No Direction

        For this weeks blog post, I was flipping through the Salgado book looking for a picture to write about when I stumbled across this one. I was immediately drawn to this picture because the little boy in here looks exactly like my little cousin, Hank. Suddenly, a million stories were running through my mind of this boy and what his life must be like. 

        This little boy in the photograph belonged to the Ivankovo camp in eastern Croatia. In this camp, there were 120 refugees living on one train. These trains had been re-designed by the German humanitarian organization Cap-Anamur to resemble very humble living quarters. Perhaps the saddest part of this little boys story is the fact that they were not headed anywhere. They were not what was known as "priority refugees" because they were not victims of rape, torture, or ethnic cleansing. They were considered refugees though because they had fled their homes in an attempt to escape before these atrocities reached them. Such examples of these atrocities are intact rape, torture, ethnic cleansing, human trafficking. They did not know if such acts would happen to them, yet they made an effort to escape before anything could've happened. They would sit on the train headed no where, being constantly reminded of the fact that they had no destination. 

         This story, as do all these stories, makes me grateful for the fact that my life has direction. I am lucky enough to attend an incredible university, study whatever I want to, and have amazing opportunities placed before me each day. I am grateful that my train of life is heading in whatever direction I choose it to be, and that I have control of the choices I make. 

Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. "Migrations: Humanity in Transition." Aperture. New York, 2000. 170.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cap_Anamur  ---Unfortunately that was the main source of information for the Cap-Anamur humanitarian organization because everything else was in German. 

Pike, John. "War and Ethnic Cleansing in Yugoslavia."Global Security. N.p., 11 07 2011. Web. 27 Sep 2012. <http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/yugo-hist4.htm>.

The Afghan Women

            Ever since I first visited the Middle East in 2002, I have been so intrigued by Afghanistan and their culture. When I first visited Amman, Jordan, just after the 9/11 attacks on American soil, I had so little understanding for the trials and conflicts between the U.S. and the Middle East, and for the problems in within the area itself. I distinctly remember seeing a woman walking down the street, completely covered from head to toe and asking my Grandpa why they made their ladies dress like that. He tried to explain, but I didn't understand. What sparked my interest again a few years later was the story of the Afghan Girl. If you haven't seen this video, it is well worth the four and a half minutes. (click here for the video). This video gives you a small glimpse into the life of an afghan woman.
     
             Since then, I have been so interested in the issues going on in the Middle East, especially Afghanistan. There is so much social unrest due to the seizing of Afghanistan by the Taliban. In 1996, the Taliban and Islamic extremists. These extremists persecuted Afghanistan until the U.S. took over in 2001. While the Taliban had control, they wanted to create a totally perfect Muslim society. Not only were drastic social measures taken, but also minor issues such as dress and appearance. Women were required to wear burkas that covered themselves from head to toe, and men were required to have their beards be a certain length. The Taliban had an "anti-women" agenda that caused the most social unrest. Like I said before, women were required to cover themselves completely. In addition to that, they were not allowed work outside the home, and could not leave the house without a male guardian. Women were also not allowed to get an education and did not have access to health care. Although these actions towards women caused much distress worldwide, the Taliban stated that they only took these measures to protect the women. The only occasions where women were allowed outside the home is to collect food, like the women in this photograph.

http://www.internationalist.org/afghanwomen1001.html

            In this photograph, there are two women completely covered from head to toe, with their children under their burkas. They are waiting at a food distribution center in Kabul run by a French humanitarian organization called Action contra la Faim (Action Against Hunger). This picture strikes a chord in me as a woman because one of the blessings I try not to take for granted is my freedom as a woman. I am allowed to leave my home, wear practically whatever I want, choose a career, vote, and have a say in society. Whenever I see pictures of women in burkas, it is a small reminder to me to never take for granted the simple blessings I enjoy everyday in America. Some women wear this burka in religious observance and to show a sense of sacredness towards their faith. I think all women in Afghanistan should have the choice. They should have the freedom to choose what to do, just like all of us have the ability to make personal decision on a day to day basis.



Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. "Migrations: Humanity in Transition." Aperture. New York, 2000. 170.

Bajoria, Jayshree. "The Taliban in Afghanistan." Council on Foreign Relations. N.p., 06 Oct 2011. Web. 20 Sep 2012. <http://www.cfr.org/afghanistan/taliban-afghanistan/p10551>.

Ebere, Charles. "Taliban." Encyclopedia.com. Encyclopedia, 2012. Web. 20 Sep 2012. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Taliban.asp&xgt>.

. "About Action Against Hunger." Action Against Hunger:ACF International. N.p., 2012. Web. 20 Sep 2012. <http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/about>.

Rwanda Genocide affects Tanzania

        As I was flipping through Salgado's book Migrations, I saw this photo and I was immediately drawn to it. In 1994, the country of Rwanda was hit with one of the most devastating genocides in the history of man kind. It was a bloody battle between the two main tribes in Rwanda-the Hutus and the Tutsis. The Tutsis had been in power, and persecuting the Hutus, until 1962 when the Hutus overthrew the Tutsi monarchy. That was the straw that broke the camels back. After that, persecution upon persecution persisted. Eventually the persecution got so bad that the Tutsi people were fleeing the country. One of the places that was affected by the genocide was Tanzania (click here to watch a short video about this affect), where the picture above was taken. It is said that 250,000 Rwandese flooded into Tanzania-the largest and fastest movement of refugees ever witnessed by the UN Refugee Agency.
        In this photo above, the children are playing on a mound of dirt that these children considered their "playground". In the refugee camps in Tanzania, a system of bathrooms were created by digging large holes in the camp of Benako. These children had nothing else to do in these refugee camps, and so they made the best of the situation they were thrown into.
        The reason this picture speaks to me is because this past summer, I spent two weeks in Cambodia working in a village just one hour outside of Siem Reap. This was just one of the many villages/towns affected by the horror of the Pol Pot regime in the early '70s. We spent most of our time in the schools working with children. We would help construct their new school building, rectify the old building, teach English lessons, deliver medical supplies, install water filters, organize their gardens, interview members of the village (if they were old enough to remember) about the Pol Pot regime, and play with the kids. My favorite job was playing with the kids. They live in complete and utter poverty, yet so little brings them so much joy. They loved to play simple hand games, like Paddy Cake and Down By The Banks. I learned so much from those kids in Cambodia.
        Seeing this picture has a similar affect on me. Even those these kids have been persecuted, thrust out of their homes, and thrown into a new place, many of them still have smiles on their faces. I would guess lots of their parents have died, they have no brothers and sisters, and I would bet every single one of them is facing diseases and sicknesses unlike anything we can imagine. Life in a refugee camp is not easy. There are deaths constantly, hardly enough food, over crowding, and sicknesses. Despite these trials however, the kids in this picture remain smiling and optimistic, considering the circumstances.
        So much can be learned from this small picture. Especially as it is September 11th, I am exceptionally grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in America. We are not suffering from the affects of a genocide, we are not a poverty stricken country, and we do not have a violent dictator leading our country. We have freedom of religion, speech, and are able to vote and have a say in what happens to our country. This is a true blessing, and one that should never be taken for granted.
        These countries that have been affected by political, social, and religious unrest in the past, or present, are still being affected today. That is why I have this blog-to raise awareness that there are people in the world suffering from things like the Rwandan genocide, Pol Pot regime, and Sudan civil war every day.


Salgado, Sebastiao. Photograph. "Migrations: Humanity in Transition." Aperture. New York, 2000. 170.
http://www.history.com/topics/rwandan-genocide
http://www.unhcr.org/3b5402fa1.html
http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/pol-pot.htm