February 2, 2005 oe Page 5 3.8 Million Congolese Die: Canadians Don't Care By CiARLES THRIFT STAFF WRITER While Canadians were busy worry- ing themsclves about same-sex mar- riages, the Canadian news media qui- etly ignored the re-ignition of the “world’s deadliest conflict WWII. In December, Rwandan forces re- invaded the castern Democratic Republic of Congo (in violation of. their peace agreement), threatening to re-start the war that has cost the lives of millions. According to the Tutsi-led Rwandan government, their forces are searching for the Hutu militias that committed the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. These militias fled the country after the genocide, and have taken refuge in the DR Congo. Rwanda invaded the castern DR Congo in 1998 on the same premise, starting a conflict that involved cight countries, and which Iced to the loss of more than 3.8 million lives in the last six years -the largest death toll of any conflict since WWII. Critics deny the Rwandan govern- ments claims, and suggest that the Rwanda is only interested in main- taining control of mines in the region. The region is rich in diamond and coltan mines (which is used to make cell-phones), and it is said that Rwanda left behind soldiers to retain control of some of these mines. According to the UN, since the war in 1998, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and the Congo have continued to exploit the resources of the DR since Congo, and that as much as 80% of Rwanda’s military budget comes from the exploitation of Congolese resources. It is thought that Rwanda’s actions may provoke other nations in the region, leading to an intensification of the conflict, and delays in the peace process. According to Kofi Annan, the security situation is “extremely volatile”. The DR Congo is supposed to carry out clections in June, as outlined in the 2002 peace agreement that PHOTO PROVIDED Refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo wait in line for food at a refugee camp in Goma. The ongoing civil war has killed almost 4 million Congolese, and displaced hundreds of thousands more. ended the conflict, but it is likely that the poll will be delayed. In Canada, Rwanda’s invasion of the DR Congo received little cover- age. Since mid-November, the Prince George Citizen has had only three articles related to the war in the DR Congo - onc of which dealt with the war's cffect on gorilla populations. In contrast, a Canadian Newsstand search uncovered almost 50 articles related to the elections in the Ukrainc, and 274 articles about the NHL. The. International Rescue Committee (IRC) has been trying for many years to bring the war in the Students at UNBC Fast For Charity By Barry WOLFENDEN STAFF WRITER The grand tradition of the 30 Hour Famine has been drug up from the murky and anccdote-infested waters of our high school past, and now UNBC students have the oppor- tunity to fast for a good cause. Beginning on the 25th of February, participants will gather together and begin their fast. Games, tournaments, and other entertaining activitics will be provided to pass away the time and to keep hunger off the participants’ minds, As in the past, the first and last commandment of the 30 Hour Famine is Thou Shalt Not Consume Anything Other Than Juices And Water, This allows participants to stay hydrated and keep their blood sugars up, but without cating. The fast will conclude with a feast of great proportions (at least, great proportions to a stomach that hasn't caten in 30 hours), which serves as an additional incentive to sign up and support the cause. The forces behind this ycar’s 30 Hour Famine are Jill Edwards and Jess Chelck. When asked what the inspiration behind organizing a 30 Hour Famine at UNBC, Edwards said, “both of us had[participated in the 30 Hour Faminc] in high school. It's a good cause—the moncy 1s going places like Darfur in Sudan, Kenya, and Asia, where the tsunami just hit. Pegple need to get involved with the greater community!” With help trom the RA's, one from Keyoh and another from Neyoh, as well as probable assistance trom both the Resident Council and the loeal business community, this 30 Hour Famine promises to be an interesting and unique experience. For those interested in participat- ing, the deadline for sign-up is February 11th; contact gillianpati- cia86@hotmail.com, or look for the 30 Hour Famine table out in the Winter Garden in the next weck: If fasting (or going without coffec) for 30 hours is something you wish to avoid, you can assist through dona- tions or though pressuring your weak- willed and civic-minded friends into participating, Congo to the attention of the west, but to littke avail. Dr. Richard Brennan, author of a receut International Rescue Committce report on the death toll cx¢laimed “in a matter of six years, the world lost a population equivalent to the entire country of Ireland or the city of Los Angeles How many innocent Congolese lave to perish before the world starts paying attention?” In a study conducted by Ethan Zuckerman, Westerners’ (including Canadians) interest in news about a given country is related to the wealth of that country. Since the DR Congo’s economy has collapsed, ane has litth remaining ittrastructure after years of way, there is little inter- est in Canada for news about their war. Though the lack of coverage of the war may lhaye little consequence for Canadians, Zuckerman states that itis precisely this lack of coverage that allows Western governments to ignore the conflict aud hence, allows the con- flict to continue. According to the IRG, the United Nations Mission in the Congo is not only lacking the resources required to maintain the peace, it is also poorly equipped and under-trained. The Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known as Zaire}, is approximately the size of Western Eurpe, and is rich in mincral resources. The DR Congo has uot had national clectious since their first and ouly democratically clected leader, Patrice Lumumba, was assassinated with Belgian and CIA backing in 1961. Lumumba was replaced by Mobutu Sese Scko, who ruled with Western backing until 1997, when a rebel army, supported by neighboring countries, scized control of the coun- try, plunging it into war. CFS Skittish about Media Motion to invite campus media to meetings weakened BY FONATHAN WOODWARD CUP Berrisit COLUMBIA BUREAU CHIEF VANCOUVER (CUP) — Calls by delegates of the British Columbia wing of Canada’s largest student group to invite the student press to its annual meetings were rebuffed at a conference in Nanaimo. A majority of student union dele- gates at the Canadian Federation of Students conference were skittish about the prospect of doing student advocacy work in the public cye, said delegate Ben West. “There was a lot of trepidation about the ({idea),” said West, who is chair of the Capilano College student uniou in North bizarre. Jancouver. “It was “If people in the legislature were saying we couldu’t see what went on in the Canadian government, then we'd all be up in arms about it.” The CFS is the largest association of student unions in Canada, cncompass- ing about 70 elected student unions and representing about 450,000 stu- dents to the federal and provincial governments. It has an annual budget of about $3.5 million, with $2 milhou coming from those students through student fees. “It would be a good thing if we were more accountable to the students we represent,” said West, “if for no other reason than because it’s student moncy that’s being spent — like tax dollars — and in no small amount.” West moved at the mecting that the student press be invited to all CFS general meetings. The motion was amended to invite media outlets such as the Capilano Courier and Simon Frascr University’s the Peak only to mectings that CFS executives dcemed appropriate. That wasn’t much of a change, said West, and it’s a shame — it would gen- crate some interest in the programs that they promote, such as lowering tuition fees and Rock the Vote. It would also give more meaning to executive clections, which without scrutiny often result in the same unol- licial slate year after year, he said. “There's good work done at the stu- dent society. but democracy falls short in a way we have to address,” West said. But Lisa McLeod, the provincial chair of the CFS, would not discuss the Nanaimo mecting. “These are internal proceedings,” she said. “Our meetings are mectings of membership.” National CFS spokesperson Jan Boyko said there were no national standark on open mectings. He detended the B.C. decision, saying that it’s important to make “delegates teel as comfortable as possible in a working mectiug, “Delegates are coming together, and we need to create an environment where people can spit-ball without things coming back to bite them. “We need to strike a balance to make sure there’s a mechanism to be accountable to the folks back home — and that’s an ongoing cffort.”