Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Human Rights

Economic sanctions on Liberia include a sanction to prevent weapons trading to individuals, preventing high-profile criminals entering the country, and a freeze on said criminal's assets in Liberia, primarily those of the former leader Charles Taylor. These sanctions are internationally supported, and are mainly a result of Charles Taylor's regime. Liberia hasn't done anything about these sanctions, as they recognize that these are necessary to maintain peace within the country and friendly relations on an international level.

Liberia has overcrowded jails, violence against women and children, and a weak judiciary system. They also have capital punishment in effect.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

LIBERIA - Government


 


LIBERIA - Foreign Policy

- Repair ties with Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)
- Supports the People's Republic of China
- Close ties to USA
- Close ties with India
-Member of UN, MRU (Mano River Alliance), ADB (African Development Bank), OAU (Organization of African Unity), and the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States).
-Supports AFRICOM (African Mission), a USA mission "providing stability and stability to Africa"

 Humanitarian/ Social Justice Goals
"Liberia should not need aid in 10 years, we've got the resources ... We're going to go from dependency to self-sufficiency." - Liberia's president, Ellen Sirleaf

China has been a big Foreign Aid to Liberia, but Liberia is becoming more and more self dependant. 

Environmental Goals

Liberia, as it stands is not that enviromentaly friendly. They have many old cars left on the side of roads, and swampy areas. These cars pollute their water and air. Liberia, more recently has been passing acts against these kinds of things. They are going for a 'greener' future, they are even taking noise pollution into account.

Quality of Life

As of 2010, Their life expectancy at birth is 56.58, which is the192nd highest. They have $186.68 per capita.

Liberia has the lowest computers per person at 0.312 per 1000 people. Liberia, also has the sencond slowest Bandwidth at 0.26Mbps, when Canada has 217,521 Mbps.

Monday, November 22, 2010

LIBERIA - Background Information

"The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here"

Population: 3, 476, 608
Religion: 40% Christian, 40% Indigenous, 20% Islam
Established: 1847, Republic of Liberia
Capital City: Monrovia

Liberia is one of two African countries not to be colonized by a European power. Instead, Liberia was colonized by freed American slaves. It gained independence in 1847 and abopted a political structure very similar to that of USA's. The capital city - Monrovia - is named after James Monroe, the fifth president of America. A military coup in 1980 destabilized the nation and resulted in two civil wars. Liberia is now slowly recovering from its devastated economy.

Liberia's primary exports are timber and rubber, although the diamond industry has been on the rise.