Category Archives: Democratic Republic of Congo

Migration pressures in Scandinavia have been at “historically high levels,” with many new arrivals coming as refugees or asylum seekers. According to the data from Nordregio Magazine, spanning 26 years from 1990 to 2016, the population of the Nordic countries has experienced a remarkable 15 percent growth from a combination of both natural increase and positive net migration. This demographic shift shows the significant impact of migration on the region’s social, economic, and cultural landscape. 

In 2022, the largest group of migrants are coming from Ukraine after the Russian invasion in February. Finally, immigrants from Poland made up the third largest group. The influx of Ukrainian migrants following the Russian invasion underscores the profound impact of geopolitical events on migration patterns. At the same time, the significant presence of Polish immigrants highlights the enduring ties between Poland and Scandinavia. 

In order to reside in Norway, you need a visa and a residence permit. In fact, from reading some articles, it is easy to move to Norway if you have a valid reason for settling in the country, such as a job or school to attend. Norway is known as a safe country with very low crime rates and a high quality of living. They have impeccable healthcare, education, and safety all begin at a very high standard. 

“In 2015 and 2016, nearly 2.7 million asylum seekers arrived in the European Union, comprising the largest mass of movement in Europe since World War II,” the Migration Policy Institute states. Although nearly ten years have passed since this statistic, we can assume trends. Migration pressures have always been a debate in countries around the world. In 2021, Norway received 39,00 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis, most benefiting from free mobility or labor. 

Norway’s economy will benefit from the influx of migrants, particularly those with skills and education. Migrants fill gaps in the labor market, bring new ideas, and contribute to economic growth overall. New people and ideas bring progress and growth; both are needed for success, especially in today’s society.  

One challenge that may come with migration is integration into Norwegian society, a common struggle with countries that take in refugees. There also can be positives when I think of negative possibilities, like assimilation and loss of religious practice. With the progress of positive public opinion on migration issues and the role of political word choice when shaping attitudes toward migrants, their introduction can be safe and effective. 

Norway’s role in humane assistance is crucial to upholding international obligations to protect the rights of migrants and refugees. “Norway is a generous and reliable donor to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and has provided key support in protecting and providing an education to refugee youth children,” which is an easy way to tie in my group’s overall discussion and project on civic education in Scandinavia. Since Norway continues to protect vulnerable refugees after their journey from their countries and provides education, there must be a sense of admiration for their country. 

https://nordregio.org/nordregio-magazine/issues/migration-and-integration/the-cool-embrace-recent-migration-trends-into-the-nordic-region/#:~:text=In%20recent%20years%2C%20migration%20flows,the%20countries%20have%20in%20place.

https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/newcomers-north-labor-market-integration-refugees-northern-europe

https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/sites/7879415d-en/index.html?itemId=/content/component/7879415d-en

My experience with food consumption and insecurity in the United States is limited to my hometown of Bellingham, Washington, and the 28 states I have traveled to. While living in a town with a range of economic security in my schooling, I have seen many locations on the spectrum. 

The Food and Nutrition Service and the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) have established a federally recognized rule that allows students who meet eligibility criteria to receive free and reduced-price meals or free milk. These guidelines are used by “schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program (and USDA Foods in Schools), School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program. In FY 2019, schools served over 4.8 billion lunches to children worldwide. The annual adjustments are required by section 9 of the National School Lunch Act”, a program that has changed many peers’ lives. 

Some children’s well-rounded meals and food come from their breakfast and lunch during the school year. This was an everyday stress for most of my community during the global pandemic. They did not have access to meals or produce. Luckily, a food drive was established, and meals were provided at select locations across the district. I hope that this continues, despite Covid-19 levels subsiding. 

On a different note, food overconsumption in the United States is reaching new heights. While reading an analysis of the work of Feeding America, I learned that people waste 80 million tons of food every year, which equals 149 billion meals. We throw away over $444 billion worth of food annually. Feeding America, an organization that partners with food manufacturers, grocery stores, restaurants, and farmers, rescues food and delivers it to food banks. They rescued 4 billion pounds of groceries in 2023! 

On a similar note, food waste also drives climate change. Rotting food contributes to extreme methane levels, a potent greenhouse gas and one of the driving forces behind global warming.

This topic has been a popular one since I was very young. When I was 12 years old, we were learning about food waste. In a class called Future Problem Solvers, we tried to come up with solutions to solve our world’s problems, yet food waste has been met with the most minor success. 

Norwegians eat three or four regular meals daily, usually consisting of a cold breakfast with coffee, a cold lunch at work, and a hot dinner at home. Then, they may have a cold meal in the late evening. Their meals include bread, milk, cheese, and carbohydrate-rich foods like meat or fish. Norway experiences a high level of food security! 

Norway continues to have minimal food waste and succeeds with its nutrition levels throughout the country. 

In conclusion, addressing food insecurity and overconsumption requires multifaceted solutions that encompass policy reforms, community engagement, and individual action. By drawing lessons from both the United States and Norway, we can only analyze both problems that are occurring all over the world. 

https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_cuisine

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/11/13/food-waste-united-states-climate-change/71537256007/

https://www.feedingamerica.org/our-work/reduce-food-waste#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20people,all%20the%20food%20in%20America.

For Meredith, Vivian, and me, our project will examine how civic education is taught in Scandinavia. We each decided to focus on a specific country within the area and compare and contrast our findings. I will discuss my country, Norway. 

We were all fascinated by the happiness levels present in Denmark and other parts of Scandinavia. We also all have some heritage residing from there and thought it would be interesting to learn more about their ways of life. 

We will unpack the styles of government and types of schooling, and then we will discuss how this contributes to the success of active citizenship. We want to understand how their residents are so happy and if their mental health correlates with education and citizenship.  

So far, while researching Norway, I have learned about their style of government and the primary school system. The Government in Norway is a constitutional hereditary monarchy, meaning a constitutional monarch is a hereditary symbolic head of state who mainly performs a representative and civic role but does not exercise policymaking power. With “hereditary,” this means that the role of the monarch is passed from one member of the ruling family to the next. King Harald VZ has reigned since January 1991, succeeding his father, Olav V. He is 87 years old! The next in line is Crown Prince Haakon, son of King Harald V and Queen Sonja; he was, from birth, the heir to the throne. The King’s constitutional role is mainly representative and ceremonial. “When the Constitution states that: “the executive power is vested in the King,” this now means that it is vested in the government” (Royal Court), which means that the King handles the formal opening of the Storting (Norwegian parliament) every fall. He lives in the royal palace, travels to other countries, and hosts foreign heads of State, and newly appointed ambassadors must present their credits to the King. The king is the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces and holds the rank of general in the Army and Air Force and admiral in the Navy. 

The educational system is also different from that of the United States. Their system is 13 years long, with Kindergarten, Primary and Lower Secondary Education, and Upper Secondary School, quite similar to the states, but their “accredited higher institutions are free of charge with 33 options. Also, during the Upper Secondary Education (years 11-13), teen students are divided into 12 programs: four general studies and eight vocational programs. Another option is Folk high schools, which are boarding schools with no examinations. School is free of charge and mandatory. The overarching people in charge are the Norwegian Universities and Colleges Admission Service (NUCAS). The running and administration are municipal responsibilities. Compared to the United States, the Norwegian approach to education philosophy emphasizes equal access to higher education. Additionally, some recent reforms and challenges facing the Norwegian education system include curriculum revision in 2021, which aims to promote deep learning rather than “fragmented and surface-level learning.” They will promote, with increased focus, 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. 

I am incredibly fascinated with how students learn and have a future career goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. In order to teach and have a strong background, learning about other cultures and their school style is vital! 

Citations:

https://www.royalcourt.no/seksjon.html?tid=29977&sek=27300

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11191-022-00399-z#:~:text=In%20Norway%2C%20a%20new%20curriculum%20reform%20was%20recently%20implemented%20(2020,critical%20thinking%2C%20problem%20solving%2C%20and

https://www.britannica.com/place/Norway/Government-and-society

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_V

In Ethiopia, there are many ethnic tribes and overlapping identities. Habesha is a term used to describe the culture and people of the Ethiopian and Eritrean regions. This term refers to the tribes and ethnicities, like Amhara and Tigray. However, regardless of ethnicity, it can be applied to all people in the region.

Ethiopia never dealt with colonization the way other African countries suffered through. Because of this separation, the customs of Ethiopia carry on from centuries ago. The ancient alphabet and calendars are still in use. Diversity thrives in Ethiopia, with over 80 ethnic groups and 87 native languages.

“According to the 2007 census, the largest ethnic groups are the Oromo (43.4% of the population), Amhara (26.9%), Somali (6.2%), Tigray (6.1%) and Sidama (4%). Other significant ethnic populations include the Gurage, Welaita, Hadiya and Afar people.”

The government of Ethiopia recognizes the diverse cultures and groups within the region. Ethiopia is an ethnic federation, meaning the territories are divided on an ethnic basis. Unfortunately, this created more sectarian tension. Individuals may have ethnically mixed heritages and not identify with one specific group.

Christianity was declared an official religion in Ethiopia during 333 CE, making Ethiopia one of the first countries to do so. They were not introduced to the religion by Europeans.

Ethiopia is a beautiful country with diverse wildlife, culture, and history.

Ethiopia’s economic growth benefits from its diverse agriculture. However, due to conflict from war and drought, there’s been weak business and trade, including poor environmental access. The war in Tigray that lasted two years caused significant devastation to Ethiopia’s political, social, and economic state. Climate change and lack of fighting against environmental difficulties hindered the agricultural trade.  Ethiopia has an estimated 6.4% growth in 2021/22. “However, it also remains one of the poorest, with a per capita gross national income of $1,020.” During COVID-19, the GDP slowed and since then, there’s been a slight incline in the economy.

The reform plan to improve Ethiopia’s economy includes addressing food insecurity, high transportation costs, limited financial and telecommunications services, and land tenure insecurity. “USAID commits to creating jobs and increasing access to healthy diets, to ensure people can become more financially independent and provide a better standard of living for their families.” This agenda promotes welfare and overall support for the civilians, in order to encourage economic growth. Another aspect is focusing on agricultural trade along the border of Ethiopia and Djibouti. Alleviating congestion in the areas, increasing sanitation, and coordination between authorities will increase trade.

In today’s blog post, we pause the conversation on genocide and lack of human rights in the DRC and teach the readers about Mount Nyiragongo. The mountain is an active stratovolcano, meaning, “a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava and strata”’ (Stratavolcano). Another example of a stratovolcano is Mt. Rainier in Washington State, USA. In 1977, an eruption occurred which killed 50 local villagers. 

The most “famous” was in 2002, “Warnings had been given and 400,000 people were evacuated from the city across the Rwandan border into neighboring Gisenyi during the eruption. Lava covered the northern end of the runway at Goma International Airport, leaving the southern two-thirds usable, and reached Lake Kivu” (Mount_Nyiragongo). There were 245 deaths due to this eruption. 

This mountain, or volcano, is known as one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes as well as being Africa’s most active volcanoes. Nyiragongo has one of the most dangerous lava flows due to the near perfect liquefaction of the lava. 

One of the most distinctive features of Nyiragongo is its persistent lava lake within its summit crater. This is one of the very few lava lakes in the world! 

The volcano is situated within the Virunga National Park, which is Africa’s oldest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is known for its diverse flora and fauna, including the critically endangered mountain gorillas. UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization which has 1,199 World Heritage Sites worldwide. 

In conclusion, while the draw in of Mount Nyiragongo is undeniable, its perilous nature makes it a destination best admired from a distance. Whether through the lens of a documentary or the pages of a book, exploring the wonders and dangers of this volcanic giant can be a thrilling experience. However, venturing too close may be a risk not worth taking.

During July this year, protests across Kenya broke out. The protests consisted of two distinct movements: the resumption of Kenya’s leading opposition party, Azimio’s, street protests and upheaval surrounding the Kenyan government’s proposed tax hikes. 

After last year’s August election, the Azimio party’s former presidential candidate, Ralia Odinga, has been claiming that the election was rigged against him and current President William Ruto should not be president. Since March of 2023, Odinga’s supporters have been protesting in the streets of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, but protests were suspended in May for talks with the government. Protests were scheduled to continue on July 19, 2023 when talks with the Kenyan government failed to reach peace. Protests erupted in Nairobi, and became even larger when Kenyans opposing the government’s proposed tax hikes joined and sparked other large protests across the country. 

This unfortunately ended up in Kenyan police using extreme violence in an attempt to stop the protests and prevent more from joining. Police reportedly used tear gas and other acts of extreme violence on protesters, resulting in at least 20 protestors being killed during July of 2023. 

Since July, more of these cases of excessive police violence in Kenya have surfaced. Around 500 cases of police killings have surfaced since 2019, with many of these cases going unreported. One example of this would be back in January of 2022, when around 37 bodies were discovered in the River Yala in western Kenya. Most of the bodies bore deep cuts all over them and severed fingers, with a few having been suffocated with bags. The case was still ongoing by the end of 2022, but the main suspects were killed on their way to court. 

This issue of extreme police violence and corruption of power in Kenya is a very serious problem. The country has recently been undergoing much change, with police responding very harshly to mostly peaceful protests, and facing very little repercussions or push for taking responsibility in the aftermath, since they hold so much power. 

Ethiopia has endured several civil wars;  the Tigray conflict being the most recent war that continued for two years. The weapons and explosive remnants of the war caused civilians to suffer from restricted healthcare facilities, movement, schools, homes, and fertile land. “Thousands of people have been displaced, essential infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged, and weapon contamination has reached very concerning levels in some areas.”  The everyday lives of Ethiopians have been disrupted due to the conflict with the Tigray region, however, the process of rebuilding and aid has been supported and focused on.

Overall, the humanitarian process has been improving due to the ICRC’s (International Committee of the Red Cross) efforts. More routes throughout Ethiopia have been opened, allowing better access for civilians to reach difficult areas and receive aid. Opportunities for people to flee from the country or accept refugees have heightened as well. Authorities are focusing on a peace agreement, which attempts to find solutions for peace and reparations, along with accountability and truth. In order to deal with internal displacement, the Ethiopian government has prioritized life-saving humanitarian action. “In 2021, Ethiopia ratified the Kampala Convention and initiated steps to work towards a comprehensive framework to guide responses to internal displacement.”

On a specific note, sexual violence has been another human rights issue the Ethiopian government faces. Several solutions have been put in place to put in place to protect the citizens. In Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia regions, one-stop centers are established to assist victims of sexual violence. They include medications, dignity kids, and food. The health staff there is trained in the clinical management of rape. There are safe houses throughout these regions to provide support for survivors. Along with institutions, police officers and other legal figures are trained. “More than 430 police officers, investigators, and prosecutors have participated in dedicated trainings on the investigations of sexual violence and international humanitarian law.”

The ICRC in Ethiopia.

These steps of rebuilding the nation start with supporting the people. ICRC hopes to see a steady increase in humanitarian aid as its efforts continue to expand throughout the country of Ethiopia.

The Democratic Republic of Congo unfortunately endured genocide for many years and continues to face such challenges today. “Since 1996, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC; Congo) has been embroiled in violence that has killed as many as 6 million people” (1). The DRC is constantly in turmoil through human rights, political debates, and outside groups and terrorists attacking. With a history of violence, the DRC is considered dangerous to visit or travel to due to “civil unrest and crime” (2). Civilians of East and South Africa tend to stay away from the DRC to stay safe and prevent the influx of outsiders. The violence in DRC is related to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda where inflexible militant Hutus, known as the Interhamwe, slaughtered ethnic Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus. Genocide is defined as “the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group to destroy that nation or group,” a tragic occurrence repeatedly witnessed in this country.

Equally horrifying is that of the above 6 million people who perished, over half were children under the age of 5 due to famine and disease. Diseases run rampant through the desert and jungles due to dirty water and people living in extremely close quarters. As well as killing, the DRC has some of the most prevalent levels of rape and sexual violence in the world. “As of 2023, DRC is home to an estimated 5.7 million internally displaced people urgently needing more than 2 billion dollars in medical and other aid. Nearly one million Congolese nationals have sought refuge in various African states”.

In summary, civilians of the DRC are actively advocating for peace and human rights, yet they continue to bear the consequences of genocide.

As a part of Kenya’s Vision 2030 plan, the country has been simultaneously building their economy and pushing towards sustainable efforts through ecotourism. Ecotourism is a term that refers to the push (and trend) to move towards sustainable travel and traveling to natural areas. This is meant to generate revenue for the country/region, as well as for the local communities through hotels, resorts, stores, etc. 

Kenya has many conservatories (basically National Parks) for the purpose of protecting the wildlife there, and to produce profit through visiting tourists. Many of these conservatories have resorts and private camps around and in them, most of which are very expensive and luxurious. These resorts, although a little elitist, do generate enough money to fund the conservatories and the local communities. 

Ecotourism is often viewed as something completely beneficial, but it does have consequences. The idea does push for more sustainable travel, but traveling in general does produce problems with air pollution as a result of the increased amounts of air, water, and car traffic coming into the area. With the increasing amounts of tourists visiting Kenya since the early 2000’s, this type of pollution could become a huge problem if the country is not prepared to combat it. 

I will say, however, Kenya does have one of the strictest plastic bans in the world, with the introduction of an incredibly restrictive ban on single-use plastic bags to clean up the country’s cities and protect their conservatories. Then, in 2020, an additional ban on any single-use plastic products in any conservation area, resulting in many of the surrounding areas and resorts going completely plastic free. 

Kenya has made such a huge effort towards being more sustainable, even though they are not the wealthiest or more developed country. Their efforts tell us, especially us Americans, that we need to do better to help protect and preserve the planet. We have far more funds and resources, and therefore absolutely no excuse. We all share this planet, regardless of what country we share allegiance to. Besides, without the Earth, it wouldn’t evenexist at all.