Rwanda Gets It Right
Rwanda is an example of how a group of people can move from a horrible tragedy, in this case, a genocide, into a community of hope, mutual respect, and a deep commitment to sustainability. In its capital city Kigali (shown here), single-use plastic bags have been banned since 2008, driving is limited, and walking and biking are encouraged (along with other forms of physical fitness).
My personal favorite is this concept: the entire population gets together once a month to clean up what little waste may lie on the ground.
Sadly, very few communities in the U.S. have anything even remotely equivalent to this practice, as we tend to see ourselves as isolated, and behave with near complete indifference to our neighbors. Kigali is proof that this doesn’t have to be the case.
Craig,
I hate contradicting your enthusiasms, especially when you’re right for the wrong reasons 🙂
I realize you’ve only read about Rwanda, never actually visited, so it’s understandable you’ve gained a bit of an idealized concept of this small African nation.
Rwanda’s troubles began with colonial passing to Belgium after WW1. Today Rwanda is struggling to recover from the hatreds of nearly a century of bitter conflict which is a legacy of Belgian policy failures.
I like Rwanda, it’s people and the current government. However, I’m not sure you would feel the same if you really understood the national situation.
The government is a virtual one-party state, backed by strong military presence in politics. Nor is the government tolerant of opposition, (with some good reason). The young and idealistic army (RDF) can be very brutal and quite prepared to violate human rights and commit atrocities against those who oppose the government or Rwandian inderests .
On the plus side, the government is less corrupt and delivers more services than most African nations. Environmental issues do get a hearing, despite the nations poverty level being 47%.
Within the African context, this state of Affairs isn’t so bad, but I’m not sure you’d approve.
Since 2012 the current government stands accused of murdering opposition leaders, Charles Ingabire, Jean-Léonard Rugambage, Théogène Turatsinze, even Green Party leader,André Rwisereka. Government agents have murdered several journalists, and jailed oppositional presidential candidate, Victoire Ingabire for 15 years.
Rwanda is a very traumatized nation, still struggling to come to terms with the most horrific historical events. President Kagame excuses much in the name of national security.
Rwanda’s economy has grown rapidly with per-capita gross domestic product (purchasing power parity) estimated at $1,592, unfortunately this has created a wealth divide between an increasingly rich urban elite, and the rural poor who benefit very little. Rwanda has been accused of controlling the exploitation of some of the most environmentally shocking resource activities in the neighboring Congo in conjunction with the PRC .
President Kagame is a man of many contradictions, while visionary and idealistic, his personality is often described as having fits of “chronic impatience, barely suppressed anger, and impulsive scorn for critics”. ( He’s a self confessed addict of twitter).
I must declare my own self interest, I have investments in Rwanda, and contacts with the regime. .