Editorial
During the course of human evolution, people have
conceived various notions such as race, sexual orientation,
nationality, gender and ethnicity to distinguish and alienate
themselves from one another. These arbitrary divisions have deterred
people from seeing individuals from other groups as their equals. For
millennia, we as people believed that we only had a responsibility
towards those who looked like us, thought like us, and spoke our same
language. We were wrong.
Events such as the widespread genocides of the last century, the
depletion of the Ozone layer, the fossil fuel crisis and the
exponential growth of the AIDS epidemic have shown humankind that the
invisible boundaries to which we adhere so ardently do not change the
fact that we all share the same planet. If positive change is the
goal, then it is up to each individual to be the change she wants to
see.
The articles in this publication were written by World Information
Transfer’s Interns and address topics from every corner of the
globe. Yet, despite the different subjects, the articles convey one
common theme: the health of Earth and its people are intricately
linked; to forget one is to doom the other.
--Kyle Waddy, New York University, World Information
Transfer
HOPE
Although apartheid in South Africa has been dismantled
for more than a decade, remnants of its vicious legacy remain a visible
reality for residents of Paarl in the Western Cape. Racial segregation
is no longer sanctioned by law, however the residents of Paarl continue
to be divided along the lines of color and class. During the summer of
2005, I had the unique opportunity to travel to Paarl and work as a
student teacher at a promising elementary school, Amstelhof Primary,
and live with the principal, Claude de Jager, and his family. A vast
majority of the students and members of the Amstelhof community are
"Coloured" and many live in extremely impoverished conditions.
A map of regional map of Paarl on South Africa's Western Cape
As I began to teach Current Events and English Literacy to my 7th grade
class, I was very intrigued by how motivated and enthusiastic the
students were to learn, participate, and excel in their studies. The
students wore uniforms, were very respectful, and eager to embrace me
as if I were a longstanding member of their community. Though Afrikaans
is their native language, the students were able to read and write
English as well as 7th grade honor students that I have taught in the
United States. However, after coming to the realization that many
students in the classroom were without coats or shoes in the extremely
frigid, winter weather, I understood the hardship and dire
circumstances facing many of these extraordinary children.
As a result of the inherent poverty that plagues numerous Black and
Coloured citizens of Paarl, many families do not own homes and live in
unstable and unsanitary "squatter camp" communities comprised of
makeshift shacks with tin roofs. In addition to South Africans, these
sprawling communities also consist of displaced Africans seeking refuge
from Zimbabwe, Malawi, and other impoverished regions of sub-Saharan
Africa. These squatter camps are inundated with garbage, lack clean
running water, sanitation, electricity, and other essential necessities
required to survive. Considering that HIV and AIDS rates continue to
increase in South Africa, individuals infected with the virus have
lower chances of surviving because they lack adequate access to medical
care. Furthermore, I explored a "squatter camp" adjacent to Amstelhof
Primary and recognized many of my students residing there. I could not
fathom how students subject to these dreadful and hazardous
surroundings could remain so pleasant and eager to succeed
academically.
Nevertheless, in the face of this adversity, I witnessed an unyielding
determination from the humble school administration and faculty of
Amstelhof Primary to make strides to uplift their community, albeit
with limited resources. Prior to my departure from South Africa, a
plethora of my 7th grade students made farewell cards and many bought
me gifts to show their appreciation for my visit from America, in lieu
of the fact that they had no means to afford these gifts. It is still
hard for me to comprehend how a community with so very little would be
willing to give one so much.
In 1990, as Nelson Mandela was released from prison in Paarl and
marched in the streets with the community, he embodied the hope and
optimism that is needed for achievement in Paarl. I have great hope for
future of the disenfranchised members of Paarl. It is my belief that as
the international community is made aware of the plight and
perseverance of this special community - the unrelenting obstacles
lingering from Apartheid will soon be eradicated.
-- Eric L. Adisa, Fordham University Graduate School
of Education, Intern at World Information Transfer
Roma Health & Discrimination
Relegated to barren, infertile tracts of land
blighting the outskirts of towns, forced to migrate constantly due to
extreme poverty and refused even the most fundamental human rights, the
Roma of Central and Eastern Europe bear an extensive and painful
history of discrimination and abuse. Exile, execution and exclusion
have characterized the centuries-long plight of the Roma people and
culture (Gypsy being the more common and pejorative term). . Xenophobia
and a fervent distrust of the Roma people have been little reduced by
the passage of time. The effects of this acute discrimination are
evident in the current situation of the Roma who are still excluded by
and large from education, employment, housing opportunities, and, most
damagingly, adequate healthcare
According to Karen Plafker of the Open Society Institute, the Roma
people of Central and Eastern Europe are "suffering the worst health
conditions of the industrialized world together with some of the worse
health problems associated with the third world." The poignant
stigmatization and overall neglect of Roma issues, especially in the
area of health, is evidenced clearly within the deteriorating walls of
Romanian hospitals. One typical children's hospital in Oradea, Romania
is supposed to shelter and protect abandoned Roma children, yet the
nurses routinely refuse food, toys and care to Roma babies, whom they
consider subhuman. Such an appalling instance of abuse illustrates the
universal mistreatment of Roma within the healthcare system.
A group of Roma children
Over 75 percent of the Roma people live in poverty and, in certain
areas, the Roma population suffers from 100 percent unemployment. In
addition to ancient cultural prejudices, access to healthcare is
hampered by such discriminating practices such as compulsory document
fees and insurance plans that cover only a maximum of three children
(Plafker).
This type of discrimination at the hands of those sworn to the
Hippocratic Oath reflects why the European Public Health Alliance
announced that the treatment of the Roma people is "one of the most
pressing political, social and human rights issues facing Europe." To
improve healthcare and the general quality of life the key is quite
simply to effectively eradicate and challenge preexisting
misconceptions that have plagued the Roma for millennia.
--Tiffani Harcrow, Young Harris College, World
Information Transfer, Intern
Sources:
Karen Plafker / "The Social Roots of Roma Health Conditions"/ Open
Society Institute European Public Health Alliance/ "
Improving health status of Romany gypsies one of the most pressing
rights issues facing Europe " / Public Health News/
Where did the recyclable trash go? Exporting
Harm
Many governments are encouraging the recycling of
computers to keep them out of landfills and prevent heavy metals from
seeping into drinking water. However, breaking computers down into
reusable raw materials is labor intensive and expensive. Countries like
China or India's role as dumping grounds for the world's unwanted
gadgets is a testament to the drastic efforts of wealthier countries to
protect their own environments. The Environmental Protection Agency
discovered in a survey in California that the cost of dismantling and
reusing materials in one computer monitor in the United States is about
10 times higher than the cost of shipping it to China. That explains
why the streets of some impoverished towns in China are currently
buried under mounds of outdated computers.
According to recent reports by the Chinese state-controlled Guangdong
Radio and the Beijing Youth newspaper, in certain in towns along
China's coast as well as in India and Pakistan, adults and children
work for about $1.20 (USD) a day in unregulated and unsafe conditions;
earning their livelihoods by scavenging metals, glass and plastic from
the dumps. The technological garbage is poisoning the water and soil,
which causes serious health problems. As rivers and soils absorb a
mounting influx of carcinogens and other toxins, people are suffering
high incidences of birth defects, infant mortality, tuberculosis and
blood diseases, as well as particularly severe respiratory problems.
"It's a little bit dirty, but okay," said Wang Guangde, 27, a farmer
from Sichuan, as he sat on the floor of a shed, taking apart printer
drums. The workers acknowledge the cuts on their fingers -which cause
infections that do not heal. Stubborn, hacking coughs testify to the
poorly ventilated places in which they breathe noxious fumes. Their
main objective is monetary compensation.
Everyone must do their part
Protect our environment, and also protect the others, do not shift the
problem to someone else. Pick the responsible recyclers that do not
export their e-waste! The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition published a
list of responsible recycler locations and contact information that do
not export the e-waste.
-- Judy SIN, DePaul University, World Information Transfer, Intern
Sources:
http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/recycle/pledge_signers.htm.
Peter S. Goodman, China Serves As Dump Site For Computers, Washington Post, February 2003; available at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A56653-2003Feb24
Siberia's Environmental Lesson to the World
Southern Siberia is home to one of the most beautiful,
pristine natural wonders. Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world
as well as the largest supply of freshwater amounting to one quarter of
the world's supply. Surrounded by mountains and valleys this lake is
part of a majestic landscape. Though constantly threatened by
development, the lake has been protected due to the cultural attachment
that citizens feel for their lake.
Undisturbed evolution has been the primary factor in the development of
this unique ecosystem. A highly evolved crayfish known as epishura
cleans Baikal's water. This organism eats the dirt thus maintaining the
water's ever clean and clear state. Also, Baikal is home to the only
fresh water seal known as the Nerpa. These mammals have been protected
by the people; though the coats and fat are quite valuable.
During winter, the cleanliness of the water and the harshness of the
Siberian cold cause the lake to freeze seven meters deep. People, cars,
trucks and hydrofloats may be seen traveling along the ice. A highway
connects the mainland with the island Olkhon, which cannot be reached
by car during the summer. The lake begins to freeze in the north in
October, subsequently thawing six months later in the South in April.
Plans to build a paper mill plant in the north of the lake caused
widespread public outrage. Even though the mill was eventually built,
it continues to be the target of public discontent. Discussion and
debate on the effects to the lake have been highly emotional and
poignant. Thankfully, other projects aimed to protect Baikal have been
more successful. Citizens and non-governmental organizations around
Baikal fought relentlessly to defeat several pipeline proposals. The
proposals would have lead to the construction of pipelines that would
have run from Southern Siberia to China and threatened the Baikal
environment.
Cultural attachment to the beauty and natural wonder of this lake has
been a major cause for its continuing health. Because citizens hold
such pride in their environment, they continue to attempt to protect it
from undue harm. Here we see a community united by environmentalism.
Siberia then may offer an example to the world: feeling an individual
attachment may not be enough to protect natural surroundings; rather
development of a collective community attachment is a stronger and more
formidable tool in the fight to protect the environment.
--Luis Lizarazo, Lehigh University, World Information
Transfer
Second Blush
Most people have heard the adage "You are what you
eat." This makes sense since the food you eat eventually integrates
itself into your body's makeup. But what about the things you put on
your body? The cosmetics industry has been successful in selling the
importance of outer beauty, so people around the world try to perfect
their appearance with blush, whitening toothpaste, moisturizer, hair
dye, mascara, powders, among others. Yet few people actually stop to
consider the effects of makeup. The skin is the bodies' largest and
most vulnerable organ, and while it protects the body it also absorbs
substances such as cosmetics. You wouldn't eat your makeup - so it is
really safe to wear it?
The simplest way to understand the safety of makeup is to know the
ingredients. Most individuals would be rather shocked to discover the
true composition of their cosmetic products. Mica is a thinly layered
mineral whose crystals can be crushed to add shine to blush. And "pearl
essence" is a shimmering substance made from fish scales (primarily
herring) and used in expensive lipsticks. Even stranger, the crushed
bodies of the cochineal insect are used to make the red dye carmine
which is found in many eyeshadows and even some food products.
But does the oddity of these ingredients make them unsafe? Ingredients
like carmine and pearl essence are organic in origin, so unless you
have an allergy to herring or cochineal insects, these ingredients
aren't harmful. Synthetic ingredients are a different story. The
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel oversees cosmetic product
ingredients. By reviewing scientific research and studies, the CIR
publishes ingredient safety information and guidelines. Some examples
of ingredients defined by the CIR as "unsafe" or "safe with
qualifications" include chloroacetamide (an immune system toxin), butyl
methacrylate (which causes skin sensitization) and p-hydroxyanisole
(which causes skin depigmentation).
These ingredients are not used in makeup, right? Wrong. Chloroacetamide
is found in Uhaircare products; butyl methacrylate is used in Pond's
Clear Solutions Overnight Blemish Reducers; and p-hydroxyanisole is
used in Scarguard Lightener. The lack of safety labels, combined with
vague ingredient listings, make it difficult for the customer to really
know what she or he is buying.
Perhaps the disparity between what is safe and what is actually found
in personal products can be traced to the way the cosmetics industry is
governed. While officially the United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) can take action against companies that use unsafe
products, it does not conduct pre-market safety checks of cosmetic
ingredients. Thus the FDA has the power to recall cosmetics, but lacks
the knowledge to prevent the release of unsafe products. Usually it
takes an adverse-events report - meaning someone becomes ill or has a
bad reaction to a product - for the FDA to take action. Surprisingly,
only 11% of personal care product ingredients have been evaluated for
safety.
Avoiding the risk of cosmetics can be tricky. There are several ways to
avoid the toxins and carcinogens found in products. One way is to try
and create your own cosmetics. Researching natural recipes for
moisturizers, shampoos, soaps, and lipsticks can help save your skin. A
good guideline: if you can eat it, you can wear it. A second method is
to know the effects of cosmetic ingredients. The Environmental Working
Group (EWG) created a new "Skin Deep" study to help calculate the risk
of over 7,500 cosmetic products. This is an easy way to research both
dangerous ingredients, and safe alternatives. Read labels. If you can't
pronounce the ingredient names, don't take their safety for granted.
--Rebecca Green, Columbia University, World
Inormation Transfer Intern
Sources:
Skin Deep report: http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2/index.php
Cosmetic Ingredient Review: http://www.cir-safety.org/findings.shtml
Food and Drug Administration Cosmetics: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-toc.html
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mica
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal
A Short Guide for Lifetime Protection
How do you imagine yourself 10 years from now? How
about in 15? What do you think your will be the state of your health?
Have you ever envisioned waking up with a fatal cancer and numerous
scars? What if you were unable to recognize your once gorgeous body
since your skin had acquired a leathery appearance, with dry, wrinkled
patches? If you do not want this to happen to you, then read this
article and heed its warning.
Most people are familiar with the harms of UVA and UVB rays, however,
few people take their potentially hazardous effects seriously. Sun
exposure causes more than 90% of skin cancers. In 2006, 1 in 60
Americans is at risk of developing invasive melanoma, one of the most
harmful skin cancers. Leading researchers believe this rate will
increase to 1 in 50 Americans in 2010. Many people think having a tan
is beneficial to t their appearance, however, they should also be aware
of the potentially disastrous effects.
Skin cancer is caused when UVA and UVB rays hit the epidermis, and
begin breaking down the DNA cells. Your body, using its protective
system, creates more melanin, thus the skin darkens. The immune system
kicks in destroying damaged cells and replaces them with healthy ones.
However; if you continue to tan, the repair system slows, and damaged
cells can mutate and become cancerous within 5 years. The conclusion
here is that tanning is the result of damaged DNA, which can very
easily turn into cancer. Just five skin burns may boost skin cancer
odds. Also, those readers who have more than 50 moles, numerous
freckles, or have family history are in greater danger than the rest of
the population.
How can you protect yourself?
1. Always wear a sun block that protects from BOTH UVA
and UVB rays.
2. Use a sun block with SPF 15 at the very least. Skin Cancer
Foundation recommends a lengthy list of these. You can find them at .
3. Cover yourself as much as possible.
4. Try to avoid direct sun contact between 10 AM and 4 PM.
5. Get familiar with your body and check yourself. Be aware of moles
wider than a pencil eraser, or ones that have any irregularities.
6. Seek the shade, but still apply sun block: approximately one ounce
every two hours.
7. Indoor tanning CAN be hazardous too: 20 minutes at a saloon are
equivalent to 3 hours outdoors.
8. Indoor tanning also increases skin cancer by 50%.
Studies have found that tanning, whether indoors or
outdoors may make one feel relaxed, or simply better. This can be
linked to addiction to certain hormones released during the tanning
process; however more studies are underway to confirm this. The truth
is that when most people go to the beach, or to a salon, they do not
think of the harm they are causing their bodies. Additionally, most
people are of the mentality that "it couldn't happen to me". In
reality, it can happen to anyone; it can happen to you and me too! And
for those for whom a tan is a must, using sunless tanning lotions can
provide the desired results without the risk. Skin cancer can be
prevented; the question isare we ready to make it happen?
--Lindita Bojdani, Rutgers University, World Information Transfer
Hybrid Cars
With gas prices higher than ever and constant
discussion of oil as a nonrenewable resource and source of dependency,
hybrid vehicles and alternative sources of energy are on everyone's
mind. From wind power to ethanol, developing new sources of energy is a
primary concern of consumers as people continue to consume beyond their
means. Especially in the United States where 5% of the world's
population consumes 25% of the world's energy. Also, with the
development of rising giants like China and India, the question of
clean energy and how they can develop without contributing to global
warming and O-zone depletion is now a global issue.
The widespread utilization of hybrid cars and other clean burning
vehicles seems like a partial solution to the problem. With consumers
being more aware of not only their rising gas bills, but also
environmental concerns, hybrid cars and other fuel-efficient vehicles
look like a smart investment. Beyond paying less for gas, other
advantages include being able to drive in the car pool lane and federal
tax credits. And with cars in every style and price range, there are no
longer limits to models offered as more companies enter the formerly
limited market of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. In addition,
more efficient hybrids are continually being developed.
Whether consumers choose to purchase these vehicles to save money or
help the environment, they are effectively doing both. Greenhouse gases
that cause global warming are byproducts of automobile exhaust. Hybrid
cars and alternative fuel vehicles cause less pollution, which in
addition to having a positive effect on the environment, also carries
positive long-term health benefits especially in highly populated urban
areas. Big cities are taking steps to clean up public transportation,
such as New York. Additionally, private companies are beginning to
convert to natural gas powered vehicles.
The hybrid taxi tour commenced in Chicago on June 8th. At this event
the Ford Motor Company launched a nationwide tour of gas-electric taxis
that are environmentally friendly. It continued from Chicago to eight
other U.S. cities, and joins San Francisco and New York which already
have hybrid taxi fleets in use. The Escape Hybrid, the featured vehicle
of the tour, meets California's Advanced Technology-Partial Zero
Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standard, the cleanest emissions possible
for a vehicle requiring fossil fuel.
Certain states have lead the way in setting more stringent standards
for emissions. The California Air Resources Board has set up
classifications for their zero emissions program, and has certified
that most hybrids meet the Advanced Technology- Partial Zero Emissions
Vehicle (AT-PZEV) standard. Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (PZEV)
offer another alternative which are vehicles that run on gasoline, but
have been modified with pollution preventative technology reducing
evaporative emissions (those which cause greenhouse gases) to zero.
Other states have now adopted this program, including: Connecticut,
Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Vermont. Flex fuel
vehicles, those that can run on ethanol or gasoline, or a mix of the
two, and vehicles that run on natural gas are also available on the
market offering other alternatives.
In addition to investing in hybrid fleets, there are other actions that
can be taken by cities to actively encourage environmental friendly
activities. Preference to companies in city contracts or incentives
such as tax credits could be offered to those that use cleaner
technology or clean burning vehicles. Many options now exist as an
alternative to oil, they just need to be implemented by those ready to
make the commitment.
--Justine Freisleben, Franklin and Marshall College,
World Information Transfer, Intern
Celebrity Influence:
The power celebrities and musicians have in raising awareness to
critical issues
Through my World Information Transfer internship, I
had the pleasure of attending an evening event at the United Nations
that commemorated the 25th year of the presence of the HIV/AIDS virus
in our world. This particular event occurred towards the end of the
United Nations international HIV/AIDS conference. After having
witnessed the impact of the eloquent speeches and performances from
actors and musicians featured at the event, I realized how influential
celebrities can be in raising awareness of a cause. One of the featured
actors of the night, Richard Gere, delivered a very personal and moving
speech on the subject. I personally felt that Haitian singer Wyclef
Jean's performance got the most attention and reaction; his songs were
not only inspirational but were moving enough to get the entire crowd
involved as they danced and sang along.
Through his powerful words and inspirational lyrics, Wyclef gets his
message to a huge audience. In addition to being a passionate advocate
for HIV/AIDS awareness, he established the Yele Haiti organization in
his home country. Yele Haiti, a non-governmental association, uses a
combination of music and active infrastructure development to help
create many small-scale projects that contribute to Haiti's long term
goals of improved education, healthcare, and environmental cleanliness.
Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, relies on the
assistance of numerous organizations to help it realize its goals for a
better future. UNICEF has created many programs for Haiti to help
address the severe problems children face in the areas of education,
health, and protection. Unfortunately, there are many instances where
UNICEF, the Red Cross, and other NGO's are not effective at providing
assistance because Haitian slums such as Cité Soleil, Bel
Air and
Martissant are so dangerous that their personnel are afraid to enter.
Yele Haiti compensates for this problem by utilizing the popularity of
Wyclef and other native Haitian performers to enter these dangerous
areas safely to distribute food and supplies to the most destitute
families.
In the United States and other industrialized countries, actors,
musicians, and other celebrities have the ability to attract a great
deal of attention that less well-known figures would never be able to
receive; it is in the hands of these select few to decide how they want
to utilize this great power. Many celebrities may just attract the
attention of their fans and the media, but some of these famous figures
have decided to use their unique ability to advocate the need for help
and support of critical international issues. Some of the most notable
celebrity advocates are the goodwill ambassadors for UNICEF, which
include famous figures from all over the world. These goodwill
ambassadors, and other celebrity advocates, provide many organizations
and groups with the publicity they desperately need to fulfill their
goals. In addition, they provide information about certain situations
that the general public might not have ever learned of. At this point,
their work is done and it is up to us to come together and help in any
way we can towards the critical situations to which they open our eyes.
--Will Edison, Young Harris College, World
Information Transfer Intern
Sources:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ha.html
http://www.unicef.org/people/people_ambassadors.html
http://www.yele.org/index.html
The World Cup and the Environment
This summer millions of people, from all over the
world, will pack up their bags and leave their lives at home to go
support their team, and country, in the FIFA World Cup. The World Cup
takes place every four years, and this year Germany is home to the
tournament. For many people, though few Americans, the World Cup, and
their country's performance, is a matter of life and death, as a few
players, after poor performances, have been killed by enraged fans.
Less dangerous, though sill hazardous, unruly fans often throw objects
at opposing teams, notably the United States, where bags of urine and
animals' blood has been thrown at them. However, players are not the
only entities threatened by the World Cup. The environment also takes a
toll during events which draw so many people. The leaders of FIFA and
UNEP have realized that the environment takes a hit when such large
crowds come to such a small area, and they have decided to take action
in protecting the environment.
Claudo Reyna, Team USA midfielder in the World Cup
against Italy
Eric Falt, the Director of the UNEP Division of Commerce and Public
Information stated, "Environmental consideration will take centre stage
in this competition for the very first time, with clear and measurable
objectives, and we hope that it will leave a lasting legacy." One of
the measures FIFA has taken into account, in order to improve the
environment, is allowing match ticket holders to use their tickets to
ride public transportation for free. Obviously, this will cut down on
the large amounts of exhaust from large numbers of cars. The stadiums
constructed and renovated for the World Cup have also been constructed
to be more economically efficient, as they will use 20 percent less
energy than they would have years ago. Rain water will also be
collected, stored, and used to water fields. FIFA officials have
allowed people to purchase the "Cup of the Cup" which will be able to
be reused, therefore, eliminating the waste of numerous paper and
plastic cups. Specially trained people will also hand out brochures
which promote environmental literacy and ways which individual people
can help out in their surroundings. One interesting measure FIFA has
decided to implement involves waterless urinals.
Bryant Denny Stadium, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa,
AL.
After realizing that certain measures can be taken to make sporting
events, such as the World Cup, more environmentally friendly, one might
wonder how American events can be amended to help the environment.
College football is an event much like the World Cup, as large amounts
of passionate fans, particularly in the SEC, travel long distances to
support their teams. Seven universities in the SEC including: Alabama,
Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, and South Carolina all drew over 500,000
total fans to their home games in 2005. The total attendance for all
twelve SEC teams' home games was 5,593,699. These teams will likely
have around the same numbers in the years to come, which means policies
to help the environment at one conference, in one sport, would do more
than policies for the World Cup. However, it will be more difficult to
have such policies accepted in the United States, as opposed to the
World Cup, because, unlike the World Cup, very few events draw people
from so many areas of the world, where the entire planet has the option
to unite under soccer and the environment. Hopefully, athletic
organizations in the United States will take heed of the progress from
the World Cup and do their part to make athletic events better for the
environment, which in turn, will help all people.
--John Franklin, The University of Georgia, World Information Transfer
Intern
Sources:
"Green goal kicks off", UNEP Press Release. UNEP.com. .
17 May, 2006.
"U.S. national team prepared for the hate", Richard Drehs. ESPN.com. .
7 June,
2006.
"2005 National College Football Attendance". NCAA.org. .
Film Reviews:
"God Sleeps in Rwanda" & "Silent Genocide
Genocide, rape, torture, AIDS, political empowerment,
personal independence, and hope-the two short documentaries "God Sleeps
In Rwanda" and "Silent Genocide" are powerful and evocative in their
honest and straightforward portrayal of humanity's most heinous crimes
and the shattered lives left in their wake. The documentaries filmed in
Africa after the 1994 Rwandan genocide and throughout other areas of
the continent follow the lives of dozens of women who suffered shocking
and ruthless tortures and humiliation as a result of a male-centric and
violent culture. The Academy Award nominated short documentary "God
Sleeps In Rwanda" narrated by Rosario Dawson interviews women ravaged
by HIV/AIDS as a result of rape and infected partners. The film is most
interesting however, in its focus on the complete upheaval of Rwandan
culture once the genocide ended and almost 70 percent of the population
was left female-the women of Rwanda were given an unprecedented
opportunity for empowerment.
With a bitter and less redemptive spirit, empowerment is a distant
realization to the women featured in "Silent Genocide" who recount
their memories of rape as a tool of war. Crippling the symbol of life,
the soul of the society with its long-term effects of physical and
psychological trauma, depression, unwanted pregnancies, and the risk of
HIV/AIDS, the perfect weapon is most malicious in its ability to
silence its victims. Many women spoke of their fear of stigmatization,
humiliation and the need to keep quiet. There is an urgent need
however, for a voice to be given to these atrocities that continue to
happen every day throughout the world, and "God Sleeps In Rwanda" and
"Silent Genocide" are touching and effective advocates for the powerful
and resilient women of Africa.
--Tiffany Harcow, Young Harris College, World
Information Intern
Contributors
From right to left: Front row: Judy Ky Sin, Kyle
Waddy, Rebecca
Green,
Tiffany Harcow. Second row: Luis Lizarazo, Justine Freisleben, John
Franklin, Will Edison. (Not pictured Eric L. Adisa and Lindita Bojdani)
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