Democratic Republic of the Congo

JOHANNESBURG — Rene Ngongo, honored with the "alternative Nobel" this week, grew up in a Congo where he could marvel at the wealth of animals and trees.

"Those are memories my children won't have," the father of four told The Associated Press, expressing fears that his work to save the forests may have started too late.

Ngongo won the Right Livelihood Award on Tuesday "for his courage in confronting the forces that are destroying the Congo's rainforests and building political support for their conservation and sustainable use."

A New Zealander, an Australian and a Canadian also won for working to rid the world of nuclear weapons, improving women's health in Africa and raising awareness of climate change. The awards were founded by Swedish-German philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull in 1980 to recognize deeds he felt were being ignored by the Nobel Prizes.

Ngongo said by telephone from Kinshasa, Congo, that his award comes at a "great time," as negotiators prepare to meet in Copenhagen in December to draft a global climate pact.

(Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, October 13, 2009) - The Congolese government's military operation in eastern Congo, Kimia II, backed by United N...

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CONAKRY, Guinea — Guinea's military leader banned all gatherings and demonstrations Wednesday, as the United Nations pressed for an independent investigation into why troops opened fire on 50,000 pro-democracy protesters.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay condemned the soldiers' use of live ammunition against the unarmed people who gathered Monday in a stadium in Conakry, the capital, to protest against Capt. Moussa "Dadis" Camara, the country's military leader.

A human rights group said 157 people were killed and more than 1,200 were wounded. The government maintains that 57 people died and said most of them were trampled.

The U.N. Security Council also condemned the shootings Wednesday and joined the call for an independent investigation.

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, the current council president, called on the government to free all opposition leaders and political prisoners "without delay."

(Goma, May 18, 2009) - The United Nations Security Council, visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo beginning today, should press for urgent action...

The following is currently a web feature on PBS NOW:  Last October I traveled to Congo with a colleague from Refugees International to assess the...