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THE ISSUES

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Although it is not a novel explicitly about any one of these topics, TRUTH, BY OMISSION does touch on several important social issues of our times. If you'd like more info on some of these concerns and their historical context as found in the book, you can link to these sites that I considered to be among the most useful and the most interesting while researching the novel. These are the websites for organizations that are doing exceptional humanitarian work and offer ways for you to get involved.

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Rwandan Genocide

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The Rwandan Genocide is one of the most tragic events in history. Over a period of less than one hundred days at least 500,000 and as many as more than 1 million people died in an ethnic cleansing that left a scar on humanity. Nearly all of those killed were slaughtered by machetes and clubs, often by neighbors and acquaintances. There are many scholarly articles concerning the genocide, but among the very best websites for understanding the human side of the conflict is this one...

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http://www.rwandanstories.org/index.html

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Child Soldiers

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Children are far too often victims of adult wars. Often used by armed groups as soldiers, porters, messengers, spies and much more, children end up in these situations for a variety of reasons. Some children are lured by the prospects of food, a family or perceived honor, and others are conscripted by force and stolen from their families. The Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative works to prevent the recruitment and use of children as weapons of war. You can learn more about their work here.

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https://www.childsoldiers.org/

Child Slavery

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It's estimated that more than 100,000 children are forced into slavery each year in Africa, compounding totals that reach well over a million. These children are stolen or sold into lifetimes of indenture. Many are used as sex slaves and child soldiers, others as forced labor in dangerous illegal mining and unscrupulous agriculture. But child slavery is only the most egregious offense of the even more massive problem of child labor. These numbers reach into the tens of millions in Africa alone.

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If you are concerned about the welfare of the world's children consider visiting these sites for more info...

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https://www.antislavery.org/slavery-today/child-slavery/

http://www.theworldcounts.com/counters/child_labor_statistics_worldwide/child_slavery_facts

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Doctors Without Borders

Médecins Sans Frontières

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Little introduction is needed to this organization. It is the gold standard of relief organizations and works to relieve suffering and provide medical aid in the world's most dangerous hot-spots of war and impoverishment. The organization won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 for its distinguished humanitarian efforts.

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If you'd like to volunteer, donate, or just find out more, check them out at the links below or at their national website for your country...

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internationally... https://www.msf.org/

in the USA... https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

in Canada... https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/

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