Backpack Journalist » Uncategorized

On the MEND

anna — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:26:42 +0000

When 68 year-old Texas oil worker Macon Hawkins was kidnapped by MEND rebels in Nigeria, he learned to see the oil business in a new light. Anna Sussman reports On the MEND

Six months in Liberia

anna — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:25:07 +0000

For the last six months the Backpack Journalists have been in Liberia, training rural radio journalists in human rights reporting, so hopefully the backpackjournalist.org model can be replicated.

Apologies for the lack reporting, too busy training!

Conscripted by Poverty

anna — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:06:45 +0000

Anna Sussman’s article on the economics of the child soldier epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo appears in the new text book by Dollars and Sense: Real World Labor.
“Real World Labor provides up–to–date, accessible, and penetrating analysis of the most significant theoretical, historical, and practical issues confronting labor unions and workers on a national and global level. This collection includes 70 authoritative essays by leading writers and scholars of the labor movement.”

Women End Wars

anna — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:20:59 +0000

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's First Elected Female Head of State

Anna Sussman writes on the global movement for more female peace negotiators.

Liberia Stresses Need for Female Peacemakers

anna — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:15:09 +0000

A young Liberian girl at the International Women's Colloquium, Monrovia, Liberia

Our Hairy Orange Friends

anna — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:39:58 +0000

Anna Sussman and Jonathan Jones report that the rush for environmentally-friendly fuel is having a devastating impact on the island’s endangered orangutans for The World’s Geo Quiz.

The Answer is Sumatra

anna — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 09:10:53 +0000

Carbon Offsetting: how fair is the trade?

anna — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 03:54:42 +0000

Jonathan Jones reports from Uganda on the local impact of the global carbon trade. Carbon Neutral

A radio documentary from Uganda about carbon trading currently airing on public radio’s Marketplace. (Field production and web side bar by Anna Sussman)
Greenrush

And Anna Sussman reports for Plenty Magazine
The Carbon Offset Industry is Booming: But How Fair is the Trade?

Photos from East Africa

anna — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 13:47:19 +0000

Burundian Drummers greeting the American Ambassador’s Convoy

Jon filming a closing ceremony for a Women’s Human Rights training course in Buurndi. (One of many signs the country is finally at peace).

Burundian women watch the ceremony.

These women, dancing at the ceremony, are waving condoms in the air, we assumed to promote the survival skills learning in their training.

Jon with Patrice Faye, Burundi’s own Crocodile Dundee, and his Batwa (pygmy) assistant. Look how tall Jon is!

Jon shows his mechanical skills, when our very unreliable car once again fails to start in a remote Burundian town.

Our colleague Eric Manirakiza, a reporter at African Public Radio, and his newborn baby.

The preserved body of a genocide victim, at a memorial in Rwanda. 3,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutu’s were killed at this technical institute during the genocide. Their bodies have been preserved with chemicals and laid out on low racks in the former classrooms of the school.

Because so many people took part if Rwanda’s genocide (near 800,000 suspects), the jails are overflowing and the courts severely stressed. So the government decided to stage countrywide local trials, called “Gacaca” or “on the grass, under a tree.” They are local trials with trained local community members acting as judges. They happen on a particular day of the week in each region, and the whole town comes to watch, it’s largely about closure and moving on. These two men (in blue) are accused of driving a truck during the genocide that carried killers.

The long bus rides

Some disturbing headlines we recently awoke to.

Check out Jon’s latest article for Frontline World

anna — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:45:21 +0000

Last week, Jonathan filed a report for Frontline World on the riots and teargas we encountered in Kampala, and the long history of Asian/African hostilities here. Also, it appears some editor would like us to take our relationship to the next level…for the record (moms), there have NOT been proposals.

Uganda: The Asian Backlash
Recent riots in Uganda left three dead and communities at odds. In this dispatch from Kampala, Jonathan Jones reports on resentments that run long and deep.