Author: jeffleake

I just read this article….apparently the ICC is proceeding with the trial against Jean-Pierre Bemba (former vice prez of DRC). This is the most high profile case currently and is being used as a bench mark for the credibility of the ICC in the future.

It will be interesting to see how it pans out. It would have been a good case study for us to use had the verdict been reached earlier.

Jeff

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/international-justice-and-congo-warlord-on-trial-2141135.html

This was the movie I was talking about in class if anyone is interested. This man defended tons of war criminals and is really proud of himself.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1032854/

I have been trying to find some updated news that is happening in Uganda. This article is dated November 11, 2010. Apparently things remain the same out there.

In another article……..I did read that the LRA appear to be re-grouping in Darfur and may possibly stir up some trouble for the independence referendum for south Sudan in Ferbruary. It appears al-Bashir is supporting them for this cause.

http://www.economist.com/node/17472814?story_id=17472814&fsrc=rss

I read this while doing some research. I have to decide what Canada’s role should be with regards to Uganda. I explain that we could either send in a peacekeeping troop to fight Kony or we could act as the middle power and use our influence diplomatically. This article seems to suggest that the military support of the US is in fact prolonging the conflict.

Any comments?  I would like to know what anyone thinks we, as a country, should do for Uganda.

Furthermore, does anyone know how I can access how much money Canada provides in aid assistance? The CIDA website explains they give 19.99 million…..but I know it is not the only forum of donation.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jennifer-brookland/us-tacitly-condones-ugand_b_572316.html

I was taking the bus back from Tsawwassen at midnight the other day and had a great conversation with the driver. He told me about this website (kiva.org) that gets involved in micro-credit loans. Maybe you all are aware of these sites but I had never come across one.

It is really easy to use and you can specify where you want your loans to go. Maybe you only want to help women in Sierra Leone who work in the sustainable agricultural industry or men in Cambodia who want to start a bike repair shop- chances are they have someone!  Many of the countries we are studying are involved in this.

I thought this was a great thing to help people in these areas when one becomes a bit disillusioned with the more “macro” approaches to post-conflict studies.

The cool thing with this is you can get your money back (not guaranteed) and potentially to use that money to help people for years to come. I believe they also accept team donations if anyone is interested in chipping in $25 or so each.

http://www.kiva.org/

neat stuff

http://www.viceland.com/int/v17n9/htdocs/the-children-of-kampiringisa-509.php

Been reading a lot about Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Movement….this is a short clip on what is going on with the LRM currently.

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/04/10/world/africa/1247467554547/on-the-hunt-for-joseph-kony.html?ref=war_crimes_genocide_and_crimes_against_humanity

The end of this article has a good way of looking at situations where, at least statistically, some of the Millenium Goals are not living up to expectations.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/in-kenya-proof–that-the-millennium-goals-can-work-2083866.html