How Do You Deal? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**simply_angelic** · 10-29-2008, 06:51 PM

How do you deal with the issues of the countries that you travel to? How do you deal when the place you called home for a month or a year or whatever suddenly changes for the worse and western society just doesn't give a crap?

How do you deal when a city you know and love, with people you know and love in it finally becomes entrenched in the war that surrounds it? A war that is barely spoken of...a war with so many "players" that new factions seem to be popping up from every angle...a war with no rules...and no end point in sight. How do you deal?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3280...to-rebels.html

I want to do something. But how do I even begin?

**Esterina** · 10-29-2008, 08:12 PM

It's an ugly war, ugly because too many civils are the direct victims. Sorry to hear you know people in Goma.

Are you still in touch ? Do you know if they have fled ?

I don't think much can be done, when even the international NGOs are retreating. A classmate from university works for Action against hunger as logistician. He was based in Goma but he wrote today they had to go back to Kinshasa for their safety.

If you can contact your friend, maybe donate money (through western union?) if they want to flee without joining a refugee camp. Dunno really... so sad...

**Diorama** · 10-29-2008, 10:02 PM

Good question. Telling people about this is one thing you can do. Being the voice for them. I didn't know about this until you brought the article to my attention.

I didn't live there, but I was in burma for three weeks last year and of course the riots where starting just when I left. But then they had the cyclone earlier this year that ripped the country apart. I just kept thinking about all the lovely Burmese people that I had met and wondered if they were okay or even still alive. And here we are 6 months later and everyone has forgotten about Burma and the monk beatings, cyclone etc...It's no longer 'in the news. And people have moved on to bigger news items

The one thing I can do is make sure I am always informed with the situation there. Read every article I can and be the voice for them amongst my friends. Eduction is liberation.

Sorry though to hear about the place you love

**The Monsignor** · 10-30-2008, 06:03 AM

I'm American - we usually just pick a fight...

Seriously though, that feeling of helplessness is very normal. It's frustrating when you're watching events unfold right on top of people you know and care about and not be able to do a damned thing about it.

There is no easy solution.

**mish99** · 10-30-2008, 07:48 AM

I dont know...I cant offer any advice.

It is the most awful feeling when you feel helpless. I know it is TOTALY different, but I feel helpless about South Africa. Yes, im living in the UK, but all my friends and family are home and I just see my country going to the shit, and no one is doing anything about it. Yes, its nothing like what is going on in Goma, definitly not, but the feeling is still the same.

What I think is worse is that no one cares about Africa, so much pain and violence goes on, and nobody actually know. And I think thats because Africa has nothing to 'offer'. Its so incredibly sad. All I can think of doing is volunteering, but then you put yourself in danger. All you can do really is tell people about it, try maybe donate money to organisations. Im sorry, but I just dont know what we can do....

Rhine · 10-30-2008, 09:23 AM

Things are deffinently getting a bit touchy. I live in Goma now.

**Esterina** · 10-30-2008, 09:28 AM

Wow, hang on ! We read contradictory news here : on one hand, a treve has just been signed, and on the other hand, the Nkunda says that the UN won't prevent him from taking Goma.

What are your views on the matter ?

**voyd** · 10-30-2008, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simply_angelic

How do you deal when the place you called home for a month or a year or whatever suddenly changes for the worse and western society just doesn't give a crap?

Ya, it's unfortunate that Darfur was exploited by certain Western factions as a PR proxy to attack China & Muslims...but because the Congo lacks oil and any Chinese/Arab connections - it has been roundly ignored by the Western press.

Despite the fact that 5 million have already been killed in the Civil War there - absolutely dwarfing the number of casualties in Darfur.

I need to stop stressing over politics though, cuz it's verrryyy bad for my health...

**worldwidemike** · 10-30-2008, 12:27 PM

Poor Congo...it has been a pawn in its neighbors' and the world's power games since its independence. Honestly, what is there to do? Personally, I think it is simply too huge and too divided of a country to exist as a political unit. There was no history of it being a unified nation, which holds together other large political entities like Russia, U.S., China, etc. This might be a country that Balkanization would actually help. But the UN has been adamant in its refusal to allow that to happen... from the very beginnings with the Katanga secession movement (admittedly fueled by Belgian desires to keep the mineral wealth flowing, but also acknowledging that there simply is no reason for Congo to exist as one country except the colonial powers decreed it to be).

And Voyd, you are way, way off on Congo not having wealth worth fighting over. If stable, it could become one of the richest nations on the planet in terms of mineral wealth. That is precisely why all its neighbors are within its borders backing various "rebel" fronts...they want to rape it of its wealth!

Rhine, take care over there. Don't be afraid to hop in your plane and get the Hell out, if you feel your life is in danger. Being fired from a job after the fact is one thing...not being alive to get another job is much worse...!

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and with the Congolese people...

worldwidemike

**voyd** · 10-30-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldwidemike

And Voyd, you are way, way off on Congo not having wealth worth fighting over. If stable, it could become one of the richest nations on the planet in terms of mineral wealth. That is precisely why all its neighbors are within its borders backing various "rebel" fronts...they want to rape it of its wealth!

Mineral, but not oil - which is what certain Western factions (including the US), need most. Sure, other Africans would love to get more blood diamonds to sell as a "cash crop" since they lack developed industry, but such bling is not really a strategic interest for the US.

Otherwise, how else to explain the ridonkulously lopsided coverage?

Quote:

Why is mass death the cause of indignation and confrontation in Sudan, but exponentially more massive carnage in Congo unworthy of mention? The answer is simple: in Sudan, the US has a geopolitical nemesis to confront: Arabs, and their Chinese business partners. In the Congo, it is US allies and European and American corporate interests that benefit from the slaughter. Therefore, despite five million skeletons lying in the ground, there is no call to arms from the American government. It is they who set the genocidal Congolese machine in motion.

The Congolese genocide is not part of the American political discussion. When Africa is mentioned at all, it is about Darfur. A quarter million people have died there, compared to five million in Congo. Both holocausts are crimes against humanity, but only the smaller one, Darfur, is a fit subject for inclusion in the US political debate.

BTW, only a few tens of thousands in that bodycount for Darfur actually died of violence. Others were just essentially ecological victims from the effects of climate change.

**Canadian Bacon** · 10-30-2008, 02:03 PM

I think you sort of shake your head, curse quietly and be thankful of where you live now.

**mbo108** · 10-31-2008, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian Bacon

I think you sort of shake your head, curse quietly and be thankful of where you live now.

In regretful agreement here.

**expatben** · 10-31-2008, 05:30 AM

I agree with Dio on this one-be a voice and do not let people forget what is happening in the Congo, Darfur and even on our own streets with homelessness. Some people will ignore you voice, some will condratict you saying the problem is not as bad as all that but some people will listen and some will even become voices themselves.
Other than that and the other suggestions here there is not much you really can do-other than refuse to accept this as how it always will be.

**simply_angelic** · 10-31-2008, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atchoum

Wow, hang on ! We read contradictory news here : on one hand, a treve has just been signed, and on the other hand, the Nkunda says that the UN won't prevent him from taking Goma.

What are your views on the matter ?

If you follow the issues they might sign stuff but you always have to remember "TIA" This is Africa. Treaties often don't actually mean shit to them, unless it is beneficial for them at the moment. It's kind of why there's such a big problem there because trust basically doesn't exist IMO

Edited to add: thanks so much for you help guys it's an issue I'm really struggling with...I want to be on the next plane outta here~ I love the DRC. P.S. Rhine, keep us updated s'il vous plait

Rhine · 10-31-2008, 10:44 AM

Everything seems to be getting back to normal. The market is filling up, so that seems to be good news. And alot of the humanitarian NGO's are also coming back.

I guess we will see what happens soon.

**lost in texas** · 11-02-2008, 01:02 PM

Haven't been on in a while, but I can kind of relate here. I think the reality is that conflict and suffering are taking place all the time, all over the world. Unless our countries are involved, or our "national interests" affected in some way, most of us never hear or think about it. Because we feel powerless, it's easier to tune out than to feel empathy--which can be painful. The problem is that when you know people who are affected, it's impossible to tune out. That makes it real to you.

Even when there's nothing you can do to help, it can help us to realize how fortunate we are in our own lives, by comparison, and drive us to be better people. Like CB said, be thankful. Of course, it can also make you cynical and less empathetic in the future. I've experienced both. Staying positive is easy to talk about, but it's much harder to do.

**maracle** · 11-02-2008, 01:40 PM

You're still in college aren't you Laura? It's not much, but maybe you could write something for the student paper about your travels in africa and in the congo and tell them what's happening now. If you describe some people you met, experiences you had, etc it humanizes a problem that just seems like some anonymous country that most people have no connection to.

It's not much, but I know a lot of people read the student daily where I went so at least more people would be educated any maybe a few would even pay attention beyond the next few days.

**simply_angelic** · 11-02-2008, 04:38 PM

really good idea. thanks maracle

**MeTurk** · 11-03-2008, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by worldwidemike

And Voyd, you are way, way off on Congo not having wealth worth fighting over. If stable, it could become one of the richest nations on the planet in terms of mineral wealth. That is precisely why all its neighbors are within its borders backing various "rebel" fronts...they want to rape it of its wealth!

That's what I thought, Africa's got loads of steel doesn't it? They've been doing shows on UK tele saying how cars are now worth more as scrap than a usable car due to steel prices going up. I doubt the Chinese would have such great interest in Africa if it didn't have something worth exploting. I'm sure they've got loads of natural energy sources as well, it's also a wonder Africa hasn't been exploited as a space port either, the continent has the most land mass around the equator.

I heard on the news here that UN troops are moving towards the refugee camps now to see whats really happening there.

Rhine · 11-03-2008, 02:26 PM

heavy fighting between Saffie peacekeepers and the rebels has started.