Falling Whistles speaks to GW students about child warfare

Falling Whistles, an advocacy group focused on conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, spoke to a group of college students from GW and around the area on Thursday about new initiatives in protecting Congolese citizens from the devastation of conflict resources.

The presentation, keynoted by James Stein, surrounded the story of children who were forced to fight in Congo’s ongoing civil war.

“More people have died in the war over Congo’s resources than any conflict since World War 2,” Stein said.  “When you buy a laptop or iPhone, do you really want that on your conscience?”

He noted that the history of resources in Africa has left hundreds of millions dead and a severely lagging regional economy.

“How is it that one of the most naturally rich countries in the world is being torn apart?” he asked.

With the focus on children, Stein noted that those who are too small to carry a gun are equipped with a whistle and “sent to the front lines to die.”

Thus the name Falling Whistles has taken its name.

“With Falling Whistles, their only choice is to feign death or to face it,” Stein explained.  The group has sold over 25,000 whistles to support its cause with chapters in Los Angeles and Washington DC. The group focuses on small discussion circles and gatherings to spread its word focusing mainly on youth, specifically college students.

To learn more about Falling Whistles and the conflict in Congo, visit http://www.fallingwhistles.com.