Two Photographers Killed in Libya

Posted on April 21st, 2011

It is with great sadness that I have to report that photojournalists Tim Hetherington and Chris Handros were killed yesterday in Misurata, Libya. Two other photographers working alongside Hetherington and Handros were also injured.

From the New York times piece reporting the event.

About 3 p.m., Mr. Liohn said, the four were struck by a rocket-propelled grenade. Nicole Tung, another journalist in Misurata, who helped the wounded photographers, said she thought the men might have been hit by a high-explosive mortar blast. Both weapons are in use by the Qaddafi forces fighting for Tripoli Street.

Today on the NY Times Lens blog there are two pieces entitled Parting Glance: Tim Hetherington and Parting Glance: Chris Handros.

Both photographers have been described by friends and colleagues as truly humanitarian individuals. As people recount memories of the two journalists, stories are surfacing about how Hetherington and Handros selflessly put their life in jeopardy to protect the people around them in the field on more than one occasion. Both these photographers were heroes.

It’s a hard day here today. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and families of Tim Hetherington and Chris Handros.

UPDATE: Andre Liohn, a colleague of the photographers who was at the triage center when they were brought in after the attack, and, who first reported the incident via facebook, has made arrangements with Human Rights Watch to have the remains of the photographers evacuated to Benghazi. There consular officials from England and the United States will arrange to repatriate Hetherington and Handros.

Categories: Feature Stories

The Last Lions

Posted on April 7th, 2011

The Last Lions is a harrowing saga of a mother lioness’ will to survive as she journeys across the brutal African delta. The lioness, Ma di Tau, has her world turned upside down after a fierce battle with a rival pride leaves her mate dead. During the battle, she severely injures the pride’s leader. Knowing the enemy pride will be back to seek vengeance, Ma di Tau quickly flees with her three young cubs. In the quest to find safety, they must first learn to survive in completely unknown and dangerous territory. Ma di Tau is forced to adapt to the new land. She is forced to go against her instinct and learn to hunt wildebeest while they are in the water. Ma di Tau will stop at nothing to save what’s left of her family and preserve the bloodline of her lost mate.

Filmmakers, Dereck and Beverly Joubert, take you on an incredible journey. The Last Lions is a riveting look at an iconic animal species that is in danger of becoming extinct.

Over the past 50 years, the number of lions in the wild has dropped by 330,000, leaving only 20,000 left around the world. This film offers a renewed look of what we’ll be losing if something is not drastically changed.

Photo Beverly Joubert

The Last Lions is currently playing in select theaters across the United States for a limited time. You can check for theater listings here. The official movie site is here. If you’d like to find out more on how to save the lions, visit Cause An Uproar.

Categories: Feature Stories

The English Kid Who Became an Irish Saint

Posted on March 17th, 2011

I learned of the true history of Saint Patrick from an Irishman in an English pub in London. I asked him why Saint Patrick’s day is celebrated. He told me that it wasn’t celebrated until the 1970s when the Irish-Americans turned what was a minor holy day in Ireland into a revenue generating holiday in the States.

“Did we Americans invent the Irish Saint Patrick as well?” I asked.

He took a long draw from his beer. “If you buy me another one of these, I’ll tell you the whole story, includin’ the part about Patrick…” He leaned in a little closer and spoke in a hushed tone. “The thing of it is, Patrick was a Brit.”

1033229

Photo Jim Richardson

Around 390 AD Patrick was born to a well-to-do Christian family in England. He grew up caring little for religion. When he was sixteen years old he was kidnapped by Irish marauders who often raided the English coast looking for young men to enslave and put to work on the Irish isle. Patrick was sent out to the mountainous countryside to tend flocks of sheep for his master. It was here during many cold, wet and lonely days that Patrick found God. After six miserable years, it is said that Patrick heard a voice in dreams telling him how to escape back to England on a pirate ship.

Patrick was reunited with his family and became a priest. Then the same voice that told Patrick how to escape his bondage in Ireland returned and told him to go back and convert the Irish people to Christianity. Patrick was the perfect candidate for the job. His six years there gave him an understanding of the language and the tribal system that existed in Ireland.

Patrick cleverly overlaid the idea of the one Christian God over the many gods that were worshipped in Ireland at the time. Legend tells of Patrick introducing the symbol of the Christian cross on top of the symbol of the Irish moon goddess which is why the Celtic cross has its distinctive circle. The often told tale of Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland is a metaphor. In Patrick’s time evil was often portrayed as a snake. The introduction of Christianity to Ireland cast off the evil and false gods of the island. Ironically Ireland doesn’t have any snakes.

Patrick’s quest of converting Ireland to Christianity was not an easy one. He was beaten, harassed and forgotten for a while after his death on March 17th 461. In wasn’t until many years later that a mythos formed around the legend of Patrick. And centuries after his death he was raised up as the patron Saint of Ireland.

So if you go out tonight hoist one for Patrick. The Englishman who had a rough ride to become the Saint of Ireland.

415719

Photo Annie Griffiths

Categories: Feature Stories