1. The Congo is a central storehouse of strategic
minerals for the functioning of modern society, particularly
as it relates to the mining and technology sectors. We
must demand that foreign countries and corporations implement
humane policies toward the Congo.
2. The Congo sits in the heart of Africa and
is bordered by NINE other countries,
therefore as the Congo goes so does the rest of Africa.We
must work with the Congolese and other Africans to make sure
that the Congolese and NOT external forces
determine the future and direction of their country.
3. The Congo has a history of being pillaged
and the people being used as fodder in a rush for natural resources.
The Belgian king, Leopold II, ruled over a death chamber from
1885 - 1908, when conservative estimates put the number of Congolese
dying as a result of Leopold's personal rule at 10
million. During Leopold's era the resources at
the root of the suffering of the Congolese was ivory and rubber,
today its coltan, diamonds, gold and copper to name a few. We
must put a stop to mass murders in the quest for riches. To
profit at the expense of the people is destructive to the human
spirit.
4. Western nations under the auspices of the
cold war assassinated an elected nationalist leader (Patrice
Lumumba) and put in place a brutal dictator (Mobutu Sese Soko)
and propped him up for 37 years while he brutalized the Congolese
people and systematically stole the riches of the country. Surely,
these nations have an obligation to make sure that international
networks and actors refrain from undermining genuine Congolese
leadership aiming to create a decent way of life for the average
Congolese.
5. The rapes, slaughter and savagery being
committed in the Congo are affronts to the human conscience.
Every individual and leader in the global community should be
ashamed and outraged that we have allowed almost 6
million Congolese to die since 1998 as a result
of a resource war. As human beings in a so-called civilized
world, we can and must do better.
