August 2009
20 posts
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A demobilized paramilitary wants the best for his...
Don Diego feels remorse for his time as a paramilitary. He was in the autodefensas (self-defense forces) for almost four years, only a few months of which entailed an actual combat position. Don Diego was (and still is) close with a paramilitary commander named MacGiver (pronounced, mock-gee-bear), whose autodefensas career began in 1988 after the murder of his brother by the ELN guerrilla...
Landmine Survivors Network Vietnam is up and...
Please check it out!
http://lsnv.tumblr.com/
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I’m leaving on a jet plane…
Don’t know when I’ll be back again… Which is what makes leaving Rwanda so difficult. Over the past ten weeks, I have made great friends and had “wonderful moments.” This experience would not have been possible without the support of so many friends, family members and colleagues. Thank you to… everyone who donated to help me get to Rwanda; Georgetown for its very generous “Improving the Human...
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A Rwandan Name
In our final meeting, Kabera pulled out an invitation from a large folder. “It is for our 13th anniversary celebration. You will not be here, but I wish you could be. His Excellency will most be our guest of honor. It will be a very special day for AERG.” Kabera has dedicated a tremendous amount of work to this event that will take place on August 13th at Amahoro Stadium in Remera. He will...
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One Man's Word... →
Interesting article about Benoit Kabayiza, a Rwandan man, accused of genocide, living in the U.S. The story highlights many of the controversial issues behind gacaca and justice today in Rwanda. I’m pretty sure I don’t have the answers, and there seems to be little concensus here about what to do in cases like Benoit’s. H/T: Katelin
July 2009
58 posts
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"You have made us go boom"
Mussolini and Francis, one of his ALSAR colleagues who is also a landmine survivor, met with me yesterday evening to go over the work they have done on their web site and their organizational documents. We have been working on their site over the past two months.
In our past meetings, I had given Mussolini a hard time for being late, but yesterday, he arrived before I did. “Being on time is...
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Attack on Kigali Memorial Center →
While the shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum made headlines across the world earlier this summer, a grenade attack at the Kigali Memorial Center last night has not had quite the same impact on the international community. The attack on the memorial has barely made the news in Kigali. Although no one was killed, the attack - the third in two years - is quite upsetting in a country...
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Partner in the survivor movement: Centro Integral...
CIREC is one of the leading organizations working with Colombians with disabilities in the country and even Latin America. Their facilities are state of the art and innovative. I was very impressed by the “Walking Room” where the floor was wired to tell where pressure and tension is being put in walkers’ legs. There are also lasers which track the walker’s steps to measure stress. ...
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“If you knew me, and if you knew yourself, you wouldn’t have killed me.”
– Banner at the Ntarama Church, a genocide memorial site outside of Kigali, very close to Nyamata Church.
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THE Gulu Disabled Persons Union →
The Gulu Disabled Persons Union now has a website. Click on the thing and you will see it. You can thank me later.
THE Caritas Counselling Centre →
Caritas Counselling Centre is officially on the inter-tubes. We will be constantly adding content, and trying to find colors that don’t clash so violently, so be sure to check in every once and a while to keep us on our toes. You’re welcome.