An Epidemic of Cellular Expansion

Imagine growing up in a poverty-stricken town, in a world that feels like 200 years ago. You wake up and walk two miles for freshwater and a few eggs for your breakfast. You have no idea what is happening in the world around you with no access to the daily news or even the weather, let alone Wikipedia and books. But, one day, a fifty dollar phone is put into your hands and suddenly you now have access to the entire internet. You finally have the tools to learn about what's happening worldwide, you can read every article ever written, view every painting ever painted, stream any video you want, and with endless possibilities, there’s a chance to access education to finally level the playing field with the rest of the world. This is exactly what is starting to happen in Africa as a result of a boom in technology and mobile phones. They are skipping the phases we went through, gaining access to desktop computers and then evolving to laptops and then finally to mobile phones. Africa is skipping these steps and jumping right to the cut, a device to surf the entire internet, right in the palm of your hand.

People are finally getting access to previously untapped information and this is starting to bring about a new age in Africa with many positives that can improve education and quality of life as a result of mobile devices, which puts an entire computer in a small pocket. Africa is finally being bought online at a rapid and unprecedented pace. 

Mobile phones are starting to touch every corner of Africa with monumental rates of expansion. In Sub-Saharan Africa, in 2018, there were around 456 million citizens that had access to the internet via cellular devices. This number is going to increase to almost half of the population of Africa gaining access to and owning their own smartphone by 2025 (GSMA). These numbers show how rapidly a 6% increase in mobile smartphone penetration can bring the majority of a continent online. Africa is starting to be brought online and access to a mobile phone is starting to become more and more useful and essential to their everyday needs. Twenty years ago, access to information was a major problem in Africa. Ten years from now, everyone will have access to this once scarce information and the question now will be whether you use Facebook or Google. 

Not only is access to mobile devices growing, but the number of services and applications available to Africans is growing even faster. With the rapid penetration of mobile phones in Africa, people are starting to rely more and more on constant access to the internet to manage essential tasks daily. Messaging apps like Whatsapp are immensely popular but you also see examples of people in Ghana, Africa managing their bank account solely via their phone, they use it to withdraw and deposit cash and even to transfer money by texting (Bloomberg). This shows how Africans are starting to use their new smartphones to their advantage and are getting the most out of their phones. These applications are also getting easier to access and African’s are starting to use similar apps such as WeChat in China, where on one platform you can text, surf the web, and distribute money.

Almost all of Africa will finally become online in the near future and will follow a very similar trend to what India has recently just gone through. This will most likely result in a large boost to Africa’s economy as more and more citizens will finally start receiving the education they need and become internet literate, and start to engage with the world economy as they are given access to a much, much wider world. 

Citations

“Cell Phones in Africa: Communication Lifeline.” Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project, Pew Research Center, 30 Dec. 2019, www.pewresearch.org/global/2015/04/15/cell-phones-in-africa-communication-lifeline/.

Beres, Damon. “In Parts Of Africa, Cell Phones Are Everywhere And Landlines Barely Exist.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 21 Apr. 2015, www.huffpost.com/entry/africa-phone-study_n_7081868.

Dzawu, Moses Mozart. “Mobile Phones Are Replacing Bank Accounts in Africa.” News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 13 Aug. 2019, www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/mobile-phones-replacing-bank-accounts-africa-190813101049937.html.

Elliott, Roxana. “Mobile Phone Penetration Throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.” GeoPoll, GeoPoll, 8 July 2019, www.geopoll.com/blog/mobile-phone-penetration-africa/.

“The Mobile Economy Sub-Saharan Africa 2019.” The Mobile Economy, www.gsma.com/mobileeconomy/sub-saharan-africa/.

Criminal Flavor

Vanilla. A rather simple flavor. Sweet and highly aromatic, but very familiar and predictable at the same time. However, this seemingly innocent spice is surrounded by what's least expected of it: crime, money, and even murder.

Every year, Madagascar exports around 80 percent of the world's vanilla, and the recently inflated price tag of up to 600 dollars a kilogram (O'Reilly) makes it seem like the country is spilling over with riches. But the many people involved in the vanilla process would say otherwise as Madagascar is full of poverty and a lack of strong leadership(Lind). The Malagasy people are left to work problems out on their own, and when one of the most expensive spices in the world is involved, issues begin to erupt, and finding a solution is ignored.

The high demand and inflated price of vanilla have led to an extreme increase in crime rates surrounding the industry. A majority of the Malagasy population is desperate for money, and the expensive price tag of vanilla along with its small size makes it the perfect crop for stealing. The fear of plants getting stolen has taken over many Malagasy farmers. One farmer claimed that he was robbed while at a funeral and returned home to find that half of his vanilla was stolen(Lind). Most farmers are already living on less than a dollar a day, and when such crimes take place, they are left struggling to make up for the lost profits(Lind). The crime doesn't end with stealing, there have been dozens of murders, and thieves are constantly committing violent acts to guarantee they get a hold of the vanilla(Watts). A group of thieves in Anjaana threatened farmers before raids telling them to "prepare what we want" (Watts). Overall, crime is profoundly affecting the lives of farmers, and many are forced to compromise their lifestyle due to lost profits.

Unfortunately, high crime rates have even caused a decrease in the quality of vanilla beans produced. As a way to prevent their crop from being stolen, farmers have begun harvesting earlier than usual (Rabary). Vanillin is the compound found within the vanilla spice that gives it the aromatic flavor it is known for. The earlier the spice gets picked, the lower the levels of vanillin within it are. Over the past five years, the vanillin in Madagascar beans has decreased between 1.2-1.3 percent (Rabary). But has this decrease in quality created a noticeable effect? The answer is yes--well known French chef Gilles Marchal even claimed that he has been using less and less of the spice found in so many of his desserts(Allemandou). Pastry chefs have also been replacing the natural vanilla bean pods with the synthetic version to guarantee a consistent flavor (Allemandou). In the future, the increasing popularity of artificial vanilla could lead to many profits lost for Madagascar, a country that is heavily reliant on the spice.

What are the Malagasy people doing to combat high crime rates? Farmers have begun sleeping in the vanilla fields in hopes of scaring away possible criminals (Lind). Others hire a group to patrol the fields, each with a weapon in their hands (O'Reilly). Many feel that the only way to prevent thieves from getting away with the crimes they are committing is by labeling each pod with a logo or name of the farmer who produces the vanilla(Lind). Although this method makes it easier to track the seeds back to where they came from, it's a monotonous and extremely laborious job.

Using labor-intensive techniques such as marking vanilla pods with the name of the farmer or hiring a group to guard the plots of land may be effective, but only for a certain amount of time. For the problem to be solved, the root of it needs to be addressed, and this responsibility lies in the hands of the government. When the police officers can easily get bribed(O'Reilly) when the justice system is anything but just, and when those supposedly in charge let criminals get away with crime, how can the people be expected to do any better?

Works Cited

ALLEMANDOU, Ségolène. “Crisis in Madagascar as Price of Vanilla Nears That of Gold.” France 24, France 24, 20 Apr. 2018, www.france24.com/en/20180420-magagascar-vanilla-price-trade-crime-crop-weather.





O'reilly, Finbarr, and Craig Allen. “Precious as Silver, Vanilla Brings Cash and Crime to Madagascar.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 Aug. 2018, www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/08/30/world/africa/madagascar-vanilla.html.


Rabary, Lovasoa. “Madagascar Vanilla Crop Quality Suffers as Thieves Spark Violence.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 18 July 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-madagascar-vanilla/madagascar-vanilla-crop-quality-suffers-as-thieves-spark-violence-idUSKCN1UD12N.





"The bitter taste of Madagascar vanilla." Al Jazeera America, 19 Feb. 2017. Gale In Context: Global Issues, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A481697535/GIC?u=los42754&sid=GIC&xid=cad6e805. Accessed 10 Mar. 2020.





Watts, Jonathan. “Madagascar's Vanilla Wars: Prized Spice Drives Death and Deforestation.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 31 Mar. 2018, www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/mar/31/madagascars-vanilla-wars-prized-spice-drives-death-and-deforestation.

Sexual Assault in South Africa

A girl in South Africa is raped every five minutes (Shostak). She is sexually violated, and then violated again by the legal system and the health system of her home country (Jaafari). This is the reality women in South Africa face every day.
Sexual assault is rampant in South Africa. According to South African Police Service statistics, there were 41,583 reported cases of rape total from 2018-2019. In that same year, there was an average of 114 women raped a day, a 5% increase from the previous year (Mofokeng). But the numbers are most likely far larger, as only 10% of rapes are actually reported to police (Bauer). The rape culture is largely due to “a historical culture of ‘might is right’” and imbalanced power dynamics between men and women (Dewey). This culture of “might is right” stems from the patriarchal society in South Africa, encouraging toxic masculinity. Furthermore, the high male unemployment and wealth gap make men feel inferior and weak due to economic insecurity, leading them to take it out on women (Dewey). Because women in South Africa have low social status and a severe lack of power, men feel entitled to women’s bodies. This is evident as two-thirds of the men in South Africa don’t believe in a woman’s right to say no to sex (Shostak). However, these women are not only victims of sexual assault, but also of a country that is not prioritizing their health and their justice.
Hospitals in South Africa are forced to use old and expired rape kits, leading to loopholes that let suspects walk free and attack another woman (Dewey). Furthermore, women often cannot access sexual and reproductive health services like safe abortion (Mofokeng). The health system forces women who get pregnant after being raped to carry the unwanted pregnancy or turn to illegal abortion pills. In addition, when women get unsafe, unsanitary abortions, it can often lead to sepsis and hemorrhaging. But South African women are also being harmed by the legal system.
According to a 2017 study, since 2003, only 6% of reported assaults and rapes in South Africa ended with a conviction (Jaafari). South African rape culture normalizes and trivializes sexual assault on women—even the former president, Jacob Zuma, was tried for rape in 2005, though he was, unsurprisingly, acquitted (Dewey). Most incidents aren’t even reported, as many women do not come forward and report the incident because they do not think that they will be believed. Furthermore, many women do not have lawyers or adequate support during the trial. Even if there are laws that protect women’s rights in these aspects, they are not actually enforced (Jaafari). The legal system in South Africa is not giving victims of sexual assault the justice that they deserve.
The rape culture in South Africa must end in order to lower such high rates of sexual assault, and that will happen only when the patriarchal society encouraging toxic masculinity and male dominance ends. As protestor Tefo Tlale said, “Women don't feel safe. They don't feel like this is their country. Women are not seen as equal decision-makers or having a critical role to play in society. We have to . . . ensure the next generation [doesn’t] grow up in a society where they think they are better just because they are men” (Bauer).

                                                                    Works Cited

Mofokeng, Tlaleng, et al. “Violence Against Women Is Blocking Development by Tlaleng Mofokeng.” Project Syndicate, Project Syndicate, 21 Feb. 2020, www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/violence-against-women-blocking-development-by-tlaleng-mofokeng-2020-02.

Bauer, Nickolaus. “South Africa: Protesters Demand Action on Violence against Women.” News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 13 Sept. 2019, www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/south-africa-protesters-demand-action-violence-women-190913132640008.html.

Dewey, Caitlin. “South Africa, Once Called 'the World's Rape Capital,' Is Running out of Rape Kits.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 5 Mar. 2013, www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/03/05/south-africa-once-called-the-worlds-rape-capital-is-running-out-of-rape-kits/.

Jaafari, Joseph Darius. “In South Africa, a Call to Punish Rapists.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 27 Aug. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/08/27/opinion/in-south-africa-a-call-to-punish-rapists.html.

Shostak, E.M. "South Africa's Struggle with AIDS." History Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide, edited by Sonia G. Benson, et al., vol. 3, Gale, 2002. Gale In Context: Global Issues, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ2309003023/GIC?u=los42754&sid=GIC&xid=bca9fb37. Accessed 23 Mar. 2020.

The Fallout of Global Warming

The air is abnormally hot. The land is dry and cracked, just like your throat. Even if you wanted water or food, you wouldn’t be able to find any. Sometimes there’s thunderstorms, but when there is, there is usually a consequence that comes with it. This is what daily life is like for millions of people all across Africa.

Countries all across the globe contribute to global warming, including Africa, and everyone can feel the effects. Except, Africa only contributed 4% out of the world’s total to the entirety of global warming, yet they are the most vulnerable and unprepared to face climate change (Edem). As the issue of climate change becomes bigger and bigger, it is talking tolls on Africa’s environment, which sequentially affects the people of Africa.

Due to global warming, weather has been bad for growing crops, making Africa’s agricultural production worsen significantly (Edem). The IPCC reports that regions with large impoverished populations would face the brunt of the impact, which means that Africa is susceptible to floods, droughts, and other extreme weather (Africa). According to the IPCC reports, Africa has been warmed up by around 0.7 ℃ during the twentieth century (Africa). Currently, Africa has been stuck in a drought, leading to severe consequences regarding food security. More than 45 million people across Africa are starving, and many people are now relying on food aid in order to survive (McKenzie).

Not only has climate change caused millions of people to go hungry, it has also led to frequent occurrences of thunder and lightning in Africa (Lawal). Studies show that when temperature increases, thunderstorms become more frequent and more severe. The increase in thunder and lightning leads to economic damage and an increase in the number of fatalities. In Uganda, a strike of lightning hit a school, killing 20 children and injuring around 100 (Lawal). Africa is also more vulnerable to these natural disasters because they rely on agriculture for their economy. These farmers work in the open, making them a bigger target for storms and other natural disasters.

Starvation and bad weather aren’t the only consequences of climate change, and Africa is doing their best to battle against it. Thousands of organizations, individuals, and activists are meeting with leaders around the world in order to help fight against global warming. So far, most African countries have signed the 2016 Paris climate accord, more than 3,000 African businesses, leaders, and representatives have fathered for Africa Climate Week 2019, and more (Edem). By raising awareness, Africa hopes to fight the consequences of climate change and take measures to prevent their situation from getting worse.









Works Cited:


"Africa: Climate Change." Gale Global Issues Online Collection, Gale, 2019. Gale In Context:

Global Issues, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CP3208520147/GIC?u=los42754&sid=GIC&xid=13f423f6. Accessed 11 Mar. 2020.

Edem, Selormey E., and Logan Carolyn. “African Nations Are among Those Most Vulnerable to

Climate Change. A New Survey Suggests They Are Also the Least Prepared.” The Washington Post, 23 Sept. 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/23/african-nations-are-among-those-most-vulnerable-climate-change-new-survey-suggests-they-are-also-least-prepared/.

“Environmental Sustainability.” Human Development Indicators, United Nations Development

Programme.

“Human Development Index, 2017.” The Human Development Index around the World, Our

World in Data.

Lawal, Shola. “Africa, a Thunder and Lightning Hot Spot, May See Even More Storms.” The

New York Times, 10 Feb. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/02/10/climate/lightning-africa-climate-change.html.

McKenzie, David, and Brent Swails. “'If the Climate Stays like This, We Won't Make It' Say



Those on the Frontline of Africa’s Drought.” CNN, 14 Dec. 2019, www.cnn.com/2019/12/14/africa/climate-change-southern-africa-intl/index.html.

The Truth Behind Tradition

The Rhinoceros (rhino) — a critically endangered species — once roamed the Earth in multitudes. However, now there are only about 29,000 left (“Rhino”). The greatest threat for rhinos is the illegal trade for their horns that has been soaring in recent years. The tradition involved with rhinos’ horns is the motive behind rhino poaching. However, this issue not only affects rhinos but also humans as anti-poaching teams risk their lives while protecting the rhinos from the poachers.

If the entire rhino species disappear on this planet, the result would be a catastrophe that would threaten not only the African savannas but possibly the whole world. Rhinos are keystone species that once decimated, will cause huge downstream effects in its ecosystem (Sterbenz). In addition to that, rhinos' grazing helps the growth of Africa savannas which act as global “carbon sinks”, storage for carbon dioxide that causes global warming (Sterbenz). If rhinos are extinct, the planet might be affected because of a lack of grasslands.

Tradition plays a driving role in the illegal poaching of rhino horns. Rhino horns have been targeted by humans ever since ancient times (Gettleman). Yemeni used rhino horn as a sign of manhood; Persians thought rhino horn as a poison detector, and the Chinese believed rhino horn as an “irreplaceable pharmaceutical necessity” (“Poaching”). In recent decades, China and Vietnam have continued to believe that rhino horn serves as a component of medicine that can treat hangovers, impotence, fever, and even cancer. They believe that rhino horns can dispel the heat and cool blood which is why they can heal those illnesses (Cheung). However, there is no scientific proof even today (“Africa”). China and Vietnam have become the largest markets that drive the demand for rhino horn and illegal poaching. The peak of rhino poaching is in 2015, which has the death of 1349 rhinos. It has been decreasing since then. Last year, 2019, only 892 rhinos were found (“Numbers”). This statistic shows that conservation pressures taken had been effective. However, the price paid was heavy for anti-poaching efforts.

In recent years, rhino poaching has become an issue with human casualties and sacrifices. For many rangers, the role they play has become extremely stressful and dangerous (O'Grady). Rangers work long hours in horrible conditions in nature in order to prevent poachers from taking their chances. They cannot leave the reserve simply because “What happens if a rhino dies in your absence?”(O'Grady). However, not only does the working condition worsened for the rangers, they face life-threatening threats as they protect rhinos at the front line. Poachers are supplied by international criminal organizations with advanced weapons that are highly destructive (“Poaching”). Their weapons include AK-47s and grenade launchers which can easily kill people (“Africa”). Between 2012 and 2018, 269 rangers were killed across Africa and the majority of them were killed by poachers.

Overall, the belief that rhino horn can treat diseases causes people to illegally hunt for rhinos in Africa. The rangers that are trying to protect rhinos constantly face life-threatening dangers due to destructive technologies. Even though measures had been taken internationally, there are still many cases of rhino poaching. Organizations believe that stopping the demand for rhino horn will stop the illegal poachings, and education is the key. Education will make consumers understand the consequences of their actions and stop them from purchasing products of rhino horns (“Numbers”).

Citations

“Africa's Poaching Crisis.” AWF, campaign.awf.org/poaching-infographic/.

Cheung, Hubert, et al. “Medicinal Use and Legalized Trade of Rhinoceros Horn From the Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners in Hong Kong - Hubert Cheung, Lorraine Mazerolle, Hugh P. Possingham, Duan Biggs, 2018.” SAGE Journals, m8.

Gettleman, Jeffrey. “Coveting Horns, Ruthless Smugglers' Rings Put Rhinos in the Cross Hairs.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 31 Dec. 2012, www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/world/africa/ruthless-smuggling-rings-put-rhinos-in-the-cross-hairs.html.

O'Grady, Story by Cathleen. “The Price of Protecting Rhinos.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 13 Jan. 2020, www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/01/war-rhino-poaching/604801/.

“Poaching Numbers: Conservation: Save the Rhino International.” Save The Rhino, www.savetherhino.org/rhino-info/poaching-stats/.

“Poaching: Rhino Threats: Save the Rhino International.” Save The Rhino,www.savetherhino.org/rhino-info/threats/poaching-rhino-horn/.

“Rhino.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/species/rhino.

Sterbenz, Christina. “Why The Extinction Of All Rhinos Could Be Catastrophic.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 20 Oct. 2014, www.businessinsider.com/rhino-extinction-could-be-catastrophic-2014-10.

Development in the Congo Basin

When thinking of a developed country, most people picture skyscrapers everywhere. However, when considering the progressing development of the Congo Basin, it is necessary to shift expectations from concrete jungle to jungle. The Congo Basin is the second largest jungle despite being the youngest, and it is home to spectacularly diverse wildlife and plantlife (Lanfear). Unfortunately, as the six countries it spans continue to develop, industries are pressed to use more jungle commodities as means for income (Casareo, Games, Megevand). The development of this region could come with serious environmentally damaging repercussions if the management of the Congo Basin jungle’s valuable resources does not change.

Countries overlapping with the Congo Basin rely on the jungle for income and resources. If a single aspect of the ecosystem’s balance is disturbed, it creates a ripple effect endangering the workings of the entire jungle. Countries in the Congo Basin must approach development and poverty reduction in ways that protect the jungle.

Establishing better infrastructure and technology is expensive. Natural commodities such as lumber, diamonds, bushmeat, and petroleum are the most valuable export goods in the Congo Basin and they all come from the jungle (Casareo). In order to extract these materials, the natural environment is altered and often harmed. The region’s poverty and dependence on raw materials has led to illegal logging and export of lumber becoming a major issue (Games). Cameroon lost 187,000 hectares of forest in 2017 due to illegal export of lumber (Games). This extreme depletion shows how heavily citizens of the Congo Basin rely on the jungle, and this has led to desperate measures. In addition, as the Congo Basin region develops, transportation, infrastructure, demand for biofuel, and improved agricultural technology are putting pressure on an essential element of a healthy Earth (Megevand).

Jungles are of the utmost importance to Earth because their ecosystems make them uniquely capable of slowing global warming. For example, areas of peat moss called peatlands cover only 3% of Earth’s land surface, but they absorb as much carbon as all the plants and trees in the world (Fountain). Recently, a peatland the size of New York state was discovered in the Congo Basin during an expedition (Fountain). Simon Lewis, a professor and author who took part in the discovery, said on the subject: “It’s astonishing to me that in 2017 we can be making these kinds of discoveries” (Fountain). The concealed peatlands make one wonder: what else hidden in the jungle is vital to the environment? Currently, the peatlands in the Congo Basin are inaccessible, but as transportation diffuses to new areas, that could change and it could also affect the jungle’s many big animals. Elephants and gorillas are necessary for the Congo Basin jungle to grow because they eat fruit from trees and spread the seeds around the jungle (Lanfear). The Congo Basin has more big animals than any other jungle, but as industry impinges on their habitats, the Congo Basin’s world-class gardeners are put at increasing risk (Lanfear).

How do we keep the jungle’s wildlife and plantlife safe as countries in the Congo Basin develop? Many organizations are working to answer this question. The World Wildlife Fund is conducting a program in agricultural areas of the Congo Basin in which they introduce farmers to sustainable methods that protect the jungle (Casareo). In addition, they have planted 10 million trees (Casareo). According to the Program on Forests, an organization focused on forests and poverty reduction, in order for the Congo Basin to be protected through development, the global demand for natural commodities needs to be kept in check and governments as well as citizens of the region need to be informed about sustainable jungle management. There is a long way to go, but effective development and progress toward a developed, non-concrete jungle depends on these issues being addressed.

Sources:

Casareo, Kerry, et al. “Congo Rainforest and Basin.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/places/congo-basin.

Fountain, Henry. “Scientists Map Vast Peat Swamps, a Storehouse of Carbon, in Central Africa.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 Jan. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/01/11/science/peat-swamp-congo-global-warming.html?searchResultPosition=1.

Games, Dianna. “The Fight to Save Africa's Forests.” African Business, Nov. 2019, p. 14. Gale In Context: Global Issues, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A606080629/GIC?u=los42754&sid=GIC&xid=5e327f2e. Accessed 11 Mar. 2020.

Lanfear, Sophie, director. Our Planet: Jungles. Netflix Official Site, Netflix, 5 Apr. 2019, www.netflix.com/watch/80094030?trackId=13752289&tctx=0%2C0%2Cf128d018d255b181980b83d5a1b0a1a6d591bec6%3A503d8b2d17c3421e53c866f8281ec492e44345bc%2C%2C.

Megevand, Carole, et al. “Economic Growth and Drivers of Deforestation in the Congo Basin.” Profor, Profor, 24 Feb. 2017, www.profor.info/knowledge/economic-growth-and-drivers-deforestation-congo-basin.

The Women That Live in Fear

Women all around the world have taken their stands in promoting better rights and safety for themselves for the past numerous decades. With every year to come it seems women are gaining their equality little by little, but this leaves out the brutal sexual violence women in South Africa face daily. Nearly 7 women are killed a day, usually after rape or some type of sexual harassment. Oftentimes receiving no medical attention, and almost never getting their justice, women are in desperate need of change in South Africa (Khumalo).


Violence against women is prominent, split between domestic violence and random rapes or killings. While violence in general is quite common and men are also victims, the rate at which women are targeted is much higher, and they are most commonly assaulted or raped before their death. Women afraid to leave their house are taking a stand and protesting for more rights and for there to be some sort of action taken to stop these horrific assaults (Khumalo). Not only is the violence itself is an issue, but the medical tragedies caused by it is outstanding. South Africa has guidelines for it’s private and public health care providers when dealing with rape and sexual assault victims. However, it seems these guidelines are not always held accountable for as there are real scenarios of victims getting denied care when it’s desperately needed (McQuoid). It is no doubt that women are living in fear, as each day there’s the high risk of a violent attack, and yet another risk of not receiving any proper medical care.


It’s clear there are measures that need to be taken to prevent this kind of violence because the severities of the injuries caused to these women are oftentimes life-threatening. Indeed, there are measures that are being taken, only it hasn’t been enough to put an end to these violent crimes yet. One african doctor, Denis Mukwege, won the nobel peace prize for his efforts in helping the sexual violence in Africa. He is a gynecologist specialized in operating on women who have had their insides ripped and severely harmed from sexual violence. He saves the lives of roughly 10 women a day, which is doing so much to help women in danger, but at the same time shows the number of women going into the hospital for his help because of the violence occurring daily (Gettleman). In regards to preventional measures, the AU - African Union - has had meetings discussing what can be done to help reduce the notorious sexual violence. The AU agreed that increasing women’s roles in society and giving them more power in their participation in peace processes is vital. (AU) The South African population must understand the importance of any common law, no matter what it’s regarding, and the AU’s ability to enforce these laws, as this will be crucial for the government to be able to have any power in administering these more important and dangerous laws when it comes to sexual violence, or violence in general. It seems even with the active efforts to shed light on this topic, sexual violence statistics have shown that the numbers have actually only gotten worse, as there is not enough fear of what kind of consequences these wrong-doings bring about, so South Africa needs to enforce bringing justice to those who deserve it (Student)


In conclusion, it seems the lengths that the government have gone to to try and reduce the amount of violence towards women has not been nearly enough. It continues to be a reoccurring issue, girls being raped assaulted, and killed, at an appalling rate, not being brought justice, and fear continuing to take over lives of women all ages all throughout South Africa.














"AU expresses deep concern over persistence of sexual violence in armed conflicts in Africa." Xinhua News Agency, 1 Aug. 2019. Gale In Context: Global Issues, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A595147550/GIC?u=los42754&sid=GIC&xid=c341abf8. Accessed 25 Mar. 2020


Gettleman, Jeffrey. “Denis Mukwege: A Sense of Calm Amid the Grinding Work of Saving Lives.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 5 Oct. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/10/05/world/africa/denis-mukwege-nobel-peace-prize.html


Khumalo, Thuso. “South Africa Declares 'Femicide' a National Crisis.” VOA News, 20 Sept. 2019, 6:29, www.voanews.com/africa/south-africa-declares-femicide-national-crisis


McQuoid-Mason, David. “May Doctors Refuse to Treat Rape Survivors in Order to Avoid Having to Give Evidence in Court?” Gale in Context, 2016, journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/m_sajbl/9/1/m_sajbl_v9_n1_a2.pdf?expires=1585173068&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=FAE9C2B836D66B85CF8E85A06400358A. Accessed 3 Dec. 2019


"Student kills herself after rape, adding to outrage over sexual violence in South Africa." CNN Wire, 9 Aug. 2018. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A549478382/OVIC?u=los42754&sid=OVIC&xid=c1ffc62e. Accessed 25 Mar. 2020

The Issue on Climate Change

Climate change has been a popular topic in the news in recent years, from the Paris Agreement to young activists. However, climate change has had a massive impact on South Africa. Droughts, floods, and storms, along with  economic instability, have all contributed to growing numbers of people in South Africa who face a food crisis. During a food crisis, households are able to meet basic food needs but only after selling essentials, such as livestock (Anyadike). A famine, which is more serious than a food crisis, is “when acute malnutrition rates exceed 30%, more than two people per 10,000 die per day, and people are unable to obtain food and basic necessities”, according to the United Nations (Gladstone). Currently, conditions in Africa aren’t improving. Every dry season, droughts are getting worse due to global warming as the government struggles to improve the living conditions of the impoverished population.

Droughts are a major factor that contributes to food shortages and famine in South Africa. Temperature changes in South Africa are projected to be higher than average global temperatures, and with climate change, droughts will only get worse each year (Shephard). Furthermore, areas in South Africa are still recovering from droughts in 2017 and 2018, with the number of malnourished children expected to rise (Anyadike). Along with droughts, flooding and storms continue to destroy crops and villages, making the development of emergency food services even more important (Roelf).  If improvements aren’t made to the protection of crops or the availability of food services, the 45 million people across South Africa being affected by food shortages may be pushed into a famine (Roelf).

Along with droughts and floods, South Africa’s economic instability also plays a part in the food shortages. Economic growth has slowed due to conflicts over weak prices for oil and other materials, worsening food insecurity in South Africa (Vigne). Additionally, agriculture plays a large role in South Africa’s economy, contributing to a significant portion of South Africa’s exports (Vigne). Crop failures caused by droughts and storms will only cause South Africa’s economy to worsen because of South Africa’s dependence on agriculture. Policies have been made in order to be somewhat self-sufficient industrially and sustain economic growth, but inflation, lack of investment in businesses, and trade sanctions have complicated the road to a stable economy (Vigne).

Recently, the U.S. Agency for International Development has announced that it would provide $8 million to combat the swarms of locusts, despite some U.N. officials saying that they need $76 million to address the swarms and possibly more if actions aren’t taken quickly (Gramer). Mark Green, USAID’s administrator, has stated that the goal of the U.S., as their partners and allies, is to have the countries take the lead and have the U.S. support them and work with them to combat food shortages (Gramer). With most problems stemming from climate change, Robson Mutandi, the IFAD director for the South Africa hub has stated that “climate change is an existential emergency which must be tackled with the utmost urgency” (Roelf).

Works Cited
Anyadike, Obi. “Drought in Africa Leaves 45 Million in Need across 14 Countries.” The New Humanitarian, 10 June 2019, www.thenewhumanitarian.org/analysis/2019/06/10/drought-africa-2019-45-million-in-need.

"Climate change: A model to forecast the spread of malaria." Global Warming Focus, 2 Mar. 2020, p. 6. Gale In Context: Global Issues, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A615827288/GIC?u=los42754&sid=GIC&xid=56bdf448. Accessed 12 Mar. 2020.

Gladstone, Rick. “U.N. Aid Chief Warns of Looming 'Horror' as Somalia Again Faces Famine.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 5 June 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/06/05/world/africa/africa-famine-united-nations-somalia.html.

Gramer, Robbie. “Top U.S. Aid Chief Warns of Locust Devastation in East Africa.” Foreign Policy, Foreign Policy, 26 Feb. 2020, foreignpolicy.com/2020/02/26/usaid-mark-green-locust-swarms-east-africa/ .

Roelf, Wendell. “Record 45 Million People in Southern Africa Facing Food Crisis: U.N. Agencies.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 31 Oct. 2019, www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-hunger/record-45-million-people-in-southern-africa-facing-food-crisis-un-agencies-idUSKBN1XA25G.

Shepard, Dan. “Global Warming: Severe Consequences for Africa | Africa Renewal.” United Nations, United Nations, Mar. 2019, www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/december-2018-march-2019/global-warming-severe-consequences-africa.

Vigne, Randolph, et al. “South Africa.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 12 Apr. 2020, www.britannica.com/place/South-Africa.

Nigeria's Stigma on Homosexuality

McKenzie, Hamish, and Mahalia Lodge. “Nigeria: The Most Homophobic Country On Earth?”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/11/first-mhttps:..tinyurl.com/en-go-on-trial-under-nigerias-anti-homosexuality-laws
https://theconversation.com/desmond-tutus-long-history-of-fighting-for-lesbian-and-gay-rights-131598
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/mar/30/blackmail-prejudice-persecution-gay-rights-nigeria