On paying money to look at poor people
In a moment of serendipity, I published an article this week at the Christian Science Monitor at exactly the same time its topic, poverty…
Read MoreJune, 2009
The Pity and Voyeurism — and Authenticity — Of Poverty Tourism
Does peeking at how the other five-sixths lives preserve culture – or commodify it? Mayange, Rwanda — Jeanne d’Arc Mukamurigo and her daughter sit…
Read More"L'chaim," Charles Taylor says. "Well, mine anyway."
Ten-gallon-hat tip to Wronging Rights for this Gem of the Week. I embellish it in obvoius ways: “Former Liberian president Charles Taylor, on trial…
Read MoreAddendum to #CNNfail (a possible #NYTimesfail?)
Kris Kotarski made a nice point in the comments yesterday: “As far as #CNNfail, it does not necessarily mean #allmediafail.” But to complicate matters…
Read MoreEnough with the #CNNFail, or, Why Twitter's Failings Prove We Still Need Reporters
I’m no defender of CNN, or of television news in general. (And if you can’t imagine why, I recommend Katie Couric’s recent performance on…
Read MoreTruth vs. soundbites
I’m only just getting my head wrapped around the ENOUGH project’s new Congo campaign well…enough (damn them for making such bad puns inevitable!) to…
Read MoreWhat are Congolese troops shooting at now? UN peacekeepers
The FARDC is taking on MONUC…but not the FDLR. Which is, of course, exactly the opposite of what is supposed to happen. From BBC:…
Read MoreWant to see Africa as you never have?
Check out the photos of Paul Sika, who takes the visual tropes of Africa and electrifies them. He tells you how and why he…
Read MoreSouth Africa loses feisty AIDS activist, poignant digital diarist
This happened last week, but I only just caught up: 24-year-old Thembi Ngubane died last Thursday, after becoming an incredible force for fighting HIV/AIDS….
Read MoreTop 10 Sad Things the Palin-Letterman Controversy Says about America
I had a nice little list going, centered on the most outrageous element of all: a form letter for anti-Letterman protestors–egged on, in spirit…
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