Transcript Slide 1
Africa Continental Overview & Current Issues http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/mrsthonus/ social_studies.cfm?subpage=347837 • 2nd Largest and populous continent • 20% of Earth’s land • 14.7% world’s population • 54 “ states” - Sayre, April Pulley. (1999) Africa, Twenty-First Century Books. Lasting Impacts • Slave Trade • Scramble for Africa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa Geography • Largest country: Sudan • Smallest country: Seychelles- collection of island on the east • Smallest nation mainland: Gambia Climate • Tropical- subarctic • N: desert • S & C: plains & jungle/ rainforest Ecology • Deforestation: affecting Africa 2x world rate • 90% West Africa’s forests gone Major Human Rights Abusers • Congo • Sierra Leone • Liberia • Sudan • Zimbabwe • Cote d’Ivoire Poorest & most underdeveloped Why? • Disease • AIDS • Corruption • Failed planning • Illiteracy • Lack of capital • Tribal & military conflict Population & Language • Half or more under 25 yrs • 1 billion people • Over 1,000 languages • English & French spoken in public shere Religion • Muslim- 45% • Christian- 40% • African Religions- less 15% • * Few Judaic tradition - World Book Encyclopedia Major Issues A Closer Look Sources for remaining slides: Steve Stowe & Food 4 Africa Effects of AIDS • Orphans • Prime age dying • Need for drugs to • Families forced to treat AIDS grow products hurting economies with little nutrients, • Schools losing starvation teachers to AIDS • Children forced to • Women forced into prostitution drop out b/c to feed families family can’t pay for school Causes of major problems, including AIDS? • Poverty, deforestation, overcrowding, drought, famine, revolts, tribal unrest, border wars, unemployment, flooding, lack of education, religious wars, slavery, corruption, disease Factors bringing Africa together • Urbanization & education • 25% of pop in some countries live in cities– this breaks down tribal barriers Factors tearing Africa apart • Most people loyal to tribes • Unemployment • Tribal conflicts • Corruption • Education • Lack of clean water & farmland • Medical care & AIDS Who and Why the Scramble for Africa in the late 1800s? • Europe • Industrial Revolutionraw materials • Racism- Euro superior • Religious- doing god’s work Ways Euro kept colonies “peaceful” • Divide & conquer • Minority tribes in control • Military • Wipe out resisting villages • Oppress workers • Uneducated Why so much conflict in Africa? • Conflict traces back to Euro policies to keep Africa in “slavery” • Education- lack how run a country & economy set up to support Euro economies • Tribal divisions • Many languages Role & Value of Women in Africa • Second class • Primary labor force & responsible for domestic chores • Education • Marriage • Sold in exchange for cattle Universal Education • Girls out of school in Africa is highest in world (about 23 million) Need to Promote Gender Equality & Empower Women • Could have greatest impact in reducing poverty, childhood diseases, and spread of AIDS Child Mortality • 30 yrs ago, 1:5 kids died before 5 yrs old • Today, less than 1:10 • Why? • Vaccinations and basic health services Extreme Poverty • World produces enough food • Prob: people in the developing world can’t get access to it • Poverty= main cause of hunger Interactive Map of Africa http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/1478661 http://blog.lib.umn.edu/richt218/architecture/