pummeled with tank fire mortar rounds riots for breath women who tried to
riots for breath women who tried to
riots for breath women who tried to commit suicide by setting themselves on
commit suicide by setting themselves on
commit suicide by setting themselves on fire
fire
fire many many women were dying in childbirth
I was kidnapped by Qaddafi’s troops
I was kidnapped by Qaddafi’s troops there was no place to hide
there was no place to hide
there was no place to hide [Music]
so I was 26 the first time I went to
so I was 26 the first time I went to Afghanistan and I had been living in
Afghanistan and I had been living in
Afghanistan and I had been living in India at the time and I had a roommate
India at the time and I had a roommate
India at the time and I had a roommate who went to Afghanistan under the
who went to Afghanistan under the
who went to Afghanistan under the Taliban and he came back and he said you
Taliban and he came back and he said you
Taliban and he came back and he said you know you’re a woman you should go to
know you’re a woman you should go to
know you’re a woman you should go to Afghanistan and photograph women living
Afghanistan and photograph women living
Afghanistan and photograph women living under the Taliban because no one’s doing
under the Taliban because no one’s doing
under the Taliban because no one’s doing it and he didn’t tell me that
it and he didn’t tell me that
it and he didn’t tell me that photography was illegal at the time that
photography was illegal at the time that
photography was illegal at the time that you couldn’t photograph any living thing
you couldn’t photograph any living thing
you couldn’t photograph any living thing and that there was no American Embassy
and that there was no American Embassy
and that there was no American Embassy and that the only governing body was the
and that the only governing body was the
and that the only governing body was the Taliban which was ruled by Sharia law uh
Taliban which was ruled by Sharia law uh
Taliban which was ruled by Sharia law uh but I was 26 and I didn’t care and so I
but I was 26 and I didn’t care and so I
but I was 26 and I didn’t care and so I went and I took some pictures of women I
went and I took some pictures of women I
went and I took some pictures of women I kept my cameras in my bag and I ran
kept my cameras in my bag and I ran
kept my cameras in my bag and I ran around to people’s homes and I went to
around to people’s homes and I went to
around to people’s homes and I went to the hospitals
the hospitals
the hospitals this was a woman’s hospital in 2000
this was a woman’s hospital in 2000
this was a woman’s hospital in 2000 there was no medicine very few doctors
there was no medicine very few doctors
there was no medicine very few doctors this was a woman in labor this is a very
this was a woman in labor this is a very
this was a woman in labor this is a very typical scene on the streets of Kabul
typical scene on the streets of Kabul
typical scene on the streets of Kabul this was the capital at the time there
this was the capital at the time there
this was the capital at the time there were almost no cars women beggars were
were almost no cars women beggars were
were almost no cars women beggars were really the only women you would ever see
really the only women you would ever see
really the only women you would ever see on the street any form of entertainment
on the street any form of entertainment
on the street any form of entertainment was illegal there was no music no
was illegal there was no music no
was illegal there was no music no television no cell phones so when I
television no cell phones so when I
television no cell phones so when I would go to Afghanistan at the time I
would go to Afghanistan at the time I
would go to Afghanistan at the time I would literally fall off the face of the
would literally fall off the face of the
would literally fall off the face of the planet I would have no idea what was
planet I would have no idea what was
planet I would have no idea what was happening outside of Afghanistan this
happening outside of Afghanistan this
happening outside of Afghanistan this scene happened I was out at a refugee
scene happened I was out at a refugee
scene happened I was out at a refugee camp because there was a drought in
camp because there was a drought in
camp because there was a drought in Herat which was Western Afghanistan and
Herat which was Western Afghanistan and
Herat which was Western Afghanistan and I was with my driver and he said madam I
I was with my driver and he said madam I
I was with my driver and he said madam I have to go early because my brother is
have to go early because my brother is
have to go early because my brother is getting married and I said great let’s
getting married and I said great let’s
getting married and I said great let’s go to your brother’s wedding
go to your brother’s wedding
go to your brother’s wedding so he took me and I brought one camera
so he took me and I brought one camera
so he took me and I brought one camera one lens and I hung out and I had been
one lens and I hung out and I had been
one lens and I hung out and I had been on a street like the picture you had
on a street like the picture you had
on a street like the picture you had just seen and we descended down these
just seen and we descended down these
just seen and we descended down these stairs and the Titanic was blasting and
stairs and the Titanic was blasting and
stairs and the Titanic was blasting and men and women were dancing together and
men and women were dancing together and
men and women were dancing together and this was all under the Taliban in secret
this was all under the Taliban in secret
this was all under the Taliban in secret about nine years later National
about nine years later National
about nine years later National Geographic assigned me to photograph
Geographic assigned me to photograph
Geographic assigned me to photograph women and after
women and after
women and after Stan and I spent about two years
Stan and I spent about two years
Stan and I spent about two years photographing and the changes that had
photographing and the changes that had
photographing and the changes that had been made were astonishing to me I had
been made were astonishing to me I had
been made were astonishing to me I had been working pretty much consistently in
been working pretty much consistently in
been working pretty much consistently in Afghanistan since 2000 so I went almost
Afghanistan since 2000 so I went almost
Afghanistan since 2000 so I went almost every year and my last trip was about
every year and my last trip was about
every year and my last trip was about five months ago this is a wedding the
five months ago this is a wedding the
five months ago this is a wedding the man on the right is the father of the
man on the right is the father of the
man on the right is the father of the groom and he is a filmmaker in
groom and he is a filmmaker in
groom and he is a filmmaker in Afghanistan this is a typical scene of a
Afghanistan this is a typical scene of a
Afghanistan this is a typical scene of a midwife this is in Badakhshan province
midwife this is in Badakhshan province
midwife this is in Badakhshan province and that province has very few roads so
and that province has very few roads so
and that province has very few roads so many many women died in childbirth in
many many women died in childbirth in
many many women died in childbirth in Afghanistan mostly because of the lack
Afghanistan mostly because of the lack
Afghanistan mostly because of the lack of access to hospitals and doctors so
of access to hospitals and doctors so
of access to hospitals and doctors so what you see here is a women a midwife
what you see here is a women a midwife
what you see here is a women a midwife from Merlin and she would go out into
from Merlin and she would go out into
from Merlin and she would go out into very remote villages and they would make
very remote villages and they would make
very remote villages and they would make an announcement at the mosque and
an announcement at the mosque and
an announcement at the mosque and pregnant women and women with young
pregnant women and women with young
pregnant women and women with young children would come and meet with her
children would come and meet with her
children would come and meet with her and after spending about two weeks in
and after spending about two weeks in
and after spending about two weeks in Badakhshan province I was driving back
Badakhshan province I was driving back
Badakhshan province I was driving back to Faizabad which was the capital and I
to Faizabad which was the capital and I
to Faizabad which was the capital and I noticed these two women on the side of
noticed these two women on the side of
noticed these two women on the side of the mountain and I said that’s strange
the mountain and I said that’s strange
the mountain and I said that’s strange there’s no man with those women and
there’s no man with those women and
there’s no man with those women and anyone who’s worked extensively in
anyone who’s worked extensively in
anyone who’s worked extensively in Afghanistan knows that there’s always a
Afghanistan knows that there’s always a
Afghanistan knows that there’s always a man with a woman so we stopped the car
man with a woman so we stopped the car
man with a woman so we stopped the car and dr. ziba who was my translator an
and dr. ziba who was my translator an
and dr. ziba who was my translator an amazing Afghan woman she jumped out and
amazing Afghan woman she jumped out and
amazing Afghan woman she jumped out and we ran up the mountain and she said
we ran up the mountain and she said
we ran up the mountain and she said what’s going on and the woman in on the
what’s going on and the woman in on the
what’s going on and the woman in on the right was in labor and her water had
right was in labor and her water had
right was in labor and her water had just broken and they had rented a car
just broken and they had rented a car
just broken and they had rented a car and her husband’s first wife had died in
and her husband’s first wife had died in
and her husband’s first wife had died in childbirth and he was so determined to
childbirth and he was so determined to
childbirth and he was so determined to not have a second wife died in
not have a second wife died in
not have a second wife died in childbirth that he rented this car and
childbirth that he rented this car and
childbirth that he rented this car and they were driving from their village to
they were driving from their village to
they were driving from their village to fisa Baba Capital and their car broke
fisa Baba Capital and their car broke
fisa Baba Capital and their car broke down and so I said get in my car and
down and so I said get in my car and
down and so I said get in my car and I’ll take you to the hospital and they
I’ll take you to the hospital and they
I’ll take you to the hospital and they said we can’t we need the permission of
said we can’t we need the permission of
said we can’t we need the permission of her husband and so I said doctor zebra
her husband and so I said doctor zebra
her husband and so I said doctor zebra go find the husband unfortunately there
go find the husband unfortunately there
go find the husband unfortunately there was one road that led throughout the
was one road that led throughout the
was one road that led throughout the whole problem so she took our car and
whole problem so she took our car and
whole problem so she took our car and she found the husband and they all came
she found the husband and they all came
she found the husband and they all came in my car and she delivered and everyone
in my car and she delivered and everyone
in my car and she delivered and everyone always asked me if I took if I have
always asked me if I took if I have
always asked me if I took if I have pictures of her delivering and I stopped
pictures of her delivering and I stopped
pictures of her delivering and I stopped photographing at the point that I left
photographing at the point that I left
photographing at the point that I left them that I put them in my car because I
them that I put them in my car because I
them that I put them in my car because I changed the story as a journalist and I
changed the story as a journalist and I
changed the story as a journalist and I didn’t feel like it was ethical to keep
didn’t feel like it was ethical to keep
didn’t feel like it was ethical to keep photographing
photographing
photographing many women in Afghanistan end up in
many women in Afghanistan end up in
many women in Afghanistan end up in prison simply for asking for a divorce
prison simply for asking for a divorce
prison simply for asking for a divorce for doing things that in the West we
for doing things that in the West we
for doing things that in the West we would see as not justifiable to end up
would see as not justifiable to end up
would see as not justifiable to end up in prison this is my Dahal she was
in prison this is my Dahal she was
in prison this is my Dahal she was married at a very young age to a man who
married at a very young age to a man who
married at a very young age to a man who was decades older than her he was
was decades older than her he was
was decades older than her he was handicapped so every day her duties as a
handicapped so every day her duties as a
handicapped so every day her duties as a wife or to bathe him and to take care of
wife or to bathe him and to take care of
wife or to bathe him and to take care of him and feed him when she was 21 she
him and feed him when she was 21 she
him and feed him when she was 21 she asked for a divorce and she was thrown
asked for a divorce and she was thrown
asked for a divorce and she was thrown in prison by his brothers this is a
in prison by his brothers this is a
in prison by his brothers this is a young woman women in Afghanistan who are
young woman women in Afghanistan who are
young woman women in Afghanistan who are unhappy or who are shamed they don’t
unhappy or who are shamed they don’t
unhappy or who are shamed they don’t take a gun and try and commit suicide
take a gun and try and commit suicide
take a gun and try and commit suicide the way that we would try to or that’s
the way that we would try to or that’s
the way that we would try to or that’s more typical in the West they set
more typical in the West they set
more typical in the West they set themselves on fire and many of those
themselves on fire and many of those
themselves on fire and many of those women don’t die so I did a series for
women don’t die so I did a series for
women don’t die so I did a series for the New York Times on women who tried to
the New York Times on women who tried to
the New York Times on women who tried to commit suicide by setting themselves on
commit suicide by setting themselves on
commit suicide by setting themselves on fire this young woman had been accused
fire this young woman had been accused
fire this young woman had been accused by her neighbors of stealing and she was
by her neighbors of stealing and she was
by her neighbors of stealing and she was so ashamed that she tried to kill
so ashamed that she tried to kill
so ashamed that she tried to kill herself and she died a few days after
herself and she died a few days after
herself and she died a few days after that picture um with the Americans in
that picture um with the Americans in
that picture um with the Americans in Afghanistan one thing they tried to do
Afghanistan one thing they tried to do
Afghanistan one thing they tried to do was train up a police force of women and
was train up a police force of women and
was train up a police force of women and this is a shooting range outside of
this is a shooting range outside of
this is a shooting range outside of Kabul education has really picked up in
Kabul education has really picked up in
Kabul education has really picked up in Kabul that’s something when I first used
Kabul that’s something when I first used
Kabul that’s something when I first used to go there were secret girls schools in
to go there were secret girls schools in
to go there were secret girls schools in people’s homes hidden from the Taliban
people’s homes hidden from the Taliban
people’s homes hidden from the Taliban and now you see women graduating there’s
and now you see women graduating there’s
and now you see women graduating there’s a women’s boxing team this is a woman in
a women’s boxing team this is a woman in
a women’s boxing team this is a woman in Parliament they’re women in Parliament
Parliament they’re women in Parliament
Parliament they’re women in Parliament sorry
sorry
sorry there are soap operas with women and
there are soap operas with women and
there are soap operas with women and women actresses this is a soap opera set
women actresses this is a soap opera set
women actresses this is a soap opera set in Kabul this is Trina
in Kabul this is Trina
in Kabul this is Trina she’s an actress she did soap operas and
she’s an actress she did soap operas and
she’s an actress she did soap operas and she was also in some movies so in 2009
she was also in some movies so in 2009
she was also in some movies so in 2009 and 2010 I accompanied the Marines
and 2010 I accompanied the Marines
and 2010 I accompanied the Marines Female Engagement teams throughout
Female Engagement teams throughout
Female Engagement teams throughout Helmand province this was a program
Helmand province this was a program
Helmand province this was a program started by the Marines to have American
started by the Marines to have American
started by the Marines to have American women engage Afghan women because many
women engage Afghan women because many
women engage Afghan women because many of the Marines all the Marines operating
of the Marines all the Marines operating
of the Marines all the Marines operating in Helmand province were
in Helmand province were
in Helmand province were and there was a whole 50% of the society
and there was a whole 50% of the society
and there was a whole 50% of the society they couldn’t they couldn’t engage and
they couldn’t they couldn’t engage and
they couldn’t they couldn’t engage and they couldn’t go into people’s homes so
they couldn’t go into people’s homes so
they couldn’t go into people’s homes so they brought women in and they had them
they brought women in and they had them
they brought women in and they had them talk to Afghan women look at them for
talk to Afghan women look at them for
talk to Afghan women look at them for basic medical treatment but it was
basic medical treatment but it was
basic medical treatment but it was fascinating for me because I had been
fascinating for me because I had been
fascinating for me because I had been embedding with the military for many
embedding with the military for many
embedding with the military for many many years but I was always the only
many years but I was always the only
many years but I was always the only woman so it was the first time that I
woman so it was the first time that I
woman so it was the first time that I was able to be around women to go around
was able to be around women to go around
was able to be around women to go around and see how they operate in this hostile
and see how they operate in this hostile
and see how they operate in this hostile environment this is a female Blackhawk
environment this is a female Blackhawk
environment this is a female Blackhawk pilot Jesse and choose to go in and pick
pilot Jesse and choose to go in and pick
pilot Jesse and choose to go in and pick up the injured she was working with a
up the injured she was working with a
up the injured she was working with a medevac team this is some training this
medevac team this is some training this
medevac team this is some training this is all in Helmand province cleaning
is all in Helmand province cleaning
is all in Helmand province cleaning their guns relaxing at night and it was
their guns relaxing at night and it was
their guns relaxing at night and it was the first time you know usually when I
the first time you know usually when I
the first time you know usually when I am bed with the military there’s no
am bed with the military there’s no
am bed with the military there’s no place for me to sleep it’s always this
place for me to sleep it’s always this
place for me to sleep it’s always this big crisis where’s the where’s the
big crisis where’s the where’s the
big crisis where’s the where’s the female journalists gonna sleep and so I
female journalists gonna sleep and so I
female journalists gonna sleep and so I finally was able to sleep on a normal
finally was able to sleep on a normal
finally was able to sleep on a normal cot with a bunch of women really fun and
cot with a bunch of women really fun and
cot with a bunch of women really fun and I loved seeing them still try and do
I loved seeing them still try and do
I loved seeing them still try and do their makeup and be feminine even on the
their makeup and be feminine even on the
their makeup and be feminine even on the front lines and we patrolled and we were
front lines and we patrolled and we were
front lines and we patrolled and we were shot at and this was before 2013 when
shot at and this was before 2013 when
shot at and this was before 2013 when women were allowed on the front lines so
women were allowed on the front lines so
women were allowed on the front lines so this is all in 2010 I love this picture
this is all in 2010 I love this picture
this is all in 2010 I love this picture in 2009 I was given a McArthur
in 2009 I was given a McArthur
in 2009 I was given a McArthur fellowship and I wanted to focus on
fellowship and I wanted to focus on
fellowship and I wanted to focus on maternal mortality and why women died in
maternal mortality and why women died in
maternal mortality and why women died in childbirth and so and it’s a body of
childbirth and so and it’s a body of
childbirth and so and it’s a body of work that I have been doing now for
work that I have been doing now for
work that I have been doing now for about five years and I went to Sierra
about five years and I went to Sierra
about five years and I went to Sierra Leone to photograph in the mob Baraka
Leone to photograph in the mob Baraka
Leone to photograph in the mob Baraka government hospital it was a place that
government hospital it was a place that
government hospital it was a place that I knew many many women were dying in
I knew many many women were dying in
I knew many many women were dying in childbirth and I went there one day and
childbirth and I went there one day and
childbirth and I went there one day and met mama see say she was a woman who was
met mama see say she was a woman who was
met mama see say she was a woman who was pregnant with twins she gave birth to
pregnant with twins she gave birth to
pregnant with twins she gave birth to the first twin in the village and the
the first twin in the village and the
the first twin in the village and the second twin wouldn’t come out so she
second twin wouldn’t come out so she
second twin wouldn’t come out so she took a canoe across the river and there
took a canoe across the river and there
took a canoe across the river and there was an ambulance waiting for her across
was an ambulance waiting for her across
was an ambulance waiting for her across the river and she drove about four hours
the river and she drove about four hours
the river and she drove about four hours across bumpy roads to get to the
across bumpy roads to get to the
across bumpy roads to get to the hospital
hospital
hospital and this is when I met her she had
and this is when I met her she had
and this is when I met her she had delivered the first baby about 24 hours
delivered the first baby about 24 hours
delivered the first baby about 24 hours earlier she was so scared and tired to
earlier she was so scared and tired to
earlier she was so scared and tired to push because she was just exhausted and
push because she was just exhausted and
push because she was just exhausted and she finally gave birth and the baby was
she finally gave birth and the baby was
she finally gave birth and the baby was I thought was stillborn but the nurses
I thought was stillborn but the nurses
I thought was stillborn but the nurses spent about 45 minutes resuscitating the
spent about 45 minutes resuscitating the
spent about 45 minutes resuscitating the baby and they have very little there
baby and they have very little there
baby and they have very little there they don’t have traditional machines
they don’t have traditional machines
they don’t have traditional machines like we do that can oxygen and
like we do that can oxygen and
like we do that can oxygen and everything they’re literally smacking
everything they’re literally smacking
everything they’re literally smacking the baby and trying to bring the baby
the baby and trying to bring the baby
the baby and trying to bring the baby back to life in that time mama si se
back to life in that time mama si se
back to life in that time mama si se started bleeding I thought there was
started bleeding I thought there was
started bleeding I thought there was something wrong but I’m not a doctor I’m
something wrong but I’m not a doctor I’m
something wrong but I’m not a doctor I’m just a photojournalist and so I kept
just a photojournalist and so I kept
just a photojournalist and so I kept asking why she bleeding so much and they
asking why she bleeding so much and they
asking why she bleeding so much and they were just mopping up the blood and
were just mopping up the blood and
were just mopping up the blood and saying she’s fine finally I went to go
saying she’s fine finally I went to go
saying she’s fine finally I went to go get the doctor and he was in surgery and
get the doctor and he was in surgery and
get the doctor and he was in surgery and when I came back her blood pressure was
when I came back her blood pressure was
when I came back her blood pressure was down to 60 over 40 they picked her up
down to 60 over 40 they picked her up
down to 60 over 40 they picked her up and carried her across the hospital
and carried her across the hospital
and carried her across the hospital where the doctor was there was one
where the doctor was there was one
where the doctor was there was one doctor in the entire province and by the
doctor in the entire province and by the
doctor in the entire province and by the time she got there she died this is her
time she got there she died this is her
time she got there she died this is her sister who was also a midwife who had
sister who was also a midwife who had
sister who was also a midwife who had arranged to send her that ambulance
arranged to send her that ambulance
arranged to send her that ambulance because she didn’t want her to die this
because she didn’t want her to die this
because she didn’t want her to die this is the mother finding out that her
is the mother finding out that her
is the mother finding out that her daughter has just died and this is in
daughter has just died and this is in
daughter has just died and this is in the ambulance and I went home with her
the ambulance and I went home with her
the ambulance and I went home with her body and photographed the rituals
body and photographed the rituals
body and photographed the rituals surrounding her death and her burial so
surrounding her death and her burial so
surrounding her death and her burial so two years later I got a call from
two years later I got a call from
two years later I got a call from Doctors Without Borders MSF and they
Doctors Without Borders MSF and they
Doctors Without Borders MSF and they said we saw the story you did and since
said we saw the story you did and since
said we saw the story you did and since then we’ve put five ambulances in BO
then we’ve put five ambulances in BO
then we’ve put five ambulances in BO Province in this one province next to
Province in this one province next to
Province in this one province next to that province I’d been in and they offer
that province I’d been in and they offer
that province I’d been in and they offer 24 hour emergency service to women in
24 hour emergency service to women in
24 hour emergency service to women in Sierra Leone in that province and they
Sierra Leone in that province and they
Sierra Leone in that province and they gave each of the small clinics in the
gave each of the small clinics in the
gave each of the small clinics in the villages a radio and so when a woman
villages a radio and so when a woman
villages a radio and so when a woman went into the clinic with complications
went into the clinic with complications
went into the clinic with complications they could call for an ambulance and
they could call for an ambulance and
they could call for an ambulance and they said with that we’ve reduced the
they said with that we’ve reduced the
they said with that we’ve reduced the maternal mortality rate by 60%
[Music]
[Music] maybe outside the degree you died or
maybe outside the degree you died or
maybe outside the degree you died or after when China’s arching do you die
after when China’s arching do you die
after when China’s arching do you die but we are really still alive so this is
but we are really still alive so this is
but we are really still alive so this is an example of feeling like some don’t
an example of feeling like some don’t
an example of feeling like some don’t survive some
can you talk about maternal health and
can you talk about maternal health and Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone a lot of women died in childbirth here
a lot of women died in childbirth here
a lot of women died in childbirth here in this country
in this country
in this country yes it’s happening though we are having
yes it’s happening though we are having
yes it’s happening though we are having this feared
this feared
this feared it’s not due to certain constraints
it’s not due to certain constraints
it’s not due to certain constraints because some people are still living a
because some people are still living a
because some people are still living a distance even East if it’s not amazing
distance even East if it’s not amazing
distance even East if it’s not amazing how can people listening transport so
how can people listening transport so
how can people listening transport so receive so gets to a place we are the
receive so gets to a place we are the
receive so gets to a place we are the pen mark Center is on the other clinic
pen mark Center is on the other clinic
pen mark Center is on the other clinic is the entity we are doing now I got
is the entity we are doing now I got
is the entity we are doing now I got away again
away again
away again [Music]
[Music]
[Music] ah
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] in 2011 it was February of 2011 and I
in 2011 it was February of 2011 and I
in 2011 it was February of 2011 and I had watched the Arab Spring unfold from
had watched the Arab Spring unfold from
had watched the Arab Spring unfold from on TV while I was sitting in Iraq and
on TV while I was sitting in Iraq and
on TV while I was sitting in Iraq and then I was in Afghanistan and then
then I was in Afghanistan and then
then I was in Afghanistan and then Bahrain and I was always in the wrong
Bahrain and I was always in the wrong
Bahrain and I was always in the wrong place and so I called the New York Times
place and so I called the New York Times
place and so I called the New York Times and I said I’m going to Libya whether
and I said I’m going to Libya whether
and I said I’m going to Libya whether you want to send me or not
you want to send me or not
you want to send me or not and so I went to Libya and like most
and so I went to Libya and like most
and so I went to Libya and like most journalists I crossed illegally from
journalists I crossed illegally from
journalists I crossed illegally from Egypt into eastern Libya and that was
Egypt into eastern Libya and that was
Egypt into eastern Libya and that was really the only way to do it because any
really the only way to do it because any
really the only way to do it because any journalist who wants to cover an
journalist who wants to cover an
journalist who wants to cover an uprising the government generally
uprising the government generally
uprising the government generally doesn’t want journalists there so you
doesn’t want journalists there so you
doesn’t want journalists there so you have to sneak in so when I got there it
have to sneak in so when I got there it
have to sneak in so when I got there it was very euphoric people were really
was very euphoric people were really
was very euphoric people were really celebrating the uprising a parallel
celebrating the uprising a parallel
celebrating the uprising a parallel government was being set up there were
government was being set up there were
government was being set up there were demonstrations people were really happy
demonstrations people were really happy
demonstrations people were really happy they thought Qaddafi was going to fall
they thought Qaddafi was going to fall
they thought Qaddafi was going to fall quickly they called people to fight
quickly they called people to fight
quickly they called people to fight against Gaddafi’s troops and they were
against Gaddafi’s troops and they were
against Gaddafi’s troops and they were clearly untrained with doctors and
clearly untrained with doctors and
clearly untrained with doctors and juniors teachers learning how to use
juniors teachers learning how to use
juniors teachers learning how to use weapons immigrants were fleeing people
weapons immigrants were fleeing people
weapons immigrants were fleeing people who had gone to Libya to work we’re
who had gone to Libya to work we’re
who had gone to Libya to work we’re trying to get boats out of the country
trying to get boats out of the country
trying to get boats out of the country they felt that the fighting was imminent
they felt that the fighting was imminent
they felt that the fighting was imminent and in Benghazi there was really an air
and in Benghazi there was really an air
and in Benghazi there was really an air of tension and about a week after I got
of tension and about a week after I got
of tension and about a week after I got there some rebels started pushing
there some rebels started pushing
there some rebels started pushing forward towards the front line and a
forward towards the front line and a
forward towards the front line and a handful of photographers it’s always the
handful of photographers it’s always the
handful of photographers it’s always the crazy photographers who go forward we
crazy photographers who go forward we
crazy photographers who go forward we started moving forward with Gaddafi’s
started moving forward with Gaddafi’s
started moving forward with Gaddafi’s troops we ended up on the front line
troops we ended up on the front line
troops we ended up on the front line this is Rosslyn oof what you see in the
this is Rosslyn oof what you see in the
this is Rosslyn oof what you see in the background is
background is
background is oil refinery and we followed them as
oil refinery and we followed them as
oil refinery and we followed them as cities fell from Qaddafi’s hands into
cities fell from Qaddafi’s hands into
cities fell from Qaddafi’s hands into rebel hands they went in they would
rebel hands they went in they would
rebel hands they went in they would shoot out pictures of Qaddafi go into
shoot out pictures of Qaddafi go into
shoot out pictures of Qaddafi go into homes the fighting was really
homes the fighting was really
homes the fighting was really disproportionate Qadhafi had a trained
disproportionate Qadhafi had a trained
disproportionate Qadhafi had a trained military and we were with the rebels and
military and we were with the rebels and
military and we were with the rebels and so this is an example of we were on the
so this is an example of we were on the
so this is an example of we were on the frontline it was one road that sliced
frontline it was one road that sliced
frontline it was one road that sliced through the desert from west to east and
through the desert from west to east and
through the desert from west to east and one day we were on the frontline when a
one day we were on the frontline when a
one day we were on the frontline when a helicopter gunship came in directly
helicopter gunship came in directly
helicopter gunship came in directly above us and started spraying the ground
above us and started spraying the ground
above us and started spraying the ground around us with 50 caliber bullets like
around us with 50 caliber bullets like
around us with 50 caliber bullets like this big and they had to fight back with
this big and they had to fight back with
this big and they had to fight back with Kalashnikovs some some of the soldiers
Kalashnikovs some some of the soldiers
Kalashnikovs some some of the soldiers some of the rebels were throwing rocks
some of the rebels were throwing rocks
some of the rebels were throwing rocks up into the air many times they just
up into the air many times they just
up into the air many times they just turn around and fled when Qadhafi’s
turn around and fled when Qadhafi’s
turn around and fled when Qadhafi’s military approached we had been sort of
military approached we had been sort of
military approached we had been sort of spoiled by being with the American
spoiled by being with the American
spoiled by being with the American military the Marines in Afghanistan and
military the Marines in Afghanistan and
military the Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq and it was very different this
Iraq and it was very different this
Iraq and it was very different this particular day we were being pummeled
particular day we were being pummeled
particular day we were being pummeled with tank fire mortar rounds we would
with tank fire mortar rounds we would
with tank fire mortar rounds we would just follow the frontline as they pushed
just follow the frontline as they pushed
just follow the frontline as they pushed back and forward we were really trying
back and forward we were really trying
back and forward we were really trying to get a sense of what was happening and
to get a sense of what was happening and
to get a sense of what was happening and it was before the no-fly zone was put in
it was before the no-fly zone was put in
it was before the no-fly zone was put in place so as journalists we really wanted
place so as journalists we really wanted
place so as journalists we really wanted to show what was happening so that while
to show what was happening so that while
to show what was happening so that while while the no-fly zone was being
while the no-fly zone was being
while the no-fly zone was being deliberated we can provide a first-hand
deliberated we can provide a first-hand
deliberated we can provide a first-hand picture of what was happening on the
picture of what was happening on the
picture of what was happening on the ground the rebels were really getting
ground the rebels were really getting
ground the rebels were really getting injured and killed around us the
injured and killed around us the
injured and killed around us the fighting was very very intense there was
fighting was very very intense there was
fighting was very very intense there was no place to hide we would be on the
no place to hide we would be on the
no place to hide we would be on the frontline and we would hear the hum of
frontline and we would hear the hum of
frontline and we would hear the hum of an aircraft and you would literally just
an aircraft and you would literally just
an aircraft and you would literally just hope that the bomb didn’t land on top of
hope that the bomb didn’t land on top of
hope that the bomb didn’t land on top of you cower and fear this particular bomb
you cower and fear this particular bomb
you cower and fear this particular bomb landed about a hundred two hundred feet
landed about a hundred two hundred feet
landed about a hundred two hundred feet from where we were standing and we
from where we were standing and we
from where we were standing and we pushed forward with them as they took
pushed forward with them as they took
pushed forward with them as they took more ground and several days after that
more ground and several days after that
more ground and several days after that I took this picture I was kidnapped by
I took this picture I was kidnapped by
I took this picture I was kidnapped by Qaddafi’s troops with three other
Qaddafi’s troops with three other
Qaddafi’s troops with three other journalists for the New York Times so
journalists for the New York Times so
journalists for the New York Times so that was the last picture in that series
that was the last picture in that series
that was the last picture in that series luckily I had a premonition that
luckily I had a premonition that
luckily I had a premonition that something might happen so I sent a hard
something might happen so I sent a hard
something might happen so I sent a hard drive out with a with a colleague and
drive out with a with a colleague and
drive out with a with a colleague and said if I get taken please send this to
said if I get taken please send this to
said if I get taken please send this to my agency and that’s how I was able to
my agency and that’s how I was able to
my agency and that’s how I was able to salvage all my pictures
salvage all my pictures
salvage all my pictures last year I wanted to cover what was
last year I wanted to cover what was
last year I wanted to cover what was happening in Syria but my family begged
happening in Syria but my family begged
happening in Syria but my family begged me not to go into Syria
me not to go into Syria
me not to go into Syria so I started covering the refugee crisis
so I started covering the refugee crisis
so I started covering the refugee crisis and I’ve made eight trips to the region
and I’ve made eight trips to the region
and I’ve made eight trips to the region to Turkey Jordan Lebanon northern Iraq
to Turkey Jordan Lebanon northern Iraq
to Turkey Jordan Lebanon northern Iraq and I did go once into Syria and so this
and I did go once into Syria and so this
and I did go once into Syria and so this is a collection of photos of the Syrian
is a collection of photos of the Syrian
is a collection of photos of the Syrian refugees these are refugees streaming
refugees these are refugees streaming
refugees these are refugees streaming into northern Iraq and this is them
into northern Iraq and this is them
into northern Iraq and this is them waiting for handouts in northern Iraq
waiting for handouts in northern Iraq
waiting for handouts in northern Iraq after arriving this is a food
after arriving this is a food
after arriving this is a food distribution in zetha t when there were
distribution in zetha t when there were
distribution in zetha t when there were riots for bread this is a family
riots for bread this is a family
riots for bread this is a family arriving in za to D for the first time
arriving in za to D for the first time
arriving in za to D for the first time and when they’re there getting
and when they’re there getting
and when they’re there getting registered with the United Nations and
registered with the United Nations and
registered with the United Nations and za to D and a family sleeping outside at
za to D and a family sleeping outside at
za to D and a family sleeping outside at dawn in Iraq this is a funeral for a
dawn in Iraq this is a funeral for a
dawn in Iraq this is a funeral for a rebel fighter and they’re cooking the
rebel fighter and they’re cooking the
rebel fighter and they’re cooking the body was still in Syria but this is the
body was still in Syria but this is the
body was still in Syria but this is the family cooking and people were living in
family cooking and people were living in
family cooking and people were living in caves and Lebanon I went back to these
caves and Lebanon I went back to these
caves and Lebanon I went back to these caves several months ago and the
caves several months ago and the
caves several months ago and the families have all been moved into
families have all been moved into
families have all been moved into makeshift camps there are no camps in
makeshift camps there are no camps in
makeshift camps there are no camps in Lebanon because Lebanese government is
Lebanon because Lebanese government is
Lebanon because Lebanese government is does not want formal camp set up this is
does not want formal camp set up this is
does not want formal camp set up this is at a bread distribution in Zaatari and
at a bread distribution in Zaatari and
at a bread distribution in Zaatari and these are the camps on the Syrian side
these are the camps on the Syrian side
these are the camps on the Syrian side of the border people were living in raw
of the border people were living in raw
of the border people were living in raw sewage there were no NGOs working there
sewage there were no NGOs working there
sewage there were no NGOs working there except ihh Turkish NGO at the time and
except ihh Turkish NGO at the time and
except ihh Turkish NGO at the time and this is in Syria that he was a former
this is in Syria that he was a former
this is in Syria that he was a former fighter and he was living in a school
fighter and he was living in a school
fighter and he was living in a school with his family and this is a outside of
with his family and this is a outside of
with his family and this is a outside of a Smuggler’s village in Turkey and I was
a Smuggler’s village in Turkey and I was
a Smuggler’s village in Turkey and I was waiting to try and photograph the exodus
waiting to try and photograph the exodus
waiting to try and photograph the exodus of refugees coming out of Syria and it’s
of refugees coming out of Syria and it’s
of refugees coming out of Syria and it’s a picture that’s very very difficult to
a picture that’s very very difficult to
a picture that’s very very difficult to get as a photographer now because all of
get as a photographer now because all of
get as a photographer now because all of the neighboring countries have really
the neighboring countries have really
the neighboring countries have really shut down their borders and so I stood
shut down their borders and so I stood
shut down their borders and so I stood outside of the smugglers village because
outside of the smugglers village because
outside of the smugglers village because I knew that they were crossing there in
I knew that they were crossing there in
I knew that they were crossing there in every hour so someone would come up to
every hour so someone would come up to
every hour so someone would come up to me and say get out of here we’re going
me and say get out of here we’re going
me and say get out of here we’re going to kill you
to kill you
to kill you and one guy came up to me and he said
and one guy came up to me and he said
and one guy came up to me and he said I’m gonna go get my knife and another
I’m gonna go get my knife and another
I’m gonna go get my knife and another guy came up to me and said just wait
guy came up to me and said just wait
guy came up to me and said just wait till dark
till dark
till dark because when dark comes you’ll see all
because when dark comes you’ll see all
because when dark comes you’ll see all the refugees so I put my cameras in my
the refugees so I put my cameras in my
the refugees so I put my cameras in my back
back
back and I waited and of course a dark they
and I waited and of course a dark they
and I waited and of course a dark they all started streaming out and this is a
all started streaming out and this is a
all started streaming out and this is a family living in a in a camp across from
family living in a in a camp across from
family living in a in a camp across from a formal camp in Turkey they were
a formal camp in Turkey they were
a formal camp in Turkey they were literally living under the trees and
literally living under the trees and
literally living under the trees and this is that same camp I just wanted to
this is that same camp I just wanted to
this is that same camp I just wanted to show you a few on assignment pictures
show you a few on assignment pictures
show you a few on assignment pictures because I think it’s funny this was me
because I think it’s funny this was me
because I think it’s funny this was me in 2001 in Pakistan misses me and
in 2001 in Pakistan misses me and
in 2001 in Pakistan misses me and Fallujah crossing illegally into Darfur
Fallujah crossing illegally into Darfur
Fallujah crossing illegally into Darfur to cover the war in Darfur we had to
to cover the war in Darfur we had to
to cover the war in Darfur we had to walk for three kilometres most of that
walk for three kilometres most of that
walk for three kilometres most of that through Wadi s this is we had lived on
through Wadi s this is we had lived on
through Wadi s this is we had lived on the back of this pickup truck for five
the back of this pickup truck for five
the back of this pickup truck for five days driving through the desert and
days driving through the desert and
days driving through the desert and Darfur this is the Korengal Valley in
Darfur this is the Korengal Valley in
Darfur this is the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan I was embedded with the
Afghanistan I was embedded with the
Afghanistan I was embedded with the 173rd that’s me and my colleague in
173rd that’s me and my colleague in
173rd that’s me and my colleague in Afghanistan that’s me in that same
Afghanistan that’s me in that same
Afghanistan that’s me in that same colleague sort of like being an actor
colleague sort of like being an actor
colleague sort of like being an actor and this is us hiding in that silo and
and this is us hiding in that silo and
and this is us hiding in that silo and Libya on the front line and this is ass
Libya on the front line and this is ass
Libya on the front line and this is ass on the front line that’s me with Tyler
on the front line that’s me with Tyler
on the front line that’s me with Tyler Hicks and we were taken together
Hicks and we were taken together
Hicks and we were taken together yuriko’s revin Nikki so Becky and this
yuriko’s revin Nikki so Becky and this
yuriko’s revin Nikki so Becky and this is an example of where we stayed
is an example of where we stayed
is an example of where we stayed typically in Libya on the front line
typically in Libya on the front line
typically in Libya on the front line people Libyans would just open their
people Libyans would just open their
people Libyans would just open their homes to journalists who were there and
homes to journalists who were there and
homes to journalists who were there and for example in this particular house
for example in this particular house
for example in this particular house there were 17 journalists sleeping and
there were 17 journalists sleeping and
there were 17 journalists sleeping and every night we got a knock on the door
every night we got a knock on the door
every night we got a knock on the door at about 6 o’clock and it was a
at about 6 o’clock and it was a
at about 6 o’clock and it was a ten-year-old Libyan boy and he would
ten-year-old Libyan boy and he would
ten-year-old Libyan boy and he would come with a giant tray of food and just
come with a giant tray of food and just
come with a giant tray of food and just set it down and leave and so the women
set it down and leave and so the women
set it down and leave and so the women who were still in the village would cook
who were still in the village would cook
who were still in the village would cook for us every night and on the upper
for us every night and on the upper
for us every night and on the upper right is Anthony Shadid he’s a colleague
right is Anthony Shadid he’s a colleague
right is Anthony Shadid he’s a colleague and he died in Syria last year of an
and he died in Syria last year of an
and he died in Syria last year of an asthma attack and that’s it
asthma attack and that’s it
asthma attack and that’s it [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] you
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