The Article's Lead:
The Bushmen are the indigenous peoples of southern Africa. Largely hunter-gatherers, their territory spans several nations and they have called the region home for tens of thousands of years. The tribes are well-known for the profound connection they have with their land, for their intimate knowledge of the natural world, and the delicate balance they have maintained for millennia with the environment.
This is an example of a single item lead, which is a lead that focuses on one element of the story. This is a single item lead, because is doesn't state the one important principle- that the bushmen are dying due to unfair treatment by government.
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My Lead:
They were the rulers of Botswana, the fierce hunters of Namibia, the kings of the food chain in Angola, the long lived kings of South America- so how come they are being trampled upon today and thrown out like bags of dirt? And even more important, why is this going unnoticed?
My lead is a delayed identification lead, which is a lead which doesn't clearly state the subject of the article- the Bushmen of Southern Africa.
Who:
This article is about Bushmen, the hunter-gatherers who have lived on their land for tens of thousands of years.
What:
These Bushmen are removed from their land unlawfully by the government. They have been placed on polluted reserves and given little food by the government. Being hunter-gatherers, they wish to hunt, but they are beaten nearly to death if they are caught leaving the camp and hunting. Those who fight back are killed without hesitation, and those who don't leave are slowly dehydrated, since the government cemented all of their wells and water holes. Meanwhile, rich government ministers sit back without any regret, their thoughts filled with their increasing income.
They have even made tourists sites on the Bushmen's land, displaying photos of smiling Bushmen children to deceive the travelers. These luxury hotels contrast greatly with the Bushmen's reserves, having pools, wine, and other unneeded goods.
Survival wants to raise money to help these men and women get their rights and lands back.
Where:
This mistreatment is occurring all over Southern Africa, from Zamibia to Angola.
When:
The three largest evacuations were 1997, 2002 and 2005. Nearly all the Bushmen were removed by 2005.
Survival has been fighting for their cause since the first evacuation, and is still fighting now.
Why:
All of this is happening because large diamond deposits were found under the Bushmen's land, and the ministers threw away the Bushmen's human rights, and based their actions on money.
Now, Survival is fighting for the human rights of the Bushmen.
How:
You can help today, by clicking on the link below and donating any amount of money to Survival you want. You can also host parties and other public events to raise awareness.
Their Conclusion:
Survival is calling on tour operators and tourists across the globe to show their support for the Bushmen by boycotting tourism to Botswana. Public pressure is the only way to ensure the government respects the Bushmen’s rights.
My Conclusion:
Today, these Bushmen have little power over what happens to themselves. Their actions have been banned, and their rights have been ignored. Even their lawyers have been banned from the country.
Now, their lives depend on you. Send the word- you can make a difference.