June 22, 2005
Neither War Nor Peace
"Around the world, children and youth are engaged in armed conflict. Child Soldiers have been the focus of international attention for many years. But in countries that are not officially at war, many youth join armed organizations such as gangs, drug factions, cartels, death squads, para-militaries, and revolutionary groups.
This unique report compares armed groups in ten different countries as disparate as the USA and Ecuador. Researchers and activists from each country used a common format and questionairre to investigate the lives of youth involved in armed conflicts. While there are many differences between countries, the similarities of the voices of the children are haunting."
~Thank you police and the courts for keeping the armed conflict away from my house. I don't know how much of my taxes you're using to do just that or what you do when there's no crime to fight, but I feel lucky.
[more photos at the Chicago Hoodz Gallery]