Nicholas Kristof Reports on Women in Congo

Nicholas Kristof is reporting from The Congo, writing critical words for thinking people: Sometimes I wish eastern Congo could suffer an earthquake or a tsunami, so that it might finally get the attention it needs. The barbaric civil war being waged here is the most lethal conflict since World War II and has claimed at least 30 times as many lives as the Haiti earthquake. via NYTimes

The Congo is also high on our radar. 

I left this comment on Kristof’s blog:

Your work and reporting are so valuable Kristof. The lack of comments confirms your key point of how this tragedy among women in the Congo just can’t penetrate our radar.

I wrote another Congo post this week, inspired by the London Times piece on Dr. Denis Mukwege, Director of Panzi Hospital. Following up on Eve Ensler’s UK website, she’s advancing the idea that we make the Congo problem a ‘blood diamonds’ campaign.

As a marketer and branding person, I believe this is doable and could be highly effective and am working now to understand the legislation introduced in Congress in early 2009 around Congo-based products. Congo is not a poor country. If the appeal to humanity isn’t working in the Congo, perhaps using economic boycott leverage could help.

Count me on that team of people who will lobby and spread the word, trying to raise consciousness about products we buy and how they contribute to the devastating crimes against women in the Congo. Anne