Author: Sydney Roeder

SEATTLE — Cote d’Ivoire is a small West African country known mainly for its cocoa bean exports and its relatively high level of income compared to surrounding countries. For years, it was known for its religious and political stability, until an armed rebellion in 2002 split the nation. Although it is recovering, there are still many issues that the nation faces as a whole. This article will focus on how to help people in Cote d’Ivoire moving forward. One of the biggest problems that the nation faces today is health. Men have a life expectancy of about 52 years, while…

LUSAKA — According to a report by the World Food Programme, the Zambia poverty rate is 60 percent. Forty-two percent live in what is considered to be extreme poverty. Furthermore, those living in rural tend to have higher rates of poverty, at about 76.6 percent. The area with the highest rate of poverty is the Western province with a rate of about 82 percent. Even though Zambia has the eighth-largest copper mineral deposits in the world, why is it that the country, and those living within it, is not richer? The answer lies in the history of the copper industry in Zambia.…

WASHINGTON, DC — On July 19, the Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year 2018 State and Foreign Operations Bill. This bill funds international activities through organizations like the State Department and USAID. These funds are important in providing humanitarian aid to countries around the world, including poverty alleviation and disaster relief. In addition, these funds are targeting U.S. foreign policy priorities which include national security and stability missions. The current bill provides $47.4 billion to regular discretionary and Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO). OCO is determined by the Secretary of Defense, whereby an operation involving military personnel may become involved in military…