It’s been a very busy 6 months of travelling so I’m looking forward to sharing those stories with you soon.
One of those assignments was to Gaza. I’d been to Gaza a few times over the years but was shocked and appalled by the level of destruction following the 2014 war. Whole suburbs of densely populated districts had been levelled, often with great loss of life.
Wherever you went there were signs of the conflict. There were individual buildings demolished in streets in a seemingly arbitrary way. I met medical staff and their families whose houses had been destroyed and they had no idea why. It is hard to imagine what it must have been like to be there during those 51 days of violence. The complete random nature of the bombing must have been terrifying.
One of the consequences of this and the reason for my visit was to report on the effect this has had on children. One year after the war, UNICEF states that over 300,000 children need psychosocial counselling to overcome their trauma. The scale of the problem and the long term consequences if nothing is done seems immense. The following story introduces some of those affected by the war and the efforts of a dedicated group of counsellors helping heal them.
Many thanks to Act for Peace for the assignment, Ebaa, an amazing and patient translator, all the staff at the NECC clinic and the people of Gaza who showed nothing but the warmest hospitality and resilience in the most difficult of situations.
The story is best viewed on a larger screen as many of the images are full frame and wait for the video clips to load…thanks…
Once again it’s been some time since posting anything so a very quick update…!
There have been a few Annual Reports and magazines that have recently been published featuring work I’ve been doing so thought I’d post them here. At the top is also a film I shot in Bangladesh.
I’m on assignment for the next month so when I return I’m hoping to update my website with the full Bangladesh story and some more recent assignments and films that I’ve made…
A project I documented in the Solomon Islands last year for Caritas Australia on Disaster Risk Reduction has just won the UN’s inaugural Pacific Innovation and Leadership Award for Resilience. Well done to all involved..! To quote the press release, ‘the award encourages efforts in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors to develop innovative approaches to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the Pacific.’
The story I did focused on Martina, the teacher who runs the Nursery Rhyme Program. Using well-known tunes and simple lyrics, children learn what to do in the event of potential disasters. “Nursery rhymes break down the fear associated with natural disasters, and also help children memorise the rhymes and the emergency response,” said Martina. “They enjoy the singing.”
Considering the devastating floods that hit the capital Honiara in April this year and the ever increasing intensity and regularity of these events, the program is essential. The Australian office was in contact with the schools straight after the floods and all children were accounted for.
It was my first time in the South Pacific and it lived up to and exceeded my expectations. Rich colours, beautiful oceans, lush green jungles and amazing people…..
The sea is a popular part of island life where people to go eat, drink and children play. Many villagers are settled close to the sea which are at risk of tsunamis and tidal surges with children being especially vulnerable during these events.
Primary school teacher Martina Kuibae (28) teaching songs and actions about what to do in a natural disaster whilst teaching the Natural Disaster Risk Management program run by Caritas Australia
Martina and her students role play running up hills to escape a flood.
Martina writing the words of a nursery rhyme about what to do in a Tsunami.
Children singing nursery rhymes about what to do in an emergency.
Martina helping (L-R) Feritas, Rose & Emily with drawing what they feel about natural disasters
A student draws a flood scene.
Children singing and dancing along to songs, taught by Primary school teacher Martina Kuibae (28), about what to do in a natural disaster during a Natural Disaster Risk Management program run by Caritas Australia
Children play in the river that runs through Tuvaruhu village in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. The river is often a focal point of village life where people wash, play and fish. The rivers flood regularly and present a danger to many inhabitants, especially children.
The majority of people in the Solomon Islands live a subsistence life, fishing and growing their own food on plots of land by their houses and make some money by selling their produce to local markets.
A general scene overlooking Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands. Many of the houses are built on crowded hill sides from local materials making them susceptible to landslides during times of flooding, cyclones and earthquakes.
A child playing on Kakabona Beach in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands.
Last November I had the chance to return to Burma (Myanmar) for Australian NGO Act for Peace to do a story on how local human rights workers are fighting for the rights of their communities. Illegally recruited child soldiers, human trafficking, slave labour, land confiscation and corruption are just some of the issues they deal with on a daily basis, often at great personal risk.
Life is rapidly changing in Burma however it still faces many challenges. Below are some images and a video looking at the ongoing yet slowly improving situation of the illegal recruitment of child soldiers in Burma. (All names have been changed)
Far from prying eyes on an isolated chicken farm in the Irrawaddy Delta, five hours drive south of the Burmese capital Rangoon, a group of boys sway in hammocks, smoke, talk and check their mobile phones. Their conversation however is unlike most teenagers, as these rescued child soldiers share stories of brutality, slave labour, beatings, torture and fear at the hands of the Burmese National Army.
All were kidnapped, sold or tricked into joining the army and endured years of confinement before finally being released with the help of local human rights workers, dedicated to rescuing child soldiers and fighting other human rights abuses in Burma.
Arun standing with other child soldiers who have escaped the Burmese Army. They were all illegally tricked into joining the army when aged 14-16 years old. Most spent over 2 years in the army and were badly treated.
Khin was 14 when his uncle sold him into the army for just $200 and a bag of rice. After the first two days he tried to escape but was recaptured, imprisoned and beaten by the officers.
For over a year, his family desperately tried to find him and had almost given up hope until they were introduced to May Lyan, a community organiser with the Myanmar Council of Churches who specialises in securing release papers for child soldiers.
Despite Burma recognising that the recruitment of child soldiers is illegal (it signed a joint action plan with the UN in June 2012 to end the use of underage recruits) it took May Lyan over 8 months working with lawyers and other NGO’s such as the International Labour Organisation to secure Khin’s release. He had no contact with his family for most of his 2 years in the army and was just about to be sent to the front line when his papers came through and he was able to return home.
Khin is now working on the family farm and his emotional father, still traumatised by the sudden disappearance and treatment his son received said, “I have never controlled my son but I will never let him join the army again. I want him to live with the family for ever.”
Khin (18) was 14 and living in the Irrawaddy Delta region when his uncle sold him into the Burmese Army for $200 and a bag of rice. He ran away after 2 days but was caught, put in the army prison and beaten. He had to spend over 2 years in the army.
The use of child soldiers remain a controversial issue within both the Burmese Army and the numerous ethnic group militias. There are an estimated 5,000 child soldiers still active in the Burmese Army. The government has said they would demobilise them but progress has been slow.
Khin pictured with Myanmar Council of Churches Community Organiser Naw May Lyan who helped secure his release and his father who spent two years looking for him.
Since the 2012 agreement, the army have released over 270 underage recruits but an estimated 5,000 child soldiers are still believed to serve not only in the Burmese Army, the Tatmadaw, but also in the numerous rebel groups that have been fighting the government for the past 65 years.
Life is quickly changing in Burma with free and fair elections being held in April 2012, a less censored press and increasing international trade opportunities. However, there are number of issues that are still taboo for the government, such as child soldiers, human trafficking and corruption. These are the issues that the 20 community organisers such as May Lyan and Mon Tome Sein deal with on a daily basis, often at great personal risk.
The Community Organisers are volunteers, driven to help their community overcome the daily injustices that they encounter. May Lyan, who has been a community organiser for 4 years said, “I’m helping out people who are victims of injustice. This is what I do for a living and I am passionate about it. I manage cases of child soldiers, child and human trafficking, land grabs, everything that is related to the violation of human rights. I also hold training sessions open to the entire community so everyone can learn about their rights. Because when you know your rights, you can stand up against abuse.”
Naw May Lyan (46) is a Community Organiser (CO) for the The Myanmar Council of Churches and now lives in Yangon. She has been a CO for 4 years and has dealt with issues such as child soldiers, land confiscation and labour disputes.
Mahn Tome (59) has been a Community Organiser (CO) for the The Myanmar Council of Churches for over 4 years. He said, “I will continue to work for human rights in Myanmar. If someones rights has been abused or exploited then I will stand up for that person. “
Another child soldier that May Lyan is helping is Sein, who is still awaiting his release papers and lives in fear of being caught by the police or army. A decision to escape a violent home sealed his fate. Sein explained, “I was 15 years old when I volunteered for the army. I was living at home and my step dad was an alcoholic who beat me so I decided to run away. A friend suggested that we should go to the army because they would look after us.
I immediately knew I had made a bad decision but had to stay in for 3 years. During that time I ran away twice. The first time I had to hide in streams and couldn’t contact my parents in case the army caused trouble for my family and tried to recapture me. I was on the run for two years and became a tricycle rider and sold coal. If I thought the army was following me I would change location and job so I moved from town to town.
I was eventually caught and they put into the army prison and they tortured me. They tied my arms and legs together and made me kneel on stones. They then beat me 125 times. I will never forget that number. The officers also drew a tattoo onto my arm against my will. “
Whilst on the run, Sein’s parents contacted MCC Community Organiser Naw May Lyan who helped locate him and made his case known to the International Labour Organisation. He has been let out of the army and has a Protection Letter from the ILO but has still not been officially released from the army, so he is afraid he could be picked up and forced to return. May Lyan continues to fight for his release papers.
Sein was 15 when he volunteered with a friend for the Burmese Army after running away from an abusive home due to his stepdads drinking. He had to spend 3 years in the army and during that time he escaped twice.
Sein was tortured by the officers who also tattooed his arm as punishment.
Arun, who was 16 at the time, was manipulated into joining the army. He said, ” I was 16 years old and always wanted to be a driver. I was approached by a guy who offered me a job as a driver and said I could work for him, so I went. He then took me to the army and I had to stay for two years. ”
Arun spent most of his time as slave labour on an army farm. He said, ” I didn’t have to fight but had to work on the army farm which was very hard work. We had to work 7 days a week and sometimes at night. They didn’t provide us with any food so we had to find our own food and steal vegetables from the garden. I was beaten by officers and treated badly. There were many other children there, some much younger than me. I pity the children who were younger and beaten and put in the jail on the army base. ”
His sister eventually tracked him down and asked a community organiser to help secure his release. He is now working as a ticket collector on a bus and still dreams of being a driver but the trauma of his time in the army still deeply affects him. He said, ” I’m still afraid of the police and the army. I don’t feel secure and feel they could capture me again at any time.”
Arun didn’t have to fight but had to work on the army farm, 7 days a week and wasn’t given any food. He and the other child soldiers were regality beaten and abused by the officers. He wasn’t able to contact his family for the first year.
The rate of recruitment of child soldiers has dramatically reduced and the government is slowly becoming more open about the issue, even co sponsoring billboards around the country warning parents of the dangers. However, with thousands of children still in the ranks, the need for community organisers remains as strong as ever.
A Government and NGO sponsored billboard on the road into Yangon about stopping child soldiers joining the army.
Earlier this year I had the opportunity to return to Afghanistan and it was certainly one of the more challenging assignments I’ve had for some time.
In 2004, I covered the first Presidential Elections and there was a sense of hope and optimism about the future as the Afghani people took their first tentative steps towards democracy. This time I was tasked by aid agency Act for Peace with reporting on their girls’ education program in eastern Afghanistan for their main annual fundraising and advocacy campaign.
Adela (9) in class at a High School in Nangarhar Province, Eastern Afghanistan. She said, "I want to become a doctor to help my country."
Without access to education, girls face a lifetime of poverty and oppression. Women without an education are more likely to get married younger, have more children and have very few job opportunities. Their children are also more likely to live in poverty.
There are now 2.4 million Afghan girls enrolled in school, compared to 5,000 in 2001, just before the fall of the Taliban regime. According to the schools I visited attendance is increasing year on year, which is a very positive sign
Above is the fundraising video that was made for Act for Peace’s main donor base in Churches around Australia.
In terms of security and access this was one of the more complex assignments I’ve completed, having to negotiate the multiple issues associated with working in such a hostile environment and the cultural sensitivities, especially in the more rural regions.
After flying into Kabul, Omar the guide/translator, Ahmed, our excellent burly 6ft Pashtun driver and I set off to Jalalabad, traveling at high speed in a beaten up old Toyota Corolla keeping as low a profile as possible through some of the most spectacular scenery I’ve ever seen. Basing ourselves in the partners compound in Jalalabad, which was constantly being over flown by Apache helicopter gunships and Predator drones, we would visit schools and other projects in rural Laghman and Nangarhar provinces. The partner staff were great hosts who cooked fabulous food and had a very black sense of humour. Before setting out each day the cheerful elderly Afghan director used to wave goodbye and say, ‘Hopefully we’ll see you later then? Anything can happen, this is Afghanistan.” before breaking out into a big smile.
Filmed on a go Pro, a quick video glimpse of life along the road from Jalalabad to Kabul.
Due to the high risk of kidnapping, we could only spend about 15 minutes in any one place so we had to work very quickly. We did manage to spend a bit more time in some of the schools as they were out of the public gaze and the head teachers were incredibly accommodating. Gaining permission to film and photograph the girls and female teachers proved quite difficult for cultural reasons but because of the strong partner relationships there were some schools that did allow us access.
Noria writing on a blackboard in Laghman Province, eastern Afghanistan. Her father is a farm labourer and she has 7 sisters and 4 brothers. One of her sisters studies medicine at University. Noria is the middle child and likes learning Pashto and wants to be a doctor in the future.
Girls reading at a school in Laghman Province, eastern Afghanistan. Currently, only 5% of women in Laghman Province are literate.
Whilst the increasing attendance numbers are encouraging, Afghan girls and boys still face many barriers to receiving an education. Some of the issues that schools face are high rates of absenteeism due to the security situation and children having to work to support families because of crippling poverty.
A boy helps a veterinary surgeon give antibiotics to his cow as part of the Food Security Program supported by Act for Peace partners in Qarghayi District in Laghman Province, eastern Afghanistan.
Boys take a break from work in Qarghayi District in Laghman Province, eastern Afghanistan. Both boys and girls miss out on an education because they are forced to work to help their families survive.
Boys attending a class in Nangarhar Province. The morning shift is for girls and the afternoon shift is for boys education. At present they have 2,820 girls enrolled and 1052 boys.
There is also a lack of qualified female teachers, which is a major problem in more rural conservative areas where only female teachers can teach girls beyond primary education. Because of this, many of the students said they wanted to either be teachers or doctors when they grow up.
One girl from a school in rural Laghman province said, “ Presently the majority of medical doctors in our area are men. In my village many families do not let their female family members to visit a male doctor. That’s why I want to become a doctor so that women can visit female doctors and consult with them to solve their health issues.“
Shahida (29) is one of the few female High School Principle. One of the biggest issues is training more female teachers so the program aims to increase capacity and develop a strong pool of female teachers. She said ,"Education and learning are very important in Afghanistan. Students can solve their problems by education. Education is message of peace."
A medical clinic in Nangarhar Province. Through decades of conflict, the health system has been destroyed in Afghanistan.
Hussan (21), a newly qualified Midwife who runs a clinic just outside Jalalabad, takes the blood pressure of a mother.
A young girl waits with her mother to be seen at a clinic in Nangarhar Province.
Most doctors are male which is a problem in rural areas for female patients.
However, one of the biggest barriers to girls’ education are cultural attitudes that are still present, with families believing that girls should remain at home. One of the key elements of peace building is changing attitudes and behaviours of people and encouraging the local population. Act for Peace and their partners are actively engaged in this by raising community awareness of the importance of education through local Shura Council members and the Parent Teacher Committees.
Jan Muhammad, a 50 year old Shura Council member from Jalalabad, is a clear example of how effective this is. A labourer by trade, he came from a very poor background and had no education but through the advocacy work the local partners implemented he has been convinced education is important and is now what could be described as an activist. Not only does he send his 3 younger girls to school, his eldest daughter has just started as a teacher and he is an active member on the parent teacher committee. One of his duties on this committee is to visit families that don’t send their children to school to find out why and to help encourage them keep up a regular attendance.
Jan Muhammad (50) is a Shura Council member and is also on the Parent Teacher Committee at a High School in Jalalabad. Local Shura members are now promoting girls education in the communities which is a major achievement.
Good quality education is considered to be one of the fundamental building blocks of a peaceful nation and is key to a countries development, so it’s people like Jan Muhammad on the Shura Council, the teachers and members of the Parent Teachers Committees who strive to create change that is critical to the grassroots building of the nation.
Asking one girl called Layla, an 18 year old student from Nangahar Province what she would like to see happen she said, “Education is very important in bringing peace. In remote provinces where there are not many schools and children have guns instead of pens in their hands, there is war and instability. I request the international community and other organisations to continue their support. I believe there will be no peace in Afghanistan until we improve the situation of education in Afghanistan.“
Girls looking through windows after class at a High School in Laghman Province, eastern Afghanistan. Insecurity remains a major problem in accessing education in rural areas along with forced marriage and extreme poverty.
Afghanistan is once again at a cross roads as coalition forces prepare to leave in 2014. What will happen to Afghanistan after this no one really knows but one can only hope that reconciliation can be found and that the new generation of Afghans get the peace that this amazing country has long deserved.
I haven’t entered a photography competition for a while so I was pleased to see that an image that particularly resonates with me from an assignment in Jordan earlier this year to report on the Syrian refugee crises made the finals of two competitions.
I’ve blogged about this picture in my assignment review and it remains one of my strongest images from Jordan so I’m happy that members of the public and judges have reacted to it in a positive way and has given the refugee situation in Syria even more coverage. I only spent about 45 minutes with Ala and Zeena but their quiet dignity, devotion to their family and resilience to the horrendous situation they found themselves in was humbling. For me they break every stereotype of a refugee that some would have you believe.
The caption for the competition read:-
‘We fled Syria across the border into Jordan and could only carry this suitcase with a few clothes and food for the baby. It was cold and dangerous, I cannot explain how awful it’s been for the children,’ explains Zeena (26) from a room in Amman where her family now struggles to survive. They fled Homs after their house and bakery were destroyed during fighting.”
Alaâa (29), Zeena (26), Ammer (4) & Mohammed (1) fled Homs a month ago and are now living in this single room in Amman. Like all other refugees they only managed to bring what they could carry over the border, so they arrived with just some baby food, nappies and their clothes in this suitcase and are now struggling to survive. They had a family bakery business making bread and sweets back in Homs but they were forced to flee after the bakery and their house were destroyed. They also didn't feel safe due to an increase in kidnappings.
As part of my ongoing project looking at how separation walls in intractable conflicts such as Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Israel/Palestine, contribute to being both physical and psychological barriers to a positive peace, I’m very happy that the section on the Israel-Palestine Separation Barrier is being exhibited at the Australia National University in Canberra as part of the Human Rights in Palestine Conference 2013. There are some excellent speakers lined up and I’m sure it will create some intense discussions.
If you’d like to see the exhibition it’s running from September 11-12th at the ANU Commons centre and is open to the public.
Physically separating conflicted communities continues to be a policy decision by many governments around the world in an attempt to curb violence. These separation walls become highly politicised and are a physical manifestation of failed policies to overcome the root causes of each of these conflicts.
One of the most controversial of these recent structures is the Separation Barrier between Israel and Palestine. Over ten years of construction, it has created ‘facts on the ground’ that have dramatically impacted Palestinian society and its economy. Israel states the barrier is there for security reasons and was built in response to a spate of suicide bombings in Israel. The Palestinians say it’s a de facto border and land grab.
Approximately 15% of the wall will be built along the internationally recognised Green Line with the remaining 85% built inside the West Bank resulting in some of the most fertile land and water sources becoming almost inaccessible to Palestinian farmers and communities.
The wall separates Israel from Palestine but it also runs directly through many Palestinian communities, dividing families and economically severing once sustainable businesses.
It’s not only the physical wall that has become a barrier to rights of passage. A complicated and bureaucratic permit system also stops thousands of Palestinians daily movements, severely impacting access to farm land that lie on the ‘wrong’ side of the wall or to employment opportunities within Israel.
Whilst these physical barriers arguably may provide short term gains in security, they are ineffective as long term solutions to creating a sustainable positive peace. Whilst resolutions to the conflicts are sought, the most affected by these policies are the people who live in their shadow, their lives are shaped by their presence, creating both deep physical and psychological challenges for residents.
The impact of the wall on a personal level can be seen in this exhibition through personal testimony from Palestinians who suffer the daily indignity of having to pass through the overcrowded check points, lost hours of productivity waiting for gates to open, the high unemployment rates within the West Bank and the frequent demonstrations against the wall.
The exhibition forms part of an ongoing project looking at how separation walls in intractable conflicts such as Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Israel-Palestine, contribute to being both physical and psychological barriers to a positive peace.
However, for some communities these walls provide the desired protection and a reassuring knowledge that they are separated from ‘the other’, whom they have come to fear. It many cases these walls were quickly constructed during times of violence. They may end up being one of the last structures to come down to enable peace.
One of my pictures from South Sudan shot for Cafod has been recognised as a Nominee at the 6th Annual Photography Masters Cup. I was more than happy about this as South Sudan is one of those places that gets under your skin and you just want to revisit.
The picture shows Mercy (12) who collects water for her family every morning and evening from a borehole installed by Cafod. Fresh clean drinking water is one of the many challengers facing the Republic of South Sudan, the newest nation on earth.
Before the new borehole was placed within her community of St Cecilia, home to over 400 households or approx 3.000 people, Mercy would have spent hours walking miles to gather water , impacting her ability to attend school and her future.
Caritas Australia who I’ve worked with a number of times have launched their 2013 Project Compassion profiles which showcase outstanding examples of how development can initiate positive change for individuals and communities.
I was lucky enough to report on one such person called Raymundo (24) in Bolivia. An incredibly energetic and charismatic guy whose life story is an inspiration to many underprivileged children in his home town of Cochabamba. Having a difficult start in life he has gone from street child with addiction issues to gaining a degree at University and a passion for helping others who face the same problems he managed to overcome.
This was made possible through a local NGO called Educar es Fiesta (Education is Celebration) a circus school for vulnerable children who rescued him from the streets and gave direction to his life. He is now a teacher there and has gained a celebrity like status with the children..!
I was only with him for a few hours so below are some pictures and short video produced by Caritas Australia which gives you an insight into his inspiring life…
Raymundo Ramos (22) has been with Educar es Fiesta, a circus school based in Cochabamba, Bolivia since the age of 9. Here he is teaching children acting and circus skills on the roof of Wasy Tukuypaj.
The Educar es Fiesta centre called Wasy Tukuypaj which means 'House of All' in local Quecha language in San Francisco area of Ushpa Ushpa. The town of 50,000 people has a large migrant population so many of the children have never grown up with their parents. They located here due to the high number of parentless children.
Educar es Fiesta which means Education is Celebration is a circus school based in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Its primary role is to assist children at risk though the prevention of violence against children. It runs circus and art classes and education lessons for children aged 8-16. They also work with parents and teachers informing them about child rights. Over 1,500 children have participated in the program since 1999.
I was able to make a short trip back to Israel and Palestine in September to continue my long term project on communities divided by separation barriers. Everytime you visit this region something has changed, not usually in a positive way, and this trip was no exception. It terms of trouble and violence it was probably the quietest time I’ve experienced there. The usual Friday protests were still happening in Ni’lin and Bil’in but with much reduced turnout and it was unusually calm yet tense on the streets, as if everyone was waiting for something to happen. Well that calmness was certainly broken with the latest confrontations in Gaza which has led to widespread unrest throughout the rest of the West Bank.
As for the Separation Barrier, it continues to be a major obstacle to the peace process, whatever remains of it, and to the day to day lives of people who are surrounded by the barrier. The aim this time was to meet a number of people who have been directly affected by the walls construction. I’ll be heading back to this region again soon and will spend more time meeting Israeli residents to hear what the wall means to them. Here are a few images from that trip and a brief synopsis behind the concept of this project.
Barriers to a Positive Peace
Walls are highly political and represent the physical manifestation of failed policies to overcome the root causes of each of these conflicts. Whilst providing short term gains in security they are inevitably ineffective as long term solutions to creating a sustainable positive peace. Whilst resolutions to the conflicts are sort, the most affected by these policies are the people who live under their shadow. Daily lives are shaped by their presence creating both deep physical and physiological challenges for residents. It may mean walking extra miles to go to the shops, the fear and indignity of passing through checkpoints that separate family and friends or even just the sheer physical presence of such structures in their back yard. However, to some communities they provide the desired protection and a reassuring knowledge that they are physically separated from ‘the other’. Walls are a symptom of conflict, not a cause. It many cases they are the first thing to go up during times of violence. They may be the last structures to come down to enable peace.
Claire Anastas, a Palestinian Christian in Bethlehem washing up with an Israeli watchtower looking directly into the families living space. The wall was built here in 2004, two weeks before Christmas and surrounds her house on three sides. The sacred site of Rachel's' Tomb is on the other side of the wall. She said 'This affects us the most because whenever we wake in the morning we look outside and see only walls and cameras.'
Claire Anastas, a Palestinian Christian in Bethlehem who had her house surrounded on three sides by the wall. The economic impact of the wall has been extreme. Claire explains, ' We used to have an organic fruit and vegetable shop, a car mechanics workshop and souvenir shop. This road running along side my house used to be the main road between Bethlehem and Jerusalem and was very busy with markets and tourists visiting Bethlehem and Rachel's Tomb. Since the wall was built cutting us off we have lost all our business.'
Orthodox Jews wait at a bus stop after praying at Rachel's Tomb in Bethlehem. Claire Anastas's house can just been seen on the other side of the wall. Claire remembers when the road was a thriving market area attracting people from all religions to shop and visit the sites, ' We used to be friends and when we used to live together we used to exchange cultures and life and know about each other more.'
The separation barrier in Bethlehem. In many areas, the wall is constructed in what used to be lively commercial districts. Many businesses now struggle to survive as demand has dramatically reduced.
Hani Amer (55) who has 6 children and lives with his wife Munira. His house in which he has lived for 39 years is surrounded by the separation barrier cutting him off from the Palestinian village of Mas'ha. Behind his house is the Israeli settlement of Elkana. The concrete section of wall in front of his house serves no security purpose and Hani says was built out of spite to spoil his view.
Hani Amer (55) unlocking the gate he and his family has to use to enter his property. The wall was built in 2003 and he had to fight to be given a key to the only gate that gives him access to the outside world.
The wall not only divides Israel from Palestine but also separates Palestinian communities resulting in many families and friends being cut off from each other. The wall here runs directly though a Palestinian community in Ar Ram close to Jerusalem.
Ali Ayyad (62) with his sister Zainab Bader at her house in Abu Dis. Ali's house can be seen just on the other side of the wall. It used to take just a few minutes to walk to each others house but since the wall was built it now takes at least 30 minutes by taxi costing $30 or 1.5 hours costing $7 by public transport. The Dome of the Rock can be seen in the background showing how close to central Jerusalem the wall has been built.
Residents of Ni'lin and supporters protest against the separation barrier that has separated them from large tracts of their valuable farming land. These protests have been held every Friday for years.
Surrounded by tear gas, a protester from Ni'lin chants through a loudspeaker towards Israeli soldiers on the other side of the wall..
A young Palestinian man uses a slingshot to aim rocks at Israeli soldiers during the weekly protests in Bil'in. The illegal Israeli settlement of Matatyaho Mezrahi can be seen under construction behind the separation wall.
Mohammad Faraj (11) works on his fathers land next to the separation barrier that surrounds the town Qalqiliya. A dead zone exists next to the wall further reducing the amount of available farming land.
The Wall Steakhouse which screens movies and sports projected onto the wall in Bethlehem.
Workers wait to be allowed into Israel from Bethlehem at checkpoint 300. It often takes hours of queuing in the metal cage before they can pass through the checkpoint.
Early morning at the Qalandia checkpoint, one of the main checkpoints into Jerusalem from Ramallah in the West Bank.
Abu Mohammad (65) with his grandsons Saed & Mohammad in his broken down truck he can no longer afford to fix in Bethany on the outskirts of Jerusalem. He used to be a driver before the wall was built 10 years ago and business was good. Now he has no access to Jerusalem and there is very little work in this area.
The Walk as One, Connecting with our World’s Indigenous Peoples, campaign and documentary film was successfully launched in Sydney by Caritas Australia a few weeks ago. I thought I’d write a quick ‘behind the scenes’ post about what equipment I used, what went right, what went wrong etc etc. I’ve always found reading about these things informative so hopefully someone else may be able to pick up a few ideas/tips.
There is a huge amount of information on indigenous rights on the website so if you’re interested in these issues please click here.
This was the first assignment I’ve done where the intent from the outset was to produce a short documentary. On other assignments such as South Sudan, Uganda, Bangladesh the filming came secondary to the stills so the approach to this project was different in a number of ways in terms of planning, logistics and preparation. It was also the first time I’d be part of a team with Alex from Caritas producing and writing the final policy report travelling with me and a dedicated editor, James Bradley who did an excellent job and Cam Mackellar who created the unique soundtrack which just lifts the whole production. There were also translators, policy people, communications staff and everyone else involved with launching a big campaign.
The trip involved two 4 day visits to Beswick, a remote community about 150km south of Katherine in the Northern Territories and a two week trip to Bolivia taking in not only the project focus of the Yuracare community in the Bolivian Amazon region but also other Caritas funded projects which provided some excellent B-roll.
I’ve always been a Canon man so below is the equipment list I used:-
Canon 5D Mk 11
Canon 1D Mk 4
Canon 24-70 2.8L
Canon 70-200 Mk 11 2.8L
Canon 24mm 1.4L
Canon 50mm 1.2L
Zacuto Z-Finder Pro x3
Manfrotto 055cx3
Manfrotto 701 HDV Head
Singh Ray 77mm ND Filter
Singh Ray 77mm ND Filter Thin (for wide angles)
Zoom H4N Audio Recorder
Audio Technica AT8531 Lav Mic
Sennheiser MK400 Shotgun Mic
Sony MDR-7506 Headphones
3 x 500GB G-Drive HD
8 x 16GB CF Cards
Macbook Pro 2.8GHz I7 8GB 750GB HD
Plural eyes to synch audio
FCP 7
So what were the challengers ? In many ways filming and creating a picture essay are very similar in the sense your creating a story. However the approach is quite different. Shooting stills is a much more natural, observed way of working where you often just let things happen. With filming, you have to be much more methodical, pre visualising shots and sequences, directing the subjects at certain times with multiple takes. As a photojournalist this originally felt quite unnatural and contrived but necessary to make the film flow. Using a tripod for many shots also took some getting used to as I’d never owned a tripod before shooting video but they are absolutely necessary. I did shoot some handheld when motion was obvious like in the car but otherwise it was locked down. Audio is always a tricky one and a bit of a juggling act running a duel system but it does work well. I record all critical interviews on the Zoom and lav mic and collect as much ambient as possible. When you know that you just need a trace of ambient and the situation is moving I’ll use either the in camera mic or the shotgun mic top mounted. It would be great to have a dedicated audio person as the audio is equally if not more important than the visuals but budgets often don’t allow this.
Logistically, the biggest issue we had was the shoot in the Bolivian Amazon was cut from a proposed 5 days to just 2.5 days due to funerals, weather, logistics. That could have been a major problem but you can only get what you are given. You just have to readjust the plan and make the most of it however frustrating it may seem at the time.
Technical issues included my 5D melting in the heat and overuse half way through the Bolivia trip. The main board just fried due to the heat/humidity and wouldn’t film for more than 5 seconds. It still took stills but video was out. That meant I had to switch to the 1D which I hadn’t used for filming at all. However, having used this line of camera for years I very quickly got used to it which is partly why the transition from shooting stills to video using these cameras has been relatively smooth. You’re just so familiar with the equipment.
What would my recommendations to anyone about to start filming be…
-Prepare for the worst, back all your equipment up on every level in case something like, your camera melts..!..so you can continue in remote locations. At the time it seemed unnecessary to buy that 1D Mk4 Zacuto conversion kit for $100. However, it was probably the best money I’ve spent as it meant I could continue shooting seamlessly. Without it, it would have been a major issue trying to film by just looking at the back screen..almost impossible to do in a fluid and bright light situation..!
-Keep lots of spare batteries on you in the bag. Not back in your room where they are pretty useless..!
-Plan and prepare a script as much as possible and then prepare for it to all change. Adapt. Shoot everything you see. You can never have enough b-roll.
-Shoot from as many different angles as possible to give the editor the best chance of good cuts.
-Audio is absolutely crucial. As, if not more important than the images. Audio is still a foreign concept to me and most photographers so it’s by far the biggest challenge, not least running a duel system by yourself which is always a challenge.
-Remember to collect as much ambient sound as possible. I sometimes forget and regret not recording even just 10 seconds of ambient which can really lift the quality of the film.
-Always think about that 3 shot sequence. Wide, medium, detail to make editing easier.
-Be really careful when changing lenses. Dust on the sensor is easy to fix in stills. On video, it can be a nightmare..!
-Have lots of CF cards. Interviews and long sequences can eat up the memory no end.
-Power bars and water. When the pressure is on, it’s 38c, humid, mosquitoes, nothing is going right, your equipment fails etc etc the last thing you need to be is hungry and thirsty. Look after yourself and the team.
-Leave plenty of time. Filming takes an enormous amount of time and resources so prepare and plan for that.
I love the challenge of experimenting with new media and equipment and I’m happy with the final result. You learn by your mistakes and I’m continually looking at DSLR training sites/blogs etc for new ideas and tips to improve. Now I’m just looking forward to the next opportunity..!!
I finally made it back to Belfast last week to continue my long term project on Borders and Barriers.
My visit coincided with the annual July 12th Protestant Orange Order celebrations which see thousands of Orangemen, marching bands and supporter’s parade through Belfast commemorating the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 where the Protestant King William of Orange defeated the Catholic King James.
It’s a highly contentious time of year where some parades march through predominately Catholic areas creating friction and often violence between the two still deeply divided communities.The major flash point of Ardoyne in north Belfast once again saw rioting.
Below is just a small selection of images and I’ll be following up by building on the multimedia project having also shot some video and recorded many interviews.
Belfast was once again an intriguing place to work, full of very colourful characters with quite incredible histories who are now working towards creating a more peaceful future. There is still some way to go, however great progress has been made.
Youths rioting in Brompton Park, a Catholic area of Ardoyne in north Belfast following the annual Orangemen parade past the contested Ardoyne shops on July 12.
A much smaller group of Orangemen than usual parade past the contested Ardoyne shops in north Belfast surrounded by PSNI riot police during the annual July 12th parades.
PSNI riot police stopping Greater Ardoyne Residents Collective members from staging their own counter parade. They were eventually let through which led to brief but violent clashes.
The peace dividend has paid off in central Belfast with many new shopping centres such as Victoria Square. They serve as a shared or at least neural space generally free from sectarian divisions.
The same cannot be said for the majority of interface areas which saw most of the violence during the conflict but have received very little since the peace signing. Here the Cupar Way peace wall seen from Conway Street, Loyalist Shankill Road area, West Belfast. Behind the wall is the Catholic side of Conway Street in the Clonard area, some of the most deprived wards in Belfast. This is the longest peace wall in Belfast and one of the first to be put up separating the Protestant Shankill Road from the Catholic falls road.
An Ulster volunteer Force mural in a Loyalist area of East Belfast. Reminders of the conflict are omnipresent including the demarcation of territory through the use of flags and murals which often show allegiance to various banned paramilitary groups making life returning to normality difficult.
A bonfire in Lower Shankill, West Belfast. Huge bonfires are constructed in Loyalist Protestant communities in Belfast for burning on the Eleventh Night, the eve of the annual July 12th Orange Order celebrations.
Children fly the British flag whilst protecting their bonfire in Suffolk, a Protestant enclave in the Catholic dominated area of South Belfast.
A bonfire in Tigers Bay, north Belfast which is one of the most underdeveloped wards in Belfast. The Irish tricolour flag is often placed on top of the bonfires for burning as well as other sectarian symbols and banners which creates tensions between the two communities.
Signs of allegiance come in all forms including mobile phone covers. A Loyalist at the Sandy Row bonfire in central Belfast.
Loyalists celebrate the burning of the Sandy Row bonfire and Irish tricolour flag on the Eleventh night.
The Workman Avenue peace gates are only opened twice a year by Police to allow the contentious Protestant Orange Order Whiterock feeder parade in West Belfast to pass through them. The parade passes along the mostly Catholic nationalist Springfield Road interface and through the Workman Avenue peace gates then onto Shankill Road. Whilst violence at this parade has reduced over the years it does set back community relations.
Orangemen pass through the Workman Avenue peace gates. The Springfield Residents Action Group staged a peaceful protest under a heavy police presence.
Ambulatorio, an art based peace building initiative between the peace gates on the Flax Street interface in North Belfast. Artist Oscar Munoz has laid down panels of aerial pictures of north Belfast between the peace gates which will be opened for a short time allowing community members to cross the interface through this route for the first time. A confidence building concept, the installation invites residents to imagine walking around a north Belfast free of walls and gates.
