How to Run a Marathon in Kampala

The MTN Marathon on 23 November 2014 was my first ever run and I did the 10k, along with a couple thousand other people. I thought I'd share some of my observations and musings.

First things first: Registration

There is no online registration. Where computer access, internet access, and electricity, are not aways a given, especially all at the same time, it makes sense. Also, very few events have good websites or online advertising (which makes getting information quite interesting). So registration tables get set up around the city. You show up, tell them your name, phone number, jersey size, and which race you are doing, pay your 20,000 UGX (currently about $7.41), and get your kit. The other option is to register via mobile money, which is a very convenient technology that we don't have in the US (yes, that's a thing). 

Race Day:

I didn't carry anything with me, so I couldn't take pictures. But here are some observations. I would be very interested in hearing if any of these are not, in fact, unique to Kampala (again, this was my first!). I would also love to hear from others who ran!

• Thinking of getting fancy running gear? Don't bother. ballet flats, dress pants, cut off jean shorts, converse shoes, it's all appropriate running gear for this crowd!
• An aerobics class is offered from the main stage at the starting point to help everyone get warmed up. It's good entertainment, anyway.
• For the love of everything good in the world, watch your step! Every. Single. Step. There is no such thing as a flat surface in this city. Holes, cracks, stones, bumps, dips and just plain uneven ground abound. 
• Similarly, roads are not completely shut down to normal traffic, please don't get hit by a boda, a matatu, or a car. And try not to run over unsuspecting pedestrians.
• If you're going to run the 10k, you're going to have to weave your way through hundreds of 10k walkers. 
• If you're interested in winning or trying to go fast at all, you better be at the very very very very front of the pack.
• Any person at any time can start yelling "WE GO! WE GO!" and a good number of people will join in with great enthusiasm. (This is the first half of the National Football team's chant. The rest is: "Uganda Cranes we go!" The chant gets used basically any time people get excited though!)
• There are no spectators cheering you on. But that one random American girl who was standing in the median with her umbrella cheering for us was awesome.

I was able to run almost the whole way, to my surprise. It rained all morning, which probably helped quite a bit by keeping me cool. Kampala is a hilly city, so that adds an extra challenge. I even wore by minimalist "5-toes" shoes, which I usually only wear for hiking, and they felt good the whole time. My knees, which usually give me trouble when hiking, started hurting pretty bad about the last 2 km, which slowed me down quite a bit. I crossed the finish line at 1hr 24min 04seconds. I feel like that's pretty good considering I'm not sure I've never even attempted to run more than a couple miles before!

Unfortunately, my lack of training had its adverse affects. The next day the bottom/outside edge of my left foot hurt pretty bad to walk on. After doing some online research I'm pretty sure I injured my perineal muscles. I also found that this is a pretty common runner injury, so for you runners, here's a link to a really helpful article that did a good job of compiling the info I found on several websites and after hours of research (why don't you ever find these things first?). I've done a lot of icing and stretching and avoiding running in my workouts (or anything that causes sharp pain). As of Sunday, 7 days post run, I was pain free. I'm really happy about that, and will ease back into the running. 

I had laugh out loud when I read this line in the linked article:  

"When it comes to the peroneals the thing to remember is that they are a stabilizer muscle. They help the ankle and foot keep you upright when you hit uneven/loose terrain."

As I said above, there really is no such thing as even terrain in Kampala, so these muscles are getting quite a workout on a daily basis, and it also probably made the run that much more of a strain to them.

All told, I feel pretty good about it, and it's nice to feel like you've accomplished something! I really like the idea of trying to train to do the 21k next year.  I say that without having done any training, of course. But if we can get a team together, train together, run together, and party together after, I think it can happen. I'm looking at you, Fitness 4 Life!

There's also this marathon in Kenya that goes through a wildlife park. How cool is that?

Makin' Pumpkin Pie in Kampala

I had a proper and delicious Thanksgiving meal with the American Chamber of Commerce last week. So when the official day came around the only thing I really wanted was pumpkin pie. But I couldn't go to a bakery and get one (even if there was one that sold them I would hesitate to trust that it would be what I expected it to be). There is also no canned pumpkin. There are no pre-made pie crusts. So this was a serious undertaking. I don't know if you all appreciate how much work goes into this kind of pumpkin pie creation, so let me lay it out for you.

On wednesday I hit the markets: produce is best bought in open air markets or from sellers on the streets, so that's where I got my pumpkin. It was huge and I paid 4,000UGX (currently that's $1.48), which was probably still too much, but I haggled the woman down from 6,000 so I felt ok about it. There are no orange "pie pumpkins" here, but having eaten the pumpkins here before I knew they were pretty sweet and would do the trick, even if the taste was not exactly the same. Then to the nearest super market, where fortunately I can get things like canned evaporated milk, canned condensed milk, unsalted butter, and dried ground ginger and clove. Since I only recently moved into my house and we are still working on equipping it, I also had to buy a pie plate and rolling pin. I hit a snag though when it came to whipped cream. I expected I would not find a can of whipped cream and would have to get a carton of whipping cream and whip it myself, but the market was out of it! My first thought: it's like I really am at home trying to shop the night before Thanksgiving. It was nice to have an excuse for something being out of stock though, after living in Gulu I learned to never count on anything being in stock. I would have to try somewhere else. But not tonight, I was already walking home with what felt like 50lbs of goods to carry! Eggs I bought the next morning from one of the small shops near my house. They generally have a stack of full egg crates and you just tell them how many eggs you want.

All told, here was my expense list:

Pie Plate: 20,000UGX

Rolling pin: 10,000 UGX
cling wrap: 4,500 UGX

evaporated milk: 4,500 UGX

condensed milk: 5,000
Unsalted butter 500g: 10,500 UGX

ginger spice: 2,000 UGX

clove spice:  4,800 UGX

4 eggs: 1,200 UGX

pumpkin: 4,000 UGX

whipped cream: 8,000 UGX

Then the work begins. The skin on the green pumpkins here is like wood. It took some serious effort between myself and my butcher knife to get the thing cut up. I only cut half of it, which turned out to be more than the 3 cups I needed for my recipe. After cutting it into chunks, I steamed it. After letting it cool, I peeled off the skin (note in the picture how the pieces of skin are still whole? Wood, I tell you.) Then I mashed it up as best I could with a fork, and set it aside to be mixed with everything else the next day.

On Thursday morning I started the crust. It is quite a process. First, cut the butter into pieces and place in the freezer  for about an hour to get hard, so it won't melt when mixing it into the flour. After waiting about an hour I start working on flaking the butter into the flour. A lot of butter. I didn't have a choice but to do it by hand, but I had read that if you do it by hand and flake it (rather than clumping it which I guess happens with a food processor) that's how you get a flaky crust. Once that is done you form the dough into 2 discs, and put it back in the fridge to chill. 

While the dough chilled, I mixed the pie filling. After waiting about two hours, I pulled out one of the discs to start rolling it out. I did this on the counter top. I floured the counter top, and moved the disc several times, but by the end it still had thoroughly stuck to the counter top. Trying to get it off was a total disaster, so I had to roll it back into a disc and put it in the freezer to start over again while I worked on the second one. This time I rolled it out on plastic wrap. Much easier. Placing the crust in the pie plate is also quite challenging! You don't want it to break or fold over on itself or get scrunched up or be too far over on one side so there isn't enough dough on the other side. Seesh. But finally I got it all sorted.

Now for the baking: hoping that the power doesn't go out as it had briefly twice already. And in an oven that is barely even big enough to fit 2 pies in. I should have just done them one at a time, but I was inpatient. Since both pies were very close to the top and bottom burners, I just kept switching between them (have the top one on for a while, then turn it off and turn the bottom one on) to prevent burning. It was working pretty well until I left it too long and the top pie burned. At this point it was cooked, so I took out to cool off and left the other to cook, this time putting it on the top rack and leaving the bottom burner on. I was able to peel the burnt top layer off the first pie, but it wasn't very pretty and I wasn't sure if it would taste burnt, so I was hoping I wouldn't end up serving it to my friends! The other pie cooked beautifully. 

Now to go after that whipped cream. I went to another super market near by: again nothing. So I had to go further afield, but not too far and to a market that was huge and surely must have it. So I get on a boda after serious negotiation (he wanted 3,000UGX to bring me there, but he finally agreed to take me there and back for 3,000). Luckily, not only did I find whipping cream, but cans of whipped cream! Hooray for Capital Shoppers Ntinda.

My friends all thought the pie was delicious, and it was suggested that I not wait for Thanksgiving to make it again. Now that I've figured our how to make it happen, I just might. It took hours of labour, but my craving for Thanksgiving pumpkin pie has been satiated!

Reverance

A potential dam. The cave where prospective chiefs are brought to be received by massive pythons. The site where chiefs are crowned.  The ceremony to kick off construction keeps getting postponed by forces outside human control (eg flash flooding at the site).

A road. Trees, reportedly inhabited by spirits, that refuse to be chopped down. The man who tried, died.

Today I heard some stories at the office about conflicts between development projects (roads, dams, etc) and local populations, from a researcher who's just come back from the field. The theme is when local traditions, sacred places, ancestors, and spirits are not acknowledged and treated with respect, bad things happen (including mysterious deaths). The researcher (a man from northern Uganda) said he has always heard about these kinds of things but has always discounted them. After the stories he's heard, he's not sure he should.

ln practical terms it doesn't matter where you are or what you call it--superstition, tradition, backward beliefs, witchcraft, spirituality--it seeks to maintain reverence for everything that we don't and can't fully understand (and that's a lot), and necessitates that in our eagerness to impose our understanding of things on the world we leave space for respecting places, resources, and people. And space to learn (and preserve) what we don't yet understand, before it is lost to us. Space for us to attend to more than our immediate physical needs/desires. To maintain our sense of wonder and awe and recognise that our place in this vast universe is really small.

There is always more to learn. We shouldn't discount something just because it doesn't appear to be scientific or because it doesn't fit into the model we learned. In the US people used to believe that chicken soup was good for a cold. Then we thought we got smart and labeled that a "old wives tale." Then we decided to actually research it, and guess what? Chicken soup is good for a cold. Just because it's ancient knowledge that wasn't informed by modern day physics and biology and textbooks, doesn't mean it's not valid.

Slow down. Look. Listen. Proceed with caution. Because as I always say, good intentions are not good enough. There are lots of great benefits to roads and dams, but that doesn't mean there are only benefits, or that those benefits mean anyone can just plop them down anywhere at any time.

(P.S. This doesn't just apply to development or to government, it applies to you. It's up to you to figure out how.... Slow down. Look. Listen. What can you learn today?)

The power is not there

Ugandans use certain phrases that Americans find confusing and/or amusing. "It is not there" is a common one.  When I ask a waiter "Can I have the fresh fish?" and they reply "I'm sorry, the fish isn't there." I'm tempted to ask "Where is it?" Sometimes I do, because the more you can turn things into a joke the better you fit in. But of course they are telling me the kitchen's sold out of fresh fish today.

I'm one to quickly adapt my vocabulary, so in Gulu it's become very common for me to ask "The power isn't there?" Today, the power was not there. All day. The power goes out pretty much every day here in Gulu, sometimes for 1 hour, sometimes for 10. For some this is a frustrating experience. But if you're smart you adapt pretty quickly. You own a propane stove instead of an electric one. You don't keep many perishable foods in your fridge/freezer that you don't plan on using in the very near future (in fact the only thing in the freezer at my house is reusable ice blocks, ice trays, and a couple bottles of whiskey). You have a lot of candles and flashlights and lanterns readily available. And when the power is there, you make sure anything with a battery is plugged in.

I really don't mind when the power goes out at home. Granted, at my office there is a generator, so that reduces a lot of possible frustrations. But at home, it just opens space for me to do things not associated with the internet or technology. Here's what I did today when I woke up and the power was out.

• I made breakfast
• I put the reusable ice blocks from the freezer into the fridge to help keep the milk and leftovers from spoiling
• I went to a yoga class
• I went to the market (and discovered carrot powder! It's so pretty)
• I stopped on the way home for a rolex (which was cooked on a charcoal stove, smart vendors don't depend on electricity either!)
• I laid in my hammock and took a nap
• I picked flowers from the garden to make the dining room table pretty
• I cleaned the kitchen
• I took a cold shower (cause no power=no heat, I'm more grateful for these on hot days, which today was not, but nbd)
• I used mobile data on my phone to check in with my friend via viber
• I talked to my housemates
• I wrote a letter to my sister

It's now 10pm and I'm at the hotel down the road from my house where they have a generator. Charging my laptop (which I didn't plug in last night so it already had very little battery life when the power went out) and phone, checking fb and email, and looking at plane tickets for a trip I'm planning to Zanzibar. While I eat dinner. Not sure if the power will have come back when I get back, if it is I get to yell "The power is there!" just cause. If not, I'll probably read until I go to sleep.

All in all, I feel like it was a pretty good Saturday. This is the first time I've ever sought out power when it wasn't there, and today it was mostly only because we need to get those plane tickets booked for Zanzibar! Other times when the power goes, I may watch a movie on my laptop (if I was smart and had it charging while the power was there), or go for a walk, or find someone to talk to, and I do a lot of reading. I feel like I do a lot of cooking in the dark, too. Point is, there is always a way to entertain myself that doesn't require electricity. And if I'm not immediately grateful for the disconnect, I usually remind myself to be pretty quickly.

peanut butter cookies that I baked while the power was not there

Trust in Africa--the mefloquine story

I was having a conversation with my dear friend Rachael the other day, who is in Colorado but lived in Nairobi, and after telling her a story she said, "You just gotta Trust In Africa, it's the new TIA!"

I love Rachael. And I love this reformulation of TIA.

Things don't often work out the way you planned or hoped or wanted, but if you give it space and time, it does work out. That's true anywhere, but for an expat in a place like Uganda it's just more in your face. The story I had told Rachael was about my quest for Mefloquine/Lariam, a drug taken once a week to prevent malaria. Which is pretty great. But it has its downfalls. Common side effects (which can happen at any point, even with the first dose) include bad dreams, depression, suicidal thoughts, and psychosis (which I fortunately have never experienced while taking this), as well as fever, nausea, vomiting, headaches (which I have experienced on occasion and suspect Mefloquine to be the culprit), and a very very long list of other things. Sometimes it's hard to distinguish the side effects from the symptoms of an actual malaria infection, which happened to me just after I left Uganda the last time. Taken long term it can also cause liver damage. Awesome.

Taking all that in consideration, I don't plan to take mefloquine long term (although I have not decided yet how long I will continue to take it). I can take other measures to prevent mosquito bites as much as possible, and to keep my immune system strong so I'm in a good position to fight off a possible infection. I basically equate malaria to the flu (for which I have never been vaccinated): take care of yourself, take obvious precautions, and get treatment if you get it. Malaria is very common here (although I sometimes question the diagnosis as I think it's often times a default diagnosis, especially because diagnosis can be tricky if antigens from previous infections are present, and a host of other complications). And it's ugly. But if you do not have a weak or compromised immune system and you get treatment right away, you'll recover. I've read that 90% of the deaths caused by malaria are in children, and I suspect a large percentage of those children were probably malnourished or otherwise compromised, and many of them probably couldn't access adequate treatment quickly enough. I don't mean to downplay how serious malaria is, I just want to put my decision making process in perspective for those of you who would worry about my wellbeing.

So, back to my story. I was out of mefloquine and went to a pharmacy here in Gulu to get more. They were out. I was surprised, but ok, there's lots of pharmacies, I'll just go to another one. I did, and they were also out. I asked what's going on and just got a vague answer about there being a shortage everywhere at the moment. It's not uncommon to not be able to find something in stock at the supermarket that was there a week ago. There is little consistency to the things that get shipped into town. But I somehow expected this drug to be readily available and in stock. Obviously I should not have waited until I was out to look for more! I went to another pharmacy, they also didn't have any. I asked if they could recommend a place that might be more likely to have it (since until now I was just walking around and going into any pharmacy I came across). They recommended a place but it was not nearby and I still needed to go to the market, so I decided I would check another day. The decision about how long I should take mefloquine may have been made for me. Lack of supply may mean now is the time I stop.

Later that week on my lunch break I just happened to walk past the pharmacy that had been recommended to me, so I go in to ask about mefloquine. Turns out they have it! So I guess that means I'll continue taking it for now.

I have another great Trust in Africa story about termites and power outages, but I'll save it for another blog.

"Ideas worth spreading..."

So I was enjoying the satirical humour on Gulu4U.com, when I found my way to the blog of TMS Ruge. While indulging in his intelligent criticisms, I was struck by how awesome it would be to have a TedX event in Uganda, which was fully Ugandan (the speakers, the sponsors, the organisers, etc). So I started googling. Not only have there been several TedX events in Uganda, but there are 2 coming up in June and August! I'm so excited :)
Check them out here.

HappY!

I catch people humming or singing to themselves ALL THE TIME ... unfortunately, they usually aren't really displaying great musical talent, ha! But they are truly enjoying themselves and that always makes me smile.

Pharell Williams' song "Happy" is a global pop hit it seems, and people all over the world are making their own versions of the upbeat music video. So, since these videos keep popping up on social media, I'm going to share with you these glimpses into cities all over Africa. The "Happy" video below from Brazzaville is thus far one of my favourites. I haven't seen one from Uganda yet, which is actually surprising. Kampala is a 24-hour city that loves to have a good time! I think I've been out till after 5am more often in 7 weeks in Kampala than in years anywhere else.

Follow this link to see the full playlist on YouTube of Happy video remakes produced all over Africa. And of course from there, you can tour the world!

TIA

Downtown Kampala, from the top of the Gadaffi Tower

"This is Africa."
I'm not sure when this phrase came into use. It's usually used by non-Africans in response to a situation they wouldn't expect in their home countries. It's kind of like saying "that's how it is, get used to it." Power outages. A new package of batteries that have all been drained of power. Roads that are more pot hole than road. Waiting ages for over-packed public mini-buses to depart. Waiting ages for anything.

What I've realised is that the phrase is never used in a positive context. All of the things I just described are certainly a part of daily life for a large part of this large continent, but they do not alone define Africa. There are a lot of things that I encounter here as part of daily life in Africa that are actually fun, or amusing, or strangely interesting, or fascinating, or awesome. And sometimes those things that people find frustrating are great lessons in questioning what our expectations are, why they are such, and if they actually benefit us.

So, I'm re-activating this blog (it's been over a year since my last post, and they have been very infrequent for much longer) in a project to reclaim and redefine the phrase "This is Africa." I didn't move here because I love it when the power unexpectedly goes out for anywhere from 5 minutes to 5(+) hours, or that it goes out every time it rains, or because I prefer my roads gouged and bumpy, or because I've always wanted to hear someone say on the phone "I'm coming" and have no idea what-so-ever when they will show up. More importantly--very, very importantly--I did not move here so I could "fix" it. Sure there are problems, everywhere in the world there are problems. I think that I have something to offer to help people live happier, healthier lives, but I believed that to be true in Colorado too, and that's what I want for my life no matter where I am.

I moved here because there is beauty and laughter and creativity and a whole lifestyle which has benefits that, for me, outweigh the frustrations. We all have frustrations, no matter where we live in the world. Africa is more than frustrations, war, poverty, and chaos! Let me show you.

2013!

A change is underway. I'm ready for it. Whatever it may turn out to be. So to prepare myself and to move forward in that change, my mantra for the year is:

Let go. Be Present.

That's pretty contradictory to what I would have thought I needed to do to prepare for change 10 years ago. But for the past few years I've slowly been learning not to live in the future, in what's next or what I wanted to be next. The future will come, it may unfold just as I hope and it may not. I have everything in the here and now I need, it is exactly where I'm supposed to be, and I can find complete contentment in this moment, just as it is. That's my grounding as the world around me swirls and spins and changes. My life is like an open hand: the only thing I need is what is resting in it right now; not what may fall into it later, or what may fall out of it.

On New Year's Eve, I went to Harmony Yoga to participate in "The Forgiveness Series" created by Sri Baba Hari Dass. It's a very simple vinyasa (a series of yoga postures linked by breath) accompanied by mantra, repeated 28 times focusing on the removal of 28 different negative attitudes. It fit just right with the "Let Go" piece of my 2013 mantra. And cleaning out all that negativity left behind a lot of space. Space is a beautiful thing: it allows for breathe, movement, stillness, and peacefulness. But I also felt inspired to contemplate what I want more of in the new year. It's much more productive in the long term to focus on what we do want, on the positive rather than the negative. Whatever we focus our thoughts on, that's where our energy goes. So I decided to create a list of antonyms for the 28 negative things we focused on removing, a list of positive things that I want to focus on generating in my life. Here's both lists.

So, as the sun set on 2012, I focused on removing a lot of negative attitudes. And with the dawning of 2012, I focus on attaining a lot of positive energy. And in the spirit of compassion and non-violence to myself, in the spirit of Letting Go and Being Present, this list represents not what I will beat myself up for not achieving, but what I will come back to and ground myself with. I'm not perfect now, and (probably) never will be, but I'll do the best I can do.

How to Re-use/Recycle yoga mats

First of all, if you want to get rid of a mat, and you live in the Denver metro area, please donate it to me! I've started a yoga program for refugees at the African Community Center where I work. All of our supplies are donated. When someone has been coming consistently I'm giving them a yoga mat to take home so they have some ownership over their own practice. If you don't live in Denver, do a quick Google search to see if there are any programs in your area that could use it.

But if your yoga mat is really trashed and no longer yoga-friendly (I've gotten some in really bad shape, which is why I started looking for other ways to use them!), here's some other ideas:

• outside doormat (at home or camping)
• smother weeds in the garden in early spring
• sleeping pad for camping
• line kitchen cabinets and drawers
• cut into foot pads for furniture feet on wood floors to prevent scrapping and scratching
• sit on it at the park as a barrier from wet grass and mud
• protective cushions to wrap valuables for shipping/moving
• plug up cracks in drafty windows and doorways
• for padding while working in the garage or garden
• cut into pads to put under plant pots to protect floors from water damage
• cut into coasters
• sound proofing: line walls of music rooms or tack to the back of an upright piano
• cut into shoe inserts
• donate to a homeless shelter for use as sleeping pads
• make into beverage sleeves ("cozy", etc)
• line your trunk or truck bed for transporting messy goods
• for any slip-free surface:
• under rugs like slid around
• on work bench to keep things from slipping under power tools
• on the bottom of the bath tub
• cut into grip pads for opening jars
• line steps
• donate to nursing homes to make non-slip pads to put next to people's beds, etc
• For pets:
• roll out over car seats to protect them from scratches and hair when transporting dogs
• pad doggie beds, crates, or pet carriers
• under dog and cat dishes to keep them from sliding around
• outside a liter box to trap liter that gets kicked out
• For kids: 
• roll out on the table for craft time (easy clean up and protects surfaces)
• cut into "bases" for an easily transported baseball game
• cut into tree ornaments
• cut into shapes, letters, and numbers for learning
• line baby changing table
• under car seats
• go really crazy and make yourself a new pair of flip-flops! 

If your mat is just getting grungy, try a deep clean before abandoning it. Mix vinegar, water, and a couple drops of tea tree oil to cleanse out odors and stains. Soap is not recommended because it's hard to thoroughly rinse out and can leave a slippery film. Make sure you let it air dry thoroughly.

40 Day Growth Spurt

I have really been struggling lately with dissatisfaction with where I am in life and feeling unable to make things happen.  As I'm fast approaching 30 I am unemployed, living with my mom, in debt, single, and can't seem to get myself to where I want to be.  Any of these circumstances on their own is certainly no crisis, it is the concurrent mockery that gets me down.  It really comes down to feeling like I'm not contributing anything meaningful.  And also that this is the first time in my life I have set a goal, actively sought to make it happen, and failed.  I have focused a lot of effort the past year on appreciating what I have in my life right now and taking advantage of the opportunities before me each day.  There is no lack of things for which I am grateful: spending time with my family, exploring new territory in the U.S., being in the mountains (the most immediate and sure-fire way to replenish my soul), developing new friendships, enjoying Colorado's micro-brews, enriching my yoga practice...

But my spirit is restless, challenging me to something more.  I have had moments of intense mourning for the people I have loved and lost, and since I identify very strongly with ontologies wherein a individual dies but remains present in our lives (my favorite term for this presence is "shades") I am compelled that there is something I need to learn from them.  Since I have been meditating on their lives and our relationships I have had a couple revelations.  Some of them not so easy to come to terms with, but valuable nuggets of wisdom none-the-less.  And I know there is more.  And I believe that these lessons will help lay the path to a more meaningful life both now and in the future. 

So, with the intention to ground, push, lift, and expand myself into all the possibilities this life has to offer I have set the following challenges for myself (adapted from my friends 30 day mindset detox).  It begins NOW!

For 40 days I will:

• Drink lots of water every day (at least 64 oz, including 2 glasses first thing in the morning).

• Take a 30 min walk every morning.

• Begin a "turn the world upside down" photo journal.  This entails getting a picture of myself glimpsing the world upside down every day.  Yes, it is totally silly.  I need more silly in my life.  But it's also about discovering a new perspective.

• Do yoga, swim, run, hike or other exercise at least 5 days a week.

• Work in the garden at least 4 days a week.

• Avoid animal flesh.  The exceptions will be fish in general, or meat cooked in family meals at home.  I would say no meat at all, but that would isolate me from my family when we share meals and that would be negative for my own growth and theirs!

• Not drink alcohol.

• Read something uplifting and empowering everyday.

• Write down what or who I am grateful for everyday.

• Not watch tv/movies/series (unless it’s something outrageously inspiring or educational).

• Meditate for at least 30 min. every day.

• Write down 10 wins (any accomplishment, big or small) for the day, everyday.

• Write down I AM statements: anything that I am, that I'd like to continue to be, or be more of, or anything that I am currently not expressing in my life that I would like to become.  Then strive to BE.

• Practice random acts of kindness everyday.  This means intentionally seeking out and seizing opportunities to share a joyful moment with strangers and loved ones. 

• Complete the first draft of 1 article for ASnA and at least begin outlining a second for African Conflict and Peacebuilding Review.

• Develop and deepen relationships.  Reach out to old friends whom I have not been good at keeping in touch with.  Share more of myself with those whom I'm close to.

• Do something that scares me. 

• One more which I will talk about if you ask me (helping me to satisfy the previous goal).

Change is in the air

The winds of change in the U.S. are blowing around the budget proposals in Congress.  Everybody wants the government to bring spending under control, but nobody wants to loose access to the government funded programs that we value.  Everyone cannot be appeased, but everyone should speak up for what they think the best decisions are.  Congress is a representative of the people, there to make decisions for the country on our behalf, which means we have a responsibility to express our needs and wants to them.  Believe it or not, it's pretty easy to do!

Being informed is the best first step.  Below, I have pulled some numbers from Obama's proposal for each department.  I encourage you to look at the full document.  Each section begins with bulleted highlights of what that money would be used for, so it doesn't necessarily require extensive reading.  Obviously, the GOP proposals are VERY different.  There is heavy debate going on, and everything from NPR to fighter jets to NASA to Pell Grants is on the chopping block.  You can follow the progress of certain amendments highlighted in the New York Times.

The numbers below are meant to provide an overview of expenditures.  How does it compare with how you think our money should be used?  It's easy to say what shouldn't get cut, but cuts are being made so it is most productive to identify where to make them.  Since we all have different interests and are impacted in different ways (as teachers, social workers, entrepreneurs, students, homeowners, parents, etc, etc), I invite you to share your ideas.

Once you've identified what you'd like to fight for, and what you think should be sliced and diced, then visit Congress.org.  All you have to do is enter your zip code and it'll tell you who your representatives are.  From there you can either contact them through the Congress.org website, or follow the link to the individual's website and access their contact form.  Tell them what you think!  It is their job to listen!

Personally, I'm a big advocate of participation, so as long as you take action, whatever your opinion is, I'm happy.  Debate is a useful tool for developing and testing opinions, which is why I've asked for you to share your thoughts.  If you've seen my recent Facebook posts, you know that I find it disturbing that our biggest budget item (by hundreds of billions of dollars!) is the Dept. of Defense.  I don't think that investing in the nuclear weapons complex, weapons delivery systems and fighter jets makes us, or anyone else in the world, safer or more free.  I'm not suggesting that medical care for servicemembers should be cut, I am suggesting that we wouldn't have thousands of soldiers coming home with traumatic brain injuries if we weren't involved in violent conflict (and gearing up for more in the future).  National security, in my opinion, means investing in the wellbeing of the American public (meaning health, education, a safe and comfortable standard of living, innovation...) and using our resources to invest in the wellbeing of other nations.  Why should we care about the wellbeing of other nations?  Becuase we need them!  Each of us does business with the world at large every single day as we buy gas, food, electronics, clothes, etc.  And since I believe in responsible business practices (as opposed to exploitation or oppression), that means spending/investing money in ways that has a positive impact on the people with whom we do business.  Now THAT would make the world a safer place.

Obama's 2011/12 Budget Proposal

A New Peacebuilding Tool

How much did you pay for your cell phone?
How much do you spend each month on the plan to make calls, send texts, and use data?
If you knew that $12.50 could help promote sustained peace in a county at a strategic point in transitioning from a long civil war, would you give it?
If you're on a tight budget (like me) would you sacrifice a meal out at a restaurant, or a cheap new shirt, or a couple of beers, to be able to make that donation? How much is peace in a tiny African country worth?

As many of you know, I did field work for my thesis in Rwanda. The histories of Rwanda and Burundi are tightly knit, and therefore so is their present. In fact, just as no man is an island, so is no county isolated. The politics of each country in the Great Lakes region of Africa reflect and impose upon each other, and those processes and relationships extend even further to the Great Lakes of America. How so? Because we in America (and Europe and Asia) are completely dependent on technology, and a great number of the resources we utilize to produce that technology come out of central Africa. But I don't actually want to pursue this argument. I recognize that there is something in human nature that compels us to want to get something for that which we give. But must we get a 'clean' iphone in exchange for supporting peace in Burundi? Not that I don't want responsible corporations, but is that the only compelling argument? Does the security of fellow human beings hold any weight? Is it worth $12.50? That's certainly a lot less than we might spend on a military or humanitarian operation should violence break out.... But enough with the guilt, what am I on about?

Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities is a trauma healing project which is pursuing an off-shoot project in response to the current elections taking place in Burundi. Since this is the first elections to take place in Burundi since a peace accord was signed in 2008, it is a volatile time in which many fear people will resort to violence to ensure whatever outcome they think is best. Many people feel that who is in office directly affects their daily existence, maybe even their lives, so a lot is at stake. As a result, things can get out of hand pretty quickly, rumors in particular being a fiendish culprit. So, after assessing what areas might be most prone to violence, HROC followed up the original workshop with trainings directly about community building in order to promote networks of support and to influence good communication. Along these lines, they are also training observers in each of the selected areas who will communicate with one another and with HROC 'headquarters' with cell phones. Having this rapid communication available to them makes it possible to stay informed about what is (or isn't) happening on the ground, which observers can also relay to their communities. How often have you felt comforted just KNOWING the details of what is happening? Communication is so important to sustaining healthy relationships!

There's one problem: the observers need cell phones! Few people in Burundi have the disposable income to purchase a cell phone, even when it only costs $12.50. Fortunately, lots of people with access to an extra $12.50 often find themselves wondering how it's possible to make a difference in a country like, say...Burundi, with the lowest per capita GDP in the world and which has essentially experienced decades of civil war. This is a fantastic opportunity! $12.50 puts the power in the hands of one observer, and his/her community, to actively build peace through good communication in a time of fear and questioning. We need to support more projects which use alternatives to guns, bombs and threats; which actively utilize peaceful means to peaceful ends and a more holistic concept of security.

You can learn more about Burundi, the elections, and this project from Andrew and Rich.
You can join the cause on facebook and make donations here.

What's the point of counter-protesting the WBC? (or Peace and Love in Colorado part II)

1) Showing support to the students and congregants who are being targeted with messages of hate. I am particularly concerned about the students, who as young people are particularly susceptible to the ideas and opinions of others. Many could be deeply hurt and disturbed by the message and actions of the WBC. Countering that message with one of love, support, acceptance, unity, and the power of standing together as a community can impact how they view the world, and their own role in it, in a positive way. It's empowerment! It's so important to show future generations that they have a voice and a choice to make the world a more secure place for us all.

2) It's a message to anyone here in CO who may share the opinions of the WBC, letting them know that an attack on any single member of our community for whatever reason is in fact an attack on the community as a whole, and we will actively pursue a peaceful community that accepts and values difference. If small messages of hatred are allowed, they will only grow. The WBC is not physically violent, but their acts open a space for others to push those boundaries and a potential for violence.

3) It's a message to the children whom the WBC manipulates to participate in spreading their hate. We can expose them to a message of love and acceptance, and show them that love is more powerful, maybe even provide a dash of hope. One of Phelps' estranged children describes a continuum of abuse (http://natephelps.com/), which makes apparent that they are in desperate need of some lovin.

4) How many times have you heard the phrase "American soldiers fought and died for freedom in America" or something like it? How often do you take advantage of that freedom? Westboro Baptist Church is taking advantage of that freedom. There are lots of people around the world who are either exiled for voicing something which their government didn't agree with, or too terrified, even in their own homes, to voice their thoughts for fear of what may happen to them. I don't agree with the message that WBC propagates, I think it is directly and significantly harmful to the peace and well-being of both individuals and the community as a whole. But they have the freedom in this country to voice their opinions (whether what they have to say is a violation of human rights, or even if it should in fact be defined as peaceful simply because they are not physically attacking someone, is an issue for discussion). So the question is, what do you think about what the WBC says? How do you think it impacts the students at the schools they picket, or the congregation at the churches they picket, or the mourners at the funerals they picket? What is the impact for others in our cities who may share the WBC's sentiments? If you believe that the United States has fought for justice and liberty, is it not spitting in the face of soldiers and human rights activists when you let the responsibility to ensure those things in your home pass by?


Peace does not just happen inherently. Nor is it simply the absence of war. We have to dream it, hope for it, build it through our everyday interactions with everyone around us and sometimes with a bold statement against anyone or anything that threatens it. No act goes without consequence.

Complacency is the most dangerous threat to peace.

“Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.” Pope John Paul II

Peace and Love in Colorado

It's come to my attention that the Westboro Baptist Church, a hate group, is planning to picket several locations in Colorado later this month. They like to proclaim that "God hates you" and target homosexuals and Jews in particular. Some think that ignoring the picketers is the best response because it doesn't give them the attention they apparently so desperately want. However, I am of the breed that thinks silence and inaction are unacceptable and send the message to both aggressors and victims that hateful actions are acceptable. Ultimately this is a question of dignity and respect: even if one does not agree with the choice another has made, harassment is not an appropriate response.

Here's the CO picket schedule:
April 22: Pomona High School in Arvada, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School in Boulder, Boulder Hillel, Chatauqua Community House in Boulder

April 23: Standley Lake High School in Broomfield, Denver Academy of Torah, Intermountain Jewish News/ADL in Denver, Jewish Mosaic in Denver, Mountain Range High School in Denver, Hebrew Educational Alliance in Denver, Comedy Works in Greenwood Village

April 24: Temple Sinai in Denver, Temple Emmanuel in Denver, Jewish Community Center in Denver, Exdo Event Center in Denver

I find it particularly distasteful that they would stand outside schools with messages of hate. So I'm looking for people who want to take a stand for love, acceptance, peace, tolerance, kindness, education, life, choice, and even a God who doesn't hate you and me. The only religious creed or political allegiance that matters here is one that says hateful acts are not ok.

I would like to reach out to each of the places on the list above with a show of support, and to join forces with any other groups that might want to stage counter-protests. Let me know if you'd like to join me, by doing some research to get connected and/or by participating in peaceful protest/standup/shout-out. I emphasize the PEACEFUL nature of our response, countering with messages of hate (eg "God Hates WBC") or violence only adds to their ranks. And, let's be creative! How might we demonstrate love and peace and acceptance?

You can read up on WBC here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church

Here's one organization that is fighting hate-crimes:
http://preview.niot.org/action-hub/local-lessons/three-guiding-principles-when-confronting-hate

And here's how one high school responded to WBC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEiwBCpiA0E

Stand with your community to make the statement that we won't let hate reside on our streets!

"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." - Dalai Lama

Elections and Democracy in E Africa

I've linked to a video from the Carter Center entitled "Africa: Elections Aren't Enough" featuring Paul Collier (author of "The Bottom Billion") and other Carter Center staff. The foundational idea is that elections in and of themselves do not a democracy make. It's a poignant talk at a time when so many African countries are approaching elections. I'll highlight a few in the region where I pay the most attention:

Sudan, April 2010--the first free elections in 24 years. The civil war between the north and south, which continued for over two decades, made holding any semblance of a democratic election impossible. The current president, Omar al Bashir, came into power through a coup d'état in 1989 (and, I should note, is currently wanted by the International Criminal Court for Crimes of War and Crimes against Humanity in Darfur). In the south, this election in many ways is considered a precursor to the vote that is planned for January 2011 in which Southern Sudan will decide if it should become an independent state. Sudan is the largest country in Africa, with a population of 40 million, the majority of which are illiterate and live in rural areas. In addition, conflict is still prominent in the eastern Darfur state. As such, logistical issues are a huge concern. Furthermore, the International Crises Group has just published a report outlining the ways the ruling National Congress Party has rigged the election.

Burundi, May-July 2010--the first elections since a peace accord was signed in April 2009 between the ruling government, the National Council for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD), and the opposition National Liberation Forces (FNL). Burundi had been in Civil War since 1993. The current President Pierre Nkurunziza was elected in 2005 with the first elections since the start of the civil war. Human Rights Watch has produced reports documenting politically motivated killings, assaults, arrests, and other violence intended to intimidate and suppress opposing parties. Recent reports from IRIN identify party youth leagues, made up largely of demobilised combatants, as tools of the ruling party to intimidate voters.
In post-conflict states, elections are pivotal. After a peace agreement was signed in Burundi, people were relieved, but still hesitant about the how long-standing that peace would be. Most people say they will "wait and see" how the elections go: if it is pulled off peacefully and justly then they can feel confident that their country has really made a change for the better, but most worry that there will be new violence and manipulation. To explore the host of issues a country at such a turning point faces, see the recent Peacebuilding Commission report for Burundi.

Rwanda, August 2010--the second election since the Rwandese Patriotic Front took power after ending the genocide in 1994. The first election was in 2003, when then President Paul Kagame was elected with 95% of the vote (it should be noted that political organising was outlawed until shortly before the election was held). The constitution allows for the President to serve two, seven year terms, and most anticipate that Kagame, who has held the office of president since removing Pasteur Bizimungu in 2000, will be re-elected. However, the evidence that the election is being manipulated in order to maintain power is piling up. The opposition is being prevented from registering and meeting; accusations of revisionism and/or denial of the the 1994 genocide and divisionism serve as piercing attacks against the opposition which by law make them vulnerable to arrest; and members of opposition parties are publicly beaten.
Although Kagame has done much to rebuild Rwanda and maintain peace, his human rights record leaves much to be desired. He could stand among the great leaders in Africa if he were to follow in the footsteps of Mandela and step down when his time is up, but I fear he may choose the path of Mugabe, Museveni and so many others who entrench themselves in power and refuse to acknowledge that any other person may be capable of performing as president.

Uganda, 2011--Yoweri Museveni took power in 1985 through a coup d'état. He was later elected president in 1996, again in 2001, and again in 2006 (in the first multiparty election, and after changing the constitution to allow him to run for a third term). The elections have been contested with accusations of rigging, voter intimidation, and suppression of party activities. HRW documents elected officials who were charged with election abuses but never brought to justice and are still serving, while opposition candidates are arrested on trumped up charges. Conflicts over the upcoming elections are already being reported, and the coalition of opposition parties have hinted they would boycott the elections if changes are not made.
The three months I spent in Uganda were littered with stories of past elections, none of them were positive. Foreigners said that violence was inevitable (speaking from their own experience of riots and bombings) and that it was best to leave the country if you could. A young man in the eastern mountains described being kidnapped, beaten, and imprisoned until he agreed to never work for an opposition party again. Everyone expressed that the only reason President Museveni continued to win elections was through threat and manipulation, and because the international community continued to recognise him as a legitimate leader (although the Obama administration may be looking to change that).

You may recall that the last elections in this region were in Kenya in 2007, the population contested the results, in which the incumbent President Kibaki was declared winner, which led to widespread violence and killings that became ethnically charged in some areas (particularly the Rift Valley Province). A negotiated power-sharing agreement established the office of Prime Minister for the leading opposition, Odinga. The next elections in 2012 are anticipated with trepidation.

Elections are powerful, emotionally charged, and complex regardless of the country they take place in. They can be used as a tool for suppression and domination just as easily as they can be used for the stimulation of human rights and the freedom to voice your needs and desires. I believe it is important for the international community (which means not just governments but you and me) to hold each state accountable and to support good practices. It is also important to remain informed about the processes and voices in other countries in order to better understand your own and better identify good practices, not to mention defining your own needs and desires.

I would love to hear your thoughts or questions on these issues, if you have a response please post a comment on my blog!

"The Crazies"

I had a realisation today while watching a preview for the new movie "The Crazies": we are becoming more and more scared of ourselves.

Think about the history of horror movies in the US (not that I claim to be an expert). The earliest are based on myths found in literature: Dracula, Frankenstein, etc. In the 1950's it was gigantic irradiated mutants and monsters that reflected the fears at the time of nuclear bombs and the growing connections with mysterious foreign lands: King Kong, gigantic mosquitoes, and aliens featured. Then zombies (who are, or were, humans) entered into popular representation. From what I can tell from the preview, 'The Crazies' are not zombies, but people who are sick or somehow infected (which has been the case in other recent horror films, often reflecting the contemporary threat of chemical weapons and science gone wrong). But the title implies that something is making people go 'crazy' and turn (violently) on fellow humans.

My point is that there has been a slow transition, from fictitious monsters to those that seem much more real and plausible, and more to the point, they are much more like you and me. Having just spent a year working on a thesis about how life is rebuilt after genocide in Rwanda, it's no surprise to me that we should be terrified of what we can do to each other, but how has this notion entered into popular media? Is the public overwhelmed with dumb-downed news blurbs? An odd paradox presents itself: I imagine that the creators of horror films today want their movie to be the scariest it can be, and usually that means making it as real as possible, yet for most people movies are an escape from reality. Or maybe an escape from an individual's present reality.

I say this partially because of the present fascination with "reality" TV and the rising number of films that seem to try to represent some truth or desire to honor the reality of experience (I prefer the more escapist genre myself, unless the film really has something to say). Despite the effort in this new film to strike fear in our hearts and minds (for entertainment purposes, I suppose that's another area for exploration) by creating a plot that seems realistic, they don't come too close. After all, this happens, according to the preview, after "humanity is lost." I couldn't help but role my eyes when I heard that line, because I think our understanding of "humanity", of what it means to be "human", is a bit skewed. I say this because each of us is just as capable of causing harm as we are of being caring and considerate. There are limits of course, one who is exceedingly compassionate can be revered as a saint or an angel, and one who is exceedingly cruel may be reviled as a monster or a demon. But the boundaries are transient, and I think that if we don't acknowledge the not-so-pretty sides of "humanity" (conflict, anger, bitterness, etc), then the good stuff can get forgotten too. The movie preview drew other unnerving parallels for me to Rwanda, where people describe those who killed in the genocide as becoming like animals, putting the question of how we define "humanity" in a different tone.

But I digress (I mean, how we, and others, define 'human-ness' is a thesis topic!). This blog is not well thought out, it's surely flawed. For instance, I do not intend to suggest that Dracula in silent black and white was not terrifying to the audience of the day. My motivating question here is: why is it that what we find terrifying today is ourselves? Or ourselves gone mad? (yet we still try so very hard to relegate that fear to the realm of the mythical, thereby negating any substantial response to or recognition of that fear?)

SMILE!

This is in response to Andrew's "Smile and Wave" blog. I've been thinking about similar things since I've returned to Cape Town--how people, strangers, interact in different environments. In Gisenyi I became accustomed to, and quite enjoyed, not only meeting people I knew as I walked around town, but greetings between strangers. Now that I'm back in a "big" city (and a fairly hostile one at that) I'm again faced with a very different reality. One in which those who can afford it avoid walking or public transport, and those who chose to walk (or have no other choice but to walk) must constantly be aware of the potential dangers they will face. As a result, people are not only withdrawn as you commonly see in cities, but they intentionally avoid interaction (apart from the street sellers and beggars of course). One finds themself suspicious of everyone. The suspicion is not unwarranted--as you often hear here, it's not a question of IF you will be mugged or otherwise attacked, it is only a question of WHEN.
When, for Rich and I, was last night--we were fortunate that no one was hurt and nothing was taken. Rich was able to fight the guy off and chase him away, but what struck him the most was the anger in the boys eyes and his willingness to use violence--which caused Rich to question why that was the case. It began a brief discussion of how violence can become the norm, as opposed to an extreme, when it is so common in your daily existence for a long period of time. I often wonder though, why is violence so common here? Yes, one can argue that there is a long history of violence rooted in the apartheid struggle, but other areas have long histories of political struggle, and also continue to face extreme poverty, but do not exhibit the extreme violence that is so common here.
In several countries in Eastern Africa, protecting people and punishing criminals was taken into the hands of the community. They decided that if they couldn't depend on the police to protect them, they would protect themselves. If someone sees something happening (usually a pickpocket or the like), they start yelling and everyone else around chases down the criminal, returns the goods if necessary, and inflicts punishment (according to the story I heard in Rwanda, the punishment was a beating and public humiliation, I've heard that in Uganda the criminal is often killed). Last night when I repeatedly screamed--within hearing distance of a guest house and an open gas station, and as it turned out a taxi driver sitting in his car--no one responded. Why is it that the public here takes extreme steps to protect themselves (car alarms, high walls, barb wire, electric fences, home alarm systems, private armed guards, etc), but shows little interest in building systems to protect the community at large? Granted, the criminals in Eastern Africa tend not to be armed, so the people running to assist are not necessarily putting themselves in harms way.
I have no good solution or suggestions. It does seem to me that getting a car or taking cabs everywhere, the response of most Capetonians, is not a solution. I do think that rather than putting on a bad-ass don't-mess-with-me face, a smile and greeting could help both myself and other innocent pedestrians to feel a bit more positive about our commute around the city. And maybe, maybe, it would catch a potential attacker off-guard enough to ward off the threat. Perhaps that's impossibly optimistic of me. But I know I feel better when someone randomly greets me with a happy smile, so why not share a tiny dabble of something positive to balance out the negative vibes?

Neighbours

What is a neighbour? I anticipate this very question to be one of the chapters of my thesis. Emma's description societies divided by a highway in Mumbai reminds me a lot of Cape Town, where the scars of apartheid still impair the landscape and determine quality of life.

But in Rwanda geography does not divide as history does. As many point out, the genocide was committed by average civilians, by neighbour against neighbour. Today the people who live next door to each other, go to school together, go to church together, stand in the same lines for water and go to the same market, they may be so terrified and angry at each other that those emotions dictate their lives. Perhaps they walk a certain path because they do not expect to pass a certain person there. Or they buy from a certain seller at the market, or go for water at a certain time of day. Maybe they choose to sit inside their house when resting in the afternoon if they see a certain neighbour sitting outside. But that neighbour is always there, reminding them of what was said, of lost loved ones, of the threat to their own life, of the threats to their future. It doesn't matter if you are Hutu or Tutsi, both are afraid, both are angry, both feel lost and hopeless.

In an ideal world, to be a neighbour means being able to ask for help in times of need, it means communal watching of children, it means doing your work--washing clothes, preparing meals, digging--together, it means sharing what little you have and enjoying each others company. It is, in such poverty as the people I know exist in, a relationship of dependency. Social networks are so broken in post-genocide Rwandan that having people close-by who are a source of support (emotionally and physically) is an urgent need. But some have no surviving relatives, many moved to areas where they knew no-one, and the suspicion between social groups creates all the more boundaries and limitations.

The work of reconciliation here is not a vague and abstract ideal with little tangible meaning in daily lives of people (as it may be suggested it has been in South Africa). It is, in reality, about survival. It is not only about a visible peace where people are not killing each other and everyone is treated equally, it is also about an inner peace that allows you to feel free to move about in your own neighbourhood at your pleasure, to build relationships with those around you, and to have hope in the future.

Banning minerals from DRC?

As a follow-up to my previous blogs on the conflict in DRC and the mining operations that fuel it, I found yet another article (a popular news item of late). It argues that "banning" minerals from DRC is a mistake because it will cut many ordinary citizens off from the only livelihood available to them. He makes the very apt point that the situation in DRC cannot be compared to Sierra Leone's blood diamonds. Instead, he argues for better support of good governance:

"There are a number of people who are actors in this trade because the trade serves their profit motives. So, if we can put the right incentives in place for these actors to also benefit in peacetime from these trades, then we could form a constituency that would allow us to reform the trade and ultimately disconnect it from the military aspect that currently has a severe negative impact on the trade, as such."

With the combination of difficult terrain and widespread insecurity, how can any organization be imposed on the mining operations? Garrett says, "Ultimately, the main reason why a number of these armed groups, including the Congolese army, are allowed to benefit from this trade is the general lack of governance in eastern Congo, which is ultimately due to the severe under-capacity of the Congolese institutions."

He calls on the international community to support and help rebuilding Congolese institutions "to lay the foundation for a large reform process." This includes a well-trained, well-paid national army. "Unfortunately, at the present, the Congolese army is a major source of insecurity instead of a force for order," he says."
(read the full article here )

I agree that there is great nuance in the people and motives involved. But what incentives can be given to the group which is making a lot of money out of doing nothing but being threatening with little chance of reprisal? The banning option takes away the profit, which is probably the easiest and quickest method to impact them, but has the unfortunate side effect of taking away the income of people trying to make an honest living by mining. As such the long-term impact could be increased poverty, which generally leads to increased violence and vulnerability, and more poverty.

Is it possible to design a policy that is effective and that does not ban all minerals from DRC? Wherein mineral purchases are restricted to select companies or organisations that monitor where the minerals come from, who is mining them, and who is controlling the mine? Building local cooperatives could help significantly if there was a structure in place to ensure rebels and the military did not infiltrate them. Of course, this process requires more time and money to set up and monitor initially, but how much is the international community spending now on aid in the refugee camps and the UN peace keeping mission? Prevention is always more cost-effective than a response after-the-fact. Pro-active planning and spending could save a lot of money in the long run if it helps to build sustainable peace.