Page 5 - 2017 RWANDA

This amazing memorial teaches the root causes of genocides, how

hatred towards peoples can be orchestrated by tyrants, extremists of

all stripes, even religions. It demonstrates propaganda techniques used

in the Rwanda genocide as well as all other holocausts on the planet

that we know about even in the distant pasts. It is a chilling reminder of

how easily people can be demonized, made scapegoats, and
dehumanized. Besides these lessons, the museum contains histories of

many other genocides perpetrated by so many countries. It is also a

memorial specifically for the Rwandans who died. There are videos of

survivors telling their stories of almost unbelievable cruelties and

barbaric behaviors. A mass grave site for over 250,000 dead is on the
premises as well. A sobering visit indeed! Even scary, considering

what's happening in our own country right now!

Before we went on this trip, several people asked us if we thought it

safe to travel there now. We blithely answered, "Yes, Indeed" because

they are heavily promoting tourism now, especially gorilla trekking. And

that's why we were going! We never felt anything but safe while in the
country.

GORILLA TREKKING

Rwanda shares the Virunga Mountains with Uganda where many of the

world's gorillas reside and where Dian Fossey did her seminal research

on the Mountain Gorillas. She spent her life studying them and
ultimately lost her life trying to protect them. There are two species of

gorilla in the world: Gorilla gorilla and Gorilla beringei. We visited the

subspecies Gorilla beringei beringei in Rwanda. The Dian Fossey

Foundation is located in Rwanda as well. If you are interested in