Sierra+Leone

Overview
 * Sierra is an impovershed country, and has been rated as the worlds poorest natio consistently for the past five years.I learn that Sierra Leone has diamonds** [[image:http://www.google.com/images?q=tbn:ou7PSvMJ8FFv_M::cache.eb.com/eb/image%253Fid%253D95527%2526rendTypeId%253D4 width="120" height="80" align="middle" caption="http://sierra-leone.com/blood-diamonds/" link="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cache.eb.com/eb/image%3Fid%3D95527%26rendTypeId%3D4&imgrefurl=http://sierra-leone.com/blood-diamonds/&h=364&w=550&sz=21&tbnid=ou7PSvMJ8FFv_M::&tbnh=88&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsierra%2Bleone%2Bdiamonds&hl=en&usg=__VlJ-KIfHsJphvCRgg025Rf2VzHU=&ei=ubzDScC8IoH0sAPDi83NAw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=8&ct=image&cd=1"]] **I that I know a little bit more about sierra leone, I think it would be a fun place to go to. I would'nt want to run into any spiders because are full of those and they have Rinos the size of a bulldoser.**

Statistics


 * Population, total (millions) || 5.7 ||
 * Population growth (annual %) || 2.8 ||
 * Surface area (sq. km) (thousands) || 71.7 ||
 * Life expectancy at birth, total (years) || 42.2 ||
 * Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) || 159.2 ||
 * Literacy rate, youth female (% of females ages 15-24) || 37.4 ||
 * GNI (current US$) (billions) || 1.4 ||
 * GNI per capita, Atlas method (current US$) || 230.0 ||
 * Prevalence of HIV, total (% of population ages 15-49) ||

Geography Cities: //Capital//--Freetown (est. 786,900). //Provincial capitals--//Southern Province, Bo; Eastern Province, Kenema; Northern Province, Makeni. **
 * Area: 71,740 sq. km. (29,925 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than South Carolina.

 History



**The Bulom people were thought to have been the earliest inhabitants of Sierra Leone, followed by the Mende and Temne peoples in the 15th century and thereafter the Fulani. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore the land and gave Sierra Leone its name, which means “lion mountains.” Freetown, on the coast, was ceded to English settlers in 1787 as a home for blacks discharged from the British armed forces and also for runaway slaves who had found asylum in London. In 1808 the coastal area became a British colony, and in 1896 a British protectorate was proclaimed over the hinterland.**
 * Sierra Leone became an independent nation on April 27, 1961. A military coup overthrew the civilian government in 1967, which was in turn replaced by civilian rule a year later. The country declared itself a republic on April 19, 1971.**
 * A coup attempt early in 1971 led to then prime minister Siaka Stevens calling in troops from neighboring Guinea's army, which remained for two years. Stevens turned the government into a one-party state under the aegis of the All People's Congress Party in April 1978. In 1992 rebel soldiers overthrew Stevens's successor, Joseph Momoh, calling for a return to a multiparty system. In 1996, another military coup ousted the country's military leader and president. Nevertheless, a multiparty presidential election proceeded in 1996, and People's Party candidate Ahmad Tejan Kabbah won with 59.4% of the vote, becoming Sierra Leone's first democratically elected president.**

**A Decade-Long Civil War**

 * But a violent military coup ousted President Kabbah's civilian government in May 1997. The leader of the coup, Lieut. Col. Johnny Paul Koroma, assumed the title Head of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). Koroma began a reign of terror, destroying the economy and murdering enemies. The Commonwealth of Nations demanded the reinstatement of Kabbah, and ECOMOG, the Nigerian-led peacekeeping force, intervened. On March 10, 1998, after ten months in exile, Kabbah resumed his rule over Sierra Leone. The ousted junta and other rebel forces continued to wage attacks, many of which included the torture, rape, and brutal maimings of thousands of civilians, including countless children; amputation by machete was the horrific signature of the rebels. In addition to political power, the rebels, who were supported by Liberia's president Charles Taylor, sought control of Sierra Leone's rich diamond fields.**

**The Bulom people were thought to have been the earliest inhabitants of Sierra Leone, followed by the Mende and Temne peoples in the 15th century and thereafter the Fulani. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore the land and gave Sierra Leone its name, which means “lion mountains.** Economy
 * Despite its extensive mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, Sierra Leone is an impoverished country, and has been rated as the world's poorest nation consistently for the past five years. The eight-year civil war and the subsequent hostilities, which have continued since the signing of the peace accord in July 1999, have seriously affected economic activity, severely damaged the export base, destroyed much of the physical infrastructure and drained resources to support the war effort. The resultant effect on the economy has been a collapse in the revenue base (during 1997 there was an 18% contraction in GDP, virtual stagnation during 1998 and a further fall of 8% in 1999), and significant increases in the budget deficit, bank financing, and domestic and external payment arrears. By 2000 real GDP, at US$636m, was only around 84% of GDP in 1990, and GNP was a mere 57% of its value in 1980.**

Government Growth of an organization increases the complexity of its government, therefore small towns or small-to-medium privately-operated enterprises will have few officials compared to larger organizations such as multinational corporations which will have multiple interlocking,** [|**hierarchical**] **layers of administration and governance. As complexity increases and the nature of governance becomes more complicated,so does the need for formal policies and procedures. Some people, known as** [|**anarchists**] **believe that societies would function better without a government.**
 * Government is defined as the body within an organization that has** [|**authority**] **and function to make and the power to enforce** [|**laws**]**, regulations, or rules. Typically, government refers to a civil government -- local, provincial, or national. However,** [|**commercial**]**, academic,** [|**religious**]**, or other formal organizations are also governed by internal bodies. Such bodies may be called** [|**boards of directors**]**, managers, or** [|**governors**] **or they may be known as the administration (as in schools) or** [|**councils of elders**] **(as in churches).

Religion (est.) Muslim 60%, Christian 30%, animist 10%

  

Culture [|**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIsOyXKb3fM**]
 * The most outstanding feature of the country's cultural life is its dancing. The Sierra Leone Dance Troupe is internationally known.**

Social Problems


 * A community center, opened in 1946 in Freetown, enabled the Welfare Department to sponsor women's institutes and other groups interested in child welfare and domestic affairs; promote youth groups; set up programs for the care of the aged, the blind, and the mentally handicapped; and train staff and voluntary workers. In 1955, these allied services were reorganized into a new government department, now known as the Ministry of Social Welfare. A National Coordinating Committee concerned with community development and social services has also been set up, and there is a National Training Center for social workers. In 1972, the National Council of Social Services was established as a central body for coordinating and channeling the work of voluntary organizations. A national pension system exists only for public employees. Workers' compensation insurance with private carriers is compulsory. This program excludes small plantations with fewer than 25 agricultural workers, domestic servants and casual workers.**
 * Women are guaranteed equal rights under the constitution, and a number of women have held prominent posts, including that of Supreme Court justice. Even so, discrimination and violence against women are frequent. Women carry out most of the strenuous agricultural work, and are responsible for child rearing. Women are less likely to attend or complete school, and only an estimated 6% are literate. They do not have equal access to economic opportunities, health care, or social freedoms. Female genital mutilation, a practice which is painful and sometimes life threatening, is an entrenched cultural practice. It is estimated that as many as 80–90% of girls and women may have been affected. There is considerable local opposition to advocates campaigning to have the practice banned. Domestic abuse and violence is a widespread social problem.**
 * The government's human rights record has improved, although there are continued reports of the mistreatment of detainees and illegal detention, as well as summary execution of suspected rebels by government and ECOMOG forces.**

Other

websites:

Google.com africanhistory.com wikipedia.com youtube.com sierraleone.com infoplease.com <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">