crossing borders project

Rev Mwen-Dreams

2012-05-25T18:30:00.000+02:00

A beautiful video of Dreams filmed in two art communities in Port-au-Prince of Atis Resistans and Lakou Pi. Okay, now I need to buy a video camera!

Haiti: Donations and Money

2012-05-21T19:23:00.000+02:00

Susan Brannon
21 May 2012
Haiti, Donations and the Money

I have been hearing a lot lately that everyone is scared to donate to non-profits anymore and the non profits are needing donation to keep their work moving in Haiti. There was a documentary film titled, "Where did all the money go?" by filmmaker, Michele Mitchell. The film raised a lot of questions and alarmed quite a few people. With myself living abroad, it is not so easy to view these films, and I have not seen it, but I have heard of the effects of this film due to ever decreasing donations to a variety of non-profits.

The non-profits are responding with new "transparency" guidelines so the donors can see exactly where the money does go. We all know that it does cost something to keep a non profit going, the employees do need a salary in order to survive, an office needs to exist in order to communicate and there are travel expenses, organizing expenses, visibility expenses, research expenses and so on. This is understandable, but what about the tons of money that is spent on CEO salaries for example, one known non-profit's CEO receives a $500,000 yearly salary. It reminds me of the corporate CEO scandals, you know one of the CEO's for a defense contractor just purchased an apartment in New York for 12 million dollars. That is what happens with our tax money, and now we are concerned about what happens with our good hearts donating money for "great causes" to help those who need help…even when we can use a helping hand.

I am not down on helping others by no means, I am a volunteer director of a non-profit for Haiti, a real grassroots organization. This means that we really work with local Haitians, and their organizations and try to help provide them with the tools and education so they can learn to get on their own feet in spite of the economic crisis. I am not paid. I have to pay my own way, plane and all and from overseas that is not inexpensive. Our donor amount has tumbled almost to nothing, yet we are hanging on and it is our true vision to make a difference, one life, one person at a time.

I must admit, in some ways, it is really difficult for me to watch the UN workers make $5,000 a month with free room and board, great benefits free transportation. While locals who are lucky enough to work with them, get paid 1/4 to 1/10th of that wage while reading about the tons of waste in the money that has been donated from concerned people worldwide.

Anyway, this article was not intended as a place for me to whine about my own personal anger on this issue but about what happened to the money that was donated to Haiti?

There is an estimated $12 Billion dollars that was donated over the past two years worldwide. However, the figures do vary but this is what I have found so far:

The UN estimated that international donors gave Haiti over $1.6 billion (about $155.00 per Haitian) and over $2 billion in recovery aid (about $173.00 per Haitian) This money bypassed the Haitian government and Haitian existing non-governmental organizations, and diverted back into their own governments and external international non-profits and private companies.

The United States allocated $379 million in aid and sent in 5000 troops. An Associated Press investigation discovered that from that money 33 cents of each dollar went back to the US for reimbursement for sending the military; 42 cents of each dollar went to private and public non-profits like Save the Children, the UN World Food Program and the Pan American Health Organization. That left .25 cents to give to the Haitians and/or their government.

The United States allocated $1.6 billion in relief money, spent in about the same way:
$655 million was reimbursed to the Department of Defense
$220 million to the Department of Health and Human Services for grant to individual US states to cover services for Haitian evacuees
$350 million to USAID
$150 million to the US department of Agriculture for food assistance
$15 million to the Department of Homeland Security (?) for immigration fees.

International assistance spending was about the same as America:
They started with around $2.4 billion dollars
34% went back to the donor's civil and military for disaster response
28% was given to UN agencies, and non-profit agencies, specific to UN projects
26% went to private contractors and other non-profits
6% provided "in-kind" services to recipients
5% went to the International and national Red Cross
1% went to the Hatian government
get this…four tenths of 1% went to the Haitian non-profits.

The Center of Economic and Policy Research, analyzed all of the 1490 contracts awarded by the US government at the sum of around $194 million:
$4.8 million went to 23 Haitian companies (2.5% of the total)
$76 million (39.4%) went to Washington DC contractors…
I could not find out where the rest went…

A further breakdown:

The American Red Cross received over $486 million in donations. They say that two-thirds went to contracted for relief and recovery efforts, yet the details of those efforts are not transparent. The CEO receives a yearly salary of $500.00 per year for example, and could be part of the spending.

USAID received $8.6 million under a joint contract with CHF for debris removal. CHF is a well-connected international development company with an annual budget of over $200 million. Their CEO made $451,813 in 2009. They are a partner with the Livingston Group, headed by the former Republican Speaker-designate for the 106th Congress, Bob Livingston for lobbying and government relations. He was appointed by President Clinton to serve in the Department of Commerce and as a member of the foreign policy expert advisor for the Obama President Campaign. CHF has two spacious mansions in Port au Prince and maintains a fleet of brand new vehicles. (Rolling Stone)

$1.5 million was contracted to the NY based consulting firm Dalberg Global Development Advisors. The team has never lived overseas, did not have disaster experience or background in urban planning and has never carried out any program activities on the ground. To top that off, only one employee spoke French.

I am sure that you remember the advertisements when George W. Bush and Bill Clinton teamed together for a fundraising venture for Haiti? They receive $54 million dollars from the American public. Did you ever wonder what happened to that money? Well, they donated $2 million towards the construction of a Haitian $29 million for profit luxury hotel. However, they did partner with several Haitian and international organizations.

Some of the money did not get there:
UN countries pledged $5.3 billion over two years and a total of $9.9 billion over three years. The money was to be deposited into the World Bank and distributed by the IHRC, who was co-chaired by Bill Clinton and the Haitian Prime Minister. In July 2010, Bill Clinton reported that only 10 percent of the pledges had been given to the IHRC.

As of 2012 (January) less than 1% of the $412 million US funds that were allocated for infrastructure reconstruction activities has been spent by USAID and the US State Department. Only 12% has been obligated, according to the US Government Accountability Office. The Miami Herald noted as of July 2011, $3.2 billion in projects approved by the IHRC commission (Interim Haiti Recovery Commission) but only five have been completed with a total of $84 million. The IHRC, has been criticized by the Haitians and has been suspended as of October 2011. The Haiti reconstruction fund was set up to partner with IHRC, and while they are suspended…no one can move forward.

The problems:

It is reported that 37,000 NGO's are operating in Haiti. There is a communication problem between the non-profits, the Haitians, the International NGOs (non profits), and the local government as well as the UN. There is a chronic lack of accountability and transparency as to where and how the money is to be spend/or being spent.

The Haitians were never included or consulted as to where the money should go and what they needed to rebuild their own country. How would you feel if another country came into yours to "help" but never involved your government in the process? After all, it is these people who will need to continue to re-build their country when all the money is gone.

Many foreign organizations prohibit staff from traveling through certain areas of Port-au-Prince, or they’re forbidden to visit without an SUV with locked doors and windows, a local driver, and a security detail. Private security companies and insurance policies often dictate such travel guidelines. Offices and housing for foreign NGOs and aid agencies working in Haiti are concentrated in Pétion-Ville, an affluent section of the capital home to classy hotels and vibrant restaurants. But the concentration of expats also presents a cluster of targets for crime; the relatively upscale area can be just as dangerous as many other parts of the city. In March 2010, for example, two Swiss employees of the NGO Doctors Without Borders were kidnapped in Pétion-Ville after a night on the town and held for one week. The organization would not disclose whether it paid a ransom for their release.

Kramer with Doctor's Without Borders, says "many of the security measures that foreign organizations take actually increase risks for aid workers, because the restrictions hinder international staff’s ability to forge relationships with locals and build community ties—further hampering their ability to work effectively and efficiently."

She describes it from locals’ point of view: “You come into my neighborhood and you’re already afraid of me? Well, that’s offensive. So I think it engenders a feeling immediately of sort of defensiveness in communities, understandably.” And aid projects suffer as well. She says that she’s sensed tremendous frustration among international employees working with large NGOs who feel disconnected from the people they’re here trying to help.

Two researchers for the Center for Global Development, Ramachandran and Walz point out, the authors of the review couldn’t determine the effectiveness or impact of aid because of a “disquieting lack of data.” "Part of the problem seems to stem from how data collection and management is viewed by aid workers and USG employees, who made up the vast majority of sources for the review. The report states:

During the Haiti response, limitations related to information management followed two major lines. First, there were limited data available for tactical and operational decisions; and second, there were overwhelming requests for data and information from policy leaders in Washington that made systematic data collection more difficult. These demands were often driven by reports in the media."

Haiti is not Immortal

2012-05-20T22:44:00.000+02:00

Re-posted from PMMDaily Blog
John Carroll Ph.D
The situation is serious. The Nation is not immortal, it is dying. The country is short of breath, [...] he world attended, without illusions, to the sad spectacle of Haitian political impasses that succeed by partisan rivalries and sterile, of inquisition on issues foolish such as dual citizenship, while Haiti needs the cooperation of all his daughters and all his son, to see them answer to the appeal of the ancestors, so often sublimated, become a dead letter: 'Unity is strength!' Of the union we have nothing to do, we prefer the division and endless confrontations. [...] we have only for force that of sinking further our land and a population in the poverty, the abject poverty, the misery, the confusion.

It happens to me, I confess, to be ashamed of this pathetic betrayal of our achievements and our conquests of yesteryear. Betrayal of our noblest aspirations to freedom, equality and fraternity. Betrayal of our highest dreams to break all the chains.

I hurt in my heart of Haitian to be challenged by them, smile, pulling the line and only see in Haiti a country ruined, deliquescent, without compass, without State, without a future, a rotten trunk, a world of corruption and some don't hesitate to describes it, of incapable.

Michaelle Jean

Cholera Outbreak: Haiti

2012-05-20T17:17:00.000+02:00

Susan Brannon
20 May 2012

The first cholera outbreak occurred in late October 2010 and had nothing to do with the earthquake of January 2010. The outbreak occurred in the Artibonite valley which is around 100 kilometers north of Port-au-Prince. According to Wikipedia there has been 7,500 deaths and 290,491 hospitalized and 540,145 cases.

There has been a rising concern of another outbreak due to the rainy season, and infected water in 2012. Medical organizations have been asking for funding for vaccines to help prevent and/or lower the risk of contamination to the population. Funding and medical support has been hard to come by and it seems that the world has plain forgotten the Haitian people.

For over 100 years Haiti has not documented a single case of cholera.

Cholera had entered the Artibonite River, Haiti's longest, 60 miles upstream ó most likely from a leaky latrine at a United Nations camp for peacekeeping troops, who carried it from Nepal. As a result, many people in Ballange got sick, and some died.

A UN team investigated samples of the sewage spill from the peacekeeping base, and Vincenzo Pugliese of MINUSTAH confirmed that the tests were negative for cholera. However, this matter is under dispute. The World Health Organization (WHO) said the cause of the outbreak is "not important" because they need to think of the public health response in Haiti. WHO is not sure if they will ever investigate the cause. The Center for Disease Control agrees with WHO and feels that they may never find out the cause of the outbreak. However on the other side, John Mekalanos, a cholera expert feels that it is important to know the origins of the outbreak in order to identify the "strain" that is involved and how to predict its behavior.

A few weeks ago, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has been concerned about the upcoming rain season and an increased outbreak devastating the lives of the Haitians. As of 9 May, MSF reported that the number of cases has quadrupled in less and a month to 1,600 cases in Port-au-Prince. "There are many meetings going on between the UN, the government and humanitarian partners but no one is coming up with any concrete solutions." More than half of the organizations that were in the Artibonite region in 2011 are not there anymore and those that stayed are short of drugs and some staff have not been paid since January. In the meantime, cholera is entrenched in the environment.

On April 12th, Partners in Health started to immunize in the slums of Port-au-Prince and areas in the Artibonite river valley to 100,000 Haitians; only 1 percent of the population. The shots need to be given in two doses over a two week period for them to work. Shanchol, the vaccine producer in India for this pilot project will use up almost all the current world supply of the vaccine.

The Haitian health minister, Dr. Florence Duperval Guillaume, approved the project in December whereas, the previous administration opposed the vaccination. There are concerns regarding the vaccine because the concern is not the vaccine, but creating public awareness and education on sanitation and the use of portable water. However, cholera won't wait for improvements that have yet to occur in that department.

At this moment there are eight million Haitians that lack potable water or proper sanitation. This cannot be done in five years, so in the end, the vaccine is important and there is not enough to go around; this is the concern.

However according to a Haitian radio program, there are ethical concerns regarding the vaccines. The vaccines have never been used in an ongoing outbreak situation with cholera which makes this a "trial situation" that is used on the Haitian people. The broadcast generated the awakening of the ethics committee, yet the trial gained its approval.

Vaccines are complicated, you must give them during certain times with a specific time in between, and cannot be given in correlation with the polio vaccine for children under 10-years old. This makes giving the vaccine complicated because they have to wait until the children has received their polio vaccine, track them down to give them the cholera vaccine.

Individuals can prevent or reduce the chance they may get cholera by hand washing, avoiding areas and people with cholera, drinking treated water or similar safe fluids and eating cleaned and well-cooked food. In addition, there are vaccines available that can help prevent cholera, although they are not available in the U.S. and their effectiveness ranges from 50%-90%, depending on the studies reported. The vaccines are oral preparations as injected vaccines have not proved to be very effective. Two vaccines (Shanchol and mORC-VAX) are composed of killed V. cholerae bacteria and without the enterotoxin B subunit. Unfortunately, both offer protection for only about two years. Both vaccines are given in two doses, about one to six weeks apart. Unfortunately, the vaccines have limited availability; their recommended use is for people going to known areas of outbreaks with the likely possibility the person may be exposed to cholera.

In the end, cholera will again take its tool in Haiti and who knows how many more lives it will take while the rest of the world, forgets Haiti.

Related links:
Dady Chery
Medecins Sans Frontiers
IPS News
Haiti: Quick Facts
The Crossing Borders Facebook Group
The Crossing Borders You Tube Page
The Crossing Borders on Idealist Looking for volunteers worldwide

Haiti: Quick Facts

2012-05-19T10:21:00.000+02:00

Susan Brannon
19 May 2012

Haiti Quick Facts

The Crossing Borders Project is going to Haiti, to see what life is really like over there. The different sub-cultures explain Haiti Today (2012) with different perspectives. The Crossing Borders Project wants to know what is "really" going on. First we have what I call the large corporation type aid workers, who received a ton of money and people are wondering where the money went. (More of this on a different post) Second, we have the Haitians who's problems are never ending and not getting much better; HIV is at a height, recent outbreaks of Cholera at an increasing level and is feared to increase during this years rainy season; (more on this is a different post) water is scarce, and many homes have not been rebuilt while crime is rising.

I have listed some quick "getting to know Haiti" facts

Total population 10,033,00
Life expectancy m/f 60/63
probability of dying under five (per 1000 live births) 87
80% of the Haitians live below the poverty line
Half of the population can be considered "food poor or insecure" and half of the children are under developed as a result of malnutrition.
Less than half of the population has access to clean drinking water
43% of the target population receives the recommended immunizations.
Half of the population can be considered "food poor or insecure" and half of the children are under developed as a result of malnutrition.
Haiti ranks last in the Western hemisphere
The ratio of nurses and physicians are 11/25 per 100,000
Most of the rural areas do not have access to health care, making them susceptible to treatable diseases.

There are over 600,000 Haitians living in tents and temporary structures. Port-au-Prince is still the most affected area in the center and through the south of the city to the Carrefour, Leogane and Petit Goave district.

Cholera had entered the Artibonite River, Haiti's longest, 60 miles upstream ó most likely from a leaky latrine at a United Nations camp for peacekeeping troops, who carried it from Nepal.

This is a country only a few hours away by plane from the United States.
This is a country where billions of dollars have been donated and much of it used to support the aid agencies.

The Crossing Borders Project only has two weeks to let the Haitians tell their stories through the visual image so we can see their lives through their eyes.
Related Links:
Cholera Outbreak Facts
Dady Chery
Medecins Sans Frontiers
IPS News
Haiti: Quick Facts
The Crossing Borders Facebook Group
The Crossing Borders You Tube Page
The Crossing Borders on Idealist Looking for volunteers worldwide

Crossing Borders Book in Digital!

2012-05-06T15:02:00.003+02:00

The Crossing Borders Book - The West Bank is now available in digital format! It is good for ipads, kindle's and other formats. The digital book costs less than half of the printed version. You can purchase it on Amazon. Help support independent journalism and documentary photography. Soon we will be out with a printable pdf format.

Our next project will be in Haiti in June 2012. It will take 2-3 months to finish the project for viewing. We are still looking for volunteers to help finish the elderly project, and for the Haiti project! Send an email if you are interested.

Confused...

2012-05-06T13:31:00.001+02:00

Google and this blog is driving me crazy, I had a nice site that took a long time for me to figure out, then they decide to come up with a "new look" and I clicked the button to "preview" and whollah, all was lost. I stayed at the "New view" for a while, but I lost my pages and side bars with all the good stuff on it. (I did save the template) Today, I decided to go back to the old look and they said, "you must update your template." So I clicked on the button, to update and go back to the old view and again...whollah! I lost the three columns and design that I worked so hard on. Now, you are viewing the two columns and missing the wonderful image that I put in the top. (So much work). I included an option to click on "new view" if you liked how it was before I went back to this on...ummm what to do and how do I upload my old template? Actually, I like the new view, but I cannot seem to get the pages on the top, unless you go to this format first, then click on new view! Happy surfing!

Mirrors and Shoes - Joe Buissink

2012-05-03T23:01:00.000+02:00

Famed wedding photographer Joe Buissink shares his story. I thought is was a perfect story to put on this project! Being that the project is all about documentary photography and stories from around the world.

Medjugorje message a follow up

2012-04-27T09:22:00.000+02:00

Susan Brannon If you remember from my previous articles on Medjugorje, it is a place where people go from all over the world to pray to and hear messages from Mother Mary, Mother of Jesus. The Crossing Borders Project did a project over a five day period at Medjugorje, Bosina. Once in a while someone sends me the recent message that was received from one of the six chosen people at Medugorje: Italian/English

"Cari figli! Anche oggi vi invito alla preghiera e che il vostro cuore, figlioli, si apra a Dio come un fiore verso il calore del sole. Io sono con voi ed intercedo per tutti voi. Grazie per aver risposto alla mia chiamata."

"Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer, and let your heart, little children, open to God like a flower toward the sun's heat. I am with you and intercede for you all. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Related articles and links:
A Glimpse into Medjugorje
Medjugorje: Short film
Voices: The Crossing Borders Project: Medjugorje; short film(Matteo)
Voices: The Crossing Borders Project: Medjugorje: short film (Olimpia)
Voices: The Crossing Borders Project: Medjugorje; short film (Susan)
Voices: The Crossing Borders Project: Medjugorje: short film (Franca)
Medjugorje: Five Main Messages
Medjugorje short article

Buy Something

2012-04-18T22:44:00.000+02:00

There are many ways to help support independent journalism and freelance photographers like myself and the options (that I can think of) are listed below!

Prints and other things

You can purchase any of my images, in digital format, print (any size) framed or unframed, create a calender, make T-Shirts, coffee mugs and the list goes on...just click on this link: Susan's Smug Mug
Scroll through the categories and images until you find something you like!

My Book: The Crossing Borders Project
This book are the results from a project in The West Bank of Israel, Aida Refugee Camp women, Ramallah Women and Ramallah Teens. The Crossing Borders Project conducts photography workshops with groups who want to generate their own voices through documentary photography and tell their own stories rather than the mainstream media doing it for them. This project humanizes the human, reflecting realities on social and Human Rights injustices. This book is 84 pages, full color images and soft bound, printed in Italy. Please click on S. Brannon Photography website to preview the book and to order! If you like any of the images in the book for print, please contact me to inquire. This is the first in many series regarding the results of The Crossing Borders Project.

Take one of my Photography Workshops or Photo Tours
To view details of the Photo Tours or workshops click on S. Brannon Photography Workshops website
I currently am offering:

1/2 day and full day photography tours in Florence and Rome, Italy
Three day workshops in Tuscany, Italy based in Florence
Five day workshops in Tuscany based in Siena or Florence; in Israel and Photojournalism workshops in the West Bank.

Hire Me!
I currently work under contract for non-profit organizations to assist with visibility, media, and communications. If you are a company who would like some assistance, please contact me.
I have worked for the World Bank, various United Nations Agencies, Reuters, Ap, ANERA, A-Mid East, Lutheran Foundation, Eritaj Foundation, World Trade Center and have been published worldwide.

CISPA and Journalism

2012-04-18T18:16:00.001+02:00

18 April 2012
This is not about photography, per se..but the CISPA bill will effect us all and if any of you out there want to be a photojournalist then your ability to "report" will become more and more limited. You will loose your "freedom" to create documentary photography stories that you may want to create. Your work will become limited. I remember when I was working during the Bush administration, covering the conflict in the Middle East, I could not publish many realities in American news outlets. We could not publish images of American soldier coffins with flags, no one would purchase photo stories about the defense contractors in Iraq, or the gas lines. My images and stories were published all over the world, except for in America. I became black listed for such behind the scene stories. I was relieved when Obama took office, and I would have the ability to tell the American people and survive, behind the scene stories once again. Well folks, CISPA will change all that, and more forever...and it could get much worse.

The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act is a bill that would allow companies doing business in the US to collect records of American citizens online activities, worldwide. This includes all American journalists, photographers, investigative journalists, news agencies, associations, You Tube and bloggers. This is a bill in my opinion, is very serious indeed.

It was developed to help stop "cybersecurity threats" and for "cybersecurity purposes" The bill is weak in definition, and it does not narrow the categories that the companies are to report to the American government. This leaves the door open to any kind of interpretation, censor any speech that a company believes could "downgrade the network." It is supposed to "protect theft or misappropriation of private or government information." This includes intellectual property. This gives a powerful weapon to close websites that provide important information to the American public and to the world. The New York Times, could face problems with this bill because they published information from WikiLeaks. They could censor international sites from American view who has information that the government does not want the American people to know about.

It reminds me of the European history pre-WWII, or the American Japanese scare and arrests on American soil. I don't want to be forced to "wear a star" so others can identity me as a "cyber terrorist", or a "propaganda terrorists", (a new term that I read about lately, more on that later) and an American enemy, because I am writing this article. As far as I am concerned this is the next step towards Fascism, by controlling the people, controlling the media and inserting fear that you may just get arrested the next time you cross over into American borders.

How does the CISPA effect journalists?
The bill disregards our Fourth Amendment rights as they apply to journalists and documentary filmmakers working on subject matter related to US military operations, foreign policy and other subjects that the Homeland Security finds offensive.

Wait, what does homeland security have to do with CISPA the "internet eye in the sky?" It has everything to do with it, when a person writes "keywords" that are a concern to American homeland security, that person is added to a "Homeland Security watch list" and if that person is researching, investigating, photographing, filmmaking on any of these subjects, then they will be added onto this list. When someone is on the list, then the government, Homeland Security will have the right to arrest, question, or detain that person without any explanation, rights to make a phone call, for any amount of time and without any legal representation. Now that is a hard call and a scary one.

The fourth amendment reads: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Is not the passing of CISPA creating the legal ability for the government (what ever branch) to follow citizens actions, opinions, online published papers, published articles, images, or emails and conversations using the written word or even voiced such as on Skype or Google, against the fourth amendment? This action will Kill the Forth Amendment.

In the end, it boils down to who is reading the key words and what kind of mood they are in that day if they report you or not. If anyone in the corporation feels that the citizen in this case, journalist, is approaching information that concerns the said "national interest, sensitive, secret or protected from disclosure then that information," journalist will be considered a "threat". Remember it is the government or "homeland security" that can distinguish which materials are public or protected from disclosure not the companies.

CISPA puts the companies into the position of becoming "informers" with the promise of shielding them from any legal responsibility. The government and these companies, (see supporters of CISPA list) tell the citizens that the law protects the populations and tech companies from cyber attacks.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers"

That freedom was suppressed in Germany by President Paul Von Hindenburg, as Adolf Hitler was coming into power. Hitler suppressed press freedom through the Joseph Goebbels' Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda where which the government acted as a central point for all media, issuing orders as to what stories could or could not be told. In this way, important realities were kept from the citizens and the journalists did not have a choice to take action in fear of execution.

This bill instills increased fear among the American people. I always hear people say, "Well, I'm not doing anything wrong, they can do what they want. I have nothing to hide." Wait a minute, does this mean because you are a "good person" that you will watch our civil rights drift away? What happens when you become really angry about what can most likely happen in America's future when our freedoms are really gone and you want to say something or do something about it, like create a petition? If the CISPA bill passes, you will be faced with the fear regarding, your postings on Facebook, web searches, sending emails, writing blog posts, any communication online...for fear that someone could "come knocking" on your door. This has already happened to over 50,000 American citizens, and some of them have quietly been deported.

If "they" don't like what you are doing, they will have the right to: shut you down, your website, your blog, your business, and your existence.

Reporters Without Borders put it this way, "The definition of potential threats is even broader. It targets ‘‘efforts to degrade, disrupt, or destroy” a system or network, the “theft or misappropriation of private or government information, intellectual property, or personally identifiable information”. CISPA in its current form is written in broad scope. The information that the companies share is not narrow and limited. Information sharing should be about increasing Internet users' security, not government surveillance.

Related Articles:
Stop the Cyber Intelligence Sharing Protection Act

CISPA Supporters List

True America: Where Lies Become the Truth
Procedures for handling Assemblies and Mass Demonstrations in D.C.

The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA)

2012-04-18T15:48:00.001+02:00

18 April 2012
The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) would allow companies doing business in the US to collect exact records of all of our online activities and hand them over to the US government, without ever notifying us that we are being watched. No warrant, no legal cause and no due process required. To make matters worse, the bill provides the government and corporations with blanket immunity to protect them from being sued for violation of privacy and other illegal actions.

The bill’s supporters claim that consumer information will be protected, but the reality is that huge loopholes would make everything we do online fair game -- and nowadays, from banking to shopping, our private information is all stored on the Internet.

CISPA is being moved forward in Congress and will be voted upon in days. Let’s raise a massive outcry to stop corporations from giving the US a blank check to monitor our every move.

Right now, the US is poised to pass a new law that would permit US agents to spy on almost everything we do online. But we can stop them before the final vote.

Companies that we trust with our personal information, like Microsoft and Facebook, are key supporters of this bill that lets corporations share all user activity and content with US government agents without needing a warrant in the name of cyber-security -- nullifying privacy guarantees for almost everyone around the world, no matter where we live and surf online.

If enough of us speak out, we can stop companies that profit from our business from supporting cyber-spying. Sign the petition to these key net corporations now:

Click below to take action:

Avaaz

This year, we helped stop SOPA, PIPA and ACTA -- all dire threats to the Internet. Now, let’s block CISPA and end the US government attack on our Internet.
Related Articles:
Stop the Cyber Intelligence Sharing Protection Act

CISPA Supporters List
CISPA and Journalism
True America: Where Lies Become the Truth
Procedures for handling Assemblies and Mass Demonstrations in D.C.

The Regime - PBS - Syria Undercover

2012-04-12T17:45:00.001+02:00

Photography Articles

2012-04-11T19:44:00.000+02:00

Below are links to Photography tips and lessons

They are not in any specific order. Just scroll down until you find something interesting!

This was a page, now its a post, due to the new format for this blog...I can't seem to revert to the old...so please check back once in a while on this page...to see updates..ummm.

Working with Apertures and the F-16 Rule
The larger the aperture in a camera is the hole or opening through which light travels this part of the camera is called an iris.

Censorship, the Media and the Lack of Information

13 May 2011, Italy - The Internet was a main source in organizing the dates, times and places for the demonstrations in almost all of the Middle East uprisings. As a result, Libya has blocked all social networking sites...

Tips on How to Use our Disposable Camera
We have been distributing quite a few cameras lately without conducting our famous workshop to offer tips in person regarding the camera.

Documentary Photography Lesson 1
Documentary photography is often used to incite political and social change due to its ability to capture the “true” nature of an image or location.

Documentary Photography Lesson 2
"In documentary photojournalism, it is wrong to alter the content of a photograph in any way (electronically, or in the darkroom) that deceives the public." ...

Ethics and Creditibility

"We have many problems in journalism today that threaten our profession and in fact threaten the Constitution of our country. Photo-ops, lack of access to news events...

Ethics in the Age of Digital Photography

In one of the early Digital Conferences, the Rev. Don Doll, S.J. pointed out that there are degrees of changes that can be done electronically to a photograph. There are technical changes that deal only with the aspects of photography that make the photo more readable...

Four Easy Steps to Lean Panning

Have you ever tried to take photographs of moving subjects and everything always came out blurry? Have you ever wondered how the sports and war photographers capture crisp images of the subject, while the background has movement or blur?

Henri Cartièr-Bresson

Henri Cartièr-Bresson was considered the father of modern photojournalism. He used the 35mm format, and mastered candid photography. He helped develop street photography or

“real life reportage”

Holga Camera

The Holga camera is an inexpensive medium format “toy camera” made in China. The camera is known for generating pictures of blur, leaking light, distortions and vignetting

Photojournalism Code of Ethics

Visual journalists operate as trustees of the public. Our primary role is to report visually on the significant events and varied viewpoints in our common world. Our primary goal is the faithful and comprehensive depiction of the subject at hand.

Photojournalism: Ethics and Personal Taste

Honest photographs can have an ethical dimension when it concerns the personal ethics of the photographer. Did the photographer violate some ethical standard in the process of making the picture?

Photojournalism and Visual Lies

It is time to get back to the theme of this report - the ethics involved with the use of computers to process images....

Propaganda and Historical Events

History is defined as, “a record of narrative description of past events”, “all that is remembered of the past as preserved in writing; or images; a body of knowledge”

Street Photography: Lesson 1 What is Street Photography?

To answer the question “What is street photography?” is quite simple yet complex. It is taking images in public places, like a part, an urban setting, a small town, conventions; public places that the photographer chooses to take images.

Street Photography and camera's

Normally, in street photography, the photographer wants a natural look of the environment. You don’t want to pull out your 24-70 mm lens when trying to create the natural environment because it grabs too much attention!

Street Photography Tips

Visual Journalists Operate as Trustees

What is the Difference Between Street and Documentary Photography? There are various opinions between photographers between street, photojournalism and documentary photography. The discussions can become confusing thus leaving the person who asked the questions without any real answers.

Shutter Speed Basics

The shutter is what controls how long the sensor is exposed, the longer the shutter is open the more light can be absorbed onto the sensor. The shutter speeds are controlled in seconds and fractions of seconds.

High Noon Photography Tips

What do you do if you am somewhere when the light is the strongest and you really want to take some images? Remember, photography is based on the amount of exposure of light that is absorbed to your film or sensor. Taking images in the harsh sun can wash out your images, making the colors dull and drab.

Documentary Photography Lesson 2
"In documentary photojournalism, it is wrong to alter the content of a photograph in any way (electronically, or in the darkroom) that deceives the public." The motto of the NPPA.

Tips for Night Photography
It is difficult to take images at night and in low light, but to do so, is the fun challenge in photography! Once, you set out and “practice” you will find your technique and afterwords there will be not a time in the day when you think, “I cannot take a photography because of the light!”

Aperture and f/16 Rule The larger the aperture in a camera is the hole or opening through which light travels this part of the camera is called an iris. The iris is adjustable in in different increments or stops. Each stop or f number allows half the light in as the previous one. The term f-number or f-stop is used to define the ratio of the focal length to the diameter of the aperture.

Bracketing

Cameras do not see the world the way that we do, and sometimes we find that an image is too dark and you cannot distinguish any detail. The camera is based on the different hues of gray.

Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds helps you to produce better images. It is something most people learn in beginning photography classes and is a useful rule to remember when framing your subject! Of course, rules can be broken, but if you break this rule, remember the rule and know why you are breaking it!

Depth of Field

he depth of field is the amount of your image beyond and before your focal point that will be in focus. Normally, for landscape, you want a large depth of field and to have everything in focus to capture the beauty of the scene.

Photography Basics
The word “photography” is French derived from the Greek language, in English it means “drawing from light”. Photography is really all about light and how the camera works.
In a camera, light travels from the object to the sensor in film cameras. The light goes through the lens to the sensor.

Common Photography Terms

Most common photography terms from A-Z

Focused Bracketing or Photo Stacking

This is useful with limited depths of field mostly used in macro photography where you can focus the subject at different positions. Take several images of the same subject each with a different focus spot.

Exposure

Exposure is how much light is absorbed into your cameras sensor. If the shot is exposed for too long, the image will be “washed out”, by letting too much light exposed to your film or digital sensor. If the image is too dark, then the exposure was too short.

our film or digital sensor. If the image is too dark, then the exposure was too short.

Jeffrey Pine - Adams
Jeffrey Pine, Sentinel Dome - 1940. Adams too this image with his 4" x 5" view camera. Today, the hike up the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall is short, accessible, and heavily trafficked. John Muir, in his book "

Moonrise - Adams
Moonrise, Hernadez, New Mexico - Was one of his most famous. The ititial publication of Moonrise was in U.S. Camera 1943 annual. For nearly 40 years, Adams re-interpreted the image using the latest darkroom equipment at his disposal, making over 1,300 unique prints, mostly in 16" x 20" format.

Photo Bucket List
"How about you? Do you have a photography bucket list? Starting one should be easy. It doesn’t have to be a formal list or look a certain way. You can make it anyway you like.

Autumn Moon - Adams
1948, the images was taken from Glacier Point at Yosemite National park on September 15 at around 7:03 pm. Adams is famous for recording details in this image.

Ansel Adams
I must write about Adams, Ansel Adams has been the environmental legendary photographer who captured Americas beauty through the lens. He is known for his black and white photographs that resound with shadows and light. In my opinion, he has been one of the best photographers in our American history.

Tips for Beautiful Landscapes
There are many types of landscapes. Rivers, mountains, forests, desert, swamps and each place has their own personality. Find that personality, why is the Negev desert different than the Sahara desert? You want to reflect that in your image. Don’t just take an image of a bunch of sand blowing in the wind. Your image needs to show the places distinct beauty.

How to Avoid Camera Shake
Why do my images turn out blurry? It is called camera shake, we all have shaky hands. To get a good sharp image:.....

Tips for Outdoor Photography
Outdoor photography is similar to landscape photography. But more than landscape, you take images of mother- nature, animals, trees, or water!
Here are some quick tips to help you get out of the box:

Quick Lesson on Camera Filters
You can get some really nice and creative effects using filters during the actual shooting, rather than using your processing software. The filters are used normally for color correction, to compensate the effects of lighting that is not balanced.

Perspectives in Photography
Photography is not only cropping, cleaning and auto balancing your image to make that great shot. However, I understand that in commercial, portrait, and creative photography, cropping, resetting, and altering the images is the norm. Who wants to look at an advertisement for beauty cream with the face all blotchy and full of pimples?

All About Journalism

2012-04-11T19:40:00.000+02:00

Below are links to journalism related articles on this blog. This was a page, now its a post (due to the new design...and I can't revert...at the moment) So...check back once in a while to see what is new!

Propaganda: Egypt Opens Gazan Borders
When first read the article “Egypt Gazan Borders Opens Permanently “Egypt Gazan Borders Opens Permanently” on the Huffington Post, I was ready to go outside and dance in the streets and then I wondered why others were not going outside and dancing? This was good news!

Propaganda and Historical Events

History is defined as, “a record of narrative description of past events”, “all that is remembered of the past as preserved in writing; or images; a body of knowledge”...

Ethics in the age of digital photography/altering images (NPPA Article)

In one of the early Digital Conferences, the Rev. Don Doll, S.J. pointed out that there are degrees of changes that can be done electronically to a photograph....

Ethics in the age of digital photography/personal taste (NPPA article)

Honest photographs can have an ethical dimension when it concerns the personal ethics of the photographer. Did the photographer violate some ethical standard in the process of making the picture?...

Photojournalism code of ethics (NPPA)

Visual journalists operate as trustees of the public. Our primary role is to report visually on the significant events and varied viewpoints in our common world....

Copyright SBrannonPhotography © 2011

Articles

2012-04-11T19:37:00.000+02:00

This was a page, now it is a post....check back once in a while, because I will add to it. These are articles of concern, that I investigated and wrote about, on the side of my projects! these have been published, and if you want to publish, just send an email and ask! here: srobens@gmail.com
The Story about GM Seeds
June 9, 2011Genetically Modified (GM) seeds have been introduced into the world from the early 1990’s. The seeds are mainly soybean, corn, canola, and cotton. The seed was developed to increase food production, lower production costs and lower the amount of pests that destroy the crops. The process is the insertion, deletion or transfer of genes. They add a genetic material into an organism. GMO’s are used in biological and medical research, the production of pharmaceutical drugs, gene therapy and agriculture....

Our Food System and GM Seed Studies

June 10, 2011 "We now know that when you insert a gene - when you randomly throw this thing in there, they don't know ahead of time where it's going to land," says Clark. The researchers don't know how many copies will be inserted, or what other genes it will affect, or will affect it. We now know that the position of a gene is critical to how it functions, and side effects of this are unpredictable and could be drastic”, Clark, a doctor in BioTechnology, reports this lesson is in one of the first courses in BioTech....

Propaganda: Egypt opens Gazan Borders
May 29, 2011 -When first read the article “Egypt Gazan Borders Opens Permanently “Egypt Gazan Borders Opens Permanently” on the Huffington Post, I was ready to go outside and dance in the streets and then I wondered why others were not going outside and dancing? This was good news!...

WHO and H1N1 Swine Flu

One year in prison and 250,000 fine if you do not take the shot...a proposal on the pandemic...
The video says...they, but I am not sure who they is....is this human rights? Don't we have the right to choose?...

The Alarm Arrives in a Nutshell H1N1

November 2009, Rome, Italy - The Alarm of the Virus in Europe is that the H5N1strain that can be transmitted from birds to human from feces droppings into the sand then transferring into the air. This is how the avian virus can spread from animal to human, and then from human to human. My attempt to see what is happening and the risk for Italy is quite difficult because Italian is not my forte of languages. When I attempted to search on the internet about the virus and Italy, I find only the accounts for the UK, Scotland andIreland, which are the European English speaking countries....

Swine Flu Virus H1N1: What's Going On?

November 20, 2009- You know, there are many kinds of wars, war of violence, wars in business, war in the environmental resources and war over the rights of people....Plus Video

H1N1 Virus Old News: 2005

November 15, 2009- I think that it is interesting if we just research some of our recent history we would see that these virus's seem to be changing, and returning. I found an old posting in 2005 about the bird flu, I posted on my other website (through the lens) a recent update.

H1N1 Virus and the Slow Reporting of WHO

November 23, 2009 - I find it interesting that the concern over the H1N1 Virus that caused so much money to be spent, so much time and fear...that the WHO website, latest posting is on 17th of October below

Investigative Topics Published

The Story About GM Seeds

Our Food System and GM Seeds

Labeling of GMO Food Products sign the petition

Bad Seed - the Dangerous Truth About Our Food (Video)

US against Europe over Monsanto GM Food Crops (Video)

Fake Foods Help Yourself with GM Treats! (Video)

GM Food Brands

Economy
Thank You Mr. Boehner
Debt Plan Fact Sheet
Our Tax Dollars at Work
Satellite View of Foreclosures
American Struggling Middle Class (Video)
Global Confidence in Economy Collapses
Crime Against Humanity
Which Countries Have the Most Days Off?

Photography Workshop Tours

2012-04-11T19:27:00.001+02:00

(This was a page....now it is a post)

Our 2012 Tours are scheduled and you can help support Independent Journalism, and the Crossing Borders Project by taking one of our Photography Workshops! To see the list of tours scroll down below and click on the links for more information!

If you are planning to travel to Italy or Israel in the near future, why not include a photography workshop in your calendar? We provide both a personal tour while working on sharpening your photography skills. You will walk away with a local view of the culture, life and landscape along with prize winning images to include in your photo album all at a very reasonable cost!

Our mentorship is personal according to your level and photography needs. Susan has a double masters one in photography and the other in conflict analysis. She also has a BS in archeology with 7 years of Middle East archeological experience, including photographing various sites in Israel.

Susan Brannon is now offering 5 day photography workshops in Tuscany, Israel, West Bank and Kenya .

We go off the beaten path and work on composition, scene selection, light and shadow, culture and editing. The workshops start before sunrise in the mornings, a break for lunch and reviews and editing and then out to the field a few hours before sunset in order to work with the best possible natural lighting.

Not only do you gain knowledge in photography, but you also will learn some local history both cultural and archeological!

You need to have your own digital camera, tripod, and laptop with Photoshop. It is best to have an SRL digital camera with different lenses. You are responsible for your own flights, hotel and food.

Who is Susan Brannon?

Susan Brannon is a photojournalist with over a decade of field experience. She has recorded the lives of the people of Palestine, Israel, Iraq, and other theaters of conflict and war. Brannon’s photographs are simply about people: their passions, their struggles, their lives. Her images have appeared on international front page newspapers, magazines, book covers and various promotional materials for international non profits. She writes “I am interested in gathering the truth of events, the behind the scenes stories, rather than the mainstream headline news.”

Brannon’s work is influenced by a background in archeology, anthropology, and international development: all studies in the change and growth of culture and humanity. Her images create an intimacy between subject and viewer beyond the norm of typical journalistic imagery. She does this by not just being a passive observer and outsider to an event, but instead working as an active and engaged participant in the lives she records.
Susan Brannon freelances for both Reuters and AP; has contracted with International NGO's; and recently has been producing photography workshops. Brannon is also the founder and director of the Crossing Borders Project, an internationally traveling exhibition of image and text recorded by and about the lives and struggles of the people of Palestine and other underrepresented groups.

Tuscany Workshops:
Three types of workshops through the months of March - May 2012. In May the flowers are in bloom and the weather is not too hot. The landscape is coming alive and we won't have to walk through too many puddles!
Dates:
March 15th-20th Chianti: based in Siena
April 5th - 10th: Chianiti: based in Florence
May 12th-17th: Chianti: based in Siena
For more information: Tuscan Photo Workshops

Israel
For this tour we cover a lot of territory in a few days; you will learn history (using my archeological degree) and the walks of Jesus. There is so much to see and take images of, that the days will be packed so you will need to come rested!
Dates:
June: 12th-17th: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Negev Desert
July 4th - 9th: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Negev
For more information: Israel Photo Workshops

West Bank:
For this tour you will learn on the Palestinian life and culture; we will be viewing the wall and walking along it on the Palestinian side, capturing images of the Palestinian history, culture and any news events that may occur.
Dates:
June: 21st-28th: West Bank areas of Bethlehem; Hebron; Jericho and Ramallah.
July 15th - 20th: West Bank Photojournalism Workshop
For more information: West Bank Photo Workshops

To inquire for more information or to book email me at:
info@sbrannonphotography.com

Copyright © 2012 Susan Brannon Photography. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of anything on this website is limited to direct response to the author, and or referenced to the author. All other forms of transmission, reproduction or broadcast outside of these are strictly prohibited without written permission from Susan Brannon. The contents in this website are the intellectual property of Susan Brannon.

The Project

2012-04-11T19:23:00.000+02:00

I just changed my layout and my pages do not show up...I am in "testing mode" of this blog. I like the new layout, any feedback will be welcome!
I am making this page to see if it shows up. (It did not work! I had to make a post)
I offer photography workshops in Italy and Israel, please click here to learn more. This is a new mode of "survival" for me, rather than covering conflict zones.
If I can revert to my old blog, I can find the pages and put links here....check back later.

The Crossing Borders Project is now working with editing videos from the elderly in assisted living centers. I can't wait to see how they come out! Most of the folks were interviewed on video.

The next project will be titled, "Sisters"
The city of Florence, Italy is a sister of Portland, Oregon. Funny, I have homes in both places! What a small world.
I am going to take images of Florentines and Portlanders then combine them into a book. I will seek funding for the project on Kick Starter and ask for sponsors from both cities! Wish me luck.

In the meantime, I will be going to Haiti, so I can't wait to see what the folks there will take images of!
More later.

In Calif.'s `Last Frontier,' an Unsure Future

2012-04-02T12:56:00.001+02:00

Twitter Censorship

2012-01-28T07:41:00.001+01:00

Susan Brannon
Is the censorship by Twitter connected to the recent SOPA/PIPA proposal? It seems strange that once everyone blacked out and petitioned the SOPA deal, Twitter decided to censor tweets. Who is to really decide what tweets are approved and which ones are not?

As we know, Twitter was a major resource for the gathering of thousands in the Arab Spring and a resource for thousands to keep people on the outside involved in the situation.

As a journalist, twitter is a main aspect for me to follow issues and concerns and I sure that it is the same for activists. So now what? Will I not be able to follow a tweet from Syria because, the U.S. government decides that I, an American should not know what it going on over there? Will I not be allowed to really know what is going on over there?

I have been covering war, physically from the inside and I know that what makes it into mainstream news, is not really the reality many times over and over. I can understand the global governments are concerned on the Arab Spring spreading onto other revolutions in different countries. Well, it already has.

What about our own 99% vs the 1% Wall Street Occupy sit ins? I believe that this censorship should be scraped, done with and it should not have been a nano second of a thought or consideration for Twitter. Here is why:

This takes away from our freedom of expression
The freedom of the right to assemble and organize
The freedom to communicate with those we want to communicate with from any border
Twitter is selling people out who need a place to have a voice
Twitter is committing social suicide
If censorship starts to happen, then we all loose.
Twitter is putting themselves in the place of the government's mercy. Not run by them, but in the end will be run by the government.

Twitter said, "no plans to remove tweets unless it receives a request from government officials, companies or another outside party that believes the message is illegal."

Okay, so the government can tell us what, who and where we can speak.
There will be a Twitter for Democratic countries and a Twitter for the other.

Medjuorge Message 25 January

2012-01-28T07:05:00.001+01:00

Sent by the Medjugorge participants.
In Italian then in English

"Cari figli! Anche oggi vi invito con gioia ad aprire i vostri cuori e ad ascoltare la mia chiamata. Io desidero avvicinarvi di nuovo al mio cuore Immacolato dove troverete rifugio e pace. Apritevi alla preghiera affinché essa diventi gioia per voi. Attraverso la preghiera l'Altissimo vi darà l'abbondanza di grazia e voi diventerete le mie mani tese in questo mondo inquieto che anela alla pace. Figlioli, testimoniate la fede con le vostre vite e pregate affinché di giorno in giorno la fede cresca nei vostri cuori. Io sono con voi. Grazie per aver risposto alla mia chiamata".

"Dear Children, Also today I call you with joy to open your hearts and listen to my call. I want to get close again to my Immaculate Heart where you will find refuge and peace. Open yourselves to prayer so that it becomes a joy for you. Through prayer Almighty give you an abundance of grace and you will become my extended hands in this troubled world that yearns for peace. Little children, bear witness to the faith with your lives and pray that every day spread the faith in your hearts. I I'm with you. Thank you for having responded to my call. "

SOPA PIPP Protest please click here to sign

2012-01-19T05:39:00.001+01:00

Today After The War joins with other sites in a virtual strike to protest two proposed laws in the United States, called SOPA and the PROTECT IP Act. On January 24th, the U.S. Senate will vote on the PROTECT IP Act to censor the Internet, despite opposition from the vast majority of Americans.

Join us to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity.

http://americancensorship.org/

WTF is SOPA ? aka The American Government trying to ruin the internet

2012-01-19T04:40:00.000+01:00

Once we were young - Age Concern campaign video

2012-01-16T09:34:00.000+01:00

Age Discrimination - Ageism in America

2012-01-16T08:31:00.000+01:00