Friday, October 06, 2006
'White guy, white guy,' the kids yell
On this blog and on "360" each night this week, Anderson Cooper, Jeff Koinange and Dr. Sanjay Gupta delivered a series of reports on the armed conflicts and humanitarian crises in the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Scroll down to read the reports they wrote for the blog. And see the links below for a selection of the video pieces they filed for CNN, including Anderson's reporter's notebook, which includes his impressions of being a "white guy" (or "mzungu") in this part of Africa.

Watch: Anderson Cooper reflects on his time in the Congo - 2:04
Watch: Wounded soldier copes with Congo's health system - 3:24
Watch: The 'lost girls' of the Congo - 3:23
Watch: Catching an elusive general - 3:51
Watch: Life in a refugee camp - 2:27
Watch: Gorillas caught in crossfire - 4:28
Watch: Congo's violent history - 3:15
Watch: Peacekeeper's lonely task - 3:31
Watch: Neglect in North Darfur - 3:08
Posted By CNN: 5:05 PM ET
  38 Comments
Thanks for posting the videos. After watching 360 all week I am emotionally exhausted. It is really difficult to sleep with those tragic images in my mind. I can not possibly imagine how horrific it must be as reporters to witness the pain up close. Words can not express my gratitude. Thanks to you, these people can cling to some hope for tomorrow. ~God Bless~
Posted By Anonymous Betty Ann, Nacogdoches TX : 6:23 PM ET
Mzungu, Jambo,
Asante kwa kazi nzuri. Watoto walikupenda Mzungu, walikufurahia.

Thanx for putting smiles on the kids faces, they were excited to see a "mzungu" paying attention to them. Did you have enough "pipi"(candy) for watoto?(kids). Watoto wanataka pipi toka kwa mzungu.( Kids want candy from mzungu.)
Asante sana.
Ms GMK
Posted By Anonymous GMK Novi MI : 6:38 PM ET
Anderson's coverage of the situation in Africa is very informative. Is it dangerous to travel from city to city to cover the story? I noticed that Anderson, Sanjay, and Jeff are not wearing any protective gear. Thanks so much for telling us the stories the world must know.
Posted By Anonymous Daniel Nikbakht, Dix Hills NY : 6:39 PM ET
Anderson,

Existence on the brink of nonexistence-
that is what you have shown me this week. I've been drawn in by your stories each night. Such sobering images and statistics should cause us all to shed a tear. Your reporting---so powerful and riveting, your mission--so worthy.
America truly is the land of plenty. Even our most impoverished have hopes, opportunities and dreams. There in the Congo, Sudan and Darfur they don't even know how to dream.
Never allow us be left in the dark, continue to enlighten, educate and inform. The light you shine into the darkest corners of our Earth is helping to dissipate the presence of evil in our world.

Godspeed!!!
Posted By Anonymous Zann Vickers Easterwood Martin, Tennessee : 7:14 PM ET
Thank you for having part of the program beeing aired internationally. I whas up at 4 am (!) thursday to watch it and have been checking back here every day (habbits are so easy to obtain). It angers me what happens and that so little is done. That the international community can be stopped to do anything, all for economical gain for some. I do what I can, donate, keep signing pettitions and try to get others to sign, make it the coffee corner talk and all it's getting me is the comment that I'm idealistic and that it will never change. Yes I am idealistic. When I whas 7 I brought a letter to show and tell from the ANC thanking me for a sending a letter requesting the release of Nelson Mandela in some action set up around his birthday. I took a beating for that (I guess it whas less impressive the having the newest walkman) and it took a while but it happend, because of the idealism and small and big gestures of so many people.
Still I can't help but think that there are so many places that can use our idealism and action to stop hell. Literaly hell for so many people. Even with this I can't stop thinking about the refugees that I met here. Like two girls from Grozny (another place that is never mentioned) that stayed with my relatives for a year and didn't get a refugee status. They are gone and I don't know where to but every now and then I can't help but wonder if they ever get the chance to make a life for themselfs or if it will be put on hold forever. Not even adult and already on a sidetrack preventing them from making a living for themselfs, with a serious chance to end up victim of criminals. That's what haunts me and makes me stay idealistic. I just hope that idealism is contagous and uncurebel.

Anyway thank you all for telling/sharing these stories and all the effort you put in it.
Posted By Anonymous N. Haasnoot, Zeist, The Netherlands : 7:15 PM ET
Thank you for your courageous coverage of this devastating situation. It was a shock to see the pictures and hear the stories previously alluded to in the news. My parents were missionaries in the Ituri area and I was born at Aba, Belgium Congo, on the border with Sudan. My heart is broken by the suffering you expose. These are wonderful people yet I know about the brutality as I was there during the 1960's. It is much worse, now. What can we do to contribute to the victims' rehabilitation and medical care? I found the information about the Swedish mission. And, while they do good works, my siblings and I survived the "Simba" uprisings and hope these people survive, especially their children. God may love missionaries but they can be fools for taking their children into these volatile areas. Nevertheless, do they deliver the most direct and effective care? Again, thank you and take care of yourself.
Posted By Anonymous Lois Friesen Russell, Woodland, WA : 7:21 PM ET
Being an admirer of Anderson Cooper and his show for many years now, you know that he is a reporter that is truly feeling the pain of seeing these unspeakable and unimaginable horrific monsterousities unfold before his eyes. Hearing the sad stories from so many....so many. How admirable of Anderson, Dr. Gupta and Jeff Koinange to be able to hold themselves together in the wake of something that in this day in age should not be happening, to make everyone aware of this desperate situation that somehow needs to be stopped. I often wondered how they slept at night with all that they have witnessed. Anderson, Dr. Gupta and Jeff, sleep well in the fact that you are bringing to the surface a story that needs to be told. For it seems the only time something gets done about a situation such as this, is when it is put out in the open by the media. You are brave, be safe. God Bless and please help the people of Congo and Darfur.
Posted By Anonymous Suzanne, Tampa FL : 7:26 PM ET
360 team. God bless for showing the world what's happening on that side. I'm originally from the neighboring country of congo. To see and hear what's been going on, is just unbelievable, you keep asking, why,God! thanks to the team for giving the web sites where we can reach and help. Yap! "mzungu" the meaning of a white guy( in swahili, my mothertoung language) It was so hard to watch, especially children and women, as a woman, it went beyond my understanding as I heard part of it in my language.
Posted By Anonymous Peace, Boston, Ma : 7:27 PM ET
I am so happy that CNN or the US is paying attention to the Congo. The middle east war has invaded the media that no one seemed to care about millions and millions of people dying in this land.
I hope this will inform the world and hopefully bring internationl help (not exploitation, please).
Thank you so much Anderson Cooper
Posted By Anonymous Betty Sekimonyo, Charlotte, NC : 7:28 PM ET
What an outstanding job Anderson, Jeff and Dr. Gupta did this past week. I hope that CNN will continue to follow up with any new humanitarian effort developments in that region. That is definitely a part of the world that legitimately needs aid from the global community.
Posted By Anonymous Luz Romero, Torrance, California : 7:47 PM ET
Since coming back from a trip to Rwanda in August my thoughts have been about Africa and what a wonderful place it is. I was able to vist the mountain gorillas and got to spend over an hour watching them in their own enviroment. Its truly sad to hear about all the human suffering that takes place in such a beautiful counrty of the Congo. How things can happen right next door to where the war in Rwanda happened 12 years ago. Its sad that evil has to happen. I just wish everyone would learn from the past. The African people are the kindest most humble of anyone. Yet,they stay this way throught their pain and suffering. We all should learn from them and maintain the peace within us.
Posted By Anonymous Kimberly Chicago IL : 8:13 PM ET
So what, so what about all this, what good is your story going to bring except good ratings. As much people have died there as the jews in ww2, but until the u.s. gets serious and gets over there with troops and alot of money nothing will ever be solved there, maybe just another meaningless united nations resolution. do a story on that why the u.s. is a waste of time.
Posted By Anonymous Gregory, Fayetteville : 8:32 PM ET
One thing that really stands out in the segments on 360 this week is the intense compassion of Anderson, Jeff and Dr. Gupta. It renders me speechless. Thanks to the entire crew for this incredible reporting.
Posted By Anonymous Debbie Darby, Denham Springs, LA : 8:48 PM ET
My heart aches reading and watching what you are reporting. How do your hearts take it? Thank you for all you and your team are doing. It WILL make a difference. "When we know better, we do better." Without this reporting, I wouldn't have known about some of the organizations you've linked. Everybody does a little bit; we get it done. Never quit; never weary. We need you.
Posted By Anonymous Sharon, Toronto, Ontario, Canada : 9:47 PM ET
Anderson, thank you for your assignment to help humanity. I was born in the Congo and lives in USA now.
The devastation that this blind war has laid out go beyond Nazi killings. Still true responsibles of this genocide are political officials living peacefully in Rwanda and Uganda. They oversee the pillage of Congo mineral resources from far off. The international community know these masterminders, yet no one is man enough to rebuke them at least. History will surely judge each of us.
Posted By Anonymous Gauthier Cazzi, Atlanta GA : 11:44 PM ET
Thanks AC360, CNN, this blog, and all those who work behind the scenes..It's been quite a week..But thanks most to the people who let the TV camera invade their private torment..Those who let us see and hear what they've had to endure. They have my respect.
Posted By Anonymous Lorie Ann, Buellton,Calif. : 11:49 PM ET
Actually George, this series on Africa isn't bringing good ratings at all. The rating are lower for this series on Africa has lower ratings than anoy other series on 360. So get it together and open your eyes to the trauma in the world.
Posted By Anonymous Stephanie Halifax Nova Scotia : 11:55 PM ET
Simply wanna say thank you so much anderson.
Posted By Anonymous Wit, Richmond Virginia : 12:04 AM ET
Anderson,

Thank you for the story on the Congo and Sudan. I'm happy that someone is shedding some light to what is happening in Africa. PLEASE don't stop, so many of the countries in Africa are struggling and no one is looking. Not enough oil there, I take it.

I also have to add that maybe after showing this that you might attempt to enter the govermental structure in some of these countries. It is not just the world in shame, it is Africa in shame too. The people in charge should be ashamed and someone must take responsibility. I went to my home land in Sierra Leone, West Africa, where there were piles of garbage on the streets...and yet I was told there was a secretary of waste management, what the hell does he do all day.

I don't really see how much change can be made with government's with such greed. The government is the key to helping Africa.

Thanks
Joella
Posted By Anonymous Joella, Minneapolis MN : 12:14 AM ET
This is exactly the kind of responsible, indepth insightful extras that make blogs work.. Ya just get more. Meredith Viera's new blog on iVillage.com and anderson's are the best of the news blogs.
Posted By Anonymous christian, new york, new york : 12:16 AM ET
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP THOSE IN AFRICA?
I PRAY FOR ALL THE CHILDREN, AND WOMEN.
THANK YOU ANDERSON COOPER, FOR ALL YOUR GREAT WORK, AND YOUR CARING.
Posted By Anonymous JESSICA FREEMAN- SAVANNAH GEORGIA : 12:23 AM ET
Anderson,
Thanks again for your professional job,but ignoring to report the causes of congolese crisis and the impact of all negative forces such as Interahamwe,Mai Mai is not honest.
In fact you did not tell exactily who is raping in sud kivu,Walikale, bunia,Rutshuru so that responsabilities should be made.For who knows the origine of NGOs in the region,NGOs that you have granted as better informations provider,you missid to get informed by other political leaders who coud have told you about the conflit origine,therefore how to solve the congolese crisis which is not in the elections being wrongly organized.
Hope you do better than this in the future.
Pascal Munya
houston Tx
Posted By Anonymous pascal Munya,houston Tx : 12:46 AM ET
To AC360 team

Thank you for your in-depth broadcast from Africa this week. I know some may question the purpose of your trip or broadcast, but I say keep documenting history, keep exposing those who think they cannot be held accountable where ever they may be.

You are making difference .
Posted By Anonymous Hanna, San Francisco, CA : 1:07 AM ET
It is quite phenomenal what is going on in Africa, and the fact that more and more people are becoming aware of the situations is astounding. The internet is doing wonders and spreading the awareness is the first step that will eventually bring this cause the full justice it so deserves.
Posted By Anonymous Aruna Rao, Minneapolis, MN : 1:34 AM ET
Dear Anderson, Jeff, and Sanjay,

I would like to thank each of you,and your crews for such brilliant and thorough coverage of the horrendous conditions in Africa. I cannot believe how much ground you covered in such a short amount of time. Your passion for this story transcended the miles. I am glad someone cares about this subject. It is certainly more important than the "Foley fiasco" we have been forced to hear about ad nauseam!

I feel as though my time was well spent and I am a better and more informed person because of it. We may not be rich and famous like George Clooney and Angelina Jolie but we are interested and we care. Collectively I think we can make a difference.

It sickens and angers me that so much money and so many lives are being wasted in Iraq while these beautiful and noble people continue to suffer unnecessarily. Most of us can't even imagine living without healthcare or sanitation, let alone being deprived of the basic human necessities of shelter, food, water, and medicine. The conditions in the "hospitals" are deplorable! It is so sad that because we have allowed these problems to escalate, soon it may be too dangerous for even the aid workers to do their jobs.

In regards to the rapes, it is unbelievable that even with all the tragedy around them many of the men in these countries are willing to turn away their women and girls because of the stigma carried by the act of rape. It is a shame that these women and girls must also endure the pain and humiliation of being treated like just another disposable commodity. Rape is a crime committed by cowards.

As an animal advocate, I appreciated the beauty and majesty of the Mountain Gorillas. I thought "Itebero" was particularly adorable! My compliments to the cameraman; the footage was breathtaking!

Last night I watched "The Killing Fields." The compilation of the weeks reports made quite an impact. This unsanitized account of what is happening in Africa should be mandatory viewing in schools and colleges everywhere.

I would also like to thank CNN for allowing "360" to dedicate a week to such a worthy subject. We will never forget it.

Jo Ann
Posted By Anonymous Jo Ann Matese, North Royalton, Ohio : 3:25 AM ET
Thanks to all the AC 360 crew for this very courageaous coverage. Being awake at 4 a.m. was not so hard. Just sometimes to emotionnal to get on my day after... You did an incredible job there. Thanks for having posting the videos.
Posted By Anonymous Delphine, Paris, France : 3:30 AM ET
May God be with you and all of those with you, Anderson. Please be careful.
Posted By Anonymous G. Jones, Nacogdoches, Texas : 3:31 AM ET
I have watched this weeks 360 with a box of tissues at my side.everyday you see more pain,more loss and more hopelessness but as always you guys also show us the courage and hope these people have.hats off to the cnn team and i just hope that this series encourages some people to get off their buts and get involved .the earth is made up of people and we all have to look out for each other.if we don't then who will?
Posted By Anonymous ava baksh ,ykoksuka japan. : 7:29 AM ET
I can only thank you AC and team for the attention. Zaire,(D.R.Congo) is my homeland and I have always objected at the fact that Mobutu is often reffered to as bad guy. I think it would be honest to recocgnize that during the 3 decacdes of his reign, zaire was one of the most peaceful country on earth. People were free to do anything they wanted except chalenging the leader. The bad economy was a result of the cold war and all of its consequences.
Posted By Anonymous Nkinzi, Kalamazoo MI : 10:31 AM ET
To Anderson,Dr.Gupta,Jeff and crews.

Thank you for this amazing week of reporting. It was also very emotional and horrifying to watch. I've been watching reports,reading about it,sending money,etc.. for years. But to watch it and go to sleep right after it, while it is still fresh in your mind is tormenting. Imagine living that nightmare but not being able to escape it! More than just the U.N. and the int'l community that need to get involve,the governments and monsters doing the horrors need to be held accountable. More than that, we need to understand the histories of those countries that led to such atrocities. Sending money is not enough. People need to understand the roots of the conflicts to be able to make lasting changes, not put a band-aid,feel better about ourselves and look back in 10 years and say:"What? They are still destoying, dying, etc?".
I truly believe that children need to be educated on what is going on in the world. They are our future.They will pick up where we will have left up.My son(11) has been talking about it in class. But more than that, the teachers have been talking about what my son is saying amongst them. I am working on a project to give teachers the tools to educate the children about world conflicts and what they can do about it. Only facts,for children from 1st grade to the end of highschool. Wether it is to make a drawing for the young ones to exposes,activities, writing letters for the others. The links you posted are treasures to keep, thank you.
Thank you all for caring enough to spend the time there to remind us that it is going on on our planet.
P.S. Anderson, did you say good bye to your 3 years old friend, the beautiful gorilla that took to you? You really made an impression on her! Smelling your armpit and all!! How touching! It was cute and funny. My son tought it was hysterical!

COntinue your great work, all of you. Long life to AC360.

Joanne Ranzell
Laval Quebec
Posted By Anonymous Joanne Ranzell Laval Quebec : 11:35 AM ET
Thank you so much for your compelling reporting this week. It was difficult to watch, but I couldn't not watch. You gave a lot of important information about the conditions there.

Thanks for the links. I love the videos.

Linda
Boulder, Colorado
Posted By Anonymous Linda, Boulder, Colorado : 5:00 PM ET
Please expose the other side of Africa's misery highlighting Cold War tactics and the unintended consequences of global political economy. Your presence in the Congo, Chad and Sudan reminds the world (once again) of the continuing social injustice and suffering inflicted upon innocent people, usually women and children and those heroic volunteers. I would welcome a 360 to expose the past leadership and events from the international community that created the misery .
Posted By Anonymous Liz Conrad, Greensboro , NC : 8:50 PM ET
Anderson, Sanjay, Jeff & crews,
This has been a full week of true "reality television" - the kind of reality we all need to see.

Anderson, your compassion for the people (& the gorillas) shines for all to see; reporting from the field and letting the story tell itself is most definitely your talent. I hope you never stop shining your light in all the darkest corners of the world. In this, the 21st century, there is no excuse for the darkness.

Sanjay, as a doctor it must tear your heart out to witness the results of man's inhumanity to fellow humans. I have no medical training, but I felt a very strong urge to reach through the television screen and do something, anything, to help ease the pain and suffering.

Jeff, I admire your tenacity in getting the stories out so the world sees not only the pain and suffering, but the hope that the people of the Republic of Congo still have. Without that hope the terrorists, rebels and criminals win the war.

The filming was wonderful but gut-wrenching. I'm sure the stories you were able to present are only the tip of the iceberg.

If you can, please give us more. We may not enjoy seeing the truth, we may not want to see it - but we NEED to see it.
Posted By Anonymous Deb, Richmond VA : 11:45 AM ET
Dear Anderson,Dr.Gupta,Jeff and crews.

Jambo Habari Africa is magical.

As I watched CNN this week all I could say was thank God for bringing this to the forefront now.

Born in Africa and yet helpless to do anything. It was about time that
the story needed to be told.

The world cannot sit and watch this
cruelty anymore.

Please join us all to keep this alive
please be part of the voices of the
innocent in Congo, Chad, Darfur and all over the world who need our voices.

I was born in Africa and we are doing something.

Few year ago we held a fund raise
for youth who were supporting HIV/Aids
program in Tanzania.. media in Vancouver clearly stated to us.. it is
not our issue... go figure that out.

We are a collective group of people
who are making a difference.

The only way we can overcome this is to
serious work together to make an impact.

My sincere thanks Anderson Cooper, Dr. Gupta and Jeff and the crew.. thank you
for bringing the message out this week.

We invite you to join us all in the
evolution.

One wonders what happenned to Human Beings.

peace love and hope to the innocent.

Ashie Hirji Vancouver BC Canada
heartinaction.com
Posted By Anonymous Ashie Hirji, Vancouver, BC Canada : 9:13 PM ET
Thanks for retracing the history of Congo, Anderson.
I wish you would have mentionned that Mobutu stayed in power for 30 years with the blessings of many US governments. I totally understand that Saddam Hussein was a dictator, but he didn't become one just 3 years ago. Mobutu has been in power longer and he had killed many people too, I didn't see the international community do something about it. That is called double standard.
Thanks for your week reports about those african conflicts, that's one thing I like about CNN, this network is truly international, even though sometimes you miss reporting on few things.
God bless the whole AC 360 team!
Posted By Anonymous Zola, Norcross Ga : 10:32 AM ET
I am so tired of hearing about Iraq and Afghanistan. I welcome some inquiry into the struggles elsewhere in our troubled world. Please keep up the good work.
Posted By Anonymous Cham Green, Baltimore, MD : 12:39 PM ET
I graduated from Stanford University in 2005, and i remember attending the numerous rallies, protests, and informationals we had about this horrific genocide in Darfur. I would look at pictures and read the information posted in the center of campus, but still I knew very little about what was REALLY going on in. Your accounts of the misery these innocent people live through are mind-blowing. With each blog I am more and more educated about the suffering around the world. With each blog I get see, hear, and experience the terror that the 'unlucky' ones face on a daily basis. All I can say, is Please take me with you - Please let me help - Please let me educate - I'm not afraid.
Posted By Anonymous Kyleigh Dowling, Los Angeles, CA : 6:26 PM ET
I have been interested in the reports I have seen from Africa. As the mother of a child who is in Cameroon serving in Peace Corps, I noticed so many countries around Cameroon with severe problems. What are conditions like in Cameroon? Did you go there while working on your reports? Of course, I have a very personal interest in this. I do not mind if this is not posted, but would like to know something about my question.
Posted By Anonymous Debbie in Salisbury,NC : 9:37 PM ET
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A behind the scenes look at "Anderson Cooper 360°" and the stories it covers, written by Anderson Cooper and the show's correspondents and producers.




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