Frontline Club bloggers
For Sale: Lord’s Resistance Army feature
Earlier this year photographer Kate Holt and I chartered a plane to fly from Dungu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to the tiny village of Doruma which was recovering from repeated attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army. We found people living in fear of the next assault, as LRA raiding parties roamed the jungle […]
The biggest youth movement in Azerbaijan dissolves itself
Yesterday, on 9th December, “Ireli” (“Forward”) Countrywide Youth Movement – the biggest and strongest such organisation in Azerbaijan unexpectedly dissolved itself. The news was so out of the blue that, not only ordinary “Ireli” members, but even local news portals were caught unprepared to it. So what happened? Why a movement so carefully and painstakingly […]
My African Year
So it’s that time of year when one of my clients puts together its review of the year. As usual I’m tasked with writing 800wd on the African year. As usual it’s something of a gloomfest. Here’s how it looks so far Zimbabwe – the old crocodile is still clinging firmly to power, while his […]
Video: Mexico’s method for speedy snowman building
The giant ice rink in Mexico City’s Zocalo is back this year — all 9,843 square feet of it. Inaugurated at the end of November, the rink is part of Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard‘s “Invierno en la Capital” (Winter in the Capital) initiative.
Political Casualties of a Lost War
Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili has reshuffled his cabinet as his government tries to deal with the fall-out from the disastrous war with Russia in August and prevent public discontent from escalating. News reports focused on the high-profile sackings of the defence minister and the foreign minister. But the defence minister’s departure was probably inevitable given […]
Somalia: The Mess Continues and a Lot of It is Our Fault
Human Rights Watch is publishing a report today accusing all sides of war crimes in Somalia. I’ve been trying to get a story away for the past couple of months on how British-funded police have been shooting up schools, looting and arbitrarily detaining journalists (see below). “The combatants in Somalia have inflicted more harm on […]
Earthquake Anniversary
Today marks the 20th anniversary of the 1988 earthquake which devastated much of northern Armenia leaving 25,000 dead and many more homeless. Despite huge amounts of foreign aid flooding into the country after the tragedy, poverty in the second largest city of Gyumri remains high and thousands remain without homes leading Unzipped to agree that […]
Conflict Resolution and Education
With some media outlets reporting that momentum to striking a peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues, the reality on the ground in both republics is that the two populations are not ready for resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict based on mutual compromise. The situation is reportedly worse in Azerbaijan, but many Armenians also […]
Al Jazeera English in Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh
After a hectic two days accompanying a film crew from Al Jazeera English to interviews and locations I had planned for them before their arrival, time for a break now they’re in Nagorno Karabakh. If the official representation of the disputed and self-declared republic had anything to do with it, the whole schedule would have […]
Mexico hosts its first human rights film festival
Immigration, women’s rights, illegal detention and human trafficking are some of the themes that will be examined next week during Mexico’s first human rights film festival.
Mexican men ask for an end to violence against women
Posters such as the one here popped up on bus stops and billboards along my route to work across central Mexico City last week. They feature men well known in Mexico — journalists, sports personalities, actors and singers — asking that their fellow males stop beating up and abusing women.
Media advertising campaign targets violence against journalists
A television, radio and print advertising campaign called "What you don’t know can hurt you ("Te hace daño no saber" in Spanish)" is to launch here in Mexico in an attempt by press freedom groups to raise public awareness about violence against journalists and to demand more action from the government of President Felipe Calderon.
Mexico media campaign targets violence against journalists
Frontline blogger Deborah Bonello writes about a media campaign in Mexico aimed at raising public awareness about violence against journalists. Mexico is one of the most dangerous places to work as a journalist, Since 2000, 28 journalists have been killed in Mexico and eight have disappeared, according to Article 19, one of the organizations sponsoring […]
Dreams from the White House
Granny Sarah and a calendar featuring her grandson as she celebrates Obama’s victory over Clinton It’s been another good week for The Times’ coverage of Obama’s ascent to the White House. Just before election day we tracked down his aunt, who was living in a rundown Boston estate, prompting allegations that we were some sort […]
Thinking of going to Somalia?
Well if you are, Rob has some sage advice… and be sure to read the comments. Frontline bloggers David and Alex both blogged from Somalia earlier this year. I hope they don’t go back for a while. Not sure my nerves could take it.
How to Plan a Trip to Somalia
From time to time I am asked by big-name foreign correspondents whether it is safe to visit Somalia. Often it seems as if I am the 27th person they have called as they try to find the one person who says: “Ah, sure you’ll be fine.” Sometimes they do actually listen to my advice but […]
Spotlight on dog overpopulation and abuse in Mexico
Still on the doggy theme of last week here on La Plaza, a documentary screening in Mexico City over the weekend focused on how Mexico deals with the thousands of stray dogs roaming its streets. And no, it did not paint a pretty picture.
From the Frontline to Fish n Chips
[video:youtube:sUhSBTCuGCk] I blame this post on Frontline blogger Rob Crilly. The Nairobi-based, Africa-wandering, freelance hack has taken it upon himself to sample the African take on Fish n Chips wherever he finds it on the continent. Whether it be good, bad, indifferent or possibly dangerous, Rob has kinda foolishly given himself the task of blogging […]
Kurimanzutto opens doors to new art gallery in Mexico City
The beautiful people were out in force on Saturday afternoon in Mexico City for the opening of the new Kurimanzutto contemporary art gallery in the San Miguel de Chapultepec neighborhood. Cool young Mexicans mixed with a manicured, international crowd; back-combed hair and skinny jeans mingled with manicured, slender women, over-sized glasses and fake gold handbags. […]
Panicked Solutions
I wrote this oped with a colleague of mine in the hope it might get some coverage and – in part – help to stop the long march towards tribal militias that are being proposed as a ‘solution’ for Afghanistan. Nobody took it, so we thought we’d put it up here…
Nkunda’s At It Again
It’s 10 days or so since I left Goma and I see that it remains business as usual. A bunch of thugs are still trying to hold an equally thuggish government to ransom and the media continues to give General Laurent Nkunda far more credit than he’s due… General Nkunda and UN special envoy, Olusegun […]
Going live… Frontline Club Journalism Awards 2008
Click To Play We’re just going live right now with the Frontline Club Journalism Awards and the annual party. The club is now five years old. And it looks like Vaughan is relating the history of the club right now. Hope you come and join us… UPDATE: In the video above you can see Frontline […]
Is RICU trying to influence the media?
Recently, Dr Andrew Garner from RICU gave a talk at King’s College London about the government’s counter terrorism strategy. There’s more information and background about RICU in a previous post, but just to reiterate for the purposes of what appears below, this is Garner’s personal view and not that of RICU or the UK Government. […]
Video: Crimes against dogs in Mexico City
When thieves brandishing handguns broke into Ignacio Villanueva’s bulldog breeding kennels on the outskirts of Mexico City, it wasn’t the safe they were after but Cinderella, Titiana, Adelita and a handful of other dogs and puppies. A gang of robbers who forced their way into the home of Jesus Guerrero’s business partner went straight for […]
Mumbai – twitter, blogging, and social media
I’m collecting a series of links on how Mumbai has been covered by blogs and social media. You can find all the links on my delicious account.
Sonim XP1: Does What It Says on The Tin
“Well, they did tell me it was unbreakable… and asked me to do my best to destroy it… and it has a three-year warranty.” Those were roughly the thoughts that ran through my head as my new Sonim XP1 phone described a graceful arc from the top-floor balcony. Time seemed to stand still as my […]
Capturing casualties in Afghanistan
‘The soldier keeps shouting “Sir!” as he deliriously looks around “Don’t take my legs,” he appeals. “Have I got my legs?” He doesn’t believe the doctor who reassures him.’ This is an extract from the diary of artist David Cotterrell who observed the work of British military medical staff at Camp Bastion last year. Published […]
Africa Reading Challenge. 5. Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone
If there was ever a heyday for journalism then it must have been in the latter part of the nineteenth century. As pre-festive season memos circulate newsrooms warning that Christmas party expenses must be kept to a minimum, reading about Henry Morton Stanley’s instructions to travel the world for a year writing travel features before […]
45 journalists killed in Mexico since 2000; rights body appeals for end to impunity
Mexico’s National Commission of Human Rights (CNDH is its Spanish acronym) appealed to authorities over the weekend to investigate thoroughly the recent killings of a number of journalists here, and to put an end to the impunity for those who murder members of the profession. Since 2000, 45 journalists have been killed in Mexico, according […]
Shooting the messengers in Mexico
Just over a week ago crime reporter Armando Rodriguez was shot dead in his driveway in the border town of Ciudad Juárez. Two other crime reporters have since received death threats including Jorge Luis Aguirre, the 51-year-old editor of the Juarez news Web site called La Polaka. Frontline blogger Deborah Bonello, in Mexico City, has […]
