Showing posts with label Libya. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Libya. Show all posts

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Update V (2011)

(Apologies to anyone who has checked this blog recently and found nothing new. I’ve been very busy–bogged down is a better way to put it--working on posts about the mix of religious and ethnic identities in Syria. I hope to post these next week. Also, when I tried to post on Thursday night I couldn't get into BlogSpot--don't know why.  As the school year winds down, I’d like to hear from teachers who’ve visited this blog and used its resources. What worked or didn’t work? If you are a teacher ed student or practice teacher, I especially want to hear from you. Send your feedback to my e-mail account: historylynx@gmail.com.)


This post provides updated or additional resources for recent posts and covers these topics:

1) Ivory Coast’s New Chapter
2) Journalists on the Frontlines: Ivory Coast
3) Journalists on the Frontlines: Libya
4) From Birtherism to Otherism
5) Finland and the Crisis in the Euro Zone


IVORY COAST'S NEW CHAPTER

On May 21 Alassane Outtara was inaugurated as president of Cote d’Ivoire, opening a new chapter and a return to constitutionality (as legislative elections are expected before the end of this year). At the inauguration twenty heads of state and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon listened as President Outtara called for national reconciliation and reiterated a strong commitment to investigating human rights abuses.
  • For a quick rundown on Cote d'Ivoire since the overthrow of Laurent Gbagbo (April 11), see Paige McClanahan’s article in The Christian Science Monitor. The inauguration was widely covered in international media online (search your preferred sites) or check out the NYT article. (See Resources for both of these.)
Ouattara expects that the International Criminal Court will be involved in pursuing cases. He has stated that investigations, to be conducted internally and by the UN Human Rights Council, would probe allegation of mass killings (particularly in and around Duékoué) by forces taking his side in the civil war–as well as those by supporting Gbagbo. While he is determined to form a national unity government, he is worried that pro-Gbagbo fighters who have fled to Liberia might try to stir up trouble within the region (1).

A slow economic recovery is underway. Cocoa exports have resumed (May 8), a harbinger of better days to come, yet some cocoa farmers are too afraid to return to their plantations. Also fearful are many displaced farmers who grow foodstuffs are staying away others, also fearful, are fields and this means that food shortages. These fears are not irrational as attacks on returnees are documented in the Amnesty International report (see Resources).

For the country’s internally displaced and Ivorian refugees in Liberia, the immediate future still looks grim. That’s 335,000 unfortunate people (200,000 in Cote d’Ivoire, 135,000 in Liberia) in need of humanitarian assistance, especially food. UN and other programs only 35% funded, amounting to deficit of $200 million over the next few months. (2)

This week Amnesty International released a report, based on a two-months of research and more than 100 interviews conducted inside Cote d’Ivoire. Press coverage of this report has highlighted (unfairly I think) a statement by Gaetan Mootoo, Amnesty’s chief investigator, that is alarmist. According to Mootoo, "Alassane Ouattara’s failure to condemn these acts could be seen as a green light by many of his security forces, and other armed elements fighting with them, to continue" (3). I’ve added the bold emphasis to make it clear that Mootoo, despite his reporting incidents of abuse and retribution occurring after Gbagbo’s ouster--was not accusing Ouattara of ordering or orchestrating such actions (though, perhaps, he meant to imply this).

Of course, the international community needs to hold Ouattara’s feet to the fire. How responsible is Ouattara? Now that he’s president, we can say that the "franc stops on his verandah" but that is quite different from alleging that he is the instigator. I have reservations about the extent to which Ouattara has firm control over the military–which is probably taking order from Guillaume Soro (4). In any case, we all need to read the report for ourselves, not rely on brief summaries in the media (see Resources).

The report gives a detailed account of abuses occurring during the civil war or immediately after former President Gbagbo was captured on April 11th, when tensions were running very high (when Ouattara had not yet had an opportunity to exert his authority over forces acting on his behalf). Those "loyal" forces were directly under the control of military men and warlords, whose self-interest was to leverage their own positions. The Duékoué massacre on March 29th was a horrible event and the Amnesty report is justified in pointing to the UN’s "fatal inertia" as a major enabling factor. Survivors told Amnesty that they asked the UN for help, repeatedly, but it never came. Also, very apparent in the report’s presentation is the ethnic dynamic at work. How ethnic identities and the legacy of Ivoirité play out in the coming months is what I’ll be watching out for.

Activities

READ/COMPARE the BBC, VOA and Guardian articles: ASK: Do you detect difference in POV? What exactly indicates these differences? Which article is a fairer, more balanced presentation of the Amnesty reports findings?

PLAN: The eye-witness testimonies embedded in the Amnesty report are primary sources (though, of course, the original recordings/transcripts from the field are "more" primary). Global studies and world history teachers may plan now (or make a note to follow-up over the summer) to incorporate a balanced selection in next year’s lessons. If you teach an elective course on genocide, this material is relevant.

FRENCH TEACHERS: Go to the French version of the Amnesty report and select eye witness testimony (short paragraphs, in quotation marks, in Chapters 3-4) to use as a translation exercise. Introduce the topic orally or use a news source. If time permits, discuss these accounts in French.

Resources
McClanahan, Paige. "West Africa Rising: Ivory Coast Recovering from Season of Violence." Christian Science Monitor (May 24, 2011): http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0524/West-Africa-Rising-Ivory-Coast-recovering-from-season-of-violence

Nossiter, Adam. "Ivory Coast’s New leader Takes Oath, Urging Unity." New York Times (May 21, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/22/world/africa/22ivory.html?scp=2&sq=nossiter%20ivory%20coast&st=cse

Amnesty International. "‘They Looked at His Identity Card and Shot Him Dead’: Six Months of Post-Electoral Violence in Cote d’Ivoire." Amnesty International (2011): http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR31/002/2011/en

  • Available as both a PDF and HTML, in English and in French(page numbers below are those of the document itself, not the PDF). English PDF: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AFR31/002/2011/en/bb769d9e-874f-442e-9454-993977a35f95/afr310022011en.pdf
  • Includes a concise summary of events since 2002, leading up to the election in November 2010 and Gbagbo’s unwillingness to cede power, the escalating violence, the conclusion of the civil war (Chapter 2).
  • Chapters 3-4 cover crimes/abuses by all sides, including those perpetrated after Gbagbo was ousted. Eye-witness testimony is presented throughout these pages. The ethnic animosity involved is clearly apparent--very obviously pointed out in the title). For the Duékoué massacre and abuses in this area see pp. 37-44.
  • See the ample footnotes (pp. 62-65) for more background sources, context, and detailed reports (for Ivoirité see notes 6, 20).
For an Amnesty International UK article about the report with a concise summaries of its findings and recommendations:
For early press coverage of the Amnesty International report:
Notes 

1) Adam Nossiter (see Resources). "Ivory Coast: Alassane Ouattara Warns of Mercenaries." BBC News (May 23, 2011): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13500677 

2) For details see "Ivory Coast Humanitarian Response Woefully Underfunded," Oxfam Ireland (May 23, 2011): http://www.oxfamireland.org/blog/2011/05/23/ivory-coast-humanitarian-response-woefully-underfunded/ 

3) Mootoo is quoted in The Guardian but the NOT in the Voice of America piece (despite its title); see articles in Resources.

JOURNALISTS ON THE FRONTLINES: IVORY COAST

(For Ivory Coast see posts listed above.)

During Cote d’Ivoire’s post-election stand-off and civil war the country’s journalists in working in both broadcast and print media–on both sides-- behaved badly, according to Reporters Without Borders. After Gbagbo was dislodged and arrested, Ouattara’s supporters have turned to harassing pro-Gbabgo journalists, looking for revenge. (1)

Recently, for Ivoirian journalists there have been a few positive signs--–but troubling news as well. One newspaper that had supported Gbagbo is now back in print and others expected to reappear within a week or so. But a warning by the new minister in charge of communications, Hamed Bakayoko, in which he stressed the desirability of limits on freedom of the press, is prompting organizations like Reporters Without Borders to voice their concerns. Speaking on World Press Freedom Day (May 3) Hamed Bakayoko (the new minister in charge of communications) spoke about freedom of the press in a manner worrisome to those who value it and advocate for the rights and protection of journalists. In addition, fears aroused by incidents, such as the torching of a radio station in a suburb of Abidjan, have been amplified by the news that a pro-Gbagbo radio journalist, Lago Sylvain Gagneto, who was arrested by pro-Ouattara forces earlier this month, was then summarily executed by them. On May 24 one of the directors of an opposition daily was arrested, perhaps to send a message before it resumes publication. (2)

I agree with CPJ spokesperson that Ouattara should act quickly "to rein in his forces and uphold the rule of law" (3).

Activities

These activities are recommended especially for journalism or global studies classes.

READ/DISCUSS: Distribute copies (or read online) the articles about the predicament of pro-Gbagbo journalists now that the former President has been arrested and his rival inaugurated (see Resources). ASK: What can/should President Ouattara to protect ALL journalists?

DISCUSS: Lift Minister Bakayoko’s remarks (as quoted in "Opposition Press Resumes Publishing") and put them into a hand-out. ASK students to respond: Does freedom of the press have limits? What limits might be appropriate or not, in a crisis situation? How might what he said apply--or not--to places in the news right now? (If you are an advocate of absolute freedom of the press, stop and think for a moment how radio messages were used to incite genocide in Rwanda.)

FRENCH CLASS: For a quick translation exercise (a good "bell-ringer") print-out the this page and/or listen to the audio (if you think it’s clear enough):

Resources
"Call to Avoid Media Vengeance by Civil War Victors," Reporters Without Borders (April 19, 2011): http://en.rsf.org/cote-d-ivoire-call-to-avoid-media-vengeance-by-19-04-2011,40061.html
"Opposition Press Resumes Publishing," Reporters Without Borders: (May 23, 2011): http://en.rsf.org/cote-d-ivoire-opposition-press-resumes-23-05-2011,40263.html

"In Ivory Coast, Pro-Ouattara forces Harass Journalists," Committee to Protect Journalists (May 24, 2011): http://cpj.org/2011/05/in-ivory-coast-pro-ouattara-forces-harass-journali.php

Notes

1) "Call to Avoid Media Vengeance by Civil War Victors," Reporters Without Borders (April 19, 2011); "In Ivory Coast, Pro-Ouattara forces Harass Journalists," Committee to Protect Journalists (May 24, 2011); see resources. For incidents after the disputed election see Nassirou Diallo with Mohamed Keita, "The Struggle Contines for Power, and Media, in Ivory Coast," Committee to Protect Journalists Blog (January 2011?): http://www.cjp.org/blog/2011/01/the-struggle-continues-for-power-and-media-in-ivor.php

2) "Opposition Press Resumes Publishing," Reporters Without Borders: (May 23, 2011): http://en.rsf.org/cote-d-ivoire-opposition-press-resumes-23-05-2011,40263.html; "Pro-Gbagbo Journalist Murdered, Newspaper Hounded as Reprisals Continue," Reporters Without Borders (May 25, 2011): http://www.rsf.org/cote-d-ivoire-pro-gbagbo-journalist-murdered-25-05-2011,40345.html

3) Mohamed Keita (CJP Africa Advocay Coordinator), as quoted in In Ivory Coast, Pro-Ouattara forces Harass Journalists," Committee to Protect Journalists (May 24, 2011)" (see note 1).


JOURNALISM ON THE FRONTLINE: LIBYA

Finally, on May 18th, after six weeks in detention, the Libyan government released four journalists: James Foley, Clare Gillis, Manuel Varela Brago, and Nigel Chandler. Foley, Gillis, and Brabo had been traveling near Brega when they were attacked by Libyan soldiers. They have now revealed that Anton Hammerl, a South African journalist who was with them, was o shot and left to die in the sand. The Libyan government had been claiming that it had no information about Hammerl. Perhaps as many as 15 international journalists are still being held in Libya.

This week those just released have begun to share their stories. I’m planning a post devoted to their stories, with background and links to their work. In the meantime, if you need an end-of-year video, consider showing the James Foley segment broadcast this week on PBS NewHour.

Resources

"Journalist Foley Details 6 Weeks of Captivity in Libya: 'I Could Make it.'" PBS NewHour (May 25, 2011): http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/jan-june11/libya_05-25.html

Jensen, Jon. "Reporters Release Tempered by news of Colleague’s Death." GlobalPost (May 19, 2011): http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/110519/libya-journalist-death-anton-hammerl-james-foley-clare-gillis


FROM BIRTHERISM TO OTHERISM

See this post: "Birther Bigotry–in America and Ivory Coast" (April 29, 2011).

In the US President Obama’s decision to release the long-form birth certificate has put a damper on Birtherism and, after a flurry of attention, sidelined Donald Trump, who won’t be running in the Republican primaries in 2012. But for diehard Obama skeptics (including a subgroup of Obama-haters) there are other ways "to other" Obama: he’s a socialist, he thinks too much like a European, he doesn’t believe in the American experiment.

My post emphasized that in both the US and Ivory Coast "Birtherism" was a strategy for putting the "not us" label on a political opponent. David Corn’s piece is a swell way to convey to students how birtherism and otherism (regardless of the subjects directed towards) are both "delegitimizing" strategies (see Resources). It also presents a critique of American exceptionalism that is guaranteed to spark discussion.

You will find the Meneimer piece a fascinating unmasking of the WorldNet Daily’s agenda (CAUTION: there is "not-for-the-classroom" language in its quotations). Here you will find a link to the short satire in Esquire that so infuriated WorldNet’s publisher Joseph Farah (see Resources). I wonder, what’s really in store for Jerome Corsi’s book, Where’s the Birth Certificate?

Labeling Obama "not -us" is not a phenomenon limited to white or right-wing critics, however. Cornel West, Princeton’s leading African-American public intellectual, has been stirring up the racial identity cauldron by calling Obama "a white man with black skin." And while West’s disappointment with the Obama presidency is fueled by West’s progressive-cum-populist outlook, he can’t resist framing it in racial terms. For West, Obama isn’t simply a mascot and puppet of the US oligarchy/plutocracy but "a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and a black puppet of corporate plutocrats" (1). When West explains how Obama’s presidential decisions and policies have betrayed supporters on the left, he is expressing a genuine critique (making points that we should be talking about, whether or not we agree with them).

What is disturbing, however, is West’s resorting to an insidious race card style of "othering." Whether he intend it or not, the message he’s conveying is that Obama just isn’t black enough. While Newt Gingerich might think Obama’s too far out of the American mainstream, Cornel West is saying he’s too far out of the African American mainstream. Doesn’t West realize just how broad that mainstream is? And who is rising to Obama’s defense? None other than Al Sharpton, whose widely quoted statement I repeat here:
  • This is the first time in this country that we have an African American president. He is not the president of African Americans. The problem we’re seeing withtoo many odler-minded people is you don’t want the next generation. You want clones. And people don’t have to be your clone to validate your sacrifice (2).

Activities
READ/DISCUSS: Use the David Corn article to explore the various tactics that politicians (across the spectrum) use "to other" their opponents. Aslo, use this piece to raise issues about American exceptionalism. ASK: Is exceptionalism just plain arrogance? Is there a middle road, such as acknowledging what’s special but stopping short of taking exceptionalism all the way to one end of a continuum? In a World History or Comparative Government class, expand the topic by mvoing on to other cases where exceptionalism is/was a core element of a faction or party’s political ideology.

READ/DISCUSS: The Hedges’s article draws heavily on interview with Cornel West, so it presents a less filtered version of West’s views (see Resources)so it is a good place to start the discussion. The issues may be inflammatory in many classrooms. ASK: What is West’s POV? How does it reflect his identity as an African American? What do you think of West’s criticism of President Obama? Is West’s rhetoric of race justified? Does it draw attention away from his criticism of Obama’s failure to live up to the 2008 campaign’s progressive messages?

Resources

Corn, David. "Birtherism Is Dead. Long Live Otherism." Mother Jones (May 19, 2011): http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/05/birtherism-otherism-romney-gingrich-2012

Meneimer, Stephanie. "WorldNet Daily Can’t Take a Joke." Mother Jones (May 25, 2011): http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/05/worldnet-daily-cant-take-joke

Thompson, Krissah. "Cornel West’s Criticism of Obama Sparks Debate among African Americans." Washington Post (May 18, 2011): http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cornel-wests-criticism-of-obama-sparks-debate-among-african-americans/2011/05/18/AFlGTf6G_story.html

Hedges, Chris. "The Obama Deception: Why Cornel West Went Ballistic." Truthdig (May 16, 2011): http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_obama_deception_why_cornel_west_went_ballistic_20110516
　

Notes

1) Bold emphasis added. As quoted in Chris Hedges (with more context); also quoted in Krissah Thompson; both in Resources. DISCLOSURE: As the mother of two biracial children (and a grandmother) I do react strongly to these issues of identity.

2) Sharpton, as quoted in Krissah Thompson (see Resources) and also widely repeated in the media.


FINLAND AND THE CRISIS IN THE EURO ZONE

See previous post: "Finland: The Mouse That Roared?" (May 4, 2011).
 
"Anybody who is hoping the two sides can come together and work out a plan to control health care costs should plan a lengthy visit to some other country. I hear that Finland is nice."

Gail Collins, New York Times (May 26, 2011)

　
 For a few years now my sister and I have been joking about how we’d like to move to Finland (or Norway or Sweden or Denmark) to escape from the craziness of US politics. So I read, with more than a few chuckles, Anu Partanen’s fine op-ed piece about her Finnish compatriots, desperate for visas to America (see Resources). After living in Brooklyn (New York City) for two years, she returned home to discover that her boring homeland had been transformed by the run-up to, and startling results of, Finland’s recent election. Guess her friends haven’t heard much about the Tea Party (or Newt Gingrich or Sarah Palin)!

BREAKING NEWS: Yesterday (May 25) the Finnish Parliament, after a lively debate, voted 137-49 to approve the Portugal bailout. Four members of the True Finn Party broke ranks with their leader and abstained. Soini had argued that the bailout would benefit primarily German and French banks. Since Finland’s approval was required for the bailout to to go ahead, this news should make the G-8 meeting in Deauville, France, a little less gloomy. (For sources see note 1.)

The larger context of my post on the Finnish election was its possible impact on the viability of the euro as a common currency and thus the future of the euro zone (perhaps even the European Union)--with implications for economies of nations across European. Another part of the picture is the increasing popularity of right-wing parties, such as the True Finns, how worries over immigration are shaping politics and parliaments in several countries.
With the G-8 meeting this week (May,26-27), and the ongoing European economic crisis having a negative impact on the US stock markets, Americans need clear explanations about what’s at stake. Right now the debts and budget deficits of Europe’s PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and Spain) are a much more immediate threat to the global economy–and hence to the US economy--than our own short-term budgetary quandaries.

A good resource for teaching this topic is Paul Solman’s "Making Sen$e" (part of the PBS Newshour web site--see Resources). His overview of economies of eight countries--the PIIGS plus Germany, England, and Poland (with links to segments on France)–is an excellent place to send students (see "Obama’s European Trip" in Resources).

　
Activities

READ/DISCUSS: Anu Partanen’s "A True Finnish Spring" is a short, clearly presented POV on Finnish politics and Finland’s place in the world. ASK: Why do Anu’s friends want to escape to America? How do you think living in America has changed Anu’s POV?

LANGUAGE ARTS: Analyze "A True Finnish Spring" as a highly effective piece of writing. ASK: Why do the images in her intro (and elsewhere) draw the reader in? How has she woven otherwise blunt "facts" into her essay?

VIEW/REACT: Students watch the PBS NewsHour segment (May 23), take notes and/or review transcript. ASK: What do you think the Europeans can or should do to help other Europeans? What should the US do (or not do) about Europe’s economic crisis? DISCUSS: How are the Irish and Spanish perspectives and government responses different? What accounts for these differences?

RESEARCH: Post the first comment to the PBS segment and use it as a research prompt. Students search online to find out more: What are economists saying about Europe’s austerity budgets? Individual students may focus on the policies and consequences in particular countries.

READING/NOTE-TAKING: Students read "Euro Crisis Looms for Group fo 8" (online or printed copies) and list the issues on the agenda at the G-meeting in Deauville, France, on Thursday and Friday (May 26-27). EXPAND this lesson, if time permits, to a follow-up search of what actually happened at the meeting. What issues, among those reported as significant, did press coverage of the meeting pay most attention to? (Subsitute any similar preview article from your preferred national or international news source.)

Resources

Partanan, Anu. "A True Finnish Spring." New York Times (May 13, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/14/opinion/14Partanen.html?_r=1&ref=finland

Making Sen$e: PBS Newshour:  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/makingsense/
  • Paul Solman’s explanations of economist’s concepts and theories are "super-accessible" and thus constitute a great resource for social studies classes (not just high school or college Economics 101).
  • Scroll down left-side to access items specific to the world’s regions.

Solman, Paul. "Obama's European Trip: Comparing Countries' Debt Troubles." PBS NewsHour (May 25, 2011: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/05/obamas-european-trip-comparing-countries-debt-troubles.html

VIDEO: "As Obama Kicks Off Trip, How Far-Reaching Is Europe's Economic Crisis?". PBS NewsHour (May 23, 2011): http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/jan-june11/europe_05-23.html
  • Jeffrey Brown discusses Europe's continued financial struggles with the Financial Times' Gillian Tett and Harvard University's Kenneth Rogoff.
  • Transcript available just below the video box.
  • Use the comment by OLYCJ as a writing/research prompt.
Erlanger, Steven, and Liz Alderman. "Euro Crisis Looms for Group of 8." New York Times (May 26, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/27/world/europe/27g8.html?scp=1&sq=erlanger+euro+crisis&st=nyt

Note

1) "Finnish Parliament Backs Portugal Bailout," Financial Times (May 25, 2011):
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6855ade6-86db-11e0-9d41-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1NT7KcTtu. For more details about the debate see "Parliament Passes Portugal Bailout Package 137-49," Helsingin Sanomat (May 26, 2011): http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Parliament+passes+Portugal+bailout+package+137-49/1135266412585
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Thursday, May 5, 2011

Mother's Day--for Mothers Everywhere

(This post is my armchair attempt to help mothers around the world by prompting my readers to find more about issues facing women and children. My finances are limited–as I’m unemployed–but I have made small donations to honor my mother, my sister, my daughter, and my granddaughter. Please, if you can, donate to a trustworthy organization and help to make the world a better place. Many thanks to White African for permission to use photos from her blog--and also for the inspiration.)
　

In memory of my grandmothers,
Pauline Scheels Baneck and Lydia Filenius Wendt.

Dedicated to my mother, my inspiration, Lorraine Wendt Baneck.

Manchester, England (March 21, 2011)
Used with permission.

　
INVOCATION

Let us give thanks for our mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers,
and all our foremothers. And for their sisters and our sisters.

Let us rejoice in our daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters. For the gift of motherhood is a gift we pass on with love in our hearts.

Let us laugh with each other, tease each other, hug each other.

Let us cry for mothers in mourning and for mothers looking for missing children. May they find comfort. May hope sustain them.

May we be inspired to do SOMETHING, be it big or small, to help hungry mothers, homeless mothers, poor mothers, mothers living in the midst of conflict and wars.

May abundant blessings flow to all those loving women who mother the motherless–to grandmothers and great-grandmothers, aunts, sisters, godmothers, foster mothers, big sisters, neighbors, and friends.


A DAY FOR ALL MOTHERS

May 8th is Mother’s Day in the US. Every day, as an American mother and grandmother, I so privileged. I am very lucky to enjoy the love and support of my own mother, nearly 88-years young. She always listens to whatever is on my mind (lately, she’s been hearing a lot about HistoryLynx). When I look into the faces of my daughter and grandchildren, who live about five minutes away from me, I know that they will carry on all the good things that GG has taught us.

For Mother’s Day I wanted to write something special. Day-after-day, reading the New York Times at breakfast, I encounter, however vicariously, how women much less fortunate than me are struggling just to survive. Mothers in Milwaukee, Detroit, and New York City, in Alabama, and in Libya, Syria, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Mexico (the list goes on and on). These are brave women, resilient women, stubborn women. I agree with the women who started the Mother’s Day Movement–"it is time for everyone to rethink this holiday and donate a portion of Mother’s Day spending to those less fortunate" (from their web site).

Whatever is happening around them mothers try to nurture and protect their children as best they can. Where conflict and violence are part of daily life–beatings, street violence, kidnapings, government crackdowns, arbitrary arrests, terrorist attacks, raids on villages, firefights, artillery shelling–mothers are risking their own lives for the sake of their children. "Women become restricted to their homes as they are vulnerable to attack, yet it is women who are expected to try to keep family and home running as normally as possible for the children. Finding food and fuel, trying to respond to health and education needs all become impossible" (See "Women, War, and Peace" in Resources).

It’s not easy being a mother in 2011. Mothers suffer as they protest–hoping to bring about better lives for their children. There is violence against protesters in Syria and in Uganda, the fighting in Libya and Afghanistan, the tense situation in Ivory Coast and parts of South Sudan, the crackdown in China, the detention of political prisoners in Iran and Cuba ... well, I could go on and on.

Manchester, England (March 21, 2011)
Used with permission.

　
Recently, in Misurata, a town under siege for weeks but now partly reclaimed by the rebels, a mother and her eight children returned to their home. After being occupied by Muammar el-Qaddafi’s forces it was in shambles. A house can be rebuilt but this woman is now carrying a double burden: her load is heavy because she must look after her children more or less on her own; and her heart is heavy because she has no idea what has happened to her husband’s–who taken away by Qaddafi’s men on March 20th (see Rovera in Resources). Her husband’s family will almost certainly try to help her but the resources of all families in Misurata are wearing thin--and those who might help the most are off fighting or injured or missing.

Did you know that in the Arab world Mother’s Day is celebrated on March 21st? It is always observed on that day but this year, with the lives of so many Arab women touched by the detentions, injuries, and deaths of their children (or the fathers of their children), the day had a sorrowful aspect. I suspect that mothers have been civilian causalties in Libya and Bahrain.  In Manchester, England, where the blogger "White African" lives, the local Libyan community gathered to remember those the who had died in the recent conflict, as well as those detained, and to honor their mothers. "White African" blogger was born to parents living in exile but her family roots are in Misurata. She’s the mother of a newborn so that made Mother’s Day special, yet under the circumstances even more poignant. Please take time to look at more of the photographs taken at that event (see Resources).

It’s not easy being a mother in 2011. Here in the US, where last month two series of tornados swept through several states, many families are reeling from the loss of their homes, livelihoods, and sometimes their loved ones. Other families have felt the impact of wildfires and floods. There is also the "terrorism" of life in certain neighborhoods in America’s cities– and the "violence" of poverty" and the scourge of drugs in both rural and urban settings. Every day mothers in America lose their children to the streets, drive-by shootings, drugs, and detention. Rates of unemployment and underemployment are still very high–foreclosures continue–more and more families end up sleeping in cars or homeless shelters.

It’s not easy being a mother in 2011. According to "Mother’s Index," the worst place in the world to be a mother is Afghanistan. Yemen is the also near the bottom. The other eight in the bottom ten are all countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.  In these and many other places in the developing world one of the most risky things a woman can attempt is giving birth to a child.  Recently, the need to reduce maternal mortality rates has been getting more attention in the media. The UN has included improving maternal health in its Millennium Development Goals (see Resources) and several international NGOs are working on projects to decrease the number of women dying in childbirth. See, for example, the efforts being made at the Nigerian hospital featured in the documentary, "Edge of Joy" (see Resources). Ele Clay, commenting on the film’s trailer, after it was shown on PBS NewsHour:
  • "My special connection to this is a sister and brother-in-law who, for the last 30+ years have lived through this agony in southern Imo State. In the space of 12 months between November 1979 and 1980 they had received into their home, 13 newborns whose mothers did not survive the trauma of their birth for the same reasons being described in this film. Eziama Motherless Babies Home and Grace Hospital are now part of the solution, with a long, uphill climb ahead in their efforts to make a real difference in this rural community of thousands."
Also deserving our support are the organizations and women who mother the motherless. A reader in Uganda, responding to Kristof’s column (May 5th, 2011):
  • "Thank you so much for continuing to inspire us to do more, Nick! We are gratified to be saving so many mothers through our "Keep a Mother Alive" program in Uganda. With the orphan population so frighteningly high in Africa, it's imperative to keep mother's alive. So many women who die already have several children they leave behind. It's hard to underestimate the vulnerability of an orphaned child--seeing the devastation in a child's eyes the minute a mother is lost has changed my life forever! God bless and save mothers, they have the power to change the world, and already have."
It is not easy being a mother.  Yet, as Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn have argued so convincingly, women are not the problem, they are the solution (see Half the Sky and related resources).  And we can be part of that solution. Then we’ll discover that "Mother's Day is a celebration of love – not only of family, but also of community, tradition, fidelity, and compassion; in short, it's a celebration of our noblest qualities" ( Madeleine Buckingham, President and CEO of Mother Jones).

That is why I’ve put together two sets of resources: a few informational, motivational items; and a list of organizations serving women and children. I haven’t included an activities section, but please share resources from this post with extra-curricular clubs, service organizations, church groups, book clubs, wherever appropriate. Also, consider how kids might get involved in service learning projects (next year at school or as members of youth groups, like the Girl Scouts).


RESOURCES ABOUT ISSUES: MOTHERS IN 2011　

Kristof, Nicholas D. "Beyond Flowers for Mom." New York Times (May4, 2011): http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/opinion/05kristof.html?src=ISMR_AP_LO_MST_FB

AUDIO SLIDESHOW: "A Powerful Truth." Narrated by Nicholas kristof. New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/08/20/magazine/kristof-audioss/index.html

"The Women’s Crusade." Excerpt from Half the Sky (see below). New York Times (August 23, 2009): http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/magazine/23Women-t.html#
  • From a special issue of the NYT Magazine, "Saving the World’s Women"; links to other articles (all worth reading)
  • Link to "A Powerful Truth" (see above)
  • Link to "Women’s Work" (Video: 2:34 mins.)

Kristof, Nicholas and Sheryl WuDunn. Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women.  New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009.
  • Angelina Jolie: "Women facing poverty, oppression, and violence are usually viewed as victims. Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s Half the Sky shows that unimaginable challenges are often met with breathtaking bravery. These stories show us the power and resilience of women who would have every reason to give up but never do. They will be an inspiration for anyone who reads this book, and a model for those fighting for justice around the world. You will not want to put this book down." (From http://www.halftheskymovement.org/accolades).
"Women, War and Peace." Amnesty International UK:
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10927
  • Click "Background: Women and Conflict" (or scroll down to it)
  • "Women become restricted to their homes as they are vulnerable to attack, yet it is women who are expected to try to keep family and home running as normally as possible for the children. Finding food and fuel, trying to respond to health and education needs all become impossible. "
"Champions for Children: State of the World’s Mothers 2011." Save the Children (Download PDF of 42-page report): http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/SOWM2011_FULL_REPORT.PDF
  • Includes "Mother’s Index" (Norway is in first place, the US is #31, and Afghanistan is last among 172 countries in the index)
Garner, Jennifer. "The Early Years Last a Lifetime." Save the Children:
http://www.savethechildren.org/atf/cf/%7B9def2ebe-10ae-432c-9bd0-df91d2eba74a%7D/SOWM2011_ESSAY_GARNER.PDF

"Yesterday Was Mother’s Day in the Arab World." White African (March 22, 2011): http://whitelibyanafrican.blogspot.com/2011/03/yesterday-was-mothers-day-in-arab-world.html

Rovera, Donatella. "Misratah: A City of Tears." Amnesty International (April 21, 2011):
http://livewire.amnesty.org/2011/04/21/misratah-a-city-of-tears-2/

VIDEO: "The East African Dairy Development Project." (Only 2:25 mins.). Heifer International: http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.6178483/?msource=kwg2401
  • Many of this NGO’s projects benefit women, enabling them to better feed and clothe their children and to send them to school.
  • If you love beautiful cows, you’ll like this video (the milk cans brought back memories of my girlhood on the farm in Wisconsin).
"Happy Ending for Cameroon Mom." Heifer International: heifer:http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.742199/?msource=kwg2401

VIDEO: "The Edge of Joy" PBS NewsHour (April 28, 2011): http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/jan-june11/edgeofjoy_04-28.html

VIDEO: "Peru Eyes Innovations in Rural Maternity Health." PBS NewsHour (March 31, 2010):
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/latin_america/jan-june10/peru_03-31.htm

VIDEO: "No Woman, No Cry." This documentary will be shown on the Oprah Winfrey Network, May 7th,2011 (9:30 EST).
  • "[T]he powerful stories of at-risk pregnant women in four parts of the world, including a remote Maasai tribe in Tanzania, a slum of Bangladesh, a post-abortion care ward in Guatemala, and a prenatal clinic in the United States."
"Goal 5: Improve Maternal Health." United Nations: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/maternal.shtml
  • Click on "Fact Sheet" for a PDF with much information, including statistics
Kristof, Nicholas. " They Think They’ve Been Cursed by God.’" New York Times (February 25, 2007): http://select.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/opinion/25kristof.html?scp=3&sq=kristof%20edna%20adan&st=cse
  • Column about both the Fistula Foundation and the Edna Adan Hospital
  • Link to VIDEO: "A Fight to Save Mothers"

RESOURCES: ORGANIZATIONS

CAUTION: From comment by "Dim" in response to Kristof’s column (May 5, 2011): Great idea, but please donate to these wonderful charities DIRECTLY and avoid scams in the form of a middle man. For example, avoid Ebay Giving Works and MissionFish:

  • MissionFish does no charity work of their own. It only serves as an online exchange between you and your favorite charity, nothing but a middle man.
  • Takes a processing fee of 20% for a typical donation of $50 and 50% for a small donation of $1.
  • Collected in fees between $20,000,000 and $40,000,000 out of $209,000,000 donated on EBay in the last few years.
  • Consists of 15 people and is run almost entirely by software (e.g. do not expect them to return your phone calls).
  • MissionFish does not move money directly to charity. This way you will be charged another fee as a seller by Paypal, also owned by EBay, so EBay also makes a cut on this.
  • At the beginning of the process you will be given a deceptive message that 100% of your donation will go to the charity "less a small deduction to help offset charity costs". 20% is not a small deduction, it is stealing!　
Mothers Day Movement: http://www.mothersdaymovement.org/Mothers_Day_Movement/HOME.html
  • "[F]ounded by six women who were shocked to learn that $14 billion was spent in the US in 2010 on Mother’s Day celebrations including flowers, cards and meals."
Shining Hope for Communities: http://shininghopeforcommunities.org/
  • Mothers Day Movement’s designated NGO for this year’s donations
  • Click "blog" to go to http://kiberaschool.blogspot.com/; many photos, including Kibera School for Girls activities
  • Encourage students to view blogs posts and leave comments to give a boost to volunteers and students
Friends of Edna Adan Maternity Hospital: http://www.ednahospital.org/:
  • Details of the hospital’s mission
  • Map of Horn of Africa, showing Somaliland
  • See also Kristof column (February 25, 2007), listed above
　
The Fistula Foundation: http://www.fistulafoundation.org/
  • Map shows countries in Africa and Asia where work–click country for more info
Save the Children: http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6743707/k.219/State_of_the_Worlds_Mothers_2011.htm
  • Purchase and donate a midwifery kit
  • Learn more by watching the VIDEO (27:10 mins.)
  • Click on "Essays" and "Stats & Facts" (lots of informative graphs)
  • Stats & Facts for "2011 Mothers’ Index Rankings"
  • Stats & Facts for "U.S. Development Assistance Saves Lives" (use this information to lobby for increasing foreign aid that benefits women)
　
Women for Women International: http://www.womenforwomen.org/
  • Misson: "Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies. We're changing the world one woman at a time."
  • Go to "About" and scroll down to find out more about this organization
  • To send a card to a special mother (by e-mail) and a donation go to http://www.womenforwomen.org/campaigns-for-women/mothers-day-2011.php?source=MD11TO
FINCA: http://www.finca.org/site/c.6fIGIXMFJnJ0H/b.6088193/k.BE5D/Home.htm
  • Mission: "FINCA International provides financial services to the world's lowest-income entrepreneurs so they can create jobs, build assets and improve their standard of living. We target the poorest of the working poor: those who have the least access to services such as loans, savings programs, and insurance. Our clients include women, who make up 70 percent of the world's poor; individuals unable to find work in the formal sector; families displaced by war and internal conflict; the rural poor; and those affected by chronic poverty."
Habitat for Humanity: http://www.habitat.org/
  • Active in most of the US and many countries around the world
  • See "Where We Build" for map
  • Donation page: https://www.habitat.org/cd/giving/one/donate.aspx?link=387&source_code=DHQOA1104W1009&askstring=1&tgs=NS81LzIwMTEgMTA6MDU6MzkgQU0%3d
Care: https://my.care.org/site/Donation2?df_id=9258&9258.donation=form1&autologin=true&s_src=17115680000&s_subsrc=mojo&JServSessionIdr004=p58md63kl4.app332b:
　

Heifer International: http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.183217/?msource=kwg2401#
  • See "Our Successes" (http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.201453/?msource=kwg2401)
Pathfinder International: http://www.pathfind.org/site/PageServer
  • Rating of "A" from American Institute of Philanthropy
  • For map click "Where We Work" (most countries, including US)
　
For more organizations–with links to their web sites--check-out Kristof and WuDunn, "Do-It-Yourself Foreign Aid," New York Times (August 18, 2009): http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/magazine/23Women-sidebar-t.html?scp=7&sq=kristof%20edna%20adan&st=cse

　
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Friday, April 22, 2011

Four Brave Men on the Frontlines of History: Two Dead, Two Wounded

(This post continues a theme introduced in "Courage on the Frontlines of History" on February 11 and followed up in "Zawiya–Reporting from Libya" on March 10. Sadly, two reporters, highly respected and much loved by their friends and colleagues, were killed in action in Libya this week.)
　
INTRODUCTION

Dateline: Misurata, April 19. Heavy fighting, rebels fighting for their lives. And right beside them on the frontline on Tripoli Street, four brave men. Photojournalists doing for us what they so ardently believed in--documenting all the horror, bloodshed, pain and misery of Misurata, an urban battlefield.

Two were killed in action–Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros. Two were wounded–Michael Brown and Guy Martin. All four were cut down in the same attack, hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. Nicole Tung, an American photographer near the scene, directed an ambulance to the wounded men. Both Hetherington and Hondros were severely injured and died despite efforts to save them. It had become very difficult for foreign journalists to enter rebel-held Misurata, but the port was open (barely) and so Hetherington and Hondros had arrived by sea on Saturday night. By late Wednesday night the same ship would be taking their bodies back to loved ones in the US.

Hetherington, a British citizen, was 40; Hondros, an American was 41. Both were very accomplished at visual storytelling. Just Google their names and you’ll find article after article, tribute after tribute. The more you read, the more you’ll cry.

Tim Hetherington had co-directed, with Sebastian Junger, the Afghan war documentary Restrepo, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and was also nominated for an Academy Award. For eight years he lived in Liberia, where he reported from behind rebel lines during the civil war, and later investigated it as part of a committee under the auspices of the United Nations Security Council.  He was a cameraman for The Devil Came on Horseback, a powerful documentary about the raiding and refugee crisis in Darfur. In Afghanistan, embedded with American soldiers, he earned their trust and produced work "celebrated for how it often captures soldiers’ humanity" (1). In Libya he was collecting raw material for a multimedia project "to highlight humanitarian issues during time of war and conflict" (2). This is what drew him to Misurata.

Chris Hondros, a photographer for Getty Images, had covered nearly every major conflict from the mid-1990s to the present, asiggnemnts that took him to Africa, the Balkans, and the Middle East. Perhaps he was inspired by his immigrant parents, who had survived World War II in Germany and Greece. Like Hetherington, he was deeply engaged in the impact of war on civilians and wrote about this and other issues for the Virginia Quarterly Review (3). Hondros was a lover of classical music, whose friends recall his habit of conducting an imaginary orchestra while walking down the street. He collaborated with musicians to create innovative pieces, such as "Sound + Vision: At War." In this piece, as musicians played Bach, Hondros kept time at his computer, rhythmically projecting 900 photos he had taken in Iraq and Afghanistan (4).

Chris Hondros, a photographer for Getty Images, had traveled to Africa, the Balkans, and the Middle East--covering nearly every major conflict from the mid-1990s to the present. Perhaps he was inspired by his immigrant parents, who had survived World War II in Germany and Greece. Like Hetherington, he was deeply engaged in the impact of war on civilians and wrote about this and other issues for the Virginia Quarterly Review (3). Hondros was a lover of classical music, whose friends recall his habit of conduct an imaginary orchestra as he walked along. He collaborated with musicians to create innovative pieces, such as "Sound + Vision: At War." In this piece, as musicians played Bach, Hondros kept time at his computer and projected 900 of photos that he had taken in Iraq and Afghanistan (4).

Guy Martin and Michael Christopher Brown, the two freelancers wounded in the same incident, are recovering. Both men began their careers in 2006 but they already have impressive portfolios. Martin, whose photos have appeared in leading British newspapers, was in Libya filing for the Panos agency. He has worked on projects in the Caucasus, Europe, Turkey, Iraq, Sudan and Uganda. Brown, less used to working in a conflict zone, admits being confused by the situation in Libya.  It gives me a chill now to read what he wrote shortly after arriving: "Would Libya be different? Would it be a different world? Something told us so. Something would be there for us. Danger, excitement, importance, freedom, death. Perhaps all" (5).

Why would any reporter/photographer/cameraman working in a conflict zone venture so far into the thick of battle? The answer can be found in Hetherington’s and Hondros’s outstanding visual journalism, with its empathy and compassion for people’s hardships and pain. What brought Hetherington and Hondros to Misurata was a profoundly humanitarian impulse. The proof is in their work–in its sensitivity and its subjectivity. They did not see with the cold eyes of feigned objectivity. There is truth in subjectivity–and they knew it.

A very powerful image, one of Hondros’s last photographs, appeared on the frontpage of Thursday's Washington Post. It shows a man in a cemetery, with the markers of the recently buried all around him, the image of a city in mourning.

Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros were more than photographers, more than journalists, more than our eyes and ears--they were the eyes and ears of history.

Other Journalists on the Frontlines in Libya

The first journalist killed in Libya, in an ambush on March 12th, was Al-Jazera cameraman Ali Hassan al-Jaber (6). Al Jazeera has alleged that this ambush was part of an effort by the Qaddafi regime to target its staff. Al Jaber, a citizen of Qatar, had served as a director of CNBC Arabiya TV in Qatar and produced several documentaries.

The second fatality was the young, courageous Libyan journalist Mohammed al-Nabbous, shot in Benghazi while transmitting live audio reports of the fighting for Libya Alhurra TV. He had founded this live stream channel so he could broadcast raw footage of what was happening as el-Qaddafi attacked the city (6).

When taken into custody by pro-Qaddafi forces, foreign journalists may be held indefinitely and beaten or otherwise mistreated. The four New York Times journalists held for six days, then released on March 21st, are among the lucky ones. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists 49 reporters have been detained in Libya–with 17 now in detention or missing (9). Four journalists captured on April 5th are still in custody–whereabouts unknown: James Foley and Clare Gillis (Americans), Manuel Varela (Spanish) and Anton Hammerl (South African). Yesterday, Libyan officials allowed Gillis to speak with her family and confirmed that Hammerl was in good health (10).

ACTIVITIES

HONOR these journalists in your classrooms in whatever manner you deem appropriate. Honor them for their humanitarian values and for their service to us all–for working in perilous places so that we may know "what people are going through in conflicts around the world" (11).

MUSIC or ART classes: Show the video "Baghdad in D Minor" (only 2:02 mins). Ask students to comment on how Bach’s music and the images work together to pull in the audience. What feelings does this multimedia piece evoke?

SHOW the Washington Post front page with Hondros’s photo of a Libyan man standing in a cemetery. What message was he trying to convey?

VIEW /DISCUSS other photo by Hetherington and Hondros from sites listed in the Resources. ASK: Why do you think he took this particular photo? How does it show the humanity of the person/people in the photo? How does it reflect the humanitarian values of the photographer?

DISCUSS: How does reporting from the frontlines shape our view of an ongoing conflict in the present? How does it both inform and frame the narratives of historians, for whom it is a primary source? In both context, what is the special contribution of visual journalism?

VISIT the Free Foley site and, if you are over 18, sign the petition. Urge younger students to share this information with their parents (who may then decide to sign the petition).

RESOURCES

For updates on journalists in Libya visit the web site of Committee to Protect Journalists: www.cpj.org
　
Bell, Melissa. "Two Photographers Killed in Libya (Photos)." Washington Post (April 20, 2011):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/tim-hetherington-producer-of-restrepo-killed-in-libya-photos/2011/04/20/AFPYo0CE_blog.html
  • Includes Hetherington’s last Tweet, ending with "No sign of NATO"
  • Photo of Hetherington with Sebastian Junger
  • 8 photos by Hondros, shot hours before he died (plus one from April 14)–with link to Gallery of more photos and to PDF of frontpage
Gallery of Chris Hondros Work: Washington Post (April 20, 2011):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chris-hondros/2011/04/20/AFlxDODE_gallery.html

Washington Post (April 21, 2011): http://www.washingtonpost.com/rw/WashingtonPost/Content/Epaper/2011-04-20/Ax1.pdf
  • PDF file of front page with Hondros photo (save PDF to show in classroom)
Fadel, Leila and Jason Horowitz. "Tim Hetherington, Chris Hondros Are Killed Documenting Libya Fighting." Washington Post (April 21): http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/restrep-director-tim-hetherington-killed-in-libya-fighting

Chivers, C. J. "‘Restrepo’ Director and a Photographer Are Killed in Libya." New York Times (April 20, 2011):  
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/world/africa/21photographers.html?scp=1&sq=chivers%20restrepo%20libya&st=cse

Dunlap, David W., James Estrin, and Kerri MacDonald. "Parting Glance: Tim Hetherington." The Lens. New York Times (April 20, 2011): http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/parting-glance-tim-hetherington/?scp=3&sq=lens%20parting%20glance&st=cse
  • Includes link to Michael Kamber’s interview with Hetherington about "Restrepo" as a work of mass communication
Dunlap, David W., James Estrin, and Kerri MacDonald. "Parting Glance: Chris Hondros." The Lens. New York Times (April 20, 2011):
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/20/parting-glance-chris-hondros/?scp=1&sq=lens%20parting%20glance&st=cse

Tim Hetherington: http://www.timhetherington.com/
Hetherington, Tim. Long Story Bit by Bit: Liberia Retold. Umbrage Editions, 2009.

"A Tribute to Tim Hetherington." Human Rights Watch (April 20, 2011): http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/20/tribute-tim-hetherington?print

Chris Hondros: http://www.chrishondros.com/
  • For "Bio" and "Clips and Book Covers."
  • See "Images" for photos from Liberia, West Bank, Kashmir, Cuba, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Angola, Macedonia/Albania, Kosovo
Estrin, James. "Baghdad in D Minor." The Lens. New York Times (September 27, 2011): http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/baghdad-in-d-minor/
  • VIDEO: Bach’s Partita in D Minor (performed by Mark Huggins), with photos that Hondros took through a Humvee window while riding through Baghdad (mostly civilians, many children)
  • Article discusses music/photos of "Sound + Vision: At War"
  • Why Bach? Hondros explained that Bach's music "sometimes speaks about deep emotions, about war and the bear of burdens"
Free Foley: http://www.freefoley.org/

NOTES

1) For more details see "Biography" and "News" at www.timhetherington.com. Search online for reviews and commentary on Restrepo.

2) From the statement by Hetherington’s family, as quoted in the article by Leila Fadel and Jason Horowitz (see Resources).

3) See "Bio" at http://www.chrishondros.com/

4). James Estrin, "Baghdad in D Minor," (see Resources).

5) See "Biography" and "Stories" at http://www.guy-martin.co.uk/

6) See Brown’s photo essay, filed ten days after arriving in Libya, in Burn Magazine (March 13, 2011): http://www.burnmagazine.org/works-in-progress/2011/03/michael-christopher-brown-libya/. For his work in China, Mexico, and elsewhere go to http://www.mcbphotos.com/
　
7) "Al Jazeeera Staffer Killed in Libya," Al Jazeera English (March 12, 2011): http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/03/2011312192359523376.html

8) See article (with video), "Libyan Web Journalist Killed in Benghazi," France24 (March 20, 2011): http://www.france24.com/en/20110320-libya-nabbous-gaddafi-young-web-journalist-killed-attacks-benghazi

9) As reported in "Journalists Hammerl, Morgana Gillis in Libyan Custody," Committee to Protect Journalists (April 22, 2011): http://www.cpj.org/2011/04/journalists-hammerl-and-morgana-gillis-are-in-liby.php#more

10) See note 9. See also Free Foley web site.

11) Tyler Hicks, as quoted in "Parting Glance: Chris Hondros," New York Times (April 20, 2011).
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