Dave Donelson's Blog: OutTakes, page 26

Speaking About Congo

[image error] I am very pleased to be one of four authors on the program at the 18th Annual Westchester Library System Book and Author Luncheon, April 16. I'll be speaking about Heart of Diamonds, my thriller about diamond smuggling in the Congo, as well as about the current humanitarian crisis in the country.

Also appearing on the program will be Hallie Ephron, author of Never Tell A Lie, a tale about what we know and don't know about the people in our lives. Marek Fuchs, another local author (he lives in

Rape Ignored By Media For Ten Years

Terror rape in the Congo became widespread ten years ago, yet it is only recently that the worldwide media establishment has paid more attention to this crime against humanity than to the killing of gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Chouchou Namegabe, a radio journalist from Bukavu whose appearance on a panel in New York I wrote about recently. Her words resonate in this video of the event.



Women's eNews staff reporter Dominique Soguel moderated the event and published an

Maryland Stands Up (and Runs) For Congo

Word about the current situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading throughout Maryland, with film showings, panel discussions, and a Run For Congo Women drawing attention to the people victimized by the struggle for the DRC's resources.

At Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, students gathered recently to see a film about rape in the Congo and hear a panel of experts discuss the war there. Towson University, Loyola College, and Howard Community College also hosted event

"Dead Aid" Not Quite Dead On

[image error] Dead Aid is an interesting, provocative look at the foreign aid industry and its effects on Africa. Dambisa Moyo, who formerly worked for Goldman Sachs and the World Bank, draws a conclusion not unknown to others in the field: development aid (as differentiated from humanitarian aid) has not only done little good for the nations of Africa but has indeed caused great harm. While I don't necessarily disagree with her conclusion, I didn't find her arguments particularly convincing.

There is no que

A Season In The Congo

New York's Castillo Theatre presented an inspiring production of Aime Cesaire's A Season In The Congo Sunday, followed by a panel discussion of current issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo that perfectly complimented the many issues raised by the play, which centers on the rise and fall of Patrice Lumumba.

Cesaire, one of the greatest French language poets of the 20th century, wrote the play in 1966, just five short years after Lumumba was assassinated. The struggle for control of the Cong

Chicago Reader Comments On Congo Aid

The most recent question from my Chicago reader is more of a thought-provoking observation:

"I think you are right on the mark about the distinction between investment and aid. It is important for the development of the DRC to benefit other countries because it will improve the quantity and the quality of the assistance provided. Sadly, I suspect those in power who resist foreign investment simply lack the education necessary to understand complex economic principles. I am only speculating on thi