poverty, Race, Racism, Uncategorized

Civil rights leader takes heat for stand on Confederate monuments

I heard Andrew Young say this morning that it’s a waste of time to protest Confederate monuments. That energy, he said on NPR’s Morning Edition, should be reserved to continue the struggle to end poverty and the racial injustice that still exists in America. Young’s position was perhaps unexpected given his vast experience in civil rights. Young marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., became … Continue reading Civil rights leader takes heat for stand on Confederate monuments

Moni Basu
Asia, India

Freedom at midnight: Indian independence came at a high cost

  Today, on the 70th birthday of my homeland, I reread Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s evocative speech, delivered just before India gained independence from oppressive British rule. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when … Continue reading Freedom at midnight: Indian independence came at a high cost

Moni Basu
Iraq, War

What I learned from a girl in Iraq: Human being first, journalist second

A few months ago, I traveled to a place I’d never visited before: Mbale, Uganda. I wasn’t there to marvel at the vastness of Lake Victoria or spend a day at a safari park, though I wished I’d had time to see mountain gorillas. I was there to Meet Noor, a girl I met 11 years ago in the midst of the Iraq war. She came … Continue reading What I learned from a girl in Iraq: Human being first, journalist second

Moni Basu
Evil Reporter Chick, Iraq, Middle East, Military, War, War & Conflict

Iraq: Victory in Mosul, but at what cost?

I awoke to news today that Iraqi forces were claiming victory in Mosul. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi arrived in Mosul to personally deliver a message of victory to the world: ISIS had been driven out of the city in northern Iraq that had been the extremist group’s crown jewel. Victory. Yes. But at tremendous cost. The ancient city of Nineveh will never be the same. ISIS … Continue reading Iraq: Victory in Mosul, but at what cost?

Moni Basu
Courage, Evil Reporter Chick, General news, Middle East, Military, U.S. Army, War & Conflict

Stop the politics today — and remember

Amid all the political noise of today, I want to stop and think of all my soldier  friends I met in Iraq and back here at home in all the years I covered the military. Today is Veterans Day, a time for pause and reflection about the courage and sacrifice of our men and women who served in uniform. I am afraid that they will … Continue reading Stop the politics today — and remember

Moni Basu1 Comment
Evil Reporter Chick

Iraq: Eye on Mosul

I recently wrote a story about a very brave man living in Mosul, who has been defying ISIS for more than two years with his words. You can read about the Mosul Eye blog on CNN here: Determined to let the world about know the suffering of his city. He posted yesterday as street-to-street fighting between Iraqi forces and Islamic State fighters raged in Iraq’s … Continue reading Iraq: Eye on Mosul

Moni Basu
Evil Reporter Chick, General news, human rights, People, War & Conflict

Migration crisis: People keep dying

Almost every day, I receive an email from the International Organization for Migration containing the latest update on migration issues around the world. Many of you may not know that more than 60 million people are on the move, either as refugees fleeing horrendous situations in their homelands or economic migrants seeking a way out of a life of poverty. Today, the IOM update included … Continue reading Migration crisis: People keep dying

Moni Basu
Courage, Evil Reporter Chick, Journalism, Middle East, Military, War & Conflict

David Gilkey: remembering an incredible photojournalist

I woke up to extremely sad news today. NPR photojournalist David Gilkey was killed in Afghanistan, along with interpreter Zabihullah Tamanna. Another friend who worked tirelessly in the world’s most difficult places, gone. David and Zabihullah were traveling with an Afghan army unit, according to the report I heard on NPR this morning. They came under fire and their armored Humvee was hit by a rocket-propelled … Continue reading David Gilkey: remembering an incredible photojournalist

Moni Basu
Evil Reporter Chick

From the darkness of disaster…

I first met Maya Gurung last year, a few days after a massive earthquake struck Nepal. Maya was recovering from the amputation of her left leg at a Kathmandu hospital. I wrote a story about her  because I wondered how a little girl would fare in Kashi Gaon, the remote and rugged village in Gorkha District, where she lived. It would be hard for her … Continue reading From the darkness of disaster…

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