The Antidote Part One

Shotgun Wedding

Shotgun Wedding The story and thoughts behind one photo

A pile of empty shells by a deserted window, a snipers window.  We are on the border between Croatia and Bosnia and the window is in a school, it looks out across no man’s land.  It is eerie; contradictory... schools should represent hope, the next generation, freedom, possibility, life.  But not here, this school has been blown to pieces.  It is exposed to the elements with the pages of schoolbooks flapping as the wind howls through deserted corridors.  One book shows the face of Ghandi.  It is strange to find the photo of a pregnant bride by a pile of empty shells.  The cigarette butts evoke a story.  Long hours waiting, wondering, and then I wonder why on earth would someone own and then discard such a photo.  This picture is full of contradictions.   

But then war is full of contradictions.  War on the ground is so personal – often more personal than political.  If it were my bride, unborn child, sister, brother, mother, father, it would be personal.  And those living in conflict grasp the delicate balance between life and death.  Tomorrow may never come and if you want something you take it today. 

We often see war in the abstract, detached from personal stories.  But the political stories are personal, they always impact real people like you and me.         

Back in 1995, when Bosnian ethnic cleansing was at its height, the US intervened.  A fragile peace followed and still holds.  Thank God for the intervention and for those that stand on the line.  But then let’s not forget that war is a hideous thing.  I may not be the pacifist I would like to be, but surely we should fight for peace with all our strength before we march to war.    

© Photo copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

This blog is a response to the needs I see.  My plan is to find grassroots projects that are addressing both the root causes and immediate needs of those living in extreme poverty.  I will pass on 100% of any gift given to help.

Checks should be made payable to ‘Community Partnership of Rabun’, marked ‘MyWorld/Haiti’ and sent to Community Partnership/MyWorld, 196 Ridgecrest Circle, Clayton, GA 30525, USA 

Thanks!   

© All other photos copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

Six hours from coke

Six hours from coke The story and thoughts behind one photo

When travelling in some of the most remote areas we would try to figure out how far we were from a coke.  We made six hours on one occasion.  The time was cut short due to the fact that two locals overheard us joking and decided to buy us a coke and walk for several hours to keep the time down. 



Let’s face it, we are all an arm’s length from a coke, all connected in some way. 

The world has become a small place and our history is not that far away either. 

On the west coast of Africa, where this photo was taken, two countries sit side by side.   The British sent their free slaves back to Sierra Leone and the American’s sent theirs to Liberia. 

The return of former slaves has caused violence with the locals ever since.

It has been said that time is a great healer but reality most often proves this saying is wrong and reconciliation that leads to freedom demands more. 

In 2002, a group of women in Liberia formed a group and stood up against the violence.  Their statement read, “In the past we were silent, but after being killed, raped, dehumanized, and infected with diseases, and watching our children and families destroyed, war has taught us that the future lies in saying ‘no’ to violence and ‘yes’ to peace.  We will not relent until peace prevails.”   

There have been other brave examples such as the South African style truth and reconciliation commission.  The perpetrators of political crimes were brought face to face with their victims, and here with the offer of amnesty, the truth was brought to bear.  No magic formulas, much pain and many critics, but none the less new foundations can be built on the truth and there is the chance to start over. 

Perhaps we have no responsibility for the decisions of those who act on our behalf either in the past or today.  And nations taking responsibility, with declarations of apology, is a hugely controversial issue.  But none the less there is tremendous power in speaking the truth - it brings the chance to start over. 

© Photo copyright Jim Loring/Tearfund.  No reproduction without permission.

This blog is a response to the needs I see.  My plan is to find grassroots projects that are addressing both the root causes and immediate needs of those living in extreme poverty.  I will pass on 100% of any gift given to help.

Checks should be made payable to ‘Community Partnership of Rabun’, marked ‘MyWorld/Haiti’ and sent to Community Partnership/MyWorld, 196 Ridgecrest Circle, Clayton, GA 30525, USA 

Thanks!   

© All other photos copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

You Will Do Your Chores

You Will Do Your Chores The story and thoughts behind one photo

This family live in the rift valley of Ethiopia, it is a five hour hike to the nearest road.  They were too poor to send their children to school, not because it cost anything, they simply needed the entire family to pull together, work the land and grow enough to eat.  Direbe is just five years old and surely this is another face of extreme poverty, where even the hope of a better life is stripped away before anyone gets a chance. 

Education is one of those key areas that create opportunities for the next generation.  It addresses one of the root causes of extreme poverty.  It is ironic that in this community a groundbreaking education project was under way.  With donated land the people had pulled together to clear the ground for the simple school building.  The teachers were volunteers.   School materials were kept to a minimum favoring the use of natural products to ensure sustainability, and classrooms were packed.  These kids want to learn, they understand the alternative.      

© Photo copyright Jim Loring/Tearfund.  No reproduction without permission.

This blog is a response to the needs I see.  My plan is to find grassroots projects that are addressing both the root causes and immediate needs of those living in extreme poverty.  I will pass on 100% of any gift given to help.

Checks should be made payable to ‘Community Partnership of Rabun’, marked ‘MyWorld/Haiti’ and sent to Community Partnership/MyWorld, 196 Ridgecrest Circle, Clayton, GA 30525, USA 

Thanks!   

© All other photos copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

The Road to Hope

The Road to Hope The story and thoughts behind one photo

Jacques is nine and lives in Haiti.  His mother was twelve when he was born and just a few years later her husband died.  She now lives with a man, ‘old enough to be my father’.  She has three children, lives in poverty and is in no position to care for Jacques.  But Jacques was noticed by someone who cared enough to go meet with his mother and offer help.  He goes home to sleep with his mother and she is glad for the help.  Jacques now has clean clothes, somewhere to play and is receiving an education.  He has a long way to go and needs financial support, but surely these are the things that every child should have.  The UN has a list of child rights... each child should have an adequate standard of living, a right to healthcare, education and a right to play. 

I once met an eleven year old child in Colombia who spoke about her rights.  Her right to an education, she said, was something she had to take responsibility for.  It was up to her to take hold of her rights and so she sought out the smartest person in her community to make her claim.

And in Africa the classrooms are full, sixty kids sitting behind desks – tightly packed and silent as they listen with intent.  Somehow they know how important it is to claim their rights.  Without an education the future is clear.  Lack of education leads the road to poverty but choosing to learn leads to hope.             

© Photo copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

This blog is a response to the needs I see.  My plan is to find grassroots projects that are addressing both the root causes and immediate needs of those living in extreme poverty.  I will pass on 100% of any gift given to help.

Checks should be made payable to ‘Community Partnership of Rabun’, marked ‘MyWorld/Haiti’ and sent to Community Partnership/MyWorld, 196 Ridgecrest Circle, Clayton, GA 30525, USA 

Thanks!   

© Photo copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

Haiti Report Back Photos

This blog is a response to the needs I see.  My plan is to find grassroots projects that are addressing both the root causes and immediate needs of those living in extreme poverty.  I will pass on 100% of any gift given to help.

Checks should be made payable to ‘Community Partnership of Rabun’, marked ‘MyWorld/Haiti’ and sent to Community Partnership/MyWorld, 196 Ridgecrest Circle, Clayton, GA 30525, USA 

Thanks!   

© All photos copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

The Human Face

 

The Human Face The story and thoughts behind one photo

I was in London a few years ago and saw a sign outside one of the museums that gave world population statistics.  The world’s population has more than doubled in my lifetime.  In 1960 the figure was around 3 Billion; in 2010 it is close to 6.9 Billion.  The US has around 310 million people, the UK 62 million.  The African continent has about 1 Billion, China as the most populous country has about 1.3 Billion and India 1.2 Billion. 

And about 16,000 children die of hunger related causes each day.

These are huge numbers and statistics can be so abstract.  This photo puts a human face on extreme poverty.  It was taken in Ethiopia in 2000 during what became known as the green famine.  A splash of rain came early that year.  The crops sprang up, everything looked lush, but there was nothing to harvest.  For Tamirat Abaye three years of crop failure had led to extreme poverty.  I had met him and his family the day before this photo was taken.  Zewdi, his 9 year old daughter, was severely malnourished but had been so accommodating, turning for my camera, listening to the instructions.  And this day, from across the crowd, Tamirat had caught my eye and turned to the camera as though giving permission for the picture to be taken, for his story to be told. 

This is the face of extreme poverty, where you watch your children die. 

Currently I am raising funds for Haiti.  For me the important thing is to address both the root causes of extreme poverty and the immediate needs, things like shelter, food, clean water, education and work – simple enough.   Accountability is the other thing.  Many agencies are aware of the need to manage gifts and see the positive results for gifts given.  If you want to help check my message below or contact me direct.     

Thanks.

© Photo copyright Jim Loring/Tearfund.  No reproduction without permission.

This blog is a response to the needs I see.  My plan is to find grassroots projects that are addressing both the root causes and immediate needs of those living in extreme poverty.  I will pass on 100% of any gift given to help.

Checks should be made payable to ‘Community Partnership of Rabun’, marked ‘MyWorld/Haiti’ and sent to Community Partnership/MyWorld, 196 Ridgecrest Circle, Clayton, GA 30525, USA 

Thanks!   

© All other photos copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

The Shack

The Shack The story and thoughts behind one photo

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and as we remember was hit by a massive 7.1 magnitude earthquake just outside the capital, Port au Prince on January 12^th 2010.  Locals speak of the double devastation as the impact has spilled way beyond the capital and into the rural areas where there is little infrastructure and people live a subsistence life. 

Denis and Sylvania Desir remember it well.  Sylvania told me, “All of us got out while walking on dead people.  People were under the walls shouting, “Please save me!”, while the walls were falling, while walking on them.  We were so in trouble.”  Her husband Denis recalls, “I was upstairs in the house when the earthquake happened; all of us were in the house.”  Sylvania said, “I could not work out what it was, a very loud noise.  I tried to step out of the house but the noise was getting louder.  I went back and noticed my son – I took him and laid down while my husband was upstairs with the elder.  As I stood a piece of wall fell on us, my son was hit under his eye but not bad.” 

Before the earthquake Denis Desir remembers life being good.  “We had enough to take care of our family.”, now he says, “I see only death in front of me.”  They live in a shack, sleep on cardboard each night while the ants bite.      

© All Photos copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

This blog is a response to the needs I see.  My plan is to find grassroots projects that are addressing both the root causes and immediate needs of those living in extreme poverty.  I will pass on 100% of any gift given to help.

Checks should be made payable to ‘Community Partnership of Rabun’ marked ‘MyWorld/Haiti’ and sent to Community Partnership/MyWorld, 196 Ridgecrest Circle, Clayton, GA 30525, USA 

Thanks!   

© All Photos copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

First post

First Post The story and thoughts behind one photo

Thought this would be fun and at the same time a place to chat about the things that have had such an impact for me while travelling overseas... so it’s probably not going to be a light read but hopefully provocative without being too much in your face – in one sentence I would have this blog spot ‘create debate and positive change’. 

I am in Haiti right now.  I arrived Friday evening in a rural village.  At about 2:00 am loud wails, screams from across the street – my son is dead.  When I arrived they were holding a prayer meeting for the man in his twenties who has had some kind of stroke.  He died in the night.  The whole community has rallied.  The funeral will be tomorrow.  Now whether this man’s death could have been avoided, it has been suggested it is as a result of untreated high blood pressure, will probably be unresolved.  For his family a devastating event not only because of the obvious loss but as he represented economic hope for the whole family, now their hope is ‘like a boat floating adrift’.

In yet another land where there is extreme poverty, (the official definition is to live on less than $1.25/day) – once again it is difficult to wrap one’s mind around the problems let alone the solution.  Every conversation ends with a heart wrenching request for help – and these are genuine needs.  I kind of hide behind a line stating that I want my images and the telling of their stories to generate money to support the people supporting them.  It always feels lame.  And yet at the same time it is the truth.  What I consider one of my greatest sins was not finding a way to give to a family with starving children.  It was an incredibly difficult situation with hundreds in the same state, but this family came to me, asked me – I took their photo and we did generate about $8m – but they still came to me. 

As for this trip, more than ever I am convinced that we need to address the roots of poverty if we are to see any lasting change.  The band aid over a deep wound is never enough but the band aid and getting to the root problem is the right thing to do.  Poverty always comes from a multitude of factors, not easily untangled but some that are being addressed here are education, providing schools for all ages through the community.  Providing healthcare and leading the world in addressing the relationship between hunger, poverty, education and death as a result of TB & AIDS. 

I said I want to create debate and positive change – for the most part this comes down to finding a way to get others to give money... but is that something you want to do?  It is one thing to buy into an idea like the world needing to change, or eradicating this new poverty – new to the 20^thcentury anyway.  But what would make it easy for you to give... how much would work for you?  This can’t be about creating guilt and then a request for a one off gift to ease a conscience – a nasty business, patronizing to both the people receiving help and those giving it.  Here’s another question then, what would inspire you to give? 

Here’s a list of possibles:  Knowing the people who are being helped?  Knowing exactly what difference your gift had made?  Knowing that the root cause was being addressed?  Knowing that issues of trade and justice were being addressed?  Being personally connected somehow?  Receiving a gift in return... like a photo or welcome package or letter of thanks?  None of the above, all of the above, nothing at all as it would take heaven and earth to get you to respond – after all we all know the story of the Good Samaritan and the sheep and goats, we all know that it is a Christian imperative to care for the poor when we see them.  Perhaps this is the truth – but deep down I don’t think it is.  I think all people have a generous spirit just waiting to be unlocked.  We know we are connected and when we meet we sense it and the barriers and prejudice come down.  Through a handshake or a smile, or as a result of the kind of contact I had today when I spoke with the parents who have just lost their son, when they asked me to pray in their house, in the room where he died the night I arrived. 

© All Photos copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.

This blog is a response to the needs I see.  My plan is to find grassroots projects that are addressing both the root causes and immediate needs of those living in extreme poverty.  I will pass on 100% of any gift given to help.

Checks should be made payable to ‘Community Partnership of Rabun’ marked ‘MyWorld/Haiti’ and sent to Community Partnership/MyWorld, 196 Ridgecrest Circle, Clayton, GA 30525, USA 

Thanks!   

© All Photos copyright Jim Loring.  No reproduction without permission.