In the Shoes of a Journalist

My experiences and thoughts as a journalist, traveler, performer, and more, figuring out and appreciating life.

[reportagebygettyimages]

Last Friday, the Chinese government announced it would end all commercial sales in ivory by the end of 2017, shuttering the world’s largest ivory market, one which has been a driving force for elephant poaching in Africa. Conservation groups are celebrating the sales ban as a massive blow to ivory trafficking and poaching, which have decimated Africa’s elephant populations in the last decade. The shutdown of the market will occur in phases, starting with the closure of legal ivory factories, such as the one run by the China National Arts and Crafts Corporation, photographed here in 2011 by Getty Images Reportage photographer Brent Stirton. This factory was supposedly the world’s largest ivory carving facility, employing more than 20 carvers and processing 750kg in raw ivory annually. After the shutdown, China’s Ministry of Culture will reportedly transfer legal ivory to museums and help industry workers find related jobs.

See more of Brent’s work on the ivory trade on the Reportage website.

[usatoday]

Comfort dogs are bringing smiles and hugs to the people of Orlando.

[amnestyusa]

It’s not too late to start writing for rights! Last year 3.2 million actions were written during one week; this year, lets aim even higher! YOU can have an impact on the lives of others. Get started NOW.

[nataliempate]

Advice from my mentor

Food for thought from my mentor today - News doesn’t happen in the office. Walk around, change your surroundings, find another story. 

[usatoday]

Proof that Stephen Hawking is the coolest. Ever.

http://usat.ly/1Owd0Jj

[usatoday]

The Supreme Court began hearing arguments today in a case that will determine whether same-sex marriage becomes legal nationwide, or whether states retain the authority to ban it. A decision is expected by late June.

[nataliempate]

Thank you so much for featuring me, HBIC Project! I'm thrilled and very honored. Thank you for all you do.

[nataliempate]

Shutting down the Brooklyn Bridge #BlackLivesMatter #Brooklyn #Amnestym2m #AGM

[nataliempate]

Rain or shine... or snow... we are standing up against police violence and racial discrimination #BlackLivesMatter #Brooklyn #Amnestym2m #AGM

[nataliempate]

"I'm an Activist"

It's interesting, in my opinion, that when I say, "I'm an Activist," I say it with pride. Similarly though, others fighting for what they believe to be "the right thing," also describe themselves that way, even though we may have drastically different opinions, methods, etc. This seems obvious, but to me it wasn't. Activists don't always agree. We frame ourselves as 'the activists' vs. 'the system,' 'the problem.' Rarely do we recognize people fighting from opposing sides as "activists" as well - probably because we don't give as much validity to the things they are fighting for...hm... food for thought.

[profeminist]

"That’s one way to do it: a gender-neutral bathroom sign in San Francisco." 

Photo by Cory Doctorow

Source

[gauteweb]

A witness confirmed to Amnesty International that the flogging of Saudi Arabian activist Raif Badawi took place this morning after Friday prayers in front of al-Jafali mosque in Jeddah. 

Raif Badawi had been sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes and a fine of 1 million Saudi Arabian riyals (about US$266,600) last year for creating an online forum for public debate and accusations that he insulted Islam.

The full sentence of 1,000 lashes will be carried out over a period of 20 weeks. 

Source: Amnesty International

[instagram]

Growing up near Wild Cattle with @livingitrural

To see more photos of cattle in the wild, follow @livingitrural on Instagram.

“People look at me in disbelief and think I’m nuts when I lay down next to a 800kg bull to take his picture,” says Remo Jacobs (@livingitrural).

The 17-year-old student from Gangelt, Germany, grew up with Scottish Highland cattle. The animals were reintroduced into the wild in a nature protection area close to Remo’s house when he was four years old. Knowing the herd for over 13 years, Remo can now read the body language of the cattle. “If a cow looks at me and then looks away after a few seconds I know I can come closer. But if the animal stops and stares at me, it feels threatened.” Remo is particularly taken with the calves. “I just lay in the grass and wait. They’ll approach curiously, and often I can pet them.”

[miss-malaphor]

By Bill Bramhall

[v01ded-deactivated20150422]

So physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted from this week but it’s not over. The protests aren’t over, the conversations aren’t over, the fight isn’t over.

[committeetoprotectjournalists-d]

Amid Hong Kong protests, journalists battle misperceptions of press freedom

By Shirley Yam for the CPJ. She is the Hong Kong Journalist Association’s vice president. Press Freedom is like oxygen to many of us in a free society. That has been my belief when I started the campaign for that course, but I am beginning to believe I could not have been more wrong.

My first wake-up call came a day after the Hong Kong’s first press freedom rally in February. The Hong Kong Journalists Association had organized it to protest the increasingly tight media controls in the world’s freest economy.

We had been seeing independent voices coming under pressure. Kevin Lau, the respected chief editor of Ming Pao—one of the few remaining independent newspapers—was sidelined to its online medium shortly before he was attacked by knife-wielding men in February. A key government critic, Lee Wai-ling, was fired by Commercial Radio without any explanation whatsoever. Many long-time columnists started coming under heavy pressure from editors to lower the criticism in their copy.

Thousands joined the early rallies to show their anger over these developments. But not all our colleagues take the same view. A privately-owned radio station invited me to talk about the rally. In the live program, I said the association would be speaking to some secondary schools on the importance of press freedom.

"So you are going to brainwash our kids," replied the host, who was once a journalist. To her, press freedom was not something neutral, something that everyone understands to be fundamental for democracy.

Continue reading

Photo: Rain falls on Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay (Felix Wong)

[aljazeeraamerica-blog]

What is Ello?