Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani

Sometimes I find that Carla Bruni, the first lady of France, plays a role that is a bit too representative, often reducing her to her looks. However, I think that she should get credit for recently sending a letter to Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, a woman condemned to stoning in Iran, in order to tell her that she and her husband will do all they can to help her. Unfortunately, the reaction of some Iranian media to this letter was to insult the French first lady in a very harsh way which proves their intolerance.

Berlin Diary: Signs and Symbols

Choropampa: 10 Years After the Accident - A Report

David Vollrath has reported on his experiences during a year long residency in  Cajamarca  in Northern Peru in this blog post: Water Samples: Tests and  Real. His year abroad is now past. Last June he spend a few days in Choropampa. You can read his report in German here.

PS: The whole water sample thing ended up (at least for now) in what could be called an absurd typically Peruvian-Corporate style  | For more information in German Lateinamerika Nachrichten, Nummer 431 - Mai 2010)

Funding: ITVS International calling for documentaries with global stories

ITVS International Call enables independent producers from outside the United States to create documentaries for U.S. television. Deadline for applying for the 2011 round of funding is December 10, 2010.

ITVS International funded Journals of a Wily School

The International Call funding initiative was created to give U.S. audiences access to international programming and voices on American television. The funding is only available to independent producers who are neither U.S. citizens nor residents of the U.S. Read full article

Belo Monte Dam: What will happen to the Amazon if …

… the 3rd largest dam in the world is built on the Xingu River in Brazil. Watch, Take Action and Share.

Plus: Check out this informative (Google Earth based) map: Dams in the Amazon