Africa Continental Overview & Current Issues

2 nd 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. social_studies.cfm?subpage=347837

Lasting Impacts Slave Trade Scramble for 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 Disease AIDS Corruption Failed planning Illiteracy Lack of capital Tribal & military conflict Why?

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 Need for drugs to treat AIDS hurting economies Schools losing teachers to AIDS Children forced to drop out b/c family can’t pay for school Prime age dying Families forced to grow products with little nutrients, starvation Women forced into prostitution to feed families

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 Revolution- raw 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