The world turned dark today. Nelson Mandela flew away. To a better place than this world. My memories take me back to when I was a child in India, to class IV current events class, where I first learned about the cruelty and viscousness of apartheid. And then to my days at Florida State University, where I protested apartheid and urged divestment. The demonstrations over … Continue reading Rest in Peace, Madiba
This tragedy has been forgotten by most people. It shouldn’t be. It was 29 years ago on this night that tank 610 exploded at the Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal. A milky fog that spread silently across the sleeping India city, spreading toxic gas in the densely populated slums nearby. Within minutes, people poured into the narrow lanes and alleys. They grasped their throats as … Continue reading Bhopal's forgotten tragedy
In my 30 years as a journalist, I’ve written a lot about victims. Many sorts of victims. Of war. Murder. Illness. Natural disasters. And man-made ones. I always try to be sensitive and to highlight the incredible resiliency of human beings. I was lucky enough to have won a Dart-Ochberg Fellowship from the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma. I learned many things during that … Continue reading First-person fire
I just read an excerpt from Peter Baker’s new book, “Days of Fire: Bush and Cheney in the White House. It’s being touted as the most comprehensive account of the Bush-Cheney years, at least until historical archives are opened to the public. What’s clear from the book is that Cheney was a major driver of the Iraq War. And a senior administration official is quoted … Continue reading Iraq's forgotten tragedy
I just returned from a short trip to a part of central India that was previously unfamiliar — Gadchiroli District in the state of Maharashtra. I was there to report a rape story for CNN and traveled with CNN cameraman Sanjiv Talreja and producer Harmeet Shah Singh. Photojournalist Vivek Singh also accompanied us. He’s a freelancer based in Delhi and we’ve used his work on … Continue reading Vivek Singh
When I was home in Kolkata several years ago, I climbed aboard a crowded public bus to go across town. The experience was far from pleasant. It was hot and crowded. The bus was filled with the stench of body odor. I could feel the sweat of others on my bare arms as I clawed my way to the front door to get out at … Continue reading A brutal rape, then outrage. What next for women?
Ho Thi Bich Khuong.Born: 1967Activity: WriterDate of arrest: November 15, 2011Sentence: Sentenced December 29, 2011 to 5 years imprisonment followed by 3 years house arrestCharge: Propaganda against the socialist stateCurrent location: Nghe An province This is the information available on the Vietnam Reform Party’s page on blogger Ho Thi Bich Khuong. Few in America have probably heard of her. But this is her third arrest. She has … Continue reading A voice in Vietnam
