Here at Enough, we often swap emails with interesting articles and feature stories that we come across in our favorite publications and on our favorite websites. We wanted to share some of these stories with you as part of our effort to keep you up to date on what you need to know in the world of anti-genocide and crimes against humanity work.
Many of us at Enough spent much of the week reading and talking about Haiti, so a couple of the links in this week’s 5 Best reflect those preoccupations.
As she prepared to leave for Haiti, photographer Maggie Steber reflected on the recent history of the small country that has endured far more than its share of disaster, both natural and manmade. A slideshow captures 20 years of Steber’s work in Haiti, and paired together, her essay and photos tell a heartbreaking story.
PRI’s America Abroad rebroadcast its episode “Arrested Development: Short-changing Foreign Aid.” The piece looks at the history of U.S. foreign assistance, particularly timely this week in light of the major U.S. relief effort underway in Haiti headed up by brand new USAID administrator Raj Shah.
Actress and human rights activist Mia Farrow offered some thoughts in tribute to the life of Miep Gies, former secretary to Anne Frank’s father Otto, who helped hide the Frank family during the Holocaust. We have Ms. Gies to thank for protecting Anne’s diary after her capture and for urging Otto to have it published into the memorable book now read around the world. Ms. Gies died this week at the age of 100.
Also, from the Change.org Stop Genocide blog, blogger Michelle responded to some criticism of last week’s Beat for Peace drumming event. “Will drumming lead to peace in Sudan? No, but a global show of solidarity and support for international attention on Sudan’s impending return to war might help.” Michelle expands upon that thought, and fellow activists would do well to heed her advice.
To end a tough week on a lighter note, check out this fantastic collection of photographs of African kings posted on the blog Africa Is A Country. (HT: Chris Blattman)