The Republic of Angola, bordered by the Congo (north), Zambia (east), Namibia (south) and the Atlantic Ocean, following 400 years of rule, gained independence from Portugal in 1975. After a 27-year civil war, peace was reached in 2002 with the death of rebel leader Jonas Savimbi. The current chief of state is President Jose Eduordo Dos Santos.
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In "Peace Reveals Horrors of War," Doctors Without Borders reveals the tragedy. One million were killed, half the population was dislocated and half a million left the country. Landmines have maimed 100,000, leaving Angola with the highest amputees/capita in the world. There are 92,000 patients/doctor.
Angola is twice the size of Texas (five times that of the UK) and the life expectancy is 38.2. Yes, 38.2. It is a member of OPEC, producing 2 million barrels/day of oil. It is the largest supplier of oil to China, and 20,000 Chinese live there. While the GDP/capita is only $8800 and 70% of the population of nearly 13 million (Texas has 24 million, UK 61 million) rest below the poverty line, the growth rate has been spectacular since attaining peace.
Hydropower accounts for nearly two-thirds of electricity produced. The exchange is 75 kwanza/U.S. Dollar. There are 243 airports and military expenditures are nearly 6% of GDP. Clearly, the future of Angola is directly related to the absence of hostilities and the reprioritization of funds to human needs. American Idol reports on Angola tomorrow night.
Angola is twice the size of Texas (five times that of the UK) and the life expectancy is 38.2. Yes, 38.2. It is a member of OPEC, producing 2 million barrels/day of oil. It is the largest supplier of oil to China, and 20,000 Chinese live there. While the GDP/capita is only $8800 and 70% of the population of nearly 13 million (Texas has 24 million, UK 61 million) rest below the poverty line, the growth rate has been spectacular since attaining peace.
Hydropower accounts for nearly two-thirds of electricity produced. The exchange is 75 kwanza/U.S. Dollar. There are 243 airports and military expenditures are nearly 6% of GDP. Clearly, the future of Angola is directly related to the absence of hostilities and the reprioritization of funds to human needs. American Idol reports on Angola tomorrow night.
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The Dow Jones Industrials dropped 156 to 8419 and world markets were almost all down. Gold dropped a buck to $913. Oil slipped (see right). President Barack Obama fired the opening shot on health care today, pledging to reduce costs by $2 trillion over the next decade. Now, Congress needs to wrestle with the details.-
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