Somalia and my views on war.
Somalia, or Somali Democratic Republic is a third world country located in
Eastern Africa. Somalia is a peninsula surrounded by the Gulf of Aden to the
north, the Indian ocean to the east and south, Kenya to the southwest, Ethiopia
to the west and Djibouti to the northwest. The total area of Somalia is 637,757
square km.(246,200 square miles). It has a long coastline of 3025 km. (1880
miles). The northern part of the country is covered in mountain ranges with
average elevations between 915m. and 2135m. (3000ft. to 7000ft.)
Somalia has a tropical to subtropical climate with the average temperature of
28 degrees but it can go as low as 0 degrees. Monsoon winds bring dry seasons
from September to December. The rainy season in Somalia is from March to May.
The average national rainfall is 280mm (11 inches).
Most people in Somalia are Somalis. Other minorities are Arabs, Indians,
Italians and Pakistanis. The population of Somalia in 1995 was 10,173,000. The
population density in Somalia is 16 people per square kilometer. The largest and
capital city of Somalia is Mogadishu. It has 700,000 people. The other main
cities include Hargeysa, Kismayu and Marka with populations between 60,000 and
70,000.
The economy of Somalia is based primarily on livestock raising. In the south,
some crop farming is important. In the early 1990s, with the Somalian economy in
a state of collapse because of the civil war, the Gross National Product (GNP)
was $36.00 per capita. Livestock raising is the principle occupation. In 1990,
the number of estimated livestock was 6 million goats, 4 million sheep and one
million cattle. The main crops were 101,000 tons of maize, 55,000 tons of
bananas and 50,000 tons of sugarcane. Most wood is cut down for fuel.
The currency of Somalia is the Somali Shilling. One Shilling has one hundred
Centesimi. To equal one US Dollar you would need 3,900 Shillings.
President Mohammed Siad Barre left Somalia in a state of civil war in January
1991. Since then Somalia has had no central governmental authority.
War is an armed conflict between two or more governments or states. War
between different parts or factions in the same nation is referred to as a civil
war. There has always been wars. Man has always wanted to fight. It is in our
nature. Anything can cause wars; from a country trying to take over another
country, to a disagreement between politicians. Usually wars are ended by a
treaty stating the rules of coexistence, and civil wars are ended by peace
proclamations.
There are not any easy solutions to the problem of wars because it will
always be around. However, one of the solutions is the work of the Peace Makers.
They go to war-torn countries and try to mediate. This has been very successful
in the past. The second one, although not as good, is the stronger faction
winning by force. The third and most desirable solution, I feel, is the change
to democracy. Here the answers to the important questions are obtained by the
casting of votes by the public.
I feel the nation of Somalia would really like it if the problem of war is
terminated. Somalia has been involved in war in nearly all through its history,
from the 2nd century till 1960 Somalia has been the property of Great Britain,
Egypt, Italy, Ethiopia and other countries. Somalia got its independence by
agreement with the U.N trusteeship council on July 1st 1960 but the fighting did
not stop there. Somalia has been in a civil war from the early 1980s. Even since
1991, at least 350,000 people have been killed by violence or starvation. This
would not have happened if not for war. This is reason enough to stop war. The
stopping of war will help Somalia focus on other matters such as creating jobs,
feeding the thousands of hungry people and building the economy. Who knows if
the war had ended many years ago Somalia could be a very different place.
Another reason why Somalia should end its war is about its very existence. If
the war continues there may not be much of Somalia left.
As I said before mankind cannot completely eliminate wars. However, the world
must never stop trying. Canada is helping by sending humanitarian aids to the
countries in trouble. We also help with peace keeping forces. I feel the most
helpful and long lasting solution to this human tragedy is good communication.
This can only be achieved if the population is better educated by eliminating
illiteracy and a better knowledge of global politics and economy.