05 February 2008

1994

i remember hearing very little about what took place in 1994 in Rwanda. back then i would have been 13 years old and probably could have cared less anyway. last year, i worked with a lady for a short time in yellowknife that was from there and heard a few stories of her time as she lived there during the terrible things that happened in 94. now, i just finished reading a book about it that gives quite an insight into what went on.
Paul Rusesabagina tells his story of what he saw and how he saved some lives. here is a quick paragraph from the book that i found pretty insane. to put it in a bit of context, he is talking about how the UN, US, Canada and other countries were useless in helping avoid, or stop the massacre.

       "Even a proposal to jam the frequencies of RTLM {the rebel radio station} was rejected, on  the grounds that the Army National Guard airplane required for the overflights cost  eighty- five hundred dollars an hour to fly. If that plane had been kept aloft for every second of the genocide it would have worked out to about twenty-four dollars for each life taken that might otherwise have been saved"
if you are looking for something to read...this one is well written and extremely eye-opening.

1 comment:

Kori and the Lovely Lisa said...

Glad you are always taking an interest to what is and has happend around the world. Thanks for making an effort to share your knowledge. There are so mnay tragic events that have happend around the world that do not make the news until it is too late. $ is usually the reason, as the author of your book showed directly. What is the monitary value to a human soul? $24 dollars in Rawanda.

Take care, (dr. O)

Love Kori Jones