Colossal "rape mine" where more than 300,000 women and girls have been brutalised

You and no one else will change this abomination of a continent. The leaders are corrupt to the core with no concept of sympathy for the downtrodden. This is a dog eat dog world and woe to those that do not understand it. Rape of young girls occurs throughout the continent by brothers, uncles, cousins, fathers, and friends. But to my knowledge no rape case has been presented and prosecuted in Africa, unless it involved a white man, where the police could collect money. We are dealing with the most corrupt and heartless people on this Earth.

I would like to do that.

"We've come to a point where it's integral to most of us surviving."
That is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. There is nothing about a Cel Phone or personal computer that is INTEGRAL to SURVIVAL.

You have clearly never been to Africa and you are incredibly ignorant on the history of the human species.

I have lived in Nigeria for 5 years, as a permanent resident. Check out my profile.

The truth can be a bitter pill to swallow. I just did not have the sugar to make it go down.

I've re-read my comment and can't see where I specified personal devices, but since that is what you read into it that is what I'll address.

I personally do not own a computer at home...I don't have cable or the internet either (my kids LOVE it...Ha). As far as a personal cell phone goes...my job requires it. I could do without it for sure, but I am required to respond to emails and be available when I'm not in the building or 'on the clock'. Most of the people that I know are in the same boat. So take away my cell phone and you will take a way my employment. Then what? Find something else? Something that doesn't use any of these electronic devices...that's impossible.

I also happen to know quite a number of people who, in this dying economy, have been backed into the position of being self employed which also requires the use of all of these items to maintain a livable income.

So...I stand behind my statement...my opinion. In this day and age it's an accurate assessment.

My father lives in Montana, and he lives off the grid. In fact, when we first moved up there, we were REALLY off the grid, no power, no running water, etc. Went to the bathroom in an outhouse, grow/grew our own food and traded locally. We walked into town, where a number of people also rode horses into town.

Of course I am not advocating this as a way of life for everyone, or even anyone neccessarily. My point is that your assertion that these things are required is simply not true. It is a choice. Incidentally, my father is not employed, and has not been for the last 20 years and seems to do just fine.

The problem is that the Earth can only handle so many people not making the choice your father has. Not enough will or plan to in the future so instead the Earth will adjust and as it always does it will get rid of the virus...us. Then the Earth will heal and the cycle will begin again. We can all dream and hope to avoid this but the comments here prove that our gadgets and remaining comfortable in our careers and lives are blinding too many of us to the reality of our condition.

The wars on all continents and the rapes mentioned in this article are all signs of greed and over consumption and we ignore this at our own peril. America's, and other countries' roosters will come home to roost all over this planet as we are now seeing both financially and ecologically.

I agree. As optimistic as I try to be, ultimately I see human beings as becoming extinct. We are doomed to die off.

All things are doomed to change and disappear one way or the other. It is the impermanence of all things that is one of the pillars - and even the main pillar - of Buddhist teachings.

Ok...so your father decides to live off the grid, you decide to live off the grid and I decide to live off the grid (which I would actually be quite comfortable doing)...what impact is that having if the collective 'we' are not making those same decisions. Am I to simply feel good that I am doing what I should be doing, though I am certain it's having zero impact on the lives of the women and girls mentioned in the article.

It's a collective stand that needs to be taken. It's a nation realizing that their actions have consequences outside of 4G speeds and an up to the minute Facebook status.

By waiting for everybody else to do something before doing it too, nothing ever gets done.

Exactly, that is the collective thinking and I see now way of finding the 100th monkey that will set off a massive change in time to save our species.

True enough, I know that it is a mortal Id that creates that fear. It's odd that I do not fear death in the abstract at all, but I do in the here and now.

The collective starts with you. I agree it will take a collective effort...but are we going to wait around until "he does it too?" Lastly, it is not about "feeling good that I am doing what I should be doing." It is doing what you SHOULD be doing because it is RIGHT, regardless of how it makes you feel.

Look, I am a hypocrite I know. Here I am on my computer in my apartment in the Bay Area. I just don't want us to start acting as if WE (you AND I) do not have a part in the blame here. We share a portion of the guilt.

Most girls are raped shortly after reaching puberty. Many before puberty, as these idiots think that sex with a virgin, protects them from HIV and gives them special juju powers.. I am not joking or lying. You are suggesting conversing with a less than Stone Age mentality when it comes to women. Women are meant to be used , abused, and discarded if they become troublesome. That is the way most Africans see their women. The African man sits under a shade tree smoking his pipe, drinking his beer, bullshitting with his fellow elders, while the wife labors in the field, growing the crop, cutting the firewood, selling goods in the market. Then at night he fucks her and goes to sleep, while castigating her for being lazy. This is the way life works in Africa.

Which specific African country and ethnic group or tribe are you referring to? Africa is a huge continent, you can't broad-brush that way. I don't think you've ever been to any country in Africa, because your comment is very ignorant.

I am typing to you right now from Lagos, Nigeria. My home for 5 years. The minority of educated Africans are better, but the villagers are just as I described. A man here has the right to toss out his wife and children, without support, if he finds a younger more attractive woman. I have a number of girlfriends that suffered this fate. I see the little village ladies and children carrying huge loads of firewood on their head to the roadside for the charcoal manufacturers to buy. Farming is considered woman's work. I have plenty of photos to share if you doubt me. Having a wife and several girlfrieds is a sign of status among the better educated business men. Don't blame me, you are the one that posted about. the crimes being committed against women in Central Africa. North and South Africa are different and my knowledge of them is limited. Rape here is extremely common and happens to many, many young girls. I shop in a local market almost everyday and there is never , not one man working there. It is always women and children. So what part of Africa are you familar with? And why do you doubt that I live here?

Sorry, I forgot to answer your question. I was referring to Nigeria; the Hausas, Yorubas, Igbo's, Ijaws, Ikwerre, and Ogoni's comprise most of my experiences, although both of my cooks were from the Repubic of Benin and have lived with me in Lagos for 5 years, I do not know their tribal background.

Thank you for your response. It its exactly as I knew, then.

What a liar!!

Shame unto you, you are misrepresenting Nigeria and the rest of west Africa. If you can prove it, if you can produce eye witnesses - then someone can be prosecuted for rape…in west Africa that is. Specifically, in Nigeria. I’ve heard and seen folks/ men prosecuted and found guilty of rape. In the country side/boonies/villages it is harder to prosecute due to the distance of the local police stations to lack of communication and illiteracy.

A rape is a crime in Africa, if …and only if you prove it. The local cops there are not reliable. If you need justice done, it is going to cost you. Justice in Africa ain’t free for everyone.

You presume to give me a lesson on Nigerian Justice? When charges are filed, the police will then demand money from the victim, in order to arrest the accused. They will then arrest the accused and demand demand money from the accused to release them. All witnesses will also be arrested and not released until someone pays their bail. What village girl's family has Naira 20,000 to pay the police for pursuing a case? The girl is raped with no recourse to Justice. If it goes to court the judge is then bribed for a favorable decision.
I have been a victim of robbery in Nigeria and am well informed on the corrupt process followed by the police. You clearly are clueless. How many rapists perform their act in front of eyewitnesses? You need an education before supposing to lecture me.

I certainly hope that you can get a refund on your "education". First off "Garri" is not a drink, it is boiled root of the cassava plant. A starch, much in consistency like dough before cooking. It is rolled into egg sized balls with wet fingers and then dipped into pepper soup and eaten with the fingers.Any one that has been in West Africa is familar with Garri, so I must suspect that you are a fraud. Maybe you are confusing it with "Kai Kai"? Locally made alcohol or "Palm Wine". Perhaps you are unaware of the recent case of the Muslim Senator from Northern Nigeria "purchasing" a 13 year old girl from her "Saudi" father for $100K to be his "wife". This is strictly against Nigerian law and many protested, yet he was allowed to do it. He paid off the authorities of course.
In five years I have employed 30 Nigerians in professional positions at very good salaries and also, contracted to build the first sanitary landfill in Nigeria. Funded by the World Bank near Ijanikin Village, North of Badagry.
Any fool can Google information on West African Gov'ts. and any fool can claim a "lifetime" spent helping families in the villages. You do know, of course that the village chiefs skim off most financial aid before it ever reaches the people. Just this Christmas I received the demand from "King" Odum from Oginnaba Village, demanding 5 large cows, 10 goats, 50 large bags of rice, 10 cartons of beer. assorted alcoholic beverages, and N500,000 ($3,000), as "settlement to his Royal Majesty" for allowing me to employ the people of his village.
Thanks for confirming that you know nothing and are either a dupe of the Gov't. or are living some sort of fantasy about Nigeria, far removed from actuality. By the way, please continue your education. You need it.

As you are desirous of having some knowledge, please Google "Rape-the silent weapon". This article by Amnesty International goes into great detail about how rape occurs and is prosected in Nigeria. It is claimed to be endemic and frequently committed by police, military, and security forces with less than 18% being reported due to fear of retribution or lack of money for a court case. This article basically supports my original off the cuff comments.

But is it really so out of context? Inappropriately.. Misleading?... Arrogant?.. Bigoted? Hateful? Immature?...... to presume to use such language?
Say they are horrifically violent all by their own lonely, without any engagement with or from us. If you are making, say, jewelry based on materials you buy from them, I might feel justified in calling it rape-jewelry. It would be different if I were to, say based on that, call you a bastard... first of all, I don't know you well enough to know if you are one, so its highly presumptuous and its carelessly degrading and defamitory, and it does nothing to facilitate communication between us, or change toward the better, so what's the point?

Well I would guess that the point would be my thoughtless arrogance and bigotry for one. Possibly my fear of you. Presumption to try to make you look bad and cloud up the conversation so I can promote my own ideas thru subterfuge rather than honest ideas, perhaps. Maybe I am afraid of you and am looking at ways to invalidate you without really bothering to pay any attention, or for promoting a partisan (strongly polarized) agenda. Could be a million scenarios...

It would certainly serve for teaching my kids validity for thoughtless hating, and acting out of their fear, and some other ill-productive character traits I could come up with.

But to call the wares you are selling rape-jewelry... well sure, why not sound it out. Lets put a light on it and see what's in its reflection. I see maimed and raped and dead people. I don't want that hanging around my partner's beautiful neck, or off her precious ears. I don't want it sparkling in the precious innocent eyes of my children.
And that, my friend, is not arrogant, or bigoted ...unless I have no verifiable information, or have not bothered looking at it, but I do, and I did.

--------------
If you are my friend, and you are conducting yourself unwittingly like a total fool at my house and you just aren't getting any of my hints, I might pull you aside and say something like "stop being a whore" (as a for instance). Now I don't mean to be degrading or condecending or hateful, and I am not being. What I am, is getting your attention with the truth... in a form that may be seemingly off-center and/or harsh, but I am beeing uncannily direct because I love you, I feel the need for getting your attention for waking up and growing up.

Lets wake up and grow up, shall we? Hey, I agree, lets not be hateful or presume to use subterfuge. We don't need cowardly weapons. But not embracing hatred doesn't mean being a pussy.
If you wish to be passive, I have no issue with that. Everybody has a place in the community, the pacifists as well as the warriors. Just don't presume to volunteer to be a guard for the community if you are a pacifist. And neither need judge the other as invalid. We need the warriors to be the guards, etc, and we need the pacifists to help enlighten us in our gentler virtues, etc.

Considering how bull-headed we sometimes can be, using harsh and/or colorful language is sometimes appropriate for getting a point across. It is unfortunate that sensationalism in headlines often times truly employs the use of highly misleading, even deceitful, language, and promotes partisan dissention trather than humanitarian peace.

*I am as prone to arrogance, bigotry, hate and fear just as much as anyone else, so its possible I am deluding myself; however, I honestly don't feel this is one of those instances. Not convinced of it yet, anyway, but I am trying to listen and hear everyone's point of view as best I can.

hey ozoneocean, I was just rereading my reply to your comment and I can see how one might misconstrue a cloaked personal attack there, wow...
To clarify...
I hope its plain that my using "you" in my example was in no way intended for 'painting you' or directing any attitude "at" you in some hidden or trying-to-be-crafty manner.
Far from it... I found you question most appropriate and important to be speaking to, and I am grateful you posted it.
I will try to be more mindful in future. I apologize if the way I crafted my comments threw or unsulted you, or anyone else, in that regard.
Pila maya.

That ^^ was some stuff I was sorting out for added news relevant to my initial post there.
Following next are some interesting, albeit disturbing, stories, I think we do well to hear.

It is obvious that you don't have the first understanding of what the UN is about, what it can do and what it cannot do.

yes, just buy fair trade chocolate and handicrafts from africa, that solves problems in third world countries right?

The rapist is ultimately the one responsible. But when we supply him with duct tape and handcuffs to give him the capacity to rape the victim...even though our intention was not for him to commit rape..of course initially we are not responsible..but once we know that the person we gave those things to is using them to commit rape...then, if we continue to supply him with the incentive or supplies to commit the rape...at that point we are complicit.

"Hammy", these bastards are using AK-47's, not duct tape and handcuffs. If the flow of arms into Africa could be stopped then some of the warfare would subside. However, keep in mind that they have killed hundreds of thousands with machetes and maimed many others. The only way to inhibit African leaders is to put in place Global banking regulations that freeze any account that cannot be proven to be legitimately earned and seizure of their foreign assets. Then force the G-7 countries to require enhanced financial reporting from the industrialised world companies. This will never happen.

OR...we could stop buying the products that use these minerals. Either one would work, but let's not sit here and try to assuage our own culpability in this. We have a part in this, we share a portion of the blame.

"What if a soldier were to rape his sisters?"

"If I knew that she was raped for a good cause, I wouldn't do anything, because I know it's for the sake of helping the Congo."

What.The.FUCK!

Hello Keith,
You have a valid point that rape has been used as a weapon of war for thousands of years, not just in Africa. Tverdell's tape on interviewing the young soldiers was painful, but enlightening. They all were justifying the rapes to prove their "magic potion". Not one was willing to accept personal responsibility for committing this offense. But we must consider that a "juju man" or "witch doctor", is the one selling the potions and directing them to rape. Therefore, they feel obligated to do his wishes. I know that I can sound condesending and racist, at times, but please bear with me. Animism and belief in "magic" still has a stranglehold on most Central African people. Even the Oxford educated graduates have a basic fear of charms, curses, and juju. So of course these uneducated soldiers are much more prone to belief. That is how they are controlled and pushed to rape and murder by someone behind the scenes. African leaders are extremely intelligent and wise to the ways of the Industrialised world. If a buck can be made they will make it. Which off course plays right into the hands of unscrupulous global businesses. However, you and I are both apalled at the human carnage created by the soldiers and their seeming lack of compassion for their victims. It is hard to reconcile this fact with the genuine love and kindness exhibited by most Africans.

I blame both. Every individual involved in war, at some point in time,must be held accountable for their own actions. The proof is in their responses to the questions ask about the own sisters and mothers being raped by other soldiers.They know the difference in right and wrong. The weapons that soldiers carry gives them feelings on invincibility. They choose to do whatever they want to do.

Do anyone of you remember n American soldier by the name of Lt. Robert Callie?

"Vietnam,Lt. William Calley', I remember him well and the atrocities he committed in the name of the U.S. Murdered innocent men, women, and children, and then tried to hide behind the U.S. Military, claiming them to be Viet Cong.

With respect, Chomsky never forsaw politicians whoring themselves and their influence to multi-billion dollar corps. Allowing their countries to be raped of resources at an industrial scale, arming militants to remove populations from target assets. Let's try it this way: Corps induce lawlessness, which rape is inherent to. :)

Those who do the raping of women and girls consist for the most part of militias from neighboring countries - they seek to control the areas rich in these minerals so as to mine and exploit these minerals themselves and to then sell them to the corporations. By raping women and girls, and by mutilating and killing civilians, they control the local populations through fear and humiliation.

Corporations sow dissent and lawlessness, to better exploit the land and displace the populace. Rape is a byproduct (recreational and intimidation) of the funding of puppet governments and warlords from Corps and Inc's.

Corps aren't causing the soldiers to rape so many women, that is caused by forces using it as a way to wage war, a false belief and probably by being in a warzone so much. Soldiers often rape women, it's not hard for some people to lose track of right and wrong when they're killing people all the time. However, it's pretty obvious that the war is what is causing so much rape, since they're using it as a weapon. Since the corps are perpetuating this war, they are responsible for the consequences.

You must be young to think no one is going to stop using the items you mentioned. 15 yrs ago, cell phones, laptops and computers were not a necessity, they were a luxury/option. Just because YOU chose not, doesn't mean everyone thinks like you.

I'll be doing something about it tomorrow... Unlike you i can change, because these items are not my life!

+^'d. Hell I have only had a computer for four years now. I found cell phones to be completely annoying most of the time and a great way to be distracted from the job at hand.

I've long gotten rid of my car and old cell phone, I walk and use public transportation, and use my simple and basic land-line phone. I don't eat chocolate, but do use cocoa that I buy in fairness shops, none of that cocoa comes from the Congo. I don't buy gold and diamonds, the only gold and diamond and other precious stones jewels I have are old family heirlooms and neither the gold nor the stones originate from Africa. I do have a computer, though (obviously) which is a necessity for me for various reasons. The batteries I do use for a few battery-driven objects are not lithium, they are rechargeable ones. I sort out my trash for recycling (paper, cardboard, aluminium, PET bottles, glass, and organic waste for compost), use only recycled paper and toilet paper, and am very sparing of water and heating. Any clothes I occasionally buy are cotton or wool and from non-polluting and ethical sources with regard to production and manufacture. I give to charities like Doctors Without Borders, the International Red Cross and Amnesty International. What more can I personally do?

I plan to do so. Studies show technology has made us less happy, not more. Why have all of this if it's depressing us?

The biggest problem is that in America you must work and use technology to live 'legally'. If you bought land, got off the grid and survived on your own, it wouldn't be long and they'd try to condemn the property for not having utilities, foreclose on the property for not paying taxes or haul you off for either being a vagrant, mentally ill or violating the copyright of Monsanto's seeds and not paying taxes on your crops.

So much for the land of the free.

I appreciate your stand on Gold and Diamonds, so many 'so-called' Christian women in America love to sport their baubles with complete indifference to their origin.

You are using a computer right now. So maybe he should have asked WHEN will you start putting your money where your mouth is? So I will ask it for him, when are you going to actually put your money where your mouth is?

Grow your own food, and generate your own electricity....:-P

Agreed!

I too would love to do such a thing. Though, I like you live in a small one bedroom apartment. I LOVE the local farmer's market and the produce I get there is SO delicious I can not imagine why ANYONE buys their produce from the grocery store!

My father owns some property in another state, he pumps his own water, generates his own power, and grows his own food. Though he still has to find SOME work to pay his "rent" to the government or they will take his property away.

I think if you were on the giving end of this, instead of the receiving end, your attitude would be a little different. Just sayin!

Am i using a computer right now? or am i magically sending this info through my brain.... hummm..... 0.o

by the way, i did write this at the end of my comment.. "I'll be doing something about it tomorrow..." Since you're that smart to read a full comment...

You're right I didn't read to the end of your comment...sorry for that...:-P

When I win the jackpot, after having bought myself some land and had an Earthship built, I'll buy some land in your country and have an Earthship built on it, and give them to you. :)

WOO HOO!! Likewise!! :-P

Alright K, there seems to be 5 or 6 of you that are going off the grid, throwing the computer out the window, going to grow your own food from un-genetically modified seeds (no such thing any more, they're all modified), going to ride your bicycle to work, but it has wooden tires, since the petroleum used in the manufacture of rubber is destroying the world, going to start using smoke signals to communicate, etc., etc. As I recall, Veirotchka is from Europe, they actually have a real transit system there, not like most parts of the US.

As for myself, I just hit 49 a couple of weeks ago, so the being young comment is off. I'll be perfectly honest with you, I'm very comfortable with the way I'm living right now. I'm in the manufacturing industry, have been for 29 years. I work with materials that are probably mined in some of those countries. As you have mentioned, I have no intention of changing anything in my life right now. Oh, I am selling my off road motorcycle next week, but only because I'm buying another one.

Your comment about changing, more implicitly, me changing, I have no want or reason to. I'm just being honest here. As for the diamonds and gold, I did buy my wife a diamond ring, but in my opinion, jewelry is set up to rip people off, I have no idea what I'm buying, every jewelry store that I've ever been in told me that their's was the only good diamonds out there, and everyone else's were junk, so I assume they are all crooks, and I have no idea where they were mined, either. As for the gold, gold is needed for high current connections in electronic devices and controls, so gold is a pretty necessary commodity.

I think there are more people out there like me, trying to keep my life as comfortable as possible, then there are people that are willing to give up their little creature comforts.

I might be wrong though.

That is exactly how psychopaths reason and justify themselves.

I did not purchase a diamond ring for my wife when we got married 7 years ago in front of the judge. She was OK with it then and she's still OK with it. We're very happy together, as oppose to most people that I know that did the opposite and had extravagant weddings.
Most of them are divorced already.

I agree… presently, there’re some of us who would not give up our gadgets for the convenient of our lifestyles. I am a network engineer for a wireless company- for that, I’m equipped with a lot of “cool” gadgets and today I can’t do without them, it’s crazy, I know. However, you being and identifying yourself as on of us who wouldn’t give up our gadgets due to the crisis [specifically] in Congo/Africa. In your opinion, what should we do to stop these hideous crimes being committed? We both know it got nothing to do with “LUCK” or “saving Congo”. We both know it’s illiteracy.

There’s no justification in raping a mother, a wife, a daughter, or a sister. We can’t continue to enjoy the convenient of our gadgets while turning our backs to the consequences it creates. Since I can’t give up my gadgets - for some good reasons lol, I am interested in knowing what needs to be done, how can this problem be fixed?

I believe we can continue using our gadgets without anyone getting rapped, killed, or being decapitated. Just like the diamond issues/crisis, something can be done. We can have it regulated, registered, certified… I don’t know, but something needs to be done.

Yup! I red an article about that few years ago… what suppose to make our lives easier ended up with us being frustrated half the time that we possessed it because it would not work as designed or expected, not doing its purpose… “making our lives easier” lmao

Now, as far as “the land of the free” goes, that’s another topic. I’ve got so much to say about that.

Yo!! hammywill, you are so OFF the freaking subject and missing the point here… “start putting your money where your mouth is?” WTF are you referring to?????

Please leave your emotions and feelings behind and read the comments again- you may see it differently this time.

I'm not sure I follow your question. I am referring to the fact that he we are using computers and cel phones, DVD players and all sorts of other electronic gadgets that use these minerals. My question is, when will we stop buying them in order to force the issue. That is when the change will happen. When these people feel it in the bank then these practices will stop. As long as they are still profitable they will continue. So if we want to stop them, we have to end the demand.

Give up our computers, cel phones, dvd players, etc. Are we willing to do this?

Viero, I'm fairly certain I'm not a psychopath. Aw hell, I might be, but I manage to stay employed, stay married, stay out of jail, and more or less lead a happy, fruitful, life. And as far as I can remember, I have not ever killed anyone.

And what do you mean justify myself? I was just being honest about how I feel. If you feel strongly enough to change your whole lifestyle to try to change how things are in the Congo and else where, be my guest. Personally, I doubt there is much I can do about how things play out there, no matter what I choose to do or not do.

And Jweezy, I like my little toys, gadgets, whatever, but I don't feel that I couldn't live without them, I just prefer to use them in my day to day life.

Keith, my wife and I got married almost 7 years ago also. But she wanted a nice ring, a small wedding, and we are also getting along famously. But that ring took me 3 years to pay for. And I still don't know if I got ripped off, and I probably don't want to know.

Everyone who buys a diamond gets ripped off. They are not rare gems at all, they ARE precious stones, but they are not rare. The reason the price is so high is because Diamond mine owners starve the market, driving the price up in the face of such huge demand.

Plenty of psychopaths stay employed, stay married, stay out of jail, never kill anyone nor commit a crime. However, as you have consistently shown, psychopaths are devoid of empathy and very good at imitating a normal life and personality. Oftimes, they are not even aware of the fact that they are doing this.

i am cutting down each and every day :D