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Ben Affleck launches initiative for Congo aid
By George Lerner; Producer, AMANPOUR.
(CNN) - Actor Ben Affleck on Monday launched a grassroots initiative to assist communities ravaged by war in one of the most troubled places on earth, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Affleck, who just returned from a trip to the DRC, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that he had long heard about the crisis in Congo, which has left more than 5 million people dead over the past 12 years, but only came to understand the scope of the humanitarian crisis after repeated visits to the country.
"The more I traveled, the more I was struck about it, the more I fell in love with the people, the more I was horrified by what was happening. And the more I did, I started to develop this idea of partnering with the Congolese people and wanting to empower community-based organizations there that were doing extraordinary work," Affleck said.
Affleck on Monday announced the launch of the Eastern Congo Initiative, an effort to support community organizations working to help rape victims and to rebuild from a decade of war.
"There are folks who are working to protect those who are suffering from gender-based violence, who help child soldiers to advance the educational needs of the citizens there." Affleck told Amanpour. "There are people who live in the communities, who are from there, who understand the relationships there, who are Africans finding solutions to African problems. And when I was there, what I saw was that those were, in my view, the most effective folks at meeting those goals."
One of those groups, Affleck said, was an organization known as LAV, the French acronym for "Let Africa Live," which taught practical trades, such as carpentry, auto mechanics and textile production, to reintegrate both former soldiers and victims of the violence back into society.
Affleck cited the case of one woman whom he met on his trip last week. She had survived a horrifying ordeal at the hands of a militia in Eastern Congo.
"They, in her words, treated her like an animal and a slave. She was a bush wife to six men who raped her. She became pregnant. She eventually escaped by asking basically permission to take a bath and making a mad run for it," he said. "She barely escaped with her life. She walked for a week and made it back to the city. She was homeless, pregnant, and destitute in the city. She was discovered by folks from (LAV). They took her in. They brought her into this community."
Through the work of LAV, the woman is now attending to law school, with plans to practice and teach law, Affleck said.
"She's an extraordinary woman, and (LAV) was the kind of group that we want to partner with and support so that we can broaden their capacity to do more."
Congo analyst Jason Stearns, who worked in Eastern Congo's war zones with the International Crisis Group and the United Nations, said the problems in Congo could be traced to two sources: the ongoing after-effects of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and the collapse of the Congolese state.
"We're not going to have a solution to the problem - and to the rapes, for that matter - until we have a Congolese state and army that serves the people, rather than preys on the people," Stearns said. "Four billion dollars is currently the amount the international community gives to the Congo for various things, and they've done a great job in emergency stuff, in feeding displaced people, but really a very poor job in reforming the state institutions that would prevent such a crisis in the future."
Congolese human rights attorney Sylvie Maunga Mbanga said the government needed to focus attention on ending a culture of impunity towards rapists, especially when those rapes are committed by members of the Congolese army.
"We need to punish the perpetrators of sexual violence against women," she said.
Eastern Congo may have received far less international attention than the crisis in Darfur, but Affleck called on Washington to do more to address the humanitarian situation in the DRC.
"The United States really needs to develop a comprehensive policy towards Congo as a whole, much in the same way it did toward Sudan in late 2009, which it doesn't have toward Eastern Congo, despite what a sort of mess the place is," Affleck said.
And now your feedback
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Rwandan President Paul Kagame was at the center of discussions among the Amanpour audience. Many commented they would like to see President Kagame’s opponent speak up publicly as the Rwandan story, many said, had “two sides.” Additionally, while most commented that foreign aid to developing countries would only create dependency because of the instant gratification experienced, others felt “nothing was for free” and natural resources were exchanged for the money. The lapse in social and economic opportunity for the progress of these undeveloped countries continued to be of interest for many. Furthermore, it was felt that although Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei’s accomplishments were positive, they were globally recognized because of his economic status and influence.
What are your thoughts? Please share your thoughts with us! In addition, if you missed the show go to http://www.amanpour.com for more information.
Below, you will see some opinions from viewers like yourself. We would love to hear what you think.
Facebook comments about Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei / Rwanda's President on how he helped turn the country around / And a story of teenage girls discovering their strength.
Sam Lacroix I would suggest you really give a chance to the Kagame main opponent (Mrs Victoire Ingabire) to respond to accusations by Kagame on you show. we love you AMANPOUR
Jony Jess We love you AMANPOUR!!! BUT i really suggest that you give a chance to Mrs Victoire Ingabire to respond to the accusations made by Kagame on your show. The true nature of CNN is to hear from both sides...especially ahead of Rwandan controversial elections come up...with a 3 week- presidential campaign!!!!!!
Ben Affleck on Eastern Congo
A law and a life unto herself
By Christiane Amanpour
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/22/marmothcnn.jpg caption="CNN camerawoman Margaret Moth"]
Editor's note: CNN camerawoman Margaret Moth, who died of cancer Sunday in Rochester, Minnesota, was renowned for her gutsiness, striking appearance, distinctive humor and sense of fun. Barely surviving a sniper's bullet in Sarajevo in 1992, she battled back to continue working around the world, impressing all with her determination and attitude.
Margaret was a law and a life unto herself. Before I actually worked with her, I was quite intimidated by the idea of Margaret MOTH! The woman who had changed her name to that of a small plane, who even leapt out of them! The woman who wore black clothes and heavy black eye makeup, who was goth before it was cool. The woman, who I discovered under siege in Sarajevo, wore her heavy black boots to bed, just so she could be ready if the shelling started.
Bosnia, summer 1992, was my first assignment with Margaret, the latest in a string of distinguished women who changed my life on and off the road. She was wonderful, funny, hardworking, brave, tireless and fiercely private.
After a few weeks there, I had taken a break. I think it was July 14, I remember leaving her at the Sarajevo airport shooting a Bastille Day celebration day for the French UNPROFOR troops. I got on a plane to see my family. She didn't want to take a break, she wanted to stay on the next rotation. Three or four days after I left, she was shot in the face.
I remember flying off to the Mayo Clinic to visit her with Parisa Khosravi. I remember walking down the corridor to her room. Luckily, there was a picture of her on the door, because lying in bed, her face swollen and swathed in bandages, she was unrecognizable except for her hands. It's the only way I knew it was her. At some point that very day, I had to make a decision to go back to Sarajevo or not. The International Desk called me from Atlanta and asked whether I would go back. I looked at her in bed ... holding back tears. ... I quickly said yes into the telephone. I think I knew if I didn't say yes then, I might never go back.
She was remarkable. She came back to the battle zones as soon as she could. She endured all those endless surgeries, she had to learn to eat and drink and talk again. She had to endure people's embarrassed, curious stares. She got hepatitis C from the initial blood transfusion in Sarajevo that saved her life. And later, she got cancer, fought the good fight for longer than anyone could imagine, and died. Life battered and brutalized her, but she remained unbowed and happy. She was a survivor, a unique soul, and she bore all that came her way with a remarkable sense of calm and equanimity. She loved music, antiques and animals. She taught us so much about what it means to be a real person, the consummate professional.
She deserves to finally rest in peace. Now she can.
Searching for common ground in Congo
By: Lena Slachmuijlder, DRC Country Director; Search for Common Ground
I’m writing to you from Goma, eastern Congo, with a perspective that I think we hear too infrequently. It’s about recovery, and giving people a chance to find solutions to their problems.
For the last five years I have lived and worked in the DR Congo, heading an NGO called Search for Common Ground (SFCG). Although we do not give out bricks or buckets or biscuits, our work enables us to give people a chance to reflect on what’s really going on around them, to have access to accurate information, and a chance to shift towards a more positive change.
You’ve all heard about the crimes committed by the Congolese army. SFCG has reached out to that same army, and we have found within it thousands of soldiers who are fully committed to working day after day towards transforming this army to become one which protects, not persecutes, civilians. We’ve equipped them with participatory tools to work within their units to combat rape, extortion and abuse of civilians. They know that it’s up to them to push back the tide of impunity and regain the respect of their compatriots. They want to be positive agents for change, given a chance to define a positive role.
We also work with actors and train them in conflict transformation, and equip them to go around from village to village in areas where refugees are returning from years of war. The actors aren’t there to tell people what to do, but rather to listen. Then, they reflect back the conflicts the community is experiencing through drama and you know what? The people in the community have all the answers about what should happen.
One often blames the government of the DRC for its perceived lack of engagement in building peace and democracy. The culture of corruption is deep rooted, and it will take years of practice to be able to say no to bribery and yes to transparency. Fighting impunity and ensuring that the state pays its public servants can be hugely effective in turning the page towards stability.
And all those victims. What about them? Given a chance, they can transform themselves, all by themselves. With a pile of musical instruments, former child soldiers in Bukavu have become well known performers, welcoming into their ranks other youth in need of a warm corner and a song. They’ve become so strong that they reach out to those who look even harder for a streak of brightness: rape survivors. Every week, they take their music and drums up to the Panzi Hospital and leave behind smiles, hugs, rhythm and melody in the hearts of the women and girls.
And all those rapists, what about them? With a big screen, we take films around the villages and towns and enable people to talk about why there’s so much rape and gender-based violence. Not everyone agrees why, or what should be done. But the space accorded to talk about it, confront opinions with fact and customs with laws opens the door towards being open to change and transformation.
Congo is a tough place, and it’s easy to be discouraged. But Congo today is nothing like the Congo I can remember on the eve of the 2006 elections, or the deeply divided Congo that existed when I first arrived in the country in 2001. Recovery is happening, and the silent majority is pushing things in the right direction. Open new opportunities, give keys to people to make new choices, and they'll soon redefine themselves, not as victims, but as an agent for a better DRC for tomorrow.
An exciting new adventure
I'm deeply touched by outpouring of support as I start an exciting new adventure: taking all that I have learned, experienced and reported about the world during nearly 27 years at CNN, to This Week. It’s a magnificent Sunday morning news program, rich in the tradition of serious journalism. I look forward to the rare... opportunity to explore important U.S. and international issues & policy, and how each vitally affects the other.
I've read all your wonderful comments and I'm truly touched, grateful & overwhelmed by your support. I've always hugely respected & appreciated CNN’s audience of caring, curious, inquiring people around the U.S. and all across the globe.
It's been my privilege to be your eyes and ears around the world. At this powerful platform for nearly 27 years, I've tried to stand for the pursuit of truth, the search for fact-based information for reporting news and without fear nor favor.
I'll continue at CNN until the end of April, and then I will take this mission to ABC This Week. Thank you and stay tuned on TV, online via Twitter and Faceboook and on the podcast as the journey continues.
And now your feedback
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The U.S. approved pledge of 1.5 billion dollars in humanitarian aid to Pakistan generated many concerns among the majority of the Amanpour audience. Most commented that continuous aid would only make Pakistan dependent by the lapse in social and economic opportunity for its own development. Additionally, many felt that without the “enforcement” of education, Pakistan would continue to suffer from “its lack of progress” in human development, gender equality and social cohesion.
What are your thoughts? Please share your thoughts with us! In addition, if you missed the show go to http://www.amanpour.com for more information.
Below, you will see some opinions from viewers like yourself. We would love to hear what you think.
Email Comments:
Hello Mrs. Amanpour,
I am writting you this little email after I watched your interview with President Paul Kagame and I really want to tell you that, President Kagame who most believe as lamb, because his voice like a teenager, he is such predator, a killer, a master minder of the shutting down of the airplane of the President Habyarima and Cyprien Taryamira and He killed his own brothers Tutsi (moderates Tutsi who had been living in Kigali in cohabitation with Hutus). He is responsable of the Genocide in Rwanda according to the investigation report of Spain and France Juges. Paul Kagame is the one who always using some people, giving them wapon and military to fight in the East of the Congo DR. He is one who armed Laurent Desire Kabila (1996) objectif was to kill Hutu's people who fled Rwanda to find refuge in the East of Congo and to take over the power in the Congo DR, he armed Azarias Ruberwa to loot the East of the Congo (Coltan, Diamond, Gold, Copper, etc...) and very lately he armed Laurent Nkunda. Almost 6,000,000 people had been killed and they are still killing and raping women, but ask yourself a question why nobody knows about it? Why the international commitee does not take a serious action for the Congo DR? Why they don't bring to justice Paul Kagame? Who is behind Paul Kagame? We know your relationship with President Paul Kagame, but don't be blind for anything. President Kagame is really causing a hell to the Congolese we are. But believe me, even though we don't have power to take action against Paul Kagame with all these corporations which are behind him, one day God almight will fight against Kagame and his corporations and He'll give us the victory. Soon or later
Louis L.
Evangelist – Graphic Designer
@camanpour on Twitter
