Still ‘Je suis Charlie’ Two Years On
[Editors (Zach) note: This was originally posted on Sarah’s facebook page and she thankfully allowed me to share it with you. Sarah is a human rights lawyer based in Paris and London. You can read her piece on Erik Prince’s plan for the refugee crisis in Europe here.] Those who knew and/or followed me then remember how difficult that day was for me; some have ended friendships over it, some have started one, some have disagreed but respected my grief. I was present on the scene and I have lost friends. I have lost journalists. I have peered across the…
Photos from France: Je suis Charlie
Vigils and rallies are springing up all around the world in support of the murdered cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo. These stunning photos are sent to us from the south of France, Aix en Provence to be exact. Taken by Smaranda Tolosano, a photographer based in France but currently going to school in Boston. You can follow her work on Twitter, Tumblr or at her portfolio site.
Today is Malala Day: She Speaks at the UN on Education for All
Malala Yousafzai, the girl who fought for education in Pakistan made famous by her diaries on BBC, spoke at the UN today less than a year after she was shot in the head by members of the Taliban. Her voice didn’t waver, it was strong and clear. Today is now Malala Day – it’s her 16th Birthday. [Friendly warning: I’m a grown man and I openly wept for 16 straight minutes while watching this… and am tearing up as I type this blog… you might want to schedule in some time to listen to it and really deal with it….
The Drone Ranger: Obamas Dirty Wars
About the time Barack Obama ordered the drone strike that killed Abdul-Rahman al-Awlaki, the 16-year-old American kid Facebooked his second-rate choice of hip-hop favorites. I say “second-rate,” because Abdul was my son’s age almost exactly, so I know the kind of crap they listen to. From Greg Palast Originally for Vice Magazine Every Tuesday, President Obama personally checks off the names of people he wants killed. George Bush, a bit more squeamish than Obama, never did that; but Mr. Obama felt those decisions were the president’s responsibility: he want[s] to keep his own finger on the trigger,” according to one…