South Africa: False Paradise?

South Africa is clearly better off than WHO African Area. South Africa has a GPD per capita that is about 5 times as much as other WHO nations standing at $10960, while WHO Africa stands at $2 074. The adult literacy rate is 82.4%, while WHO Africa's is 60.1% These are all, I believe the direct effect of getting rid of the apartheid in 1994. The apartheid separated the heterogenous population of South Africa based on their skin color, but it now appears that the gap is closing, and that social and economic equality is increasing.
There is also the fact that school enrollment is 89% for both males and females. This is high compared to 70% and 63% for males and females, respectively. Even though this is not due to the end of the apartheid, it is still a very large step up for South Africa.
And while South Africa seems to be the most progressive in social and economic inprovement, HIV/AIDS, infant mortality and other diseases still cost many more lives than they should were a stabler form of health care in place. For example, the life expectancy at birth is drastically low at 47 for men and 49 for women. The life expenctacy for WHO Africa is the same for both men and woman as in South Africa. Infant mortality is 67 death per 1,000 live births. HIV/AIDS affects 21.5% of adults in South Africa, while only affecting 7.1% in WHO Africa. These are staggering statistics that truly show that while some areas of South Africa are a step up from other less developed African countries, other parts are no better off.

Nigeria and Education

The population of Nigeria is 131.5 million. The literacy rate in Nigeria is greater than the WHO African Region literacy rate. It is said that out of 131.5 million people, 66.8% are literate, while only 60.1% of the WHO African region is. When it comes to comparing men and women education, men have a 74% primary school enrolment ratio, which is significantly bigger than women that have only a 60% primary school enrolment ratio. 

South Africa and Education

According to William Duiker, South Africa is "perhaps Africa's greatest success story." According to South Africa's WHO statistics, the adult literacy rate is at 82% compared to the WHO region, which is at 60%. Also, the net primary school enrollment rate is at 89% for both men AND woman. And to top it off the percent of the population below the poverty line is 1/4 of the surrounding region's average of 44%. All in all the statistics show that South Africa has benefited greatly from its release from Apartheid.

AIDS in Nigeria

According to the WHO statistics, AIDS is the number 1 cause of death for people of all ages in Nigeria. 16% of all people who die in Nigeria, are on their death bed because of AIDS. AIDS is the second most prominent cause of death for children under 5 years of age. And with 70.2% of all citizens living below the poverty line, these statistics are not indicative of improvement.

Kenya and Rural Life

Kenya has a whopping 34.3 million person population, and it increases by 3% every year. 80% of the population lives in a rural lifestyle, though the rural citizens of Kenya (46%) have slightly more access to improved water sources than the rest of Africa (45%). Regarding the rural lifestyle in Kenya in relationship to the rest of Africa, Kenya seems to be slightly more well off. 43% of Kenyan's have improved sanitation, while a small 28% does for the rest of Africa.

Tanzania and its Education

Tanzania was one of the few African countries that attempted to create a socialist society, mostly through their current president at the time, Julius Nyerere. He promoted nationalizing industries, restricting foreign investments, caps on income, but after almost twenty years he left the country without much progress and rural and urban poverty. Nyerere claims that he improved the social and economic conditions, but just looking at the education in Tanzania tells us that this is not entirely true. Although Tanzania's adult literacy rate of 69.4% is higher than the average African region og 60.1% and the male and female education enrollment is 83% and 80%, if Nyerere's only claim to success is of bettering the social and economic conditions (i.e. education) than there is not much to claim.

Articles Relating to 228 Peace Memorial Park

This article covers the background of the 228 Incident, and its importance to modern-day Taiwan, especially in the way it's remembered and honored.  It is a good piece of unbiased, journalistic writing.  This article is a very opinionized piece in opposition to the reign of Chiang Kai-Shek, a good example of an argumentative piece.  And finally, this article is another unbiased article about an effort by Taiwanese-Americans to get the US government to help promote Taiwan on the world stage and remember the 228 Incident.