Rape of a Nation | MediaStorm

Diamonds and gold — vast natural resources that could enrich a nation — are a curse in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Congolese people have suffered the largest death toll since the second world war.

The conflict between warlords and armed rebels for control of these resources have plunged the citizens into a life of poverty, sexual violence, and war. Some 45,000 people die each month as a result.

The actual miners who extract the sought-out treasures have no access to a living wage, societal safety, or simple medical care, while their leaders enrich themselves and allow the misery to continue.

Marcus Bleasdale traces how the west's consumer appetite for these resources have led to such sub-human conditions for the Congolese, and poses that we might make a difference — at the jewelry counter — simply by asking: where does that ring come from?

Published: January 21st, 2008

Credits

Marcus Bleasdale

Photography & Video

MediaStorm

A film by

Brian Storm | MediaStorm

Director & Executive Producer

Eric Maierson | MediaStorm

Editor & Producer

Chad Heartwood | MediaStorm

Video Interview

Tim Klimowicz | MediaStorm

Graphics

Special Thanks

Carroll Boggert, Veronica Matushaj, Anna Lopriore, Marrion Udongo, David Lewis, Finbarr O Reilly, Dino Mahtani, KB Nosterud, Hugues Robert, Cheryl Newman, Mary Anne Golon, Alice Gabriner, Anneke Van Woudenbeg, Tom Stoddart, Philip Wood, Ian Parry and the Parry Family, Kadir Van Lohuizen, Philip Jones Griffiths, Aidan Sullivan, Yann-Arthus Bertrand

Get Involved

How To Help

The problems in Congo are vast and sometimes the whole problem feels overwhelming, but it is not unsolvable. It is not a problem that we can't do anything about.

When buying gold or diamonds, ask the retailer if they know where they're coming from. In this way, we as consumers can maintain pressure on an industry that is sometimes not as diligent as it can be.

Additionally the Congolese population needs help. These are some of the organizations working in DRC:

Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. They work to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. They investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. They challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law.

Médecins Sans Frontiéres

Médecins Sans Frontiéres (Doctors Without Borders) is providing emergency healthcare in some of the worst conflict zones in DRC.

The International Rescue Committee

The International Rescue Committee helps to revive basic services interrupted by the long civil war and aid communities to generate long-term solutions to the problems of poverty and violence.

Save the Children

Save the Children helps to revive basic services interrupted by the long civil war and aid communities to generate long-term solutions to the problems of poverty and violence.

The Coalition to stop the use of Child Soldiers

The Coalition to stop the use of Child Soldiers works to prevent their recruitment and use, to secure their demobilization and to promote their rehabilitation and reintegration.

Global Witness

Global Witness exposes the corrupt exploitation of natural resources and international trade systems. They drive campaigns to end impunity, resource-linked conflicts and human rights and environmental abuses.

All of these organizations need our constant support.

St Kizito Orphanage

The St Kizito orphanage is based in Bunia, in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Over the past decade, Bunia has been the centre of a conflict fought over the huge natural resources found in the region.

Many tens of thousands have been killed or died due to the lack of access to medication. As a result of this and the dire economic situation for the majority of the population, there is an enormous problem with children either losing their parents or their parents simply not having enough funds to support the family. This is where St Kizito comes in.

St Kizito looks after nearly 100 children of varying ages. They bathe them, feed them, educate them, allow them to grow and play and at the end of the day they put them to sleep. St Kizito is mainly staffed by volunteers and is run wholly on support by individual donations.