Recent orders
African Masks
African Masks
Name of Student
Institutional Affiliation
African Masks
Masks are a feature of the African culture, having been used since the Palaeolithic era. The artistic masks were made from a variety of materials and are used in ceremonies and rituals. The African masks are symbolic, and the maker is high-ranked in the community. This paper discusses the features and relevance African masks.
The African masks were made from a variety of materials. The artists used copper, bronze, wood, pottery and textiles to make the masks (Finley, 1999). The mask-makers also used wood, hair, bones and teeth to add details on the masks. Makers of the masks were very respected in the community, and were ranked high, and the people believed that the mask-makers were connected to some spirits. In most circumstances, the masks were shaped like an animal-muzzle, or the human face.
The African masks were symbolic. They were used to represent the spirits of ancestors or animals, moral values or mythological heroes. The African art of mask-making, mostly featured animals, and a representation of abstract subjects, hence stylization. For example, the mask of the antelope was worn to represent agriculture (Finley, 1999). Women wore horns to symbolize the growth of millet. They also used ear-masks to sing during a harvest season.
The African masks represented different ideas. Some animals represented virtues, while the other represented evil (Finley, 1999). Crocodile pangs would be used to symbolize power. Masks of human shapes were mostly used to represent human values. A large chin in a mask was used to represent strength and power. The female-face mask was frequently used to represent the beauty of African women.
In sum, African masks have been a feature of African art for a long time. The masks are used to symbolize abstract subjects. The masks represented both evil and good, in society. They were mostly used in rituals and ceremonies.
Reference
Finley, C. (1999). The Art of African Masks: Exploring Cultural Traditions Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications.
Detraining Programs and Their Help with Complex PTSD
Name:
Tutor:
Course:
Date:
Detraining Programs and Their Help with Complex PTSD
Introduction
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the fretfulness, which could take place due to a traumatic or tragic ordeal and this makes a person’s life threatened through instilling fear in them. After an exposure to such dreadful events, the victims are said to develop PTSD. This is exhibited by their change in behavioral mechanisms, as they act in strange or abnormal ways. Friedman asserts that, the brain of a person suffering from PTSD usually acts in response to the fearfulness after being exposed to horrifying events even though the initial anxiety is passed. Later, the victim can be hypersensitive concerning anything that he or she perceives it to have a capability of getting them back to the tragedy. As a result, PTSD victims could remain silent for a sometime and move away from individuals so as to have a reminiscence of the same events or happenings, (Friedman 129).
It is worthwhile noting that this psychological disorder can affect any person regardless of age, gender or socioeconomic background. The main concept behind this mental disorder is that once a person is exposed to traumatizing events, then he or she develops a mental perception of fear and anxiety that makes them to behave strangely. For instance, soldiers who have gone for wars are mostly affected by these disorders as they are exposed to terrifying and horrifying events associated with killings. However, this assertion does not imply that people in the military are the only ones exposed to such risks. Some people may be involved in fatal road, rail or air crashes but survive (Smith 14). Depending on the severity of the accident, they will have PTSD and this insinuates that the scopes of the activities that can lead to this disorder are many and can affect diverse categories of people.
Review of Literature
Symptoms of PTSD in Victims
A study conducted by medical practitioners on symptoms of this psychological disorder noted the following symptoms:
Continuous experience of tragic occurrences through: upsetting thoughts concerning the action or event that occurred (tragedy); flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is occurring again); nightmares; the extreme physical reactions to thoughts or reminders of the event such as nausea, pounding of the heart, muscle tension and sweating. There is also increased arousal; irritability, outbursts of anger, lack of concentration; difficulty in sleeping (insomnia), hypervigilance and difficulty staying asleep (Friedman 92). Symptoms of avoidance and emotional numbing: loss of interest in activities, regions, thoughts or feelings that reminds one of the traumas; incapability to remember the important aspects of the trauma; loss of interest in tasks and life at large; and having a sense of limited future.
However, these are not the only symptoms of the PTSD, as there are other symptoms which vary depending on the environment or state of mind of an individual. For instance, other common symptoms include; irritability, substance abuse, depression and hopelessness, headaches, stomach problems, chest pains, suicidal thoughts and problems (Friedman 143). From the analysis of these symptoms, it is evident that various prevention and treatment mechanisms can be used so as to ensure stability in the mental statuses of the people exposed to traumatizing events. Intervention programs, chemotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic methods can be used; this means that use of medication and counseling by experts in the related fields can be of great benevolence. This paper will lay more emphasis on the detraining programs that exist and their significance to people with complex PTSD (O’Brien 69).
Detraining Programs That Exist and Their Help to People with Complex PTSD
The treatment for post traumatic stress disorder mainly entails use of psychological and medical care and interventions. This affirmation implies that offering information about the disorder, helping the victims to manage the symptoms, and discovery and alteration of the erroneous ways of perceiving or thinking about the trauma are some of the commonest techniques used in psychotherapy for this disease (Friedman 129). Information and training of post traumatic stress disorder victims usually encompasses educating the individuals what PTSD is, the number of people suffering from the same disease, the fact that it is triggered by unusual anxiety rather than sheer weakness. The possible ways of treatment, and intervention programs that ought to be adhered to in the course of the treatment ought to be made known to the victim so as to enhance appropriate treatment.
These assertions therefore, increase the possibility that mistaken thoughts a person could have about the disease are dispelled, and any kind of embarrassment that may be associated with the disorder is reduced. It is imperative to note that educating people living with PTSD practical approaches to surviving or deal with what can be exceptionally extreme and disturbing symptoms has been noted to be another imperative way of treating the disease (Brian & Jacques 10). Of significant specificity, helping victims understand how to manage irritation, fright, and anxiety; improve on their communication and critical thinking skills; and the use deep breathing and other relaxation techniques and skills that can help people with the disorder to gain mastery against their emotional and physical symptoms. These activities have to be instilled in the patients or victims by the qualified psychological or counseling practitioners in the medical field. However, in order to attain better results the people with whom the victims interact with ought to aid in enhancing their coping capabilities (O’Brien 78).
Practitioners can also use the exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy by having the person with the disorder trained to remember their tragic events using images or verbal recall while using the coping mechanisms that they were taught to use. Though this could seem impossible and utterly difficult at the initial stages, it is an effectual treatment that enhances coping with the psychological, emotional and physical complications. The Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is an effective, first line treatment for PTSD. It is usually coupled with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and delivered in weekly 60-90 minutes sessions of 10-12 weeks in specialty mental health clinics. However, the usefulness of these methods of primary care is limited to few people. This means that individuals in active duty patients with PTSD such as soldiers need both chemotherapeutic interventions and psychotherapy so as to treat the disease.
Individual of group cognitive behavioral psychotherapy can also aid individuals suffering from PTSD know and correct thoughts on trauma and attitude through teaching and informing victims concerning the linkage between emotions or feelings and thoughts (Smith 11). This will enable the health or medical practitioner to discover ordinary harmful feelings faced by distressed people, create other understandings, and by practicing new mechanisms of perceiving events of things. This intervention or treatment program also encompasses practicing learned techniques in the normal real-life circumstances. The attainment of the objective of this model involves the connection between eye movement and reprocessing in which the medical practitioner guides the person who has suffered from the disorder in talking about the trauma experienced and the unconstructive emotions linked to the happenings while aiming at the expert’s quickly stroking a finger or any other object (Shay, et al. 102).
Various researchers note that the eye movement and reprocessing treatment could be successful, it has not been validated if it is better than the cognitive therapy that is conducted devoid of a quick movement of the eye. It is worthwhile noting that psychological approaches of treating or preventing the harmful consequences of PTSD were developed to evade the long term negative impacts resulting from tragic or traumatizing events (Friedman 112). As can be indicated from the foregoing primary psychotherapeutic mechanisms stated, common intervention programs that exist include elicitation of emotional responses, controlling reactions and preparing for PTSD responses. Despite these psychological debriefing or intervention programs being widely used, there is information existing that they can be detrimental to some victims. Due to these contradictory views concerning efficacy of psychological approaches, there has been reluctance in using the approach in some people, especially during initial stages of the posttraumatic stress disorder (Kolk 95).
Stress inoculation training (SIT) is also an imperative psychological treatment that has gained more recognition in treatment of groups of male veteran and sexual assault victims. This method involves a series of techniques such as relaxation, though stopping and exposure of dreaded circumstances so as to manage anxious symptoms (Brian & Jacques 15). This means that the fact that the method is multifaceted, it can be applied in treating other psychological or emotional disorders apart from PTSD. This method is enhanced using exposure therapy using virtual reality (VR); such as smells, sound, and a general feeling of engagement in traumatic situations. The VR technique is stated to be significant as especially to victims of PTSD who have problems envisioning their distress or those defiant to talk therapy. This statement implies that it is exceptionally pivotal to understand the nature of the patient before implementing a specified detraining program so as to treat the disease (O’Brien 91).
Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are programs applied in treating and preventing the immense negative effects associated with the disorder. The interpersonal psychotherapy is a time-limited therapy that helps people suffering from PTSD to have the ability to use the social environment in processing psychological trauma and enhances perception of environmental safety through enabling them to acknowledge trust in interpersonal relationships (Shay, et al. 118). This means that interpersonal psychotherapy is focused at increasing and developing better social skills, reduce perceptions of helplessness and demoralization. This is accompanied with increased agency, facilitation of corrective emotional experiences, and assisting in the generation of adaptive coping stratagems. Dialectical behavior therapy on the other hand aims at attempting to tolerate or change the victim’s behavior. It is commonly applicable to individuals with personality disorder and among veterans who have a high suicidal risk (Shay, et al. 100).
As affirmed previously, the existent detraining programs encompass both chemotherapeutic and psychological intervention programs. The medications that are usually used include;
Serotogenic antidepressants such as paroxetine, and sertraline. Medications that help to reduce the physical symptoms associated with the disease like prazosin, clonidine, quanfacine and propranolol (Shay, et al. 124). Other less directly effective but nevertheless potentially vital prescriptions in the treatment of this disease include; mood stabilizers like, lamotriquine, tiaquabine, depakote, Antipsychotic mood stabilizers that may also be used include; risperidone, olanzapine, quietiapine. These antipsychotics have proved to be the most useful in treatment of this disease. It helps in those who suffer from anxiety, hypervigilance, dissociation, intense suspiciousness or paranoia, or brief psychotic behaviors or reactions.
Research Methodology
An evidence based research methodology was adopted in this paper to carry out the study. Both primary and secondary sources of data collection were used (qualitative and quantitative). This was aimed at collecting sufficient information so as to make comprehensive and detailed inferences concerning management of PTSD. Questionnaires and personal interviews were used as the primary data collection methods; this was supplemented with information from book, journals and magazines (Smith 12). To determine the sample, a randomized sampling technique was employed so as to ensure proper statistical information is acquired from responses to questionnaires and interviews. The profile of the respondents included military veterans and medical health practitioners who aided in data collection necessary for the effective analysis. The structured questionnaires used were intended to ascertain the symptoms and appropriate treatment mechanisms.
Findings and Discussion
The study indicated that soldiers who engage in wars usually develop psychological disorientations and thus develop post traumatic stress disorder. This is because of the scary and tragic sceneries that they face while in the war; for instance the shooting, scenes of death people and massive destruction of the buildings (Brian & Jacques 15). Research conducted by nurses concerning soldiers who engage in wars shows that most of them develop PTSD while those that do not engage in wars do not. This therefore has an implication that they ought to be given compensation and proper psychological medication through counseling so that they can get rid of the stress and live normal lives just as other human beings. Anger, irritability and substance abuse are some of the symptoms exhibited by the veterans which are attributed to the post traumatic stress that they acquire while in wars (Shay, et al. 108).
It was established that 16% of the veterans who participated in any war were reported to have the post traumatic stress disorder. The rationale behind this was that these soldiers were exposed to frightening events that clocked their minds every now and then making them to develop fear (Kolk 103). Of these populations, 60% were male; this was from the fact that they are involved with some risky activities like mountain climbing and ice skating. Away from this group, the married couples and adolescents were also reported to have high rates of anxiety. This was attributed to the fact that there were misunderstandings among the members of this group.
Some of the causes of PSTD were attributed to the fact that the groups involved was not in a position to share their problems out with guiding and counseling therapists for help and for this reason the problem continued to affect them for long, (Friedman 133). Victims were reported to isolate themselves from other groups thinking that they could make them encounter the same tragedy as before. There were some symptoms observed to be associated with PTSD victims and they include the experience that makes one feel like the events might happen again. For this reason, most victims experienced heart complications, nausea, muscle tension and sweating.
Conclusion and Recommendations
It is revealed that a person should seek medical attention from psychologists or share the problem out with trained counselors in order to reduce the effects PTSD. The victims are also supposed to avoid terrifying experiences that may make them remember those horrifying events in order to avoid depressions and stress. Seeking advance medical attention is vital especially if a person realizes that the emotional stress in taking long to be done away with. A resource centre should be availed in barracks to help soldiers visit the place and solve their problems in order to reduce the high rates in this group (Smith 13).
Works Cited
Smith, M. “Post traumatic stress disorders”. Help guide Articles. Retrieved on 7th December 2009 from: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/post_traumatic_stress_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm
Friedman, M. Post-traumatic and acute stress disorders: the latest assessment and treatment strategies. Edition4. Boston: Compact Clinicals. 2006.
Brian, S & Jacques, B. A clinician’s guide to PTSD treatment for returning Veterans. Professional Psychology. American Psychological Association. 2011, p.8-15.
Kolk, B. Treating complex traumatic stress disorders: an evidence-based guide. New Jersey: Guilford Press. 2009.
O’Brien, T. In the Lake of the Woods Readers Circle Series Platinum Readers Circle. Center Point Pub, 2007.
Shay, J, et al. Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming. Scribner, 2003.
African Dilemma, the situation in Sierra Leone
African Dilemma, the situation in Sierra Leone
I have been struggling with this question since I started my paper. Usually a question will guide the direction of my paper. Unfortunately, I have been left with more questions than answers. After many readings, I have had a chance to look into the crisis of Sierra Leone and the diamond trade more specifically. The more I investigated the roots of the conflict and crisis, the more I have come to understand the reasons for the outcomes. It still leaves me with the aching question, why. Why has there been so much death? Why has it not stopped? Why did it begin? How did it begin? Who is to blame? Will it ever end? These are very important questions, some of which I myself cannot answer.
This is a very emotional subject for me and I will do my best to put aside all personal biases. I will first start with a background on the political situation of Sierra Leone. The civil war in Sierra Leone and its surrounding countries did not just miraculously happen. The struggles in Sierra Leone reflect the struggles of many other countries facing the same economic and political strife. My main concentration in this section will be on the past. I will than explain the political situation in Sierra Leone, how it escalated to be as aggressive as it is and has been, how the situation is right now and where it might be going.
Secondly, I will discuss the situation in Sierra Leone concerning the diamond trade. There has been a power struggle over the conflict of “blood diamonds” in Sierra Leone and surrounding areas for many years. I will show that, while the struggle over the diamond trade has elongated the conflict and has been the predominant factor for civil war in Sierra Leone, the political situation has actually been the root cause of the struggle. Thirdly, I will give some insight into the impact the raging war has had on the economy and the people of Sierra Leone. The struggle for power, with a by-product being greed, has greatly affected the woman and children. Extreme violence has been the product of this greed. Fourthly, the situation in Sierra Leone has been a devastating one. The political and economic crisis has been almost too much to overcome. There is hope. There is always hope. The Revolutionary United Front and the Government of Sierra Leone have settled upon a peace agreement. I will discuss the agreement briefly and explain the certain pros and cons.
British colonization of Sierra Leone was a devastating blow. Many problems stemmed from colonialism. The infliction of slavery, disease, currency, and religion were just a few of the factors that played into the early destruction of Africa. There are those that say Africa never had a chance. They were doomed from the start. This is what I will refer to as the “snowball effect”. The situation in Africa never really had a chance to recover. To understand this, we must look at the meaning of colonialism briefly. Colonialism is the control by one power over a DEPENDENT area or people (6). The dependence of Africa was due to an oppression of a lesser state by a more powerful state. My question is, “how did that area or people become dependent?” In order to understand this, we must look at Africa as an example. How did Africa survive before colonialism? Were the tribes of Africa hungered? Where they clothed properly? Were they serving the “white man”? The answer to all these questions are, no! Africa was independent. In other words, they were dependent only upon themselves. They were a rich culture according to their own needs. The British than came along and inflicted their ways upon the people of Africa. Since the African ways of survival and life were different from those of the British, Africa was deemed “dependent” on the British and the British were to show Africa a “better and new life”. This is how the “snowball effect” started.
This brings me to my next point. The political situation in Africa was and has been a never-ending battle amongst the political groups, the people of the state, and the revolutionary groups. Sierra Leone is a case of political greed and corruption.
In 1961, Sierra Leone gained its independence (1). Before the independence of 1961, there was a somewhat peaceful coexistence among the fourteen ethnic groups consisting of different religions (1). Along with independence came a new government. There were two main parties in Sierra Leone. In 1961, Sir Milton Margai ran the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP). It was not until 1967 Siaka Stevens, leader of the All Peoples Party (APC), went into power. Here is where the greed and corruption enters the state. When Siaka Stevens was elected into power, he created mass hysteria amongst the people. He destroyed people’s faith in the state government. During his years serving as leader of Sierra Leone, chaos and corruption started to peak. Stevens adopted a new republic constitution and eventually adopted a single-party constitution (1). This made it very hard and intimidating for anyone to oppose his party or leadership. Stevens’ reign also marked the beginning of the “big bully” era. This happens when someone, having more authority or power over a certain individual or situation, uses their power to get the results they desire. Stevens is a perfect example of this. He used military violence and political tyranny to stay in power (2). The military that served Saika were actually trained guerillas. What was left of a democracy when Saika took over power in Sierra Leone had but been forgotten. The government, now, was in the form of a dictatorship. He oppressed the people and he corrupted the army, most politicians, police, and the judicial system until there were nothing left but mere ideas of right or wrong behaviour (3).
Is the political problem in Sierra Leone the reason for civil strife and war in this country? It may very well be. The facts seem to point in the direction of politics. One of the main problems with the assumption that what happened was because of one man, is quite extreme. On the other hand, it only takes one earthquake to shake a city or one voice to make a sound. Hope and trust is something that can be destroyed or ruined at the drop of a hat.
One of the main causes for such corruption in the political realm was the richness of minerals in Sierra Leone. By minerals, I mean diamonds. The mining of diamonds in Sierra Leone has been one of the most devastating and corrupt forms of gaining wealth. There has been a constant struggle over control of the diamond fields for many years now. Originally, the government leaders of Sierra Leone had been dominating the diamond trade for many years for personal gain. There has since been a shift in power over these diamond fields with the invasion of Sierra Leone by the RUF. The Revolutionary United Front (RUF) has dominated control over the trade of diamonds in Sierra Leone.
The RUF began a rebel war in 1991. Foday Sankoh led the RUF into Sierra Leone to take control over the diamond fields. The RUF stated its purpose was to overthrow the government, demanding fair elections and social and economic justice (4). When we look a little farther into the past, we see the RUF’s motivation was something completely different. Stevens imprisoned Sankoh, leader of the RUF, in the 1970’s. Sankoh sought revenge for many years. With the forming of the RUF and Charles Taylor, leader of Liberia, acting as mentor and banker for the RUF, Sankoh’s revenge could be implemented (3). This is why and how civil war in Sierra Leone erupted; power, greed, revenge, and coercion. This is where the term “conflict diamonds” or “blood diamonds” comes from. They are diamonds, which finance the raging wars of the rebels.
Diamonds in Sierra Leone have become more of a burden than a blessing. It is the number one leading resource in the country with no benefit for the people of Sierra Leone. Less than 10% of the diamonds mined in the fields are processed through the government (1). The rest are smuggled through Liberia, over 300 million dollars worth annually. The diamond trade has also brought organized crime to Sierra Leone. With organized crime comes smuggling of diamonds, trade of small arms and of course, the usage and selling of drugs. The government is not the only ones to blame or the rebel groups.
How have these diamonds been reaching across the world for us, in Western society, to support these brutal wars? The answer is weak state regulations and the help of outside companies such as De Beers and Antwerp. De Beers has purchased diamonds from war zones for many years and has supported the diamond trade in Sierra Leone specifically. In regards to Antwerp, 75% of all of the world’s rough diamonds pass through Antwerp with no regulation on where the diamonds come from (4).
Accompanied with these diamonds, has come unimaginable devastation. The civil war that has accompanied the illicit diamond trade has claimed thousands of lives in Sierra Leone. Over 75,000 people have been killed and over 2 million have been displaced (4). These are only the numbers concerning Sierra Leone.
We can see that the wars in Sierra Leone are not necessarily fought for political gain or victory, but instead to engage war over the lucrative and profitable diamond trade. What has surprised most people has been the role of NGO’s. The RUF used NGO’s to purchase arms and medicine by use of the illicit diamond trade (5). Who is on whose side anymore? This is a hard question to answer when trying to peer through a looking glass when “corruption” is blocking the view.
The civil war has brought much strife and oppression to the people of Sierra Leone. How does civil war come about? Let us look at this recipe for civil war.
Internal Strife Desperate Living Conditions Social Unrest
CIVIL WAR (9)
Civil war is usually a desperation tactic. It is fuelled by a power unattainable through other means. In the case of Sierra Leone, that unattainable source is diamonds. The political strife in Sierra Leone has been undermined by this struggle for power and wealth. Through this struggle for power and wealth, many lives have been destroyed. Of the lives that have been destroyed, the violence against women and children has been most severe.
In the 1980’s, the Sierra Leone government had expired all funding to the education system (3). Schools were shut down and kids were forced on the streets to fend for themselves. A financial graph of the expenditure of funds by Sierra Leone in association with GNP in 1980. These children became the main resource for the RUF army. Here we have understanding of the phenomenon, “child soldiers”. One of the largest travesties for these young children was the witnessing of the butchering of their families. The RUF would manipulate these “child soldiers” with drugs and alcohol, adapting them to the ways of a soldier. Eighty percent of rebel soldiers were between the ages of 7 and 14 years of age. Over 4500 children have been recruited by the RUF (2). The violence against children and women has not stopped. Amputation of the citizens of Sierra Leone is the
This little girls face was crushed by the trademark of the RUF army. There are a few reasons for this brutal act of inhumanity. One is to discourage the faith in the government. Another reason is to inflict fear and chaos in a community. Thirdly, amputation is used to prevent those people from taking up arms against the RUF.
The most sickening form of civil war in Sierra Leone is the rape of young girls and women. The raping of woman is so brutal that young male soldiers are forced to rape these women to prove their worth and toughness as a soldier of the RUF. In many cases, the fathers are forced to watch his daughter raped; the brothers forced to watch his mother raped. It is the most inhumane violation of human rights. These women are being exposed to sexually transmitted diseases, most common of which is AIDS/HIV (2). Not only are the RUF killing these civilians with guns and ammunition, but they are also slaughtering these people with their own inability to differentiate between wrong and disgusting.
This violence against women and children is only the tip of the iceberg. The violence has escalated and the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has deployed over 13,000 peacekeepers (3). The government and the UN have been trying to resolve the war in Sierra Leone with little success. They are making steps in the right direction.
In 1999, the Lome Peace Agreement was constructed to bring about the peaceful transformation of Sierra Leone. There was to be complete compliance with the RUF and the Government of Sierra Leone. The Peace Agreement began with a cease-fire agreement. This was the main element of the Peace Agreement and was the glue that held it together. What is very disturbing in the agreement is the appendix entitled “pardon and amnesty” (3). This element of the Lome Peace Agreement grants absolute free pardon to those involved in the pursuance of their main objective. This includes the RUF and Foday Sankoh (1). Is this a problem in this element of the agreement? Well, what is the main objective? Was their objective a political goal? Was it an objective of revenge? Was it an objective of wealth and power? These are a few questions, which need to be answered. According to the “pardon” appendix of the peace agreement, it does not matter. What matters, it seems, was the pursuance of their main objective.
The Lome Peace Agreement has not been upheld on either end. The cease-fire has ended and only a couple thousand RUF soldiers have given up their arms. Foday Sankoh has been arrested, but it has not stopped the destruction of the RUF.
Sierra Leone has been in danger for many years. The political struggle has been never ending. The presence of corruption and struggle for power by means of violence has been evident for many years. Did the civil war in Sierra Leone begin due to the struggle of dominance over the diamonds fields or had the groundwork already been laid for civil war and the diamond fields were just an excuse for funding the war for a “higher purpose”? Maybe, civil war was inevitable from the beginning of colonialism. In any case, civil war has erupted in Sierra Leone and has not ended. Is the main concern to understand how it has started or is it our main concern and objective to end it and help those who have suffered the most? The women and children have been victims of extreme violence in Sierra Leone for over a decade now. AIDS/HIV is a nuclear bomb that has detonated and the fall out is effecting millions. There must be a solution now. The civil war must be stopped so we can address these situations hands-on. There is still a struggle over the diamond fields in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is not the only country in Africa experiencing this power struggle and consumption of greed. Something has to be done before it is too late. There is hope. There is always hope, as long as there is a core of people to still believe.
What is inhumane? It is lacking pity, kindness, and mercy. It is not
“The rebels forced 70 of us into the church. They told us to get undressed. They killed four women with knifes for no reason at all. They shouted, we do not want peace, we want war and for that, you will all have to die. The rebels took us out one by one and decapitated 22 persons. Suddenly the commander told them to stop and ordered that the rest should be amputated. They forced my arm onto a table and chopped it of with a machete, five others were also amputated.” (7)
Bibliography:
____________________
1. Hirsh, J.L. (2000), Sierra Leone: Diamonds and the Struggle for Democracy, International Peace Academy Inc.
2. Zack-Williams, Alfred B., (1999). Sierra Leone: the political economy of civil war, 1991-1998.Third World Quarterly, Volume 20, Number 1, pp 143-162
3. Hirsh, John L. (Sep 1/2001). War in Sierra Leone. Survival, Volume 43, Number 3, Autumn 2001, pp. 145- 162. The International Institute for Strategic Studies
4. Smillie, Ian. (2000). Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Sierra Leone, Diamonds, and Human Security. Social Justice. Volume 27, Number 4, pp. 24-31.
5. Bah, Alahji M.S. (2000). Exploring the Dynamics of the Sierra Leone Conflict. Peacekeeping & International Relations. Volume 29, Issue 1, pp. 1-6
6. Webster’s Dictionary @
http://www.m-w.com/home.htm
7. Panos Pictures@
http://www.panos.co.uk/index2.html
8. Jubilee 2000 Coalition. Sierra Leone @
http://jubilee2000.uk.org/jubilee2000/home.html
9. Robles, Wilder. (2003). Development and the African Dilemma. IDS 60.1100. Week 17. Fall-Winter Semester