Articles by Steven Gilchrist

T he west African nation of Sierra Leone has abundant diamond and mineral resources. These precious natural resources were part of the reason why the country suffered from a decade-long civil war. During the war, which ended in 2002, armed rebel groups developed a common practice of hacking off the hands and feet of their victims. Tens of thousands of people died as a result of the conflict. About ½ of Sierra Leone’s government revenue comes from donations. In recent years, the country has made economic progress; however, poverty and unemployment remain high. During the era of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade, Sierra Leone was the departure point for thousands of captive African slaves who were to be sold in the western hemisphere. The capital city of Freetown, got its name from repatriated former slaves in 1787. Facts about Sierra Leone: Population: 5,743,725 (July 2014 est.) Area: Slightly smaller than South Carolina Capital: Freetown Religions

An Associated Press review released last year indicates that 4 in 10 new oil and gas wells near fragile watersheds and national forests go uninspected by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Data obtained by the Associated Press in June 2014, reveals that the BLM has been overwhelmed by a surge in a new drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.”   The fracking technique has resulted in the government agency to not adequately inspect some of the country’s highest priority oil and gas wells. The BLM is responsible for maintaining 100,000 oil and gas wells on public lands.   Of these wells, 3,486 are considered high priority wells.   During fiscal years 2009 to 2012, 1,400 of those high priority wells were not federally inspected.   In Wyoming, 632 wells went uninspected.   50% of high priority wells in South Dakota and 1 in 6 high priority wells in Pennsylvania went uninspected. For more information about the Bureau of Land Management visit: http://www.b