Transcript Document

Africa
1. 11.6 million square miles (USA = 3.7 million) Eritrea is about the
size of UT
2. Widely regarded in the scientific community to be the origin of
humans
3. Lake Victoria is the world’s 2nd largest freshwater lake; 26,560
sq/mi (same as WV)
4. Niger River = 2,600 miles; Congo R. = 2,900 miles; Nile = 4,132
Africa
5. Water travel was nearly impossible because
of waterfalls, rapids, sand bars, or dry
6. Oil, uranium, diamonds, and about half the
world’s supply of gold.
7. Bananas, pineapples, coffee, cocoa, and
rubber – clear cutting the rainforest
8. Rainforest: 1990 = 1.5 billion acres; 2005 =
half that
Ethnicity
1. 3000 African ethnic groups
2. 2000 languages
3. Most are Christian or Muslim
4. 66% in agriculture, mostly subsistence
5. One’s ethnic group is often more important than
loyalty to a government
South Africa
1. 75% Black; 14% White
2. 11 official languages
3. Apartheid – “official policy of racial segregation
involving political, legal, and economic discrimination
against nonwhites”
4. 1994 – 1st election in which all adults could vote
5. Nelson Mandela becomes first black President
Uganda
1. Idi Amin – President 1971-79
2. He gave himself the title "His Excellency President for Life, Field
Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the
Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea, and Conqueror of the British
Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular"
3. He granted himself a number of grandiose titles, including "King of
Scotland".
4. US Ambassador described Amin's regime as "racist, erratic, brutal,
inept, bellicose, irrational, ridiculous, and militaristic...but its most
salient characteristic has been Amin's rampant xenophobia."
5. Killed 300,000 Christians, Hindus, etc. before being exiled to Saudi
Arabia
Problems Facing Africa
1. No money to buy resources
2. Education
a. Little or none
b. “Brain drain” – sent abroad for education and never return
3. Ethnic conflict – borders drawn by Europeans
4. Corrupt government
a. Mobutu Sese Seko – ruled Zaire for 27 years
b. 0 hospitals built
c. Less pavement than Columbus, OH
d. 53% of budget went to rulers
e. 22% to military
f. 3% to health/human services
g. Ghana had military coups in 1972, 1978, 1979, 1981
Problems Facing Africa, cont.
5. Population – 5% growth rate
a. Rwanda – 8 children per family
b. Population projected to double by 2035
6. Health Care – little or no facilities
a. Health care spending less than $1 per person
b. Africa has the highest BR, DR, IMR, and the shortest LE in the world!
c. Shortage of workers = closing of the industries
d. Leading causes of death:
1. Famine
2. Unclean water (disease) (lack of sanitation)
3. AIDS
8. AIDS
a. Contracted by birth, heterosexual, prostitution
b. No education
c. Many scientists believe that HIV/AIDS originated in chimpanzees in Africa