#8 - Guinea

AS mentioned earlier, today I stayed home with my son.  This morning I ate a handful of dry Cheerios and the same for lunch.  Dinner was a half serving of red beans and rice with seasoned chicken.  Needless to say, lots of things are starting to look real good right now. Guinea is the country for Tuesday March 8th.  Tuesday marks the beginning of only the second week of my bucktwentyfive month.  Needless to say I am wondering if I have the stamina to make it through the week, let alone the month.

Guinea is a country on the western coast of Africa.  As I read about Guinea I wondered if I was reading the same stories about so many other nations in Africa.  The original tribal society obliterated by French Colonialism only to be thrust upon the world stage in the 60s and left to the powers that be.  Despots followed by Coup's followed by staggering attempts at Republicanism...

Guinea is rich in natural resources but it is yet to be seen if they can enrich the people that live in that country. Too often these resources are taken by the powerful and not shared with the people in any meaningful form.  Healthcare is low and literacy is among the lowest in the world with an estimated 30% of adults literate.  This lack of education condemns the majority of the population into a life of back breaking poverty that they are unable to rise above.  

The newly elected President said he will review the mining contracts and other such issues, but improving the infrastructure and education should be the primary goal.  Without it there is little hope for the people of Guinea.