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Published byHubert Allen Modified over 9 years ago
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Central Africa Economy, Culture, and Human Impact
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Economy
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Mostly rural Subsistence agriculture instead of cash crops Why? What about the climate/vegetation makes plantations difficult? Dense vegetation in equatorial region (the area around the Equator) makes clearing land for farming difficult
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Economic Activity Timber (wood) hardwood exports DRC, Cameroon, Gabon Gems SW DRC (near Kinshasa) Hydroelectric power DRC on the Congo River Petroleum Along the coasts of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo
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Culture
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At least 250 ethnic groups in DRC and Cameroon Central African Republic each group has own language ~ 700 local languages in DRC One of the least densely populated populated regions in Africa Where it is densely populated, cities hold millions of people Kinshasa (capital of DRC) = political, economic, and cultural hub of the region
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Colonization Missionaries, rulers, & businessmen promote Euro. culture at expense of traditional cultures Christianity becomes predominant in many areas (sometimes mixed with other religions) Independence Serious conflicts Late 1960s-1990s: DRC led by dictator Mobutu Sese Seko Human rights abuses, single party rule, war
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Conflicts hurt education systems Under colonial rule, religion dominated education Trying to raise literacy rates in rural areas but lack support Range from 50% (Cent. Af. Rep.) to 85% (Equatorial Guinea) Typically lower for women Why do you think that is?
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Like East Africa, Central Africa has trouble eradicating common diseases Sleeping sickness carried by tsetse fly Ebola spread by rats, bugs, and monkeys Lack of safe drinking water Vaccine shortages Rising number of AIDS victims
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Human Impact
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Dams for hydroelectric power change surrounding landscape Mining Deforestation Pollution Road and railway building Waste from sites Climate change
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