Congo Democratic From People Picture Republic

AUSTRALIA - *Passport, Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or non-electronic label visa, proof of onward or return ticket, and sufficient funds are required. An ETA or non-electronic label visa is required for tourist or business stays of up to 3 months. An ETA is an electronically stored authority to travel to Australia and can be obtained online at www.ETA.immi.gov.au or through participating travel agencies or airlines. Minors not accompanied by a parent or traveling with only one parent need notarized written parental consent from the absent parent(s). AIDS test required for permanent resident visa for applicants age 15 and older; tests taken in the U.S. are acceptable. More information about entry requirements to Australia (including for longer stays) is available on the Embassy of Aus ... [Read More]

Foreign Entry Requirements

U.S. Department of State [Read More]

Bringing Democracy to Africa's Authoritarian Governments

I would argue that there are two categories of problems that plague these countries, essentially. One are problems that are related to what I call games semi-authoritarian regimes play. That is, in the second they suffer from structural problems that make a transition to full democracy very different. Let me start with the easiest part, which is the games that semi-authoritarian regimes play. And I think we are all familiar with the games. Semi-authoritarian regimes in any country of the world are very good at holding multi-party elections while at the same time making sure that the core power of the government is never going to be affected. In other words, they are going to hold elections, but they are not--the regime is not going to lose those elections. They'll sacrifice some people. The most common sacrificial lamb in African countries that are trying to show that they are democratic is town councilmen, the sort of local elected officials. They can very well be sacrifi ... [Read More]

Introduction

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, various armed groups continued to commit massacres and other atrocities, but the poor human rights situation improved slightly. After five years of war, a Transitional Government was inaugurated, a vital step in starting the country on a path toward democracy. Uganda withdrew its forces by June, and, following the adoption of a transitional constitution, a transitional power-sharing government was established on June 30. In Liberia, a cooperative transitional power sharing agreement emerged between civil society, former government forces and the rebel groups, “Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy” (LURD) and “Movement for Democracy in Liberia” (MODEL), with elections scheduled for October 2005. However, numerous abuses occurred in the context of the conflict, and sporadic fighting, looting and human rights violations continued in remote areas where peacekeepers from the U.N. Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) have not yet reached. ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Text: U.S. To Issue Human Rights Strategy Report

Sudan remained a serious abuser of human rights, including tragic violations such as slavery, child labor, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and attacks on civilians continued. Notwithstanding the failure of the UN Commission on Human Rights to pass a Sudan resolution this month, the Government of Sudan must make greater and more transparent improvements in the human rights conditions of its people. Zimbabwe's government used a systematic campaign of violence and intimidation against its opponents, real and perceived. This campaign has also featured politicized distribution of food aid in an environment where half the population has been at risk of malnutrition and hunger. In Côte d'Ivoire, a coup attempt and ensuing civil unrest sparked human rights violations by government and rebel forces. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, major abuses continued. ... [Read More]

Dominican Republic, 1-100

On April 30, 1965, President Johnson held several telephone conversations with his top advisers between 5 and 7 p.m. on a proposed statement to the press regarding Communist involvement in the Dominican crisis. In the first of these conversations with Secretary of Defense McNamara at 5:05 p.m., McNamara expressed his strong belief that the President of the United States should not be the person to "point a finger to the Communists’ participation in this." McNamara thought President Johnson would have "a pretty tough job proving that the Inter-American system was being menaced by powers outside the republic and were trying to gain control." President Johnson responded, "We all know they are. What is wrong with my saying it?" McNamara said, "The rest of us can say things like that and we don’t have to prove it, but you have got a handful of people there but you don’t know that Castro is trying to do anything. You would have a hard time proving to any group that Castro has done more than ... [Read More]

David Goldiner, "Games for the Whole World" , U.S. Society and Values, December 2003

The international profile of American football got a boost from the launch of the NFL Europe league, which provides an opportunity for some European neophytes to play against somewhat lesser American professional talents. Many of the foreigners – 90 made preseason rosters in the NFL this season – are sons of immigrants from places like Mexico or West Africa. From Colonial TimesTeam sports were an early manifestation of life in colonial North America. Predecessor games to modern-day baseball and soccer were popular among the colonists in the early 18th century, decades before America's Declar ... [Read More]