . This wipes out over half of the growing generation, leading to less civilians carrying on traditions, and lessening the population.
This image is sending the message of hopelessness. This is a little boy, and he should be getting all his meals so he can grow up and make something of himself. But instead, there is little life in this photo except for the missionary’s. It is hard to think about other people starving to the point of all that is left is a thin layer of skin covering their underdeveloped bones. Unfortunately this boy is just part of millions going through the same thing. While almost half of Americans are obese, unfortunate children in Africa wonder when their next meal will be.This picture is depressing to look at, and I feel bad about eating breakfast this morning, when that food could have gone to this little boy. Many viewers are stunned by the lack of resources some people have around the world. The boy looks almost alien like with how small and tiny he is. Unfortunately. in countries such as Karamoja, the viewers of this image would almost think of it as something that is normal. Many parents viewing this photo may not want to face the fact that the image is real, knowing that, the little boy is somebody’s son, or brother is truly heartbreaking.
This picture shows the effects that an unstable government has on its people.
Yet the suffering of the civilians is constantly caused by the corruption, lack of infrastructure, and the endless civil war happening in the DRC. Innocent civilians are caught in between the front lines of the fighting, and unfortunately many die from either the weapons, or diseases caused by war. Another result of a corrupted government leads the people of countries like Karamoja to lack basic health, nutrition, and education. The image also expresses the pain and suffering citizens of poor, African countries go through. It argues for structure, and a well functioning government. These people need help, and they can not do it on their own. No human should live in such bad conditions with no help from anybody, and go through continuous suffering generation after generation without
change.
Whenever most people think of Africa, we automatically think “poor” or “third world country”. We know that some parts of Africa need help but we tend to shine a blind eye on them. We feel bad for them, but most of us are not doing anything to fix anything. America, and other countries can give all the donations they want, but how do we even know where that money is going towards? We see a problem, but we are not taking any action against it. The sad truth might be that we really can’t help. The government itself needs to work together to come to a peace agreement and then start helping their people. The government needs to become stable, and start rebuilding themselves, and then build the country back up. Then can we only start to help them and provide them with assistance. Fortunately, there are organizations pushing for education and reforms in countries that the constant wars have destroyed, like the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, UNICEF. Unlike the United States, countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo don’t have government assistance plans in place. They don’t have food stamps, or welfare systems and it makes it even harder for the poor to overcome poverty.
This image is heartbreaking, and the fact that the malnutrition is not because of a lack of food, but because of a corrupted government makes it ten times worse. I can not imagine having kids, and seeing them starve day to day. It breaks my heart knowing that there are millions of kids just like this little boy suffering day in and day out. The fighting needs to stop and the government needs to come to a mutual agreement. The people are suffering because the government and rebels want money and control. No human, or any forms of life, should be without the basic necessities of life, food, shelter, and water. What seems achievable to us living in Orange Country, or even America as a whole, it is a dream for these kids to have these things. It opens up people's minds and makes them appreciate all that they have. It makes us reevaluate our priorities and what we do and can do to help other people.
The constant wars and conflicts between countries seem like they never end. Living in America, we don’t tend to have to deal with these problems first hand. But in other countries, their whole life is based on protecting their family from rebels, or other attacks. This image shows the lack of basic necessities in other countries that are suffering. It is important to know what is going on around the world, because these people are human just like us, yet they don’t have anything. Humans are all equal. We should all have the same chances in life, but unfortunately money, and politics will always affect our lives in one way or another.