After two weeks experiencing the general sheistiness that characterizes much of Ecuador, while listening to travelers’ ill-informed and negative views of Colombia, Miles and I have come to the conclusion that the reputations of the two countries are completely reversed.

The first indication that Ecuador would be a bit sketchy came from the Rough Guide warning against taking night buses. Having traveled by night buses all over Asia and with no trouble in Colombia, we at first questioned the warning but soon heard several stories from other travelers that confirmed the danger. Nearly everyone we met had tales of stolen bags or belongings along with a few more sinister stories about late night hijackings. I have never seen an in-country reputation put travelers so on edge; we actually saw two girls ride with their giant backpacks on their laps for an entire four-hour bus trip in the middle of the afternoon.

Add in the numerous people trying, and often succeeding to cheat us at nearly every payment, and you can see why Miles and I were taken aback that people happily traveling in Ecuador still expressed wariness with regard to Colombia. It just goes to show how much work still needs to be done on Colombia’s part to move away from the bad reputation still lingering from earlier decades. I know that Miles and I did our part by acting as ambassadors of the new and improved Colombia, and perhaps handing out a few Wandering Paisa business cards here and there.

--

It’s our last two hours in Ecuador and Miles and I are enjoying a nice, quiet lunch in a restaurant just outside the Quito airport in between flights. We finish our meal, Miles leaves the table for a few minutes, and a woman asks me a question in mumbled Spanish. As I struggle to understand, she seemingly gives up and leaves the restaurant. I’m still puzzling over the interaction when Miles returns and that’s when we notice the missing bag. Miles sprints outside and talks to the security guard who had been giving a passerby directions and therefore only vaguely aware of someone walking out past him. And just when we thought we’d made it out of the country without our own theft story, we’ve been hit by a three-man sting operation.

Fortunately for us, these Ecuadorian thieves are not as smart as they are ubiquitous. I’m not sure exactly what they intended to do with a backpack full of damp and dirty traveler’s clothes but it’s lucky for us that they opted for that bag. In the end, Miles lost his clothes, gifts, and apartment decorations that we’d bought but retained passport, iPod, camera, and wallet. He managed to remain very Zen about the loss of his material possessions, but I’d say we were more than ready to return to the tranquility of our home in “big, scary Medellin.”

- Elizabeth

Events rapidly unfolding in Egypt may signal that this is President Mubarak’s hour of truth. The riots taking place in Cairo, where some policemen took off their uniforms and joined the protesters, indicate that President Mubarak may be unable to stand the pressure of long-contained popular demands.

Although Egypt’s Interior Ministry said the protests were the work of “instigators” led by the Muslim Brotherhood, demonstrators come from all social and political classes. This is, perhaps, the clearest demonstration of people’s power in decades in Egypt. Confronted with these massive popular demonstrations, the Interior Ministry stated that “No provocative movements or protest gatherings or organizing marches or demonstrations will be allowed.”

For the U.S., that has been backing the Mubarak government since it assumed power in 1981, this is a difficult situation to confront. The U.S. has provided military aid to Egypt to the tune of 1.5 billion per year. As a consequence, the U.S. has more leverage than any other government in what is happening now in Egypt.

While Secretary of State Hillary Clinton initially said that the Mubarak government was stable, she then stated that the U.S. is “deeply concerned” about the violent crackdown on demonstrators and asked the Egyptian government to respect the protesters’ rights to free expression. “As a partner, we strongly believe that the Egyptian government needs to engage immediately with the Egyptian people in implementing needed economic, political and social reforms,” said Clinton at the State Department.

Talking to “Fox News on Sunday,” as if anticipating what may really happen in Egypt Secretary Clinton stated, “We want to see an orderly transition so that no one fills the void, that there not be a void, that there be a well thought out plan that will bring about a democratic participatory government.” Since President Mubarak will clearly not be the leader of such a government it seems clear that Secretary Clinton is anticipating a change of government.

At the same time, there is concern that more radical elements may be gaining ground in the country, notably the Muslim Brotherhood. So far, however, the Muslim Brotherhood has been playing a cautious role, and has even asked Mr. ElBaradei to negotiate on behalf of the protesters. This should allay Mrs. Clinton's fears when she stated that the U.S. wants to avoid a situation that would allow “radicals, extremists, violent elements to take over.”

President Mubarak’s TV address to the nation in which he said that he had dismissed his cabinet but that he will remain in power, as well as his promise of social, political and economic reforms didn’t quell people’s demands for a complete overhaul of the government. People have continued defying the government and asking for Mr. Mubarak to step down, a step Mr. ElBaradei said is not negotiable.
The harsh repression by the Egyptian police may be delaying the inevitable: Mr. Mubarak should resign. Talks now being conducted between Mubarak and the military are critical for Egypt’s future.

The best role for the military to play would be to withdraw its support for Mr. Mubarak and replace him with a transitional government which could include Mr. ElBaradei or be led by him. Such a government should call for elections in six months to allow the country to return to a normal life.

President Obama has told Mr. Mubarak that the government should refrain from using violence against peaceful demonstrators and allow for free expression of ideas. Perhaps this is a diplomatic way of telling Mr. Mubarak that it is time to go.

Dr. Cesar Chelala is a co-winner of an Overseas Press Club of America award for an article on human rights.

Last night the 2011 Sundance award winners were announced. Here's the complete list:

Winner of the World Cinema Special Jury Prize for Documentary Film: Position Among the Stars

Winner of the World Cinema Cinematography Award for Documentary Filmmaking: Hell and Back Again

Winner of the World Cinema Documentary Editing Award: The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975

Winner of the World Cinema Documentary Directing Award: Project Nim

Winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize in Documentary: Hell and Back Again

Winner of the World Cinema Special Jury Prize, Dramatic, for Breakout Performances: Olivia Colman and Peter Mullan for Tyrannosaur

Winner of the World Cinema Cinematography Award, Dramatic: All Your Dead Ones

Winner of the World Cinema Screenwriting Award, Dramatic: Restoration

Winner of the World Cinema Directing Award, Dramatic: Tyrannosaur

Winner of the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic: Happy, Happy

Winner of the Best of NEXT! Audience Award: to.get.her

Winner of the World Cinema Audience Award for Documentary Film: Senna

Winner of the World Cinema Audience Award for Dramatic Film: Kinyarwanda

Winner of the U.S. Documentary Competition Audience Award: Buck

Winner of the U.S. Dramatic Competition Audience Award: Circumstance

Winner of the Special Jury Prize, U.S. Documentary Competition: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey

Winner of the Special Jury Prize, U.S. Dramatic Competition: Felicity Jones for her performance in Like Crazy

Winner of the Excellence in Cinematography Award, U.S. Documentary Competition: The Redemption of General Butt Naked

Winner of the Excellence in Cinematography Award, U.S. Dramatic Competition: Pariah

Winner of the Special Jury Prize, U.S. Dramatic Competition: Another Earth

Winner of the U.S. Documentary Editing Award: If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front

Winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: Another Happy Day

Winner of the U.S. Documentary Competition Directing Award: Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles

Winner of the U.S. Dramatic Competition Directing Award: Martha Marcy May Marlene

Winner of the U.S. Documentary Competition Grand Jury Prize: How to Die in Oregon

Winner of the U.S. Dramatic Competition Grand Jury Prize: Like Crazy

Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize: Another Earth

At any film festival, the main topic of conversation is the films. While waiting in theater lines, it’s common to compare notes and freely give advice on the films you think people must see and the films that they can miss. Of course, this is all completely subjective. But I do like to hear other people’s thoughts on films, and it’s especially interesting if we disagree. While waiting in a line over the weekend, I was told by a few fellow critics that I could miss Connected: An Autoblogography about Love, Death and Technology. One specific criticism was that – at 82 minutes – the film was too long. I had these criticisms in mind when I saw Connected at the Sundance Kabuki Theater tonight. I had missed the film at the festival, and was looking forward to attending a 9 films in 9 cities event.

From the first minute on screen, I was absolutely mesmerized by Tiffany Shlain’s documentary. The narrative, which weaves the story of her father’s neurological research and his death with her daughter’s birth and a debate on the effects of technology on mankind, is so original and moving. When the film ended, I was quietly crying in my seat and completely unprepared for the film to end. The film coupled with the post-screening Q&A was totally worth a trip across the bay and the price of admission.

It is difficult to qualify exactly how I feel while watching the revolutionary fervor unfold on the streets of Cairo. On the one hand, I am tremendously excited to see the passion of people who are gathering together to fight against a brutal and unjust system. President Hosni Mubarak and his National Democratic Party cronies have been in power for nearly thirty years, and as these demonstrations vividly demonstrate, the people have finally had enough. They are clearly tired of being under the thumb of an autocratic despot who has poured more resources into staying in control than actually serving the needs of Egyptian citizens.

Yet on the other hand, I am afraid. I have several dear friends who are currently living and fighting in Cairo and Alexandria, teachers and mentors who are risking their personal safety to bring about change. The skirmishes in the streets are brutal. One of my friends posted a tribute to an elderly man who died as a result of wounds incurred by a state policeman with a knife. I fear that there will be many more victims before this movement is over.

But I hope that this will serve as a wake up call to the rest of the world. The Egyptian government is consistently portrayed as a “moderate” government, but how can a government be labeled moderate if it does not hesitate to unleash water canons, rubber bullets and police brutality upon its own citizens? This comes in the wake of years of censorship, rigged elections, unfair arrests, and torture. There must be a change. I am nervous, but I am also full of hope. The romantic in me wishes that I could be right there with the people of Egypt, fighting against a government that should topple the way of Tunisia. In the mean time, I will continue to hope and pray that justice will ultimately prevail. It is time.

The theory that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine was responsible for causing autism has, since it was first elaborated, been a hindrance to a proper assessment of the autism problem. The theory, based on a study led by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, published in The Lancet in 1998, purported to have found a link between the vaccine, gastrointestinal problems found in many autistic children and autism. New evidence has now put that theory finally to rest.

A recent report published by the British Medical Journal, based on a study conducted by British investigative journalist Brian Deer, concluded that the medical histories in the Wakefield study had been misrepresented to make the vaccine responsible for autism in children. According to Deer, the flaws in Dr. Wakefield paper were not honest mistakes but an “elaborate fraud.”

The Deer study is particularly relevant since the erroneous link between vaccines causing autism has led thousands of parents to withhold the MMR vaccine to their children, making them susceptible to illness and provoking hundreds of deaths. In February of 2010, The Lancet retracted the original Wakefield article, stating that its authors had made false claims about how the study was conducted and leading to wrong conclusions. In May of 2010, Britain stripped Wakefield of his medical license.

Mr. Deer’s study showed that time lines in the Wakefield study were altered to make it seem as though autism-like symptoms had developed soon after vaccination, while in reality problems had developed before vaccination and in other cases months after vaccination.

Autism is a complex developmental disorder that begins in early childhood and that has three defining main features: Problems with social interactions, impaired verbal and nonverbal communication and a pattern of repetitive behaviors. They present themselves with a wide range of symptoms and varying degrees of problems. This group of disorders is called autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that an average of 1 in 110 children has ASD in the US. If one assumes that the prevalence rate has been constant over the past two decades, one can estimate that about 730,000 individuals between the ages of 0 to 21 have an ASD. Studies in Asia and Europe have identified individuals with ASD with a prevalence of approximately 0.6% to over 1%.

The MMR vaccine’s effect on autism is one of the most controversial theories regarding the origin of this disorder. Many believers in this theory state that the use of Thimerosal (Ethylmercury) as a preservative in the vaccines could be responsible for the symptoms developed by many children after vaccination. However, rates of autism and ASDs continued to increase even after Thimerosal was no longer used as a preservative in vaccines in 2001

In 2004, the interpretation of a causal link between the MMR vaccine and autism was formally retracted by ten of Wakefield’s twelve collaborators in the study. In addition, in 2007, a CDC study didn’t support any association between early exposure to Thimerosal in vaccines and nervous system disorders in children between the ages of 7 and 10 years.

In spite of this evidence, many parents didn’t allow their children to be vaccinated increasing the likelihood of disease outbreaks. In 2008, according to the CDC, more measles cases were reported than in any other year since 1997. More than 90% of those infected had not been vaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown.

The Wakefield fraud shows the considerable damage that this kind of event can have on children’s health. It also renews the urgency to find the cause/s of autism, taking into consideration that diagnosis is essential for appropriate treatment at an early age, when it can do most good, and help autistic children integrate effectively into their community.

Dr. Cesar Chelala is an international public health consultant.

Tonight on HBO2 the documentary Silencing the Song: An Afghan Fallen Star will be premiering. The documentary follows the post-Afghan Star life of Setara - the most controversial contestant from the singing competition show documented in the film Afghan Star.

I'm happy to report that five 2011 Sundance films are currently available to watch on demand through Sundance Selects. I saw These Amazing Shadows - one of the five film available - on Sunday night and was so inspired by the documentary's celebration of film culture that I highly recommend checking it out!

Uganda’s President Museveni needs to learn civility, which includes being respectful of others whether or not he agrees with them. I say this, because civility is obviously missing in his presidency, as displayed when he and his cohorts disguised as police officers recently arrested Director Samuel Ssejaka and Editor Mustapha Mugisha over a front page cover of their Summit Business Review's depiction of him wielding a knife ready to cut a Ugandan shaped cake.

This is not the first controversy caused by a cartoon of a president and it won’t be the last. However, the issue here is his response. I also understand that several Ugandan journalists accused of defaming him have pending court cases. My concern is that this brings a more important issue to the limelight. Harassing, arresting and killing journalists who oppose them is the modus operandi of many African leaders. They do what they like because they feel they can get away with it. Their actions are not only to punish the journalists in question, but also to send a warning to others, which is what journalists worldwide cannot stand for.

For the full article, visit, http://sociablesusan.blogspot.com/2011/01/re-re-recent-ugandan-journalists-arrest.html

Some people’s lives are marked by their concern for others. That is the case for my friend Janet Brof, whom I have known for many years. She is the equivalent of any heroine from old times. There is in her an ingrained love for those less favored in life, an unbending urge for justice, and an unparalleled generosity.

We met through friends in common during the 1970s, when both of us were trying to understand and bring a sense of fairness to the wars then ravaging Central America. I remember one of the projects to which she gave all her enthusiasm: to teach poetry writing to adult Spanish speakers who immigrated to New York from Latin America.

Most of her students at the school in the Upper West Side neighborhood where the classes were taking place had only the most basic education, and some had never attended school formally. But that didn’t deter Janet from putting all her energies into the project. If anything, it encouraged her even more.

At one of her classes I met Olga Rodriguez, a charismatic 65-year-old woman from the Dominican Republic, who never went to school and learned how to write through informal classes with friends.

Olga had lived in her country until her late 20s, and then moved to New York where she worked in a factory to earn a living and help her family. Only recently had she had the time to study English. When she decided to take Janet’s poetry workshop she never missed a class.

Although her written Spanish frequently has spelling errors, it doesn’t matter. She is keen to express herself through poetry. When I met her she told me, “With these classes I am living the kind of experience I want to live. This is like therapy for me. I feel comforted, happy, isolated from problems of everyday life. Now, out of anything I can write a poem. I feel that this belongs to me.”

The following is one of her poems in translation by Janet Brof.

My old age
by Olga Rodriguez

What will become of me in my old age?
says the palm tree that blooms at the edge of the beach.
I am young.
All the world comes to me and embraces me.
Oh how good I feel
Surrounded by some many lovely people and trees! What greenery!

Oh warm sand, you comfort me with your going and coming.
I am young.

Time goes by.
Already I no longer have so much greenery
And I don’t give shade anymore.
What will happen to me in my old age?

Oh brilliant sun, with your silver rays
Oh breeze, you no longer sustain me as before.
You move me around at will
I can only await
death.

Cesar Chelala is a writer on human rights issues.

Cuba’s announcement that its scientists have developed a vaccine to improve the lives of lung cancer patients is reason for optimism. It should, however, be cautious optimism since previous claims have been made before by several scientists in dealing with this disease which were later proven to be unfounded.

In 1991, I headed a UN mission to Cuba of Latin American physicians. We were asked to evaluate Cuba’s production of interferon, an anti viral substance, and its applications. We were gladly surprised at the excellent technical level of Cuban scientists and of the progress they had made on producing interferon.

During a visit that Fidel Castro paid to our group, he showed considerable enthusiasm on Cuba advances on public health projects, so it didn’t surprise me the reported advances Cubans have made on a lung cancer vaccine. Since the late 1980, following visits by doctors from the MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas, to Havana, the Cuban government had chosen biotechnology as a priority area for development.

Lung cancer is the most common cause of death due to cancer in both women and men throughout the world. It is estimated that lung cancer causes the death of over one million people a year worldwide. According to statistics from the U.S. National Cancer Institute, approximately one of every 14 men and women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer of the lung at some point in their lives.

Until now, treatment of lung cancer involved surgical removal of the cancer, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, as well as a combination of these three procedures. The decision about which treatment to choose depends on the location and extent of the tumor as well as the overall health status of the patient.

Cuba’s biotechnology industry plans to launch the vaccine developed by the Cuban scientists in the international market in the near future. Dr. Gisela Gonzalez, head of the team that researched and developed the vaccine cautions that it is not a miracle drug, although it provides relief in treating terminally ill patients, with fewer side effects than conventional treatments.

The Cuban vaccine against lung cancer, CimaVax-EGF, is composed of a protein, the Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), linked to another protein that stimulates the patient’s immune system to develop the desired immune response against the EGF. Normally, when the EGF binds to its receptor on the cell membrane it triggers the cell proliferation mechanism, which is increased in the case of tumors.

Following the administration of the vaccine the patients produce antibodies that recognize and specifically bind to the EGF, stopping its binding to a receptor and the beginning of cell proliferation. The consequence is a decrease in tumor growth, the extent varying according to the patient’s individual response.

According to Dr. Gonzalez, this is the first vaccine against cancer to be registered anywhere in the world. CimaVax-EGF has already been patented in Cuba, Peru, Canada, Japan, South Africa and the United States, and there are plans to patent it in other countries. In addition, the vaccine has undergone several clinical trials in Cuba, Canada and the United Kingdom and plans are underway to try it also in China and in the U.S.

Although this vaccine offers considerable promise, one should be cautious in analyzing its potential to treat lung cancer. Several products have been tried in the past that initially looked very promising and later showed no benefit. However, if larger trials confirm the initial findings, an important milestone against lung cancer would have been achieved.

Dr. Cesar Chelala is an international public health consultant.

Over the past 3 weeks, I have met over 50 different travelers from at least 20 different countries. The majority of the guests have been extremely open, friendly and respectful of others. It makes me realize that traveling really is a form of international diplomacy, where hostels can be a melting pot for individuals from different cultures and life experiences to come together and discuss a plethora of topics. As my friend Kjetil (pronounced "SHI-TELL") from Norway calls them, these "Mini UN congregations" are one of the greatest parts of traveling, as individuals can return to their respective home countries with a more positive and open view of the other cultures and peoples that inhabit our world. Interestingly, Kjetil also remarked that this phenomena is true in Norway, where Norwegians who live closer to the border of Sweden are much less likely to be xenophobic than those who are isolated in the western and northern regions of the country.

• Kjetil and friends. Photo courtesy of the author.•

Brent

After seeing three movies yesterday, I was ready to see one more before calling it a night. But it needed to be something funny as I had just watched The Last Mountain – an intensely moving and depressing documentary about coal mining in West Virginia. After failing at two attempts to procure waitlist tickets, I got on a bus filled with drunk college kids. The ride to Main Street seemed like an eternity. I then quickly made my way over to Main Street’s Egyptian Theater for the 12 a.m. screening of a Park City at Midnight film. I thought I was seeing Septien. Apparently I can’t read a schedule, because the people next to me in line informed me that we were actually waiting to see The Catechism Cataclysm. And they would know as they were Septien’s producers Brooke Bernard and Ryan Zacaria. Eventually I secured a waitlist seat for The Catechism Cataclysm (victory!), which was a pleasant surprise at 11:45 p.m. I spent the next 81 minutes laughing. The Catechism Cataclysm can best be described a bromance between two misfits with a dash of absurd horror. It was pure Park City at Midnight!

Tonight I am hoping to see Septien at the midnight screening. But if I am not as lucky on the waitlist front, the film will be available on video on demand starting later this week as part of their distribution deal with IFC.

• The Pom girls post-screening. Note the product placement. •

I am admittedly a person who is very influenced by advertisements, although I rarely act based on said advertisements. For instance, if I was in the market for a luxury car, I would seriously consider buying a Lincoln solely based on Mad Men’s John Slattery’s seductive commercials. But I have no plans to buy a luxury car any time in the foreseeable future. That said, when I left The Greatest Movie Ever Sold I seriously contemplated going to the grocery store and buying a fancy Pom pomegranate drink – you know, just to see what the fuss was about. But a purchase was not necessary, because as I made my way through the parking lot I was greeted by some Pom ambush marketers who happily handed me an ice cold Pom. And let me tell you, it was refreshing.

Last night I walked back to my hotel around midnight. It was lightly snowing, the streets were filled – but not as crowded as past years – with people looking for a party or waiting on the street to get into the best parties. Some dudes were yelling “bro” at one another, while girls in skimpy outfits navigated Park City’s icy streets in heels and “ambush marketers” did their ambush thing. I was exhausted and thinking about how early I needed to wake up today to make a morning movie.

If you are not in Park City for the festival, Sundance might be coming to you. On Thursday January 27th, Sundance will be bringing 9 films to 9 cities. I am particularly excited about Connected coming to San Francisco’s Sundance Kabuki Cinemas. I can’t promise the glitz and celebrity of Sundance will be exported along with these 9 films, but I am confident that the spirit of independent filmmaking that makes Sundance Sundance will make the trip.

New Frontier has a new venue this year. Instead of being on Main Street, the installation portion of Sundance has moved to historic Miners Hospital on Park Avenue, which is totally walkable from Main Street. This afternoon I found myself with a free moment and decided to check out the new location and expanded selection of installations that include art, film, technology, and performances. When I arrived at the new location I was pleasantly surprised to see a food truck and coffee stand. Apparently, even Sundance can’t escape the ubiquitous food truck. While I am a fan of the convenience of the food truck, 15 years ago when my dad and I were eating from a taco truck parked at our local gas station I would not have anticipated that food trucks would take the hipster world by storm. Anyway, I was very excited to see James Franco’s multimedia installation Three’s Company: The Drama. As long time readers know, I will see anything the ever prolific James Franco does. As a fellow feminist, I was impressed by the transmedia documentary Raw/War by Lynn Hershman Leeson, and am hoping to see her documentary film !Women Art Revolution this weekend.

And the best part of New Frontier? No tickets required. Each day 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. anyone can see the installations, building capacity withstanding. As I continue to battle the waitlist lines (per usual, the waitlist is winning), just walking into New Frontier today was a welcome respite.

Yesterday was the official start of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. I am here in Park City for the fourth year covering the festival for the WIP. Every year I arrive in Park City, check into the Star Hotel, and then wish I spent the last few weeks getting organized for the festival. While I had spent countless hours reading up on films, studying the schedule, and drafting a viewing schedule, it never feels like enough.

After I received my press credentials, I got up close and personal with movie guide and schedule. I requested tickets to two public screenings – Miranda July’s The Future and Morgan Spurlock’s The Greatest Movie Ever Sold – and then made my way back to Main Street for the annual press conference at the Egyptian Theater. Robert Redford was there with Sundance Institute Executive Director Keri Putnam and Sundance Film Festival Director John Cooper to discuss this year’s festival and the other work being done by the Institute. Sundance received over 10,000 submissions to this year’s festival, and Redford declared, “I love all the films at this festival!” During the Q&A there was an awkward moment when an audience member asked Redford if he had any plans to retire. Redford, whose hair never disappoints, responded “I am going to die, but I haven’t thought about retiring.”

Post-press conference, my wait in the waitlist line was not successful as I did not get into the Harry Belafonte bio documentary Sing Your Song. And Harry Belafonte was at the premiere! Fortunately, my disappointment was abated by the Day One Party at the Legacy Lodge.

I believe that the world would be a far better place if women ran it, from the Micro (Family) to the Macro (National Leadership and International Diplomacy). Not that women are not human... you are just MORE human, generally less self-centered, and more caring and thoughtful.

• Texting Guard at the Uluwatu Temple, on the South End of Bali. (Photo courtesy of the author.)•

I am currently a professor of Educational Leadership and teach courses in Multicultural Education, Leadership, and Higher Education at a Land Grant university in the Northwest US. I have had a varied career in Education, Higher Education, foundations, and Apple Computer. I am a Geek, a technology enthusiast, and believe that technology, and websites like THE WIP, have the potential to change our world… for the better and in ways not possible before.

I took a picture of a young Hindu temple guard last month sitting on his motorcycle, head down… texting. I saw young people on cell phones and the Internet everywhere I traveled in South East Asia. I get the feeling our young people now have the collective connection and interconnection to change the world, in ways that were never possible before. I believe that websites like The WIP are part of that tiny difference, that can make all the difference.

The collapse of former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali’s government was a crisis waiting to happen. Those that followed the corruption and ruthlessness of the regime knew that sooner or later the situation would explode. And WikiLeaks may have provided the necessary push.

Already in 1993, in a report on Ben Ali’s first six years in office: “Promise Unfulfilled: Human Rights in Tunisia Since 1987,” Human Rights First (then the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights) stated, “Tunisia has seen the independence of the judiciary undermined by the encroachment of military courts into civilian matters; freedom of expression has been severely constrained and freedom of association tightly reined in; lawyers have been subjected to harassment and intimidation, and discouraged from representing unpopular clients. Thus, safeguards that are the bedrock of any society in which basic human freedoms are upheld and protected have been undermined…”

Since that time, things continued to get worse, repression increased and corruption reached high levels, particularly among those close to the president, particularly his wife and other relatives from the notorious Trabelsi family. They all left Tunisia in a hurry, when they realized that their reign of corruption and terror had come to an end.

Tunisia’ economy went from bad to worse in recent years, with unemployment rates of 14 per cent according to official figures -widely considered lower than reality- and rates of up to 50 per cent in some parts of the interior. While these rates worsened, the government reduced or eliminated subsidies for food and gasoline, probably as a response to pressures form the IMF and the World Bank.

Deteriorating economic conditions for most of the population was manifested by sharp inequality, with 20 percent of the population controlling nearly half of the national income. While the masses went impoverished, the two ruling groups, the Ben Ali and the Trabelsi families attained considerable economic power, mainly through abusive practices, some of them denounced by WikiLeaks.

Since assuming power in 1987, Ben Ali ruled with an iron fist, quelling any intent of criticism to his regime through massive human rights violations. The final straw probably came after an incident between the police and a young vegetable street vendor named Mohammed Bouazizi.

When the young man refused to leave the market because, according to the police, he lacked a street vendor license, the policeman beat him up and slapped him on the face. Afterwards, Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest these actions in the central town Sidi Bouzeid, in central Tunisia.

Bouazizi’s self-immolation spurred public protests all over Tunisia expanding from Sidi Bouzeid to other cities such as Tunis, Qasrain, Qabis, Binzert, Sousa, BinQairowan, Gafza, Qarqena, elKalf, Baga and Qibly. These protests were violently suppressed and increased the anger in the population leading to more popular riots that toppled Ben Ali’s government.

The Arab world is watching with considerable interest what is happening in Tunisia. Already in Jordan there are demonstrations against increased costs of living and government in other countries are fearful that anti government demonstrations similar to those in Tunisia may spread to their countries.

There is already a positive sign in Tunisia. Its acting president, Fouad Mebazza, asked Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi to form a coalition government. Although the future is unpredictable, one thing is certain. Things won’t be the same as before in Tunisia. What form this situation will take will depend on the measures the new government of national unity will take and its commitment to democracy that the Tunisian people fought so hard to see realized in their country.

Dr. Cesar Chelala is an award-winning writer on human rights and foreign policy issues.

• Photo courtesy of the author.•

It is unbelievable how much the hostel has changed since I was last here in August. When I left, we were knee deep in the process of renovations and constructing new bathrooms. When I arrived two weeks ago and saw the finished job, I was taken aback by the transformation: The drab white walls had now been turned into works of art by local artists, the garage was upgraded to a fully functioning bar, and the once ugly hottub backspace is now a wooden music stage where most residents enjoy their meals in the sun.

• Photo courtesy of the author.•

Miles and Elizabeth get back in two days, and I am excited to spend my last week here in Medellin with them and share all the tales of the many many interesting guests we've had in the last two weeks. More soon.

Brent

If you are looking to see some interesting foreign films in the Bay Area this weekend, German Gems is being held at the Castro Theatre tomorrow and Sunday.

Every film sounds very interesting, and I will definitely be there on Sunday seeing Celebration of Flight and David Wants to Fly.

On Monday I'll post a full report of the festival!

My first excursion in Medellin was to take the gondola up one of the hillsides. The gondola is an extension of the metro and is boarded using the same ticket. Its purpose is to transport locals up the incredibly steep slope to their houses but given the view and the exposure to a distinctively different area of the city it also makes a great tourist attraction.

Another reason to board the gondola is the Spain Library located at the top. Once again, this library is intended and used for local purposes, but doubles as an interesting site for anyone visiting the city. It is a huge structure perched precariously on the hillside and looking out over the entire valley of Medellin. When Miles and I went inside we had to make our way through crowds of children; turns out the Spain Library serves as a childcare center during the day. Unlike the Seattle Library, where the interior matches the sharp, angular exterior just a bit too much, the Spain Library manages to combine an architecturally interesting exterior with a comfortable and functional interior that begs to be used by the community.

The gondola is actually featured on the Wandering Paisa business cards and is the perfect example of the Medellin experiences of which Miles and Brent hope to encourage travelers to take advantage. I already feel that our trip up the gondola represents an aspect of the city that I’m going to love. The Medellin that I’ve been hearing about from Miles and am finally getting to see for myself is not touristy. The areas I’ve seen are not crowded with foreigners and they are not designed to attract tourists but rather to improve the life of locals. It just happens to be Medellin’s good fortune that they have designed transport systems and constructed architecture in a manner so efficient and pleasing to the eye that it is sure to be enjoyed by locals and foreigners alike.

As always, there are two sides to every city, and I know that there are more tourist-centric areas of Medellin, but I’m happy to stick to this one.

- Elizabeth
http://elizabethacsewell.blogspot.com/

by Sophie Dessources

The tragedy that occurred on January 12th 2010 in Haiti has an indelible feel, in the way that when it happened, I can almost say exactly where I was, what I was doing and thinking at the time, and the shock and disbelief that occurred when I got hearsay of what was happening. The one year anniversary of the 7.0 earthquake magnitude is upon us, and my first thought is, “What has been done so far that would move this country in the right direction, and have those efforts been successful?” There are many areas of concern that still linger and have even worsened due to the earthquake. However, aside from the discontent, there are some sporadic efforts that remain strong and are moving forward.

Last year, I participated in the Follies organized by MIIS Student Council, and this was for me both a very emotionally sad and thrilling experience - seeing the outpouring of donors that came to support our cause and the money we had raised to help, and the community’s engagement was truly touching and reinvigorating. However, the reality remains, and the sad truth is that despite all pledges and good intentions, not much has been accomplished on the ground. Less than one year later the country was struck by cholera, which claimed more than 3,651 deaths these past 3 months. The majority of the population affected by the earthquake is still living in tents, violence is prevalent, especially against women, and discord in the political elite has not changed. The last election still has no clear winner in sight and allegations of corrupt practices at the precincts have muddled the process of moving forward with the aid programs and projects, as if completely oblivious to the suffering of 99 percent of the population. No real effort of decentralization has been made concrete, and we are still muddling through the rubble and chaos of the earthquake.

Today is for me a very sad day, not only because of lost and altered lives, but because of the missed opportunity to rebuild this country and start from scratch. Throughout its history, Haiti has been considered either a prize or a pariah, and nothing in between. I was brought up by parents who had a certain pride of the Haitian culture and history, being the first independent nation of black people. However, very often I contemplate this and ask, “why are we still in the state of such little political and economic development?”

This time around, the international community showed up, gave us the support that was so desperately needed, and there was only one way to go - forward. Alas, there is so much that is needed and still so much that needs to be accomplished. After an earthquake of such magnitude we did not expect a miracle, but a substantive step forward. Out of the billions given in donations and pledges, only 38 percent have been disbursed, and we are still rumbling through emergency humanitarian assistance as opposed to reconstruction efforts. I will not go and accuse the Haitian government or international NGOs of lacking coordination on the ground, but I will state that there is blame to be shared, and now is no time to play the prosecutors, but get things done cohesively and methodologically because such distress can no longer persist.

On a personal note, I believe the Haitian people to be resilient and bring change they want on a grassroots level, as we stand by their side and enable them to their chosen path of development. I encourage all today to have special thoughts and prayers for those who have lost loved ones, but most importantly our hopes are with the survivors for the reconstruction of a better Haiti.

My own inspiration comes very often from Haitian women who have been the primary victims of this earthquake, losing parents, husbands, children, and being left to be the solid brick unifying survivors.
On these last words, let’s have a special thought for Haiti….

Since February, Brent and I have been focusing our efforts towards establishing a backpacker’s hostel here in Medellín. It’s not that Medellín is lacking in hostels, it’s that all of them are concentrated in one area. From my previous posts, you can probably gauge that I don’t hold Poblado in high regard as a tourist area. I’ve stayed in almost half the hostels in Medellín and most of those in Poblado are like every other business there: expensive, touristy and without a deep connection to any of the cultural aspects of the city. Throw in the excessive drug use (by tourists) and prostitution, and you can see why it’s not the most pleasant place to stay in Medellín. Granted, these were things that drew tourists to Medellín during the period of violence that plagued the country not too long ago, but now there are a plethora of amazing tourist activities that tourists may be missing out on by staying in the Poblado party zone.

I first noticed the difference during my month+ stay at Hostel Casa del Sol, one of the bigger hostels outside of El Poblado. Just off the Floresta Metro stop, I noticed a huge drop (read: half of everything) in the prices of food, drinks and other services compared to Poblado. More importantly, I wasn’t pestered by chicle vendors selling drugs and the people I encountered treated me more like a human being, rather than a source of tourist dollars. My eyes were permanently opened to all of the safe, spectacular sights that were closer to my residence, not to mention not having to walk up and down a hill all day. (Spanish speakers can about how petty crime and drug use is much greater in areas like El Poblado here).

After months of planning, business plan writing, bank shuffling and searching, Brent, Federico and I came across our dream location: right in Laureles off la 70. Not too far from Hostel Casa del Sol, La 70 is the local “zona rosa,” meaning cheap drinks, affordable restaurants and great live music, not to mention getting to rub elbows with real Colombians on their nights off. Our choice of location was confirmed by a “Rough Guides” travel book editor during our stay at a hostel in Poblado. A woman updating their guide book chapter on Medellín happened to run into my brother and I during our stay in an El Poblado hostel. “I hate it here,” she proclaimed, “everyone in the clubs is on drugs, they play American music and the prices here are outrageous.” She then asked if we had any other suggestions for more cultural activities in the city. We were more than happy to point out our favorite Medellín tourist destinations: Cerros Nutibara and Volador, Parque Arvi, La 33 and of course, La 70. If she did in fact, head to any of those places, it will aid us in establishing a fun, safe, professional and comfortable tourist destination in a new part of the city.

-Miles Knowles

The holidays have come and gone and as I return to school, I reflect with my friends the highs and lows of the season, mostly, regarding presents. For a few years now, all my friends and family have received a card in the mail or under the tree. That card includes a heartfelt message proclaiming my love and appreciation in the first part. The second half goes into detail about the girl or woman that I have sponsored for that year. Whether it is for a fistula surgery, educational fees, vocational training, or a micro-loan, my family and friends receive the specifics and personal story (impact) of the life I hope to change in their honor. This year, mostly due to my readings, classmates, and exposure to new organizations, I have come across more opportunities for consumer philanthropy. While reading "The Hidden Costs of Cause Marketing," I began to question consumer philanthropy and really look at my why I would buy a Feed Bear for my 6 year old nephew.

Some of Angela Eikenberry's comments resonated with the part of me that recognized that not all citizens are as driven to 'do good' in the same sense that my colleagues and I may be. Perhaps there is some truth to the argument that cause marketing makes philanthropy 'too easy' and is only enabling citizens to continue to disconnect from their humanity and render a false sense of virtue and good. I also recently read an article on Change.org that there is a potential for corporations to take advantage of the consumer philanthropy 'fad' to increase profits and not actually contribute a proportionate amount to the cause that they advertise.

Alas, I think that there is opportunity for exploitation in almost any good idea/cause, therefore I choose to pick my battles, and the battle against consumer philanthropy is not one I can get behind. I explained to my mother recently, that I support consumer philanthropy even though some of the money goes to a commodity, for two main reasons. One, I believe it is increasingly important to expose the younger generations to the world outside of their Facebook friends, classmates, and most difficultly, themselves. Therefore, I think the value of purchasing a bear that represents a cause, idea, child, and issue that is greater than the bear itself has a higher value than a set of legos or Paper Jamz. My nephew may only be 6 years old, a.k.a. not yet the age where he recognizes a world much larger than his immediate community and daily routine, but simply generating a conversation with his mother about why the bear says, "Feed the children of the world," could plant the seed for the future understanding of the plight of other children. When his friends, or his mother's friends, visit the house they will ask what the bear stands for and he will be able to spread the message. Leading to the reason number two, flipping the funnel. When my mom uses her Girl Effect mug that I made at work, she is able to tell her colleagues about the importance of education in developing countries and encourage them to visit the site. I truly believe that solutions, changes, and societal shifts have to come from grassroots social movements and greater awareness. So if that means I am going to spend a couple extra dollars for a philanthropic gift in order to educate my family and their friends, that is worth the value of the product to me. Of course I would love to just give money, tell a story, and have that be it, but in our material world, my strategy is to advocate and utilize consumer philanthropy.

Millions of children, particularly in developing countries, die every year as a result of environment-related diseases. Their deaths could be prevented by using low-cost and sustainable tools and strategies for improving the environment.

A 2007 World Health Organization (WHO) study showed that 13 million deaths worldwide could be prevented by improving the environment. In some countries, more than one-third of the disease burden could be prevented by environmental changes.

Information collected in this study is crucial to letting countries select appropriate intervention methods. According to the WHO study carried out in 23 countries, more than 10 percent of deaths are due to unsafe water (including poor sanitation and hygiene) and indoor air pollution, particularly from solid fuel used for cooking.

Children make up almost half the population of developing countries. Most of the deaths are among children under 5, and are attributable mainly to intestinal and respiratory infections. That is why, in addition to addressing environmental factors to save children’s lives, it is important to use low-cost interventions such as immunization, better delivery and newborn care practices, treatment of common infections and investments in local health workers.

People living in industrialized countries are also affected by environmental factors such as pollution, occupational factors, ultraviolet radiation, and climate and ecosystem changes.

The integrity of the global environment is being increasingly compromised by the deterioration of the atmospheric ozone layer and an ever-higher concentration of gases responsible for the greenhouse effect. To the degree that these factors intensify, the health of populations will be seriously affected.

Environmental factors affect children's health from the time of conception and intra-uterine development through infancy and adolescence. These factors can even exert an influence prior to conception, since both ovules and sperm can be damaged by radiation and chemical contaminants.

It has been widely demonstrated that children are more susceptible than adults to environmental factors because, among other reasons, they are still growing and their immune systems and detoxification mechanisms are not yet fully developed.

Interventions both at the community and the national level can significantly improve the environment, including promotion of safe-water treatment and storage, and the reduction of air pollution. The last measure by itself could save almost a million lives a year.

A series of measures being taken at the local level are having a significant impact on improving the environment. For example, in an overcrowded and unsanitary inner-city building housing several hundred people in South Africa, conventional environmental health control measures had failed. So, a democratically elected tenants committee initiated a series of measures to deal with the main problems affecting the building and its inhabitants. This project has laid the foundation for a participatory way of dealing with environmental problems in inner-city buildings.

In Vietnam, a project to make schools cleaner and safer through the efforts of teachers and members of the community resulted in extremely positive outcomes as measured by field visits and evaluations.

Last April in China, 2.6 million Chinese schoolchildren took part in a painting contest organized by the Luo Hong Environmental Foundation and the United Nations Environment Programme, as a way of increasing children’s awareness of environmental problems.

In Abu Dhabi, universities are embracing environmental improvement, and taking actions to turn both curricula and campuses “green.” The Abu Dhabi Education Council and the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi reached an agreement to encourage learning about environmental conservation through special projects and activities which the agencies plan to develop jointly. In Jordan, Queen Rania has been involved in programs dealing with community empowerment and environmental sustainability.

In Egypt, Dr. Laila Iskandar Kamel has implemented innovative social and environmental projects working with garbage collectors or Zabbaleen. These projects have helped garbage collectors break the cycle of exploitation and receive proper compensation for their work. In addition, she has organized girls from the community in reviving the most ancient of Egyptian crafts, weaving on a handloom using discarded cotton remnants and using the profits for improving their education and providing them with a livelihood.

Also in Egypt, the organization Hope Village Cairo is conducting a wide range of activities with children, aimed at the most vulnerable, providing them with education and skills and teaching them how to improve the environment.

In Qatar, fewer natural resources, climate change and the quality of the air are serious challenges faced by the authorities. The Ministry of Environment has taken a series of measures to improve the environment. Among those measures, creating awareness in the population, particularly among the mothers, is an important task. At the same time, a new school curriculum has been completed, placing emphasis on environmental issues.

In the countries in the Americas, an outstanding series of environmental activities are carried out by Ecoclubs, nongovernmental organizations made up basically of children and adolescents who coordinate their activities through several community institutions.

In Ecuador, the city of Loja was afflicted with dumping yards in inhabited areas, which led to outbreaks of infections and contagious diseases. Through an intensive sensitization and education campaign in which community members played a key role in establishing a sanitary landfill and a means for properly disposing of recyclable materials, there was a manifest improvement in the quality of life for Loja residents. Children, in particular, increased their awareness about the environment and their role in improving it.

Such initiatives are taking place worldwide with the aim of improving the environment and, as a result, people's health. In addition, the planning, design, monitoring and management of the physical environment have proven to be an ideal terrain for children's participation.

Cesar Chelala, M.D., Ph.D., is an international public health consultant and the author of "Environmental Impact on Child Health," a publication of the Pan American Health Organization.

This upcoming movie is a powerful story of greed, murder and corruption in the murky waters of the volatile oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Black Gold is an epic film about environmental justice and the fight over the control of the scarce oil resources that the world runs on.

The line between good and evil is blurred as corrupt government officials, greedy oil companies and violent rebels go on a war path over oil spills and degradation of the land caused by oil exploration
Black Gold features a Nollywood [Nigeria’s Hollywood] meets Hollywood cast.

The cast includes: Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, Heat), Vivica A. Fox (Independence Day, Kill Bill), Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Donnie Brasco, Kill Bill), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, The Expendables), Billy Zane (Titanic), Sarah Wayne Callies (Prison Break), Hakeem Kae-Kazim (Pirates of the Carribean, Hotel Rwanda), Razaaq Adoti (Black Hawk Down, Resident Evil: Apocalypse) and Mbong Amata (Inale, Amazing Grace).

For a sneak peek, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfwR4clW40M&feature=related

My name is Elham Fardipour and I am an Iranian refugee living in Camp Ashraf, Iraq. Not only is Camp Ashraf my home, yet it is also home to 3400 Iranian dissidents, including 1000 women. Many years ago, I joined the nationwide resistance against the Mullahs and came to Camp Ashraf with the goal of bringing freedom to my country, Iran, and saving the lives of Iranian men and women living under the cruelty and suppression of the religious dictatorship ruling Iran, which posses as a serious threat to world peace through its nuclear program and state sponsoring of terrorism. From 1989 to 1993, I lived in the UK studying in the field of electronics. You might be surprised, and ask why a woman alone leaves her life in Europe and cemes to Iraq. However, while witnessing the ruthless suppression of women in Iran, fathers who selling a kidney to make ends meet, the trafficking of 9 year-old girls in Kuwaiti markets, selling eye corneas to pay house mortgage and…, a comfortable and leisured life was no longer tolerable for me.

Following the occupation of Iraq, the responsibility of Ashraf residents’ protection was on the shoulders of US forces, under an agreement signed between the US government and each and every resident in Ashraf, continuing until 2009. After the transfer of protection from US forces to the Iraqi government in the beginning of 2009, this camp has been placed under an inhumane siege by Iraqi security forces under the command of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom has very close ties to the tyrannical regime in Tehran. Camp Ashraf has been placed under an all-out blockade, and the common goal of Tehran’s Mullahs and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is to make living conditions for residents intolerable, forcing them to return to Iran where all the Ashraf residents will face definite execution and torture.

Although the blockade, due to the widespread international auspices by human rights organizations and numerous MPs of democratic countries from around the globe, has not reached its final goal of suppressing the camp’s residents and having them expelled from Iraq, it has actually caused mental and physical damages to Ashraf residents. It has also brought about restrictions in Ashraf residents’ free access to medical services and treatment. As a result, a number of my best friends, due to the Iraqi government’s prevention of their access to medical treatment, have lost their lives.

I am one of the victims of this suppressive blockade enforced by Nouri al-Maliki’s government. It has been nearly two years that my life is under great danger due to my cancer illness. However, the committee acting under the Iraqi Prime Ministry, which is responsible for Camp Ashraf, has prevented me, along with my nurse, from free access to medical specialists and medical treatment procedures during this time period.

Following widespread international protests on the prevention of my access to a medical specialist, I was able to visit a physician who emphasized that I immediately undergo treatment. However, unfortunately the hospital director named Omar Khalid, who is an agent of the Prime Ministry under the disguise of a doctor, didn’t give authorization and for the fifth time in the past 9 months, I have not been allowed to be transferred along with my nurse to a hospital in Baghdad to undergo chemotherapy. This is while the cancer in my body is developing and it is reaching a terminal stage.

Although my friends and I in Camp Ashraf have gone to great extents so that I can, at my own expense, undergo treatment, the Iraqi government neither authorizes the entrance of medical specialists into Ashraf, nor does it allow me to visit them.

I am currently in a very critical condition and if I do not receive immediate medical treatment, my illness will become uncontainable and there will be no chance to save my life. The case of Mehdi Fathi, another Ashraf resident, was similar to mine, and regardless of the warnings he gave, his treatment was delayed, which finally led to his death.

The Iraqi government’s recent inhumane pressures imposed on Ashraf and especially the patients here at the request of Tehran, has raised concerns. A hearing was held at the US House of Representatives’ Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, 18 November 2010 regarding the situation in Iraq with US Assistant Secretary of State in Near East Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Collin Kahl attending. Senior committee members Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Sheila Jackson Lee, while showing pictures of me, questioned the senior officials of the US State and Defense Departments regarding the violation of Ashraf residents’ rights, and the restrictions, pressures and psychological tortures imposed against me and other terminally ill patients in Ashraf. In this session, members of the House demanded urgent action by the US State Department to bring an end to the inhumane restrictions against Ashraf, and the necessity of the US government’s urgent intervention to provide protection for Ashraf residents.

Also, the European Parliament on 25 November 2010 in a written declaration registered by the majority of members called on the US government and the UN to take urgent measures to provide protection for Ashraf residents.

My call is not only to save my own life, yet it is a call on all vigilant consciences to defend human rights and justice in the world.

Is there a vigilant conscience that will answer to the call of the oppressed against dictatorships such as the clerical regime in Iran and its proxies in the Iraqi government?

The only solution to guarantee the protection and security of Camp Ashraf residents is for US forces to assume the responsibility of their protection and the reopening of the UNAMI office inside Camp Ashraf.

By Molly Theobald

GardenAfrica, a non-profit organization in southern Africa that helps families and communities establish organic gardens in small private plots, schools, hospitals and other public areas, prefers that its work be described as solidarity rather than charity. “Charity is all too often about externally imposed solutions, solidarity is a partnership of equals,” says its website.

• Futhi Fakudzi stands in one of the gardens she uses to feed her family of 17. (Photo credit: GardenAfrica)•

Working with farmers in both rural and urban areas in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa, GardenAfrica provides training and materials to improve food production as well as to help preserve local biodiversity, soil quality, and water conservation. The organization works closely with farmers to help develop “garden plans” that will best suit the natural resources available, as well as the dietary and medicinal needs of the farmers and their families.

Throughout much of southern Africa, high food prices have limited what is actually available to eat for families living on less than USD$1.25 per day. Many families are forced people to make do with one or two staple crops, like maize or cassava. But without critical vitamins and minerals, families are at greater risk for illness and disease, such as stunted growth and development and osteoporosis. To fight these problems, GardenAfrica emphasizes the medicinal and nutritional value of various local vegetable varieties, encouraging farmers to plant a diverse range of plants in order to provide year-round harvests and improve nutritional value of each harvest.

Once a family is producing food enough food to take care of their own needs–the average garden is cultivated on a plot that is only 100 square meters in size—the organization helps establish that family as a source of information, guidance and support for other members of the community.

In Swaziland, a farmer named Futhi Fakudze was caring for a house full of 17 people. With 11 children and six adults to feed, Futhi was spending 250 Swazi Lilangeni—or about USD$30.00—per month on groceries. But a year ago she participated in a training session with GardenAfrica in Swaziland and learned how to better take advantage of the natural resources available to her in order to improve her soil and her yields. Now she is able to produce almost all of her household’s monthly dietary needs in her small backyard. And she has even started another project garden in a separate 200 square meter plot where she is growing peppers, tomatoes, leaks, chard, spinach, beets, lettuce, carrots, and mango.

And beyond just taking care of her own family, Futhi is also helping the rest of her community learn from her training. After passing her new knowledge on to her husband, who helps her take care of the two garden plots, Futhi is also working with 6 of her neighbors who regularly stop by to help out and learn from her new “garden plan.” Soon enough they will have their own garden plans with which to grow their own food and share with the rest of the community.

To learn more about farming techniques that improve production and diets as well as soil quality, water conservation and biodiversity, see: Cultivating an Interest in Agriculture and Wildlife Conservation, Malawi’s Real Miracle, Emphasizing Malawi’s Indigenous Vegetables as Crops, Finding ‘Abundance’ in What is Local, Honoring the Farmers that Nourish their Communities and the Planet, and Investing in Projects that Protect Both Agriculture and Wildlife.

The publication of “Occupation of the Territories: Israeli Soldier Testimonies 2000-2010,” a decade after the Second Intifada, is a necessary volume that reveals the truth of the occupation of Palestinian land, and of the brutal methods used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to carry it out. It should be food for reflection for those who deny the basic inhumanity of war, and a call for justice for Palestinians.

The book, based on hundreds of testimonies of Israeli soldiers, exposes the operational methods of the Israeli military in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the impact of their actions on both Palestinians and on the soldiers themselves. What makes this book particularly valuable is not only that it denounces the methods used by Israeli soldiers on unarmed Palestinian civilians. It also shows that the Israeli military’s actions are aimed at Israel’s de facto annexation of large areas of the West Bank to Israel done through the dispossession of Palestinian residents’ land.

After the second Intifada in September 2000 in which more than 1,000 Israelis and 6,000 Palestinians were killed, the IDF developed even more aggressive ways of action, aimed at stifling Palestinian opposition and prevent attacks on Israelis. However, as the book indicates, the “preventive” methods developed by the IDF were, in reality, intended to punish, deter and exert tighter control over the Palestinian population. In addition, the IDF obscured the distinction between using force against terrorist and using force against civilians.

Although the IDF has repeatedly claimed that its policy of assassinations is used against those who plan or carry out terrorist attacks, the soldiers’ testimonies reveal that this principle was not always followed, even when there were other options available, such as arresting and trying the suspects. After invading Palestinian cities and villages, mass arrests were used to instill fear in the Palestinian civilian population and tighten Israeli military control. According to the soldiers’ testimonies, arrests were accompanied by the abuse of bound detainees, who were beaten and degraded by both Israeli soldiers and higher officials.

These and several more instances of basic human rights abuses by the IDF have left a terrorized Palestinian population, intent on keeping the land that rightfully belongs to them. The IDF actions constitute a brutal policy of dispossession, with surprisingly little international outcry shown in meaningful actions for justice.

A study entitled “Occupation, Colonialism, Apartheid?” by the Middle East Project of the Democracy and Governance Programme of the Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa is also a re-assessment of Israel’s practices in the occupied Palestinian territories under international law. This study found that “the State of Israel exercises control in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) with the purpose of maintaining a system of domination by Jews over Palestinians and that this system constitutes a breach of the prohibition of apartheid.”

According to this study, “The conclusion that Israel has beached the international legal prohibitions of apartheid and colonialism in the OPT suggests that the occupation itself is illegal… The legal consequences of these findings are grave and entail obligations not merely for Israel but also for the international community as a whole.”

In summary of the present situation the study states, “Israel bears the primary responsibility for remedying the illegal situation it has created. In the first place, it has the duty to cease its unlawful activity and dismantle the structures and institutions of colonialism and apartheid that it has created. Israel is additionally required by international law to implement duties of reparation, compensation and satisfaction in order to wipe out the consequences of its unlawful acts. But above all, in common with all States, whether acting singly or through the agency of inter-governmental organisations, Israel has the duty to promote the Palestinian people’s exercise of its right of self-determination in order that it might freely determine its political status freely pursue its own economic policy and social and cultural development.”

Dr. César Chelala is an award-winning writer on human rights and foreign policy issues.