1. HBO Vice Viewing Guide Notes
Sub-Saharan Africa

2. Episode 1: “Dirty Oil”, Nigeria's illegal oil production in the Niger Delta
Nigeria became OPEC member in 1971
This year OPEC required Nigeria to cap the amount of oil production in order to combat low oil prices to try and boost revenue.
$58 a barrel in January but they have since slipped back to a $45 to $50
Very poor infrastructure does not allow oil revenues to be profited in the mainstream economy

3. Episode 1: “Dirty Oil”, Nigeria's illegal oil production in the Niger Delta

4. Episode 2: “China in Africa,” China’s infrastructure projects and trade in Africa
International trade requires corporations to invest in foreign countries
Foreign direct investment (FDI): investment made my a foreign company in the economy of another country
FDI saw rapid growth in late 20th century, initially from MDC to other MDC’s…MDC to LDC is now on the rise
Structural adjustment program: policy framework outlining plan for economic goals, strategies for achieving the goals, and other financial requirements
Puts burden on government to reduce spending and take away social services to poor citizens, “Structural reforms punish Earth’s poorest people for actions they did not commit.”

5. Sub-Saharan Africa
(LDC’s)

6. Thomas Malthus on Population (1798)
Episode 3: “Contagion,” Uganda’s system to fight a pandemic
Thomas Malthus on Population (1798)
Pessimist
population would outrun food supply
Unless there were natural “checks” on the population (disease, famine, wars, etc.)
Assumptions
Populations grow exponentially.
Food supply grows arithmetically.
Food shortages and chaos inevitable.

7. Episode 3: “Contagion,” Uganda’s system to fight a pandemic
Contraceptive: birth control
Demand in LDC’s in greater than supply
Low status of women
Relocation diffusion: someone or something must relocate to a new place to spread disease
AIDS spreading to U.S. in 1980’s
West Africa chimpanzee hunting and meat consumption

8. Episode 3: “Contagion,” Uganda’s system to fight a pandemic

9. Episode 3: “Contagion,” Uganda’s system to fight a pandemic
Epidemiologic Transition: focuses on distinct causes of death in each of the demographic stages
Stages 1 and 2
Infectious and parasitic disease.
“natural checks” according to Malthus
Stages 3 and 4
Degenerative and human created disease.
Increase in chronic disorders associated with aging (heart attack, etc.)
Possible Stage 5
Reemergence of infectious and parasitic disease.
Pandemic: disease occurs over a wide geographic area (AIDS, Ebola, Black Plague, bird flu, cholera

10. Episode 4: “Guide to the Congo”, Conflict Minerals, Rebels and Child Soldiers in Congo
Conflict mining: Conflict resources are natural resources extracted in a conflict zone and sold to perpetuate the fighting. 
The 4 most commonly mined conflict minerals (known as 3TGs, from their initials) are cassiterite (for tin), wolframite (for tungsten), coltan (for tantalum), and gold ore
Coltan: black metallic mineral used in cell phones, laptops, and other electronics