TheUnFreetown.

The Streets Of Salone.

Symbolizes the struggle the everyday person endures from the different powers controlling the country.

There is not much any one man can do in the fight against governmental corruption, but once enough awareness is spread enough, something can be done. Nobody sees this problem as a major problem considering how barely anyone knows about it. In reaction to that, I decided to publicize facts of what is going on in order to get more people to advocate for the cause of saving my family's home country. Several instances have occurred on where different individuals and have and are currently fighting for that justice. For example, according to SierraExpressMedia.com, in 2001 the tabloids  "Democrats" and "For Di People" discovered and exploited Justice Minister Solomon Brewa's illegal habit of accepting bribes in exchange in the release of Israeli and Russian prisoners located in Sierra Leone on drug charges. But the charges were dropped and the whole case was overlooked. Several months later, the owner of the tabloids Paul Kamara, was investigated for tax evasion suddenly by the government (the ACC).

After searching the internet, i stumbled upon the Youth Partnership for Youth and Develpoment (TPPD). They are an organization that aims toward the empowerment of the future of the younger Sierra Leone citizens. They help promote the youth in their productive endeavors. I believe this is the proper way to go about re-building Sierra Leone. We as the youth will one day be in power, and in order to have a successful country we must have successful leaders. This organization helps build character, and connects other youths for an overall better result. I wanted to donate to help, but i would prefer physically meeting and speaking with the owner to have a better understanding on where my money is going. I would like to know if what they were saying on their website is legitimate.

I know from experience, the power situation in Freetown, Sierra Leone is very devastating. My three-week vacation I spent there made me experience this first hand. There are many different resources that require the use of electricity, and they cannot be powered, such as light and the oven. Some houses had generators, which are very dangerous in general. They can lead to fires and explosions if not properly taken care of. This use of generators leads to the consumption of oil and natural gas. We can slow down consumption of fossil fuels, but if we don’t help other countries such as Sierra Leone, the hole in the ozone layer can expand at the rate it always has been expanding at. This loss of power can also lead, or probably have already lead to a large amount of crime. Another problem that has occurred but I only heard about was the corrupt government. Not much can be done about the situation, but if there are organizations helping combat such political powers I will do all of what is in my power to combat it. My family and I are always working to help out relatives overseas. On our last visit, my dad built my aunt an Internet Cafe on the ground level if her house. He made a consignment deal with her and gave her a portion of the profit. The trip before that my parents built the house my aunt is currently living in.

Although SIerra Leone's Civil War ended over eleven years ago, does not mean it has made a proper, or full recovery. We still suffer from different problems, one including its governmental corruption. It has come to the point that they turn off the electricity for hours at a time, majority of the time, and leave the cities powerless and pitch black. According to bbc.co.uk, the government loaned one million dollars to a recipient before the power was handed over to its current president Ernest Bai Koroma. The report "coldly" stated "We would advise, an investigation be looked into." It does not show any type of solution, or even a strive for a solution. It seems like it was a set up, and nobody speaks on it. It seems very sketchy and not legible.

Many do not know the origin of the name Blood Diamonds. As the civil war raged on, Charles Taylor ordered the RUF to take control over the Sierra Leonian mines. He was attempting to take over their main source of income, their world renowned diamond supply. These diamond mines were used along with forced labor of the citizens. These citizens were beaten, raped, dismembered, and murdered if any form of disobedience was shown. The retrieval of the goods of the land were vital and for what you might ask? It was for the money. These diamonds were used in international trades for goods, mainly weapons, the rebels used. This also created a large illegal weapon smuggling problem from Europe. My people were being killed and tortured for these diamonds. They were sucking all the value out of our hills. This war came to a halt in 2001, but my country still suffers from the after effects of this dark time. Many families were left with nothing and are currently living with barely anything for a house. Some without limbs, and almost all without money or resources. 

Not too many people are aware that Sierra Leone had an epic civil war, beginning in 1991. This devastating war erupted because of the corrupted government. Former Libyan president Charles Taylor was revolting against the Libyan dictator at the time Samuel Doe. As he succeeded, the Sierra Leonian President, Joseph Momoh, sent in troops to support Doe. Momoh's help was useless and only brought attention to Sierra Leone as Taylor's enemy. Once Taylor overthrew Libia, he then moved to Sierra Leone with the goal of domination. He then found about the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), also knows as the rebels, and joined forces with them considering their common enemy. This would begin the eleven year long civil war within Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone has many different obstacles which they need help overcoming. The economy is in terrible condition, the different diseases are not being properly treated killing many and the country as a whole is still recovering from the fresh wounds of their Civil War. These are only a few of the many major problems within the boundaries of my family’s home country.