This is a Painful Issue..

This week myself and 3 JWAC members (Alex Baker, Ben Martin, Haley Bupp) went to view a documentary called "The Greatest Silence: Rape in the Congo".  I know, it sounds like a peculiar thing.  I had NO IDEA what a problem this was.  Rape is being used by the Congo military AND "rebels" from within the Congo and from surrounding countries (Rwanda, Uganda, etc).  The conflict is mainly in the Easterm part of the Congo where it is commodity rich---oil, gold, diamonds, and  mineral called Coltan (80% of the world's supply is in this area) which is used in the circuit board of the cell phone you are using.  The central government is weak and cannot stop the rebels, and even their OWN military, from raiding these areas to gain access to these commodities and sell them on the world market.  These groups terrorize the local villages to force them to leave.  When they enter a village they pillage and brutally rape and torture women and children in front of the husbands, then kill the husbands.  It is a horrendous situation.  Coincidently, there is an article in today's New York Times that reminds us that unspeakable violence is STILL taking place in our world today.  We made an excellent contact at the documentary viewing and JWAC will try to bring them to campus to further inform us on this human rights issue...PLEASE JOIN US!! Help create awareness of these types of issues!!