Rwanda Matters but World Cup Attracts

I give it the same title as it appeared on The Hindu dated July 1, 2010, as I feel thats the best way to sum this up. This article was so intriguing that I kept reading it.

Most of us get the image of the Dark Continent, whenever we hear Africa. AIDS, Prostitution, Anarchy, Poverty - these are the first things that come into our minds. Not our fault. That is the way Africa has been portrayed by journalists. Every other article I read about this continent talks about how small girls sell their bodies to paedophiles at cheap rates to help their AIDS affected parents (in most cases only one parent!). I feel sick. Disgusting. Not the paedophiles but the situation there. 

But what these articles are doing apart from making us aware of these pathetic condition is making us loathe the place. Making Africa a forbidden kingdom except for people who want to exploit this condition and for people who could afford to alleviate these problems.

We never hear such news about America or Europe. Does that mean they are not victims of these? They are. So is the rest of the world. Africa just happens to have more of it. We know more about America than we know about the 9/11 or the hurricane Katrina. And I feel that would become of Africa if it were to be visited by more people. Only then can it improve and get help not just from the UN or other NGO's, but from others as well. Portray the positives of Africa. Where did the Pyramids go? Where is the Nile? Where are those beautiful forests and wildlife and the Victoria falls?

For the past two weeks, half the world is watching Africa. But few are concentrating on its destitution. Football, the beautiful game is doing its bit by attracting people into Africa. We like to read, contemplate and debate about how poor Rwanda is, but the literature seldom attracts us there. There needs to be more publicity done about the brighter side of Africa, along with delineation of their troubles. I might not be able to help in that but the least I can do is publicising this article which came in the newspaper.