PHOTO: Uganda Sudan Border Project

The border between Uganda and Sudan is now home to more than one million refugees - fleeing civil war on the Sudan side and rebel insurgency on the Uganda side. Most seek protection in camps like the one above, though life in such camps is anything but easy.

Photographer Stephen Alavarez has spent four years documenting the tragedy unfolding in the region. Check out his photographs.

BOOK: John Wood and Room to Read

John Wood, the founder of Room to Read, is about to publish his memoir - detailing how he left Microsoft to promote literacy and education by setting up libraries in the developing world.

The book - aptly called Leaving Microsoft to Change the World - is due out August 31.

John would like to enlist 5000 "buzz agents" to help him promote this book, which I suspect will become essential reading for all "social entrepreneurs."

If you'd like to help out, send an email to book@roomtoread.org

Global Youth Fund Blog

Just want everyone to know that we've launched a new blog and a new podcast over at The Global Youth Fund, our sister project. :)

Please check it out.

Joyeux Noel!

It sounds too good to be true but at the beginning of World War One in 1914, hundreds of British, French and German soldiers fighting each other in front line trenches laid down their weapons for a cease fire and even shared chocolates and champagne! The reason: it was Christmas Eve.

A new French film Joyeux Noel tells the story of this remarkable event that marks a point in history where soildiers stop shooting at an enemy and recognise each other as people, people who share the same interests and in civillian life may even have been friends.

It brings to light the de-humanising aspects of war and soldiers which not only happens between enemies but also by onlookers such as ourselves. These men who were teachers, bakers, plumbers, students and shop-keepers in their 'real lives' showed what can be achieved when people understand each other.

They were fighting someone else's war and had the sense of mind to be able to recognise that and suspend the fighting for a short time of peace.

Keep an eye open for the film and consider the reality of the hundreds of children fighting in the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda and all over the world, who haven't got the chance to take a break from the bullets and the killings for Christmas.

Child Soldiers: Is a child a rebel?

'It is tempting to think that if they had been stealing oil rather than children, the rest of the world would have paid more attention'

(Callum Macare BBC News April 2004- Filmmaker and Journalist)


As soon as the child becomes a soldier, the tables have turned and the reality is that they are now a rebel! They are the enemy, they are a Maoists or the LRA who will be fought against accordingly. The question is, how can a government justify a 'military victory' over the slaughter of an army of children?

Callum Macrare witnesses 'Ugandas Fallen Child Rebels' here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3608003.stm

The World's Greatest Silent Battle

It's World AIDS Day today which means that it's a day to consider what the global implications of this syndrome are and what role we play in the whole scheme of things.

Today 40.3 million people around the world are living with HIV and AIDS:

• 25.8 million of which are in Sub-Saharan Africa
• 2.3 million of which are under the age of 15
  

Awareness and education are the key issues yet millions of people around the world don't know how HIV is contracted.

Don't be left in the dark, be aware and educate yourself!

http://www.worldaidsday.org/default.asp

Child Soldiers: A Difficult Concept

I find it hard work getting to grips with scenarios such as child soldiers, especially living in an area of non-violence. I'm sure child soldiers themselves find it hard to understand their own situations.

After being told about a situation I always find myself asking questions such as: Why are there child soldiers involved in violent conflict? Why isn't it being stopped? How many child soldiers are there? Where does it happen?

It is estimated that some 300,000 children - boys and girls under the age of 18 - are today involved in more than 30 conflicts worldwide. Children are used as combatants, messengers, porters and cooks and for forced sexual services. Some are abducted or forcibly recruited, others are driven to join by poverty, abuse and discrimination, or to seek revenge for violence enacted against them or their families. Unicef

Why is this allowed to happen?

There are measures in place to stop the use or children in warfare yet they are extremely difficult to regulate. It is illegal in most countries to allow armed forces to use child soldiers but not all countries follow these international laws. One of the main problems with international law is that it is not at all recognized by non-state armed groups eg. the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda.

Using child soldiers is actually encouraged by many groups in conflict. As horrific as it may be, there are benefits to using child soldiers above adult combatants and until the benefits to an army of using child soldiers are outweighed by the negative effects such as international pressure, it will continue to happen.

Why are children used as soldiers?

• they can be trained easily either by force, brainwashing, fear or all three
• they can be physically or mentally controlled more easily than adult soldiers
• they cost less to feed
• they can be fiercely loyal
• they don't realize the potential dangers and abuses they face
  

Have a look at UNICEF's user friendly website for more info and some opinions from children around the world:

http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/sowc/explore_1654.html