In the last ten years in Congo, hundreds of thousands of women have been raped, most of them gang raped.

A recent escalation of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in over 45,000 people fleeing their homes since Monday.

As men, women, and children flee with whatever they can carry, camps for displaced people are straining under the burden. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the situation could become "a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions."

A cease-fire has allowed supplies and aid workers to return to the area, but the situation is still dire. If you can, please donate to bring emergency water and sanitation aid into the existing camps. Even skipping one meal or latte makes a difference...you can collect change from friends too...just leave a jar in the common area with a sign posted!

DC offers many great free opportunities to young interns and workers but the availability of advance screenings of feature films and documentaries may be one of the best. Often, talent from the film is also present and the receptions at movie screenings are some of the tastiest around.

Campus Progress recently did a premier screening of Generation Kill with David Simon and Evan Wright and Reel Progress, part of the Center for American Progress, regularly does advance screenings, most recently featuring Kevin Costner and his new film Swing Vote.

Case in point, check out a free screening of Women of Liberia: Fighting for Peace at the E Street Cinema on Tuesday July 29th at 7PM. The documentary follows ex-child soldiers, detailing the different struggles they face in the disarmament process. Sponsored by Amnesty International, a discussion with some of the women featured in the film and the Academy award-winning director will follow the screening. 

While I don’t think they’ll be any free food, the subject matter is incredibly important and the film is helping to rally support around the International Violence Against Women Act, a critical piece of legislation.

That was the title of today's provocative policy seminar at the libertarian Cato Institute where the moderator marveled that panelists could say things that you'll only hear at CATO, such as Edward Luttwak's insistence that we just let African states disappear.

The panelists were actually refreshing in that they took a critical look at the impact of aid in all its forms (humanitarian, economic development, military, non-governmental, etc) from the West to sub-Saharan African states.

Another case of genocide in the world? The death of hundred of children in Kenya, with the bodies piling up.  How much is too much?  When reading about the current situation in Kenya I have to agree with the CNN article characterizing the situation as genocide.  Regretfully the current events in Kenya bring back to my mindscenes described in a book I read in my English class this semester, "A Long Way Gone" by Ishmael Beah, about children and the effects of the violence of war upon them.  I highly recommend his book which tells the story of a boy soldier in Sierra Leone. Children are victims of war, either because of death, injuries or from being conscripted to become soldiers in a war between is still tribal groups.  The question that comes to mind when reading the article on CNN is what can we do that is effective to change the situation?  The campaign regarding Darfur  has been going on for some time and yet the problem on violence is still there.  Do we have any ideas on how to deal with a crisis that repeats itself throughout the African continent?  I know Senator Obama is busy trying to win in Iowa at this moment, but this is a good moment to show that he can give some creative solutions even if he is not the most experienced candidate.  He can try to show why he is the real hope for change.  Genocide has happened before and is happening again.  The question is, do we have the ideas for solutions, the will-power and the leadership to try to stop it?  Genocide is a moral issue that most be dealt with.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/724286,CST-NWS-sweet03.article

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/01/03kenya.violence/index.html

Fresh on the heels of its green issue featuring Leo DiCaprio with an adorable baby seal, Vanity Fair has devoted July to Africa, with U2's Bono acting as symbolic "guest editor." I admit I was skeptical at first, especially considering the glossy adds for Product (Red)--Bono's effort to donate a percentage of profits from consumer goods to health care in Africa--throughout the magazine. And the Brad Pitt interview with Archbishop Desmond Tutu is unreadable. But I highly recommend Sebastian Junger's reporting from Chad on China's growing economic influence in Africa and support for the genocidal Sudanese regime. Junger highlights fears on the continent that over-reliance on Chinese construction, labor, and oil investments will create a neo-colonial relationship. And he points out that the United States' blockage of China's attempt to purchase UNOCAL forced China's hand in pursuing oil reserves in beyond-the-pale Sudan. A reminder that energy policy is a crucial aspect of our foreign policy. And that climate change and poverty and genocide go hand in hand.

The profile of Jeffrey Sachs is interesting if you don't already know a lot about him. I also wouldn't miss "The Lazarus Effect," which details exactly how the uber-slick Product (Red) campaign works: The advertising dollars are drawn from each company's marketing budget (Gap, Apple, Converse, etc.), so no charity funds are going toward PR. And so far, Product (Red) leather jackets, watches, iPods, and such have raised $25 million to provide Africans with anti-retroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS. (I just can't figure out why those annoying parentheses are part of the name).

If you make it through all this, the excerpt from Tina Brown's new book on Princess Diana is pretty absorbing. Who knew she was secretly in love with a Pakistani heart surgeon?