Drcongo Balkanization: Unity Rare Earth Minerals and the M23 Crisis

Frank Ndayahoze

Summary

The Democratic Republic of Congo. The very name conjures images – a vast, sprawling tapestry woven from threads of breathtaking beauty and unspeakable brutality. It’s a land of contrasts so stark, so deeply etched into its very soul, that it's difficult to reconcile the vibrant life teeming within its rainforests with the scars of decades of conflict. Picture this: lush emerald jungles, teeming with biodiversity unmatched anywhere else on Earth, giving way to the ochre dust of the savannah, the shimmering expanse of Lake Tanganyika reflecting the fiery hues of a setting sun, the majestic peaks of the Virunga volcanoes piercing the sky like jagged teeth. This is the Congo, a land of immense natural wealth, of breathtaking landscapes, and of a people whose resilience in the face of adversity is as profound as the depths of its forests.But this idyllic image is only half the story. For beneath the surface beauty lies a history steeped in exploitation, a legacy of colonialism that continues to cast a long shadow over the present. The Congo, once the private playground of Leopold II, King of the Belgians, became a horrifying experiment in unchecked greed and brutal oppression. The infamous rubber boom, a period marked by unspeakable atrocities, left an enduring wound on the Congolese psyche, a scar that continues to fester in the nation’s political and social fabric. The echoes of those dark days resonate in the contemporary conflicts that plague the country, fueling the cycle of violence and instability.

Available since: 07/21/2025.

Print length: 352 pages.

Other books that might interest you

Coping With Loss - Nurturing...

Maria Holden

Grief is an unavoidable part of life, yet it's one of the most isolating and misunderstood experiences anyone can go through. Whether you're mourning the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the collapse of dreams, the emotional and physical weight of grief can feel overwhelming.
But here’s the truth—grief doesn't have to be something you "get over" or "move past." It can become a powerful tool for transformation. Coping With Loss: Nurturing Resilience Through Grief and Difficult Times is your guide to navigating this difficult journey with purpose, resilience, and actionable strategies.
If you're struggling with loss, this audiobook offers real solutions, not just passive advice. You’ll find a comprehensive toolkit designed to help you heal in your own time and on your own terms.
What You'll Discover:Proven Techniques: Learn practical, effective methods to cope with grief, including journaling, mindfulness, and creative expression.Emotional Resilience: Build resilience and transform your grief into a powerful force for personal growth.Self-Care Strategies: Discover how self-care practices can help you heal physically, emotionally, and mentally.Healing from Within: Learn how to embrace your grief, honor your loss, and move forward with a renewed sense of purpose.Tools for Recovery: Take control of your healing journey with actionable steps that empower you to face each day with strength and clarity.
This audiobook is not just about surviving grief—it’s about thriving despite it. Whether you're just beginning your journey through grief or have been struggling for years, Coping With Loss offers the support you need to heal and grow.
Listen now—because waiting for things to change on their own isn’t an option. Start your healing journey today.

Show book

Kano - A Kunoichi Tale

David Kudler

Can one girl save a nation? 
With Japan's future in the balance, Risuko may recover the Kano clan's honor — or she may destroy it forever 
Lord Takeda has sent Risuko, Emi, and Toumi on a mission to the capital. The road is dangerous. The destination is treacherous. Risuko — the girl who just likes to climb — must make a choice that will have repercussions not only for Risuko's life and those of her friends, but possibly for all of Japan. 
In this thrilling third book in the Seasons of the Sword, she encounters old friends, new enemies, and a strange boy from a far-off land called Ireland. Through raging battles and deadly court intrigue, Risuko must follow a path narrower and less stable than any pine branch. And the consequences should she fail are sharp and hard as rocks below. 
The red-and-white disguise of the kunoichi awaits. 
Is Risuko ready? 
Seasons of the Sword:Risuko (Winter)Bright Eyes (Spring)Kano (Summer)Murasaki (Autumn — coming soon! 
(Young adult historical adventure; Japanese Civil War)

Show book

Why It's OK to Eat Meat

Dan C. Shahar

In Why It's OK to Eat Meat, Dan C. Shahar argues the answer is no: it's entirely possible to be an ethical person while continuing to eat meat—and not just the "fancy" offerings from the farmers' market but also the regular meat we find at most supermarkets and restaurants. Shahar's examination forcefully echoes vegetarians' concerns about the meat industry's impacts on animals, workers, the environment, and public health. However, he shows that the most influential ethical arguments for avoiding meat on the basis of these considerations are ultimately unpersuasive. Instead of insisting we all become vegetarians, Shahar argues each of us has broad latitude to choose which of the world's problems to tackle. 
 
 
 
Key Features include: 
 
 
 
● First book-length defense of meat-eating written for a popular audience 
 
 
 
● Punchy, accessible introduction to the multifaceted debate over the ethics of eating meat 
 
 
 
● Includes pioneering new examinations of humane labeling practices 
 
 
 
● Shows why appeals to universalized patterns of behavior can't vindicate vegetarians' claims that there's a duty to avoid meat 
 
 
 
● Develops a novel theory of ethical activism with potential applications to a wide range of other issues

Show book

The Goddesses of Olympus - The...

Odessa Nightshade

Greek mythology is filled with powerful deities, but the goddesses of Olympus stand out as figures of immense influence, embodying wisdom, love, war, motherhood, and the natural world. Unlike many other ancient pantheons, the Greek goddesses were not merely passive consorts to male gods; they held dominion over vast aspects of life and fate, shaping the world alongside their male counterparts. Their myths reveal complex personalities, often showcasing both nurturing and vengeful qualities, making them among the most dynamic figures in classical mythology.
The Olympian goddesses played a crucial role in the religious and cultural life of the ancient Greeks. Each goddess had her own temples, festivals, and priestesses, emphasizing her importance in daily worship and ritual practice. For example, Athena’s grand temple, the Parthenon, dominated Athens, reflecting her status as the city’s protector. Similarly, Demeter’s worship at Eleusis was central to agricultural and spiritual life, demonstrating the deep connection between divine power and human existence. These deities were not merely symbols; they were revered beings believed to influence everything from war strategies to the fertility of the land.
Beyond religion, Greek goddesses also played a major role in storytelling, appearing in epic poetry, drama, and philosophy. Figures like Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite were central to the Trojan War myth, while Persephone’s descent into the underworld explained the changing of the seasons. Their myths often reflected the Greeks’ views on power, femininity, and morality. Unlike the rigid roles imposed on mortal women, the goddesses possessed a wide range of attributes, from Artemis’s independence and warrior spirit to Hestia’s quiet but essential presence as the guardian of the home. Through these divine narratives, the Greeks explored themes of justice, fate, love, and revenge, using their goddesses as symbols of both order and chaos.

Show book

Overthinking

Thomas Swan

Do you struggle to focus? Are you an overthinker who wants to know how to stop overthinking everything you do? Learn how to focus on what's important without your thoughts controlling you!We all overthink.Overthinking about current events, deadlines, a conversation that didn’t go how you wanted it to, bills, and so on... Some nights, you lay wide awake in bed and just can’t seem to switch your brain off....Overthinking is exhausting.I know the feeling, and it’s energy-draining. In fact, studies have shown that overthinking raises your stress levels, reduces your creativity, clouds your judgment, and strips you of your power to make decisions.Don’t despair and think there is nothing you can do from here. This book was written specifically to solve your overthinking. To begin with, we will explore the causes. Then, we will show exactly how you can upgrade your thinking. In fact, there are several exercises, mindsets, and much more that will help you.Inside, you will discover:- Proven techniques, tactics, and mindsets to help you stop overthinking- How to stop constantly comparing yourself to others and feeling worse- How meditation can reshape our brains + step-by-step meditation practice- Mentally fragile to mentally strong - think differently about your world- How to cope with feeling unfocused or overwhelmed - The paradox of choice and why less is more for true happiness- How to solve insomnia, get out of bed, and find your life's purposeAnd much, much more...Life becomes more enjoyable when you stop overthinking. Of course, just like trying to break other bad habits, it won’t be easy, but this book will show you how.So if you want to discover how to stop overthinking, then scroll up and click the “buy now” button now!©2021 Thomas Swain (P)2021 Thomas Swain

Show book

Terrible Revolution - Latter-day...

Christopher James Blythe

The relationship between early Mormons and the US was marked by anxiety and hostility. Nineteenth-century Latter-day Saints looked forward to apocalyptic events that would unseat corrupt governments across the globe. Mormons envisioned divine deliverance by way of plagues, natural disasters, foreign invasions, American Indian raids, slave uprisings, or civil war unleashed on American people. For the Saints, these violent images promised a national rebirth that would vouchsafe the protections of the US Constitution and end their oppression. 
 
 
 
In Terrible Revolution, Christopher James Blythe examines apocalypticism across the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The responses of the church hierarchy to apocalyptic lay prophecies promoted their own form of separatist nationalism during the nineteenth century. Yet, after Utah obtained statehood, as the church sought to assimilate to national religious norms, these same leaders sought to lessen the tensions between themselves and American political and cultural powers. As a result, visions of a violent end to the nation became a liability to disavow. Ultimately, Blythe argues that the visionary world of early Mormonism, with its apocalyptic emphases, continued in the church's mainstream culture in modified forms but continued to maintain separatist radical forms at the level of folk-belief.

Show book