[Montréal, Québec, Canada 20°C] In a previous post, I write about returning to Southern Sudan, how my first visit only increased my appetite for more. How little I knew about the place then and how much more I want to know about it now. The upcoming all-Sudan general elections that everyone-following-Sudan is talking about, would [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Darfur’
Two Million Southern Sudanese Returned Home Since 2005
[Montréal, Québec, Canada 23°C — même article en français] On June 15, Le Devoir included an Agence France-Presse article: “Sudan: Rebels Attack a Humanitarian Convoy“. The article wrote that Jikany Nuer tribesmen attacked a United Nations World Food Program convoy of 31 barges as it was transporting 700 tons of food aid. The humanitarian aid [...]
Three NGOs and one for-profit corporation allowed back to Darfur
[Montréal, Québec, Canada 22°C] Yesterday, June 11, 2009, John Holmes, the the U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, announced that the Khartoum government is allowing 4 of the 13 non-governmental organizations (NGO) expelled from Darfur last March to return. The expulsion had serious repercussions in Darfur and Southern Sudan. In his statement, Holmes said that [...]
ICC Arrest Warrant Repurcussions on Southern Sudan
Exactly three weeks ago, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the President of Sudan, Omar Hassan Al-Bashir, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur. Like many people in Sudan, I was glued to the television set to view the announcement. It was 4 p.m.
Global Video Games for ‘Serious’ Gamers
[MONTRÉAL] I’ve always been a fan of video games, sometimes spending hours scouring through medieval landscapes blasting the crap out grotesque monsters or evil sorcerers. But I’ve recently come across a few video games that have a purpose to them other than pure entertainment. Rather than divert a player’s attention from the real world, these ’serious’ video games attempt to bring a sense of reality to the screen.
One such gaming developer is Copenhagen-based Serious Games Interactive, which was founded in 2006 “to revolutionise the use of computer games for purposes beyond entertainment.” They initiated a series of video games called Global Conflicts that challenges 13- to 19-year-olds to be critical and reflective citizens (source: Serious Games Interactive)in a globalized world. They offer two versions of the game: one based in Palestine and the newer one in Latin America.
A new tradition of peace
[MONTRÉAL] A half-empty pint of double-fermented rye beer sits on the shaky table beside Ruszard Kapuscinki’s book, The Shadow of the Sun, which is described in the New York Times as “a marvel of humane, sorrowful and lucid observation” of Africa. It is a great read by a Polish journalist who was intimately familiar with [...]
Post-conflict development in southern Sudan: my first assignment
As you may have noticed by reading the About page that my first international assignement is in South Sudan where I will initiate my new direction in video reporting and documentary film. I’ve been asked over and over again, “Why Sudan?!” My immediate response — and the one which flows generously from my lips is, “Why not!” But I actually have dozens of reasons for chosing Sudan: First off, It’s the country with the largest geographic area in Africa and it’s in crisis!
