This link has been bookmarked by 3 people . It was first bookmarked on 30 May 2007, by wirth7.
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05 Nov 14
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When we concentrate on stories of war and violence, we should try to find out as much as we can about the situation in order better understand the reasons for the conflict, including ways in which we, North Americans, through what we buy and value, may be contributing to these conflicts, and how through our governments and relief organizations, we might also contribute to a solution to the conflicts.
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To make matters worse, international financial institutions, particularly the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, developed conditions that African countries, including Sierra Leone, had to fulfill in order to get their help. These conditions formed what are called economic structural adjustment programs. These international organizations argued that since African countries were so poor and so much in debt, they needed to greatly reduce their spending. But in lessening its spending, Sierra Leone had to dismiss many people who were working for the government. They also had to reduce the amount of money they spent on social services, such as education and health care. As a result, already suffering, the Sierra Leone, people suffered even more from a lack of jobs and of social services.
In this environment, a brutal civil war developed in Sierra Leone.
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Sankoh claimed that the RUF was fighting for the average Sierra Leonean, fighting against corruption, political repression, and poverty. However, it soon became clear that these were empty words. The RUF began to use the most brutal of practices. They forcefully recruited children as young a 10 years and trained them to fight. They addicted these children to drugs so as to turn them into brutal soldiers. The RUF indiscriminately attacked rural villages, kidnaping children and cutting off the arms, legs, ears and noses of villagers. The RUF caused a reign of terror in Sierra Leone.
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The most important of these foreign companies was the De Beers group of companies. In 1935, the De Beer company formed the Sierra Leone Selection Trust, a company which controlled most of the country’s diamond production. In addition for more than 50 years, the De Beer company has controlled most of the world’s diamond trade.
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30 May 07
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